Teenagers are able to work at 14 in Washington State. If you are interested in applying for a job, you will need a resume, a cover letter, and prepare for an interview. Read through this section for more information.
RESUME & COVER LETTER
RESUME
Your resume is a summary of you! It should include your name, contact information, your educational background, your experiences, your skills, and your activities, and achievements. Your resume is an advertisement that you give to a prospective employer. The goal of your resume is to convince employers you're worth interviewing.
You can use Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or any free templates to write your resume.
How to Write a Resume
Examples of Possible Strengths
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Do's/Dont's of Resume Writing
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Sample Resume Template
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COVER LETTERS
A cover letter is a document you send to prospective employers along with your resume. The cover letter provides additional information on your skills and experience. Think of it as a sales pitch that helps you get the interview.
How to Write a Cover Letter
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Sample Cover Letter
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INTERVIEW SKILLS
General Tips
1. Arrive for your interview about 15 minutes in advance. Make sure you take a trial commute to the interviewing spot if you are unsure of the location or how long it might take to park. Punctuality is a major concern for employers of teens, and late arrival will often kill your chances of landing the job.
2. First impressions have a high impact. Take care with the way you dress and groom yourself to show the employer that you are taking the job seriously. The employer will be especially concerned with your appearance if you are in a customer contact position as a server, store clerk, receptionist or front desk worker.
3. The receptionist, secretary or another staff member who greets you may not be your interviewer. However, you can bet that the interviewer will ask about their impressions of you.
Sit up straight, look them in the eye, smile and converse respectfully with them. Ask a question or two or make some small talk. Make them want to tell the boss that they like your personality and that you would fit in.
4. Greet the interviewer with a firm but not crushing handshake, a warm smile and look them in the eye. Make a mental or physical note of their name and use it during the interview, so you remember it for your follow-up. Always address the interviewer as Mr. or Ms. Employers will be evaluating how you might interact with their staff and customers, who are probably primarily adults.
5. Turn your cell phone off or to vibrate, and resist the temptation to take a peek at any time before, during or after the meeting, when you are in view of the interviewer. Employers are very concerned about losing productivity among teen employees who are constantly checking their phones.
6. Exude energy, enthusiasm and a positive attitude at all times. Employers want upbeat teen workers who don't bring any attitudinal baggage to the job. When sitting, avoid slouching and lean slightly forward, like you are eager to hear the next thing that the interviewer has to say.
7. Take inventory of your strengths prior to the interview. If the employer has advertised the job, look at the description and be prepared to say how you meet as many of the qualifications as possible. Be prepared to describe situations where you have used your assets to get things done. Draw upon academics, school activities, sports and volunteer work for examples, especially if you haven't held any or many jobs.
8. Be prepared to say why the job interests you. You can reference things like the tasks, work environment, what you would learn and the people with whom you would interact.
Everything being equal in terms of qualifications, employers will often pick the candidate who seems most interested.
9. At the end of the interview, be prepared to ask a few questions about the job. Focus on issues like the nature of the work, training, supervision, clientele, and when you might expect to hear from them. Don’t bring up pay. If the job seems like a good fit, look the interviewer in the eye and tell them that you would really like to work there.
10. Effective follow-up after your interview can separate you from the other candidates. As soon as you leave the interview, write a thank you note expressing your gratitude for the interview and stating briefly that you would love to work with them and why you think it's a good fit. A card is a nice touch if your handwriting is legible, but email is also acceptable. Whichever you choose, send it immediately. It will reinforce your punctuality and ability to get things done, as well as reiterating your interest in the job.
2. First impressions have a high impact. Take care with the way you dress and groom yourself to show the employer that you are taking the job seriously. The employer will be especially concerned with your appearance if you are in a customer contact position as a server, store clerk, receptionist or front desk worker.
- Wear wrinkle-free clothing and avoid garments with those stylish holes.
- For most jobs, business casual will be suitable. That means a nice pair of pants and a collared shirt for guys. Girls can do without the collar but should wear a nice blouse, and can pair it with a skirt of appropriate length if preferred.
- Consider the type of organization you are targeting as you prepare your interview attire. Show a fashion flare in line with the orientation of the store if you are going for a job in retail.
- Avoid a shaggy look with your hair, and don’t wear excessive cologne, makeup or jewelry. Bring a notepad to jot down questions that may occur to you, points you want to remember to make in your behalf, and the interviewer's name if you tend to be forgetful.
3. The receptionist, secretary or another staff member who greets you may not be your interviewer. However, you can bet that the interviewer will ask about their impressions of you.
Sit up straight, look them in the eye, smile and converse respectfully with them. Ask a question or two or make some small talk. Make them want to tell the boss that they like your personality and that you would fit in.
4. Greet the interviewer with a firm but not crushing handshake, a warm smile and look them in the eye. Make a mental or physical note of their name and use it during the interview, so you remember it for your follow-up. Always address the interviewer as Mr. or Ms. Employers will be evaluating how you might interact with their staff and customers, who are probably primarily adults.
5. Turn your cell phone off or to vibrate, and resist the temptation to take a peek at any time before, during or after the meeting, when you are in view of the interviewer. Employers are very concerned about losing productivity among teen employees who are constantly checking their phones.
6. Exude energy, enthusiasm and a positive attitude at all times. Employers want upbeat teen workers who don't bring any attitudinal baggage to the job. When sitting, avoid slouching and lean slightly forward, like you are eager to hear the next thing that the interviewer has to say.
7. Take inventory of your strengths prior to the interview. If the employer has advertised the job, look at the description and be prepared to say how you meet as many of the qualifications as possible. Be prepared to describe situations where you have used your assets to get things done. Draw upon academics, school activities, sports and volunteer work for examples, especially if you haven't held any or many jobs.
8. Be prepared to say why the job interests you. You can reference things like the tasks, work environment, what you would learn and the people with whom you would interact.
Everything being equal in terms of qualifications, employers will often pick the candidate who seems most interested.
9. At the end of the interview, be prepared to ask a few questions about the job. Focus on issues like the nature of the work, training, supervision, clientele, and when you might expect to hear from them. Don’t bring up pay. If the job seems like a good fit, look the interviewer in the eye and tell them that you would really like to work there.
10. Effective follow-up after your interview can separate you from the other candidates. As soon as you leave the interview, write a thank you note expressing your gratitude for the interview and stating briefly that you would love to work with them and why you think it's a good fit. A card is a nice touch if your handwriting is legible, but email is also acceptable. Whichever you choose, send it immediately. It will reinforce your punctuality and ability to get things done, as well as reiterating your interest in the job.
GENERAL INTERVIEW ADVICE
Do's/Don'ts of Mock Interviews
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Nonverbal Interview Mistakes
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STAR Interview Method
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COMMON INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
"Tell me about a time with a difficult customer"
"What does customer service mean to you?"
"Why should we hire you?"
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"How would you deal with a difficult customer?"
"Tell me about a time you failed"
"What are your strengths?"
"Tell me about yourself"
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"Do you have any questions for me?"
What are your weaknesses?
"Why should we hire you?"
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REQUIRED WASHINGTON STATE FORMS & RULES
Washington State Labor & Industries requires a Parent/School Authorization form. These forms must be submitted to Mrs. Nollette at snollette@bethelsd.org. She will then return them directly to you.
Parent/School Authorization Form
There are also laws that regulate the hours teens can work. Check the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries website for details.