Finding Part-Time Jobs for High School Students

I'm a high school junior looking to find a part-time job. What are some of the best places to search, and how do I make my application stand out given limited work experience? Any tips would be appreciated!

You're taking a proactive step towards your financial independency and at the same time, developing your work ethic and time management skills, which are both highly valuable to future employers.

There are several job search websites that are well-suited for high school students looking for part-time jobs. Websites such as Indeed, Snagajob or Appily list jobs based on location, so you can easily find opportunities within a reasonable commute. Local community boards or social media groups can also provide some leads. Consider also direct outreach. If there’s a local store, restaurant, or other businesses you’d like to work at, you might consider visiting in person and asking if they’re hiring.

As a high school student, it's important to remember that while you might not have much professional work experience, you likely have plenty of relevant skills and experiences that you can include on your application. These can be from school activities, volunteer work, or hobbies. For instance, if you've held a leadership position in a school club, helped at community events, or contributed to a group project, these are all experiences that can demonstrate your ability to communicate, work in a team, and manage your time.

When writing your resume, clearly highlight these experiences and be explicit about what skills they allowed you to develop. Use action verbs and quantify where possible. For example, instead of writing, "worked on a school project," you might write, "coordinated a team of five students to complete a research project, resulting in an A grade."

If you are asked in an interview why you want the job, be open about how you are hoping to learn from the experience and contribute to their operations. Employers appreciate when their employees express a personal interest in the work.

On a final note, always ensure that your school work and other commitments will not be heavily impacted by your job. Communication between you and a potential employer about your schedule and your commitment to school work is key and may help set you apart from other candidates.

Best of luck with your job search!