I'm a junior in high school and want to get my first job to gain some experience and earn extra cash. Does anyone have tips on how to start this process and what I should include on my resume?
Congrats on taking the initiative to find your first job! To make the process smoother, you might find these steps helpful:
First, identify your interests and skills. It's much easier to perform well at (and enjoy) a job that aligns with what you're already good at or are passionate about. Are you good at math or English? Perhaps you could offer your services as a tutor.
Your second step might be to talk to your school's career counselor or guidance advisor if one is available. They can often help by providing resources, tips for the job hunt, and even potential job leads that are suitable for high school students.
Prepare a resume if you don't already have one. Since you're in high school and may not have much work experience, focus on your academic achievements, extracurricular activities, volunteer work, and any skills you've gained in these areas. These could be things like organization (if you've managed a club or led a project at school), customer service (if you've volunteered at a community event), or technical skills (like coding or graphic design).
Next, start your job search. Look for job postings at local businesses, libraries, or community centers. Online resources like job boards and websites can be helpful too. Consider talking to friends, family, or teachers - someone might know of a job opportunity that would fit you perfectly.
Once you've identified some jobs you're interested in, tailor your resume to each job posting by highlighting the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the job.
Finally, when you're ready, submit your application! Remember to follow up after a week or two if you haven't heard back - it shows that you're genuinely interested in the job.
Best of luck in your job search! This is an exciting first step into the working world.
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