Index

Hey, Get a Job!A Teen Guide for Getting and Keeping a Job  Is it time to get off of the couch and into the work force?  Maybe you're an ambitious self starter who relishes the idea of being financially independent.  Maybe you're feeling pressured to get a job.  Either way, Hey, Get a Job!    is here to help you make it happen - even in this economy. Why do I need this ebook? To best answer why you need a guide such as this one in order to help you find a job, let me give you an outline of what your ebook will contain. * Part 1:  Who Will Hire Me?            This will answer all those questions about what is legal for teens to do.  For example, you are probably not going to get a job at a convenience store as a clerk.  Convenience stores sell alcohol, and by law, a person has to be 19 years old to sell alcohol.  I will help you find the labor laws for your state in the section as well as provide ideas to find job openings, and the proper way to pick up applications.  By proper I mean things like going by yourself, never with a buddy.* Part 2:  All Those Blanks            The application you turn in is the employer's first impression of you.  You don't want to make it their last.  There's a lot of do's and don'ts this section addresses so your application doesn't end up in the trash.  It's the only chance you have to move on to an interview.  A blank application that you can print and use as your master is provided.            Resumes are also addressed in this section.  I provide places to get easy templates that will fit a teen with little or no work experience. * Part 3:  I'm Speechless            Part three will help you with the most nerve wracking part of getting a job, the interview.  An interview doesn't have to be the stuff nightmares are made of.  It's about appearance, which I'll address, and it's about preparation.  I will give you the most common questions asked and some ideas on how to answer them.  For example, what would you say when an interviewer asks you what your biggest weakness is?* Part 4:  I Got Hired, So Now I Work, Right?  Wrong!            So you get the job, then what?  There are all these forms and things employers want you to learn before you start the job.  I'll go over the hiring packet which includes w-4 forms, employment eligibility, emergency contact, and possible company policies.  I also define harassment because if you want to keep a job, it's imperative to know.* Part 5:  What Do You Want From Me?            There are a common list of skills and requirements for employees.  This section discusses the things that will make you a great employee, and those that are sure ways to get yourself fired.  These are true not only for teens, but for all workers, young and old, in any field. * Part 6:  In the Long Run            There are employers out there who take advantage of teens.  There are things you should watch for to know whether you're being taken advantage of.            This section is also about taking care of yourself and avoiding the pitfalls of having a job and making your own money.  Being young means you need to have fun.  I'll help you have it all.* Frequently Asked Questions            These are the questions and their answers my students asked me as I was teaching them how to get and keep a job.  They are found throughout the book. My Qualifications: First of all, I should point out that I've had a lot of jobs myself.  I currently have two jobs.  My newest job is writer.  I am a contributing author in a book titled, The Ultimate Teacher, I regularly appear in several online teacher forums, and I am trying to get a piece of narrative non-fiction published.  My other job is teaching.  I've been teaching for fourteen years.  During the last five years of my teaching career, I have taught a Technical Reading and Writing class for ninth graders.  The class includes a unit on how to get and keep jobs.  During my unit planning, I found tons of information for adults looking for careers, but very little for teens new to the work force.  Because of this, I gathered bits and pieces of information from a lot of paper and internet sources, as well as talking to employers who hire teens.  After putting all this information together for my unit, I got the idea for