iluvpink
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,370 
Location: Michigan
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Post by iluvpink on Jun 2, 2016 17:17:32 GMT
volunteer experience. Only what she did when her middle school required community service hours. She volunteered to help at the elem school daddy/daughter dance, various pto events where they needed kids for a night to set up chairs etc. But nothing formal/long term or that she could get references for.
My dd has struggled with health and learning issues most of her life. I've posted about it before. She was most recently diagnosed with Juvenile Arthritis in Feb. We've been doing the try this drug, then that one and now finally they approved the one that will hopefully work (you have to try the cheaper ones first....). We're finally starting to see improvement. I *hope* in the next month we'll see much more. She's felt like crap with no energy, major fatigue and pain (really bad the last six months) for a few years now as we sorted through this and some digestive issues. Anyway, she's hoping to get a job this summer. But due to feeling so bad the last several years she's barely gotten through school and certainly hasn't had any extracurricular activities, honors courses, volunteer work etc. So WHAT do we put on a resume? It seems even minimum wage jobs now want resumes.
She's a good kid and really wants to work. I hope she'll be feeling better soon and can do so. She loves plants/flowers and enjoys working with them. The florist shop/nursery down the street may be hiring but again the online form asks for a resume. Any tips? I fear she will be competing with honor roll, super energetic, outgoing, involved kids. She's not academically inclined even at her best and somewhat shy. She'd hate working a register/sales but would be great working in the garden center with plants etc. How does she get that across to them?
As far as references, what about those? We do have a few family friends she helped last summer with some yard work, decluttering/home organization etc. Would that work for references?
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Post by colleen on Jun 2, 2016 17:21:19 GMT
I think for a teenage resume, they don't really expect much. Maybe in the experience section she can instead make a little paragraph about how she really wants a job at the flower shop and let it go at that. I think family friends are great refs for a teenager.
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The Birdhouse Lady
Drama Llama
Moose. It's what's for dinner.
Posts: 7,348
Location: Alaska -The Last Frontier
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Jun 30, 2014 17:15:19 GMT
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Post by The Birdhouse Lady on Jun 2, 2016 17:30:15 GMT
My 16 yr old daughter with no work experience except for a little scanning and filing for our business typed up a one page resume and dropped it off at a few places.
She listed that she was a high school student and hours she would be available once school started up again. She also listed her qualities as hardworking, friendly, on time, and a good organizer. She ended up getting hired at a local family owned sandwich shop.
I don't think that employers are expecting any work experience when they hire a teenager. They are looking for someone who is willing to work hard and do their best.
Good luck to your daughter, I worked for a florist before I got married and loved it!
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freebird
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'cause I'm free as a bird now
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Post by freebird on Jun 2, 2016 17:34:55 GMT
I think I'd make a resume with her skills as opposed to her job experience. As a business owner, I'd be impressed if someone gave me a "resume" that gave me 3-5 reasons why they would want to be a photographer or work with a photographer (my job). Legit. Think "I am creative and have a good eye for composition" as opposed to "I really love taking photos."
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pridemom
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,843
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Post by pridemom on Jun 2, 2016 17:38:19 GMT
I am glad she's getting on a new med. I know the struggle. We didn't let our dd work last summer because she wasn't stable with her JIA and would have been an unreliable employee.
For work, here are some ideas.
1. She may qualify for WIOA services. Check with your Vocational Rehabilitation office about work experience programs.
2. If she does, they can help with her resume.
Otherwise, focus on her skills. Onetonline.org/skills/ has a Skills Search she can use to determine work skills she already has.
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River
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,575
Location: Alabama
Jun 26, 2014 15:26:04 GMT
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Post by River on Jun 2, 2016 17:40:31 GMT
I think for a teenage resume it's about what she can and wants to do more than what she has done. So while there won't necessarily be job experience listed there would instead be a section about what motivates and drives her to be the best at every opportunity given to her.
I'm sorry I don't have the time to find examples of what I mean, but maybe someone else will supply some.
Good luck to your daughter, she's over come a lot in her young life and should showcase that. Not listing health issues but more how she can deal with an obstacle in every day life.
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janeinbama
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,202
Location: Alabama
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Post by janeinbama on Jun 2, 2016 18:39:34 GMT
I have just participated in summer hiring panel. Make sure that she is on time or early for any interview required. Let the interviewers know that this is her first interview, honesty goes a long way. We did compliment them and hire some first timers.
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Post by bc2ca on Jun 2, 2016 18:41:46 GMT
My 16 yr old daughter with no work experience except for a little scanning and filing for our business typed up a one page resume and dropped it off at a few places. She listed that she was a high school student and hours she would be available once school started up again. She also listed her qualities as hardworking, friendly, on time, and a good organizer. She ended up getting hired at a local family owned sandwich shop. I don't think that employers are expecting any work experience when they hire a teenager. They are looking for someone who is willing to work hard and do their best. Good luck to your daughter, I worked for a florist before I got married and loved it! This sounds very much like what would go my kids' first resume and they both have jobs this year. Neither had to submit resumes for the jobs they did get, just applications. DD applied to where she is working a year ago, was interviewed but not hired. At the end of the summer she was using the facility (an indoor trampoline park) and asked if they were hiring. They told her to drop off an application the next day, interviewed and hired her on the spot so if your DD doesn't get hired on her first attempt I'd advise her to follow-up. DS starts his first job next week and I'd coached him to learn a little about the company background. He very proudly told me he was the only one in the interview that knew where the company started. References are people my kids have pet sat for and professionals they know as either family friends or parents of their friends. Your DD should ask anyone she wants to use as a reference so that they are prepared if a call comes. |
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Deleted
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Oct 8, 2024 4:45:39 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2016 18:47:31 GMT
Can she volunteer somewhere this summer instead of trying to find a paying job? Getting a few months of solid volunteer work will look great on resumes. Plus she can have them write her a letter of recommendation at the end of the summer.
That's what we did with our oldest. He volunteered all Summer at the SPCA. They wrote him a glowing letter and he was able to get his first real paying job a few weeks into the school year. We are taking a similar road with our youngest who is 16.
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Post by 950nancy on Jun 2, 2016 21:28:58 GMT
My boys didn't have much for references when they started applying either since they had done lawn care for years before they got jobs in buildings. They asked a few teachers who would speak to their character and that was good.
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Post by JustCallMeMommy on Jun 2, 2016 21:40:45 GMT
I think with a high schooler, I would format a document like a resume, but the sections would be Activities, Community Service, and Skills.
In your DD's case, have you thought about encouraging her to do some serious community service this summer? That would really pad her resume in a lot of ways - it would give her new skills, it would give her community service, it would show commitment. She might also make some good contacts. My DD is younger and not old enough to hold a real job, but she'll be volunteering at our local zoo this summer now that she is finally (she thinks it took forever to get to 13) old enough. Just the process to volunteer was a great experience - she had to fill out an application, obtain references (she used a leader at church, a teacher, and her Girl Scout leader), and attend training.
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iluvpink
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,370
Location: Michigan
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Post by iluvpink on Jun 4, 2016 13:52:21 GMT
Great ideas, thanks!
I have thought about her doing volunteer work. The problem with that is that dh and I are at work all day (and leave at 6 am) and she doesn't yet have her driver's license. So anyplace she can volunteer/work needs to be within easy walking/biking distance. We aren't church goers. The only thing I can think of is the early elem/child care program in our school district. That building is nearby. And maybe the one nursing home though that might be too far. However we do have plenty of small businesses/restaurants that hire teens.
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iluvpink
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,370
Location: Michigan
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Post by iluvpink on Jun 4, 2016 14:01:02 GMT
I am glad she's getting on a new med. I know the struggle. We didn't let our dd work last summer because she wasn't stable with her JIA and would have been an unreliable employee. For work, here are some ideas. 1. She may qualify for WIOA services. Check with your Vocational Rehabilitation office about work experience programs. 2. If she does, they can help with her resume. Otherwise, focus on her skills. Onetonline.org/skills/ has a Skills Search she can use to determine work skills she already has. Thanks for the thoughts. I'm not 100% sure dd is able to do it this summer either. I see some improvement but we're only a few weeks into the Enbrel (and had to delay the latest shot as she now has a virus). She can't start a job until school/exams are over and we're back from our summer vacation. So after the 4th of July. We'll see then how she's doing. If she is up to it, it may be too late to get a summer job if everyone is done hiring. But she needs to do SOMETHING as last summer she was bored. She taught herself how to bake and cross stitch (a little) but needs more. She's struggled socially so has few friends that she really hangs out with outside of school. On the days she feels good she is full of energy and wanting to do something. But on the other days, yes, doing anything is extremely difficult. We'll see in a few weeks and decide then if she should try for a job or figure out a way to volunteer. I wish our neighborhood had some young families as I really think she'd be good at doing the mother's helper thing with little kids. But our neighborhood is full of middle aged/retired people and the few people with little ones probably don't have much money for such things. |
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Deleted
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Oct 8, 2024 4:45:39 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2016 15:07:48 GMT
On a high school student's resume they can put down skills they are good at (does she have any keyboard or computer skills, hobbies that relate to skills, good grades, being organized, etc) Will a teacher write her a recommendation letter about her being reliable, punctual and good at following directions?
Keep in mind corporate applications are all the same whether they are for the entry level order taker or an upper level manager. A 16 year old with a "resume" of just a few lines is expected. A 22 year old is going to be expected to have a little more to show for his life experiences in the workforce.
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paget
Drama Llama
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Jun 25, 2014 21:16:39 GMT
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Post by paget on Jun 4, 2016 15:53:53 GMT
My 16 year old dd started her first job last month. She just filled out applications online. Actually, the place that hired her held open interviews and she just went in and spoke to the manager and he told her she had the job- just fill out app online and came back next day to fill out paperwork. Good luck to your dd!
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Deleted
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Oct 8, 2024 4:45:39 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2016 16:14:58 GMT
A first job is required to be something not comfortable, not luxurious, not glamorous, not high-paying and not good hours. It's a motivating rite-of-passage. It teaches you things you can not learn otherwise.
And it's all about who you know.
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smginaz Suzy
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Jun 26, 2014 17:27:30 GMT
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Post by smginaz Suzy on Jun 4, 2016 16:51:08 GMT
You stated that being a mother's helper would maybe be a good fit but the potential families in your area couldn't afford it. Why not see if she can volunteer for some of those families? Does it have to be paid? Her "pay" is the experience she will gain.
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Post by CarolT on Jun 4, 2016 18:19:03 GMT
Check with your local Workforce Agency (in my area it's called CareerSource). They may have a program for "in school youth" under WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act). For our local program, participants that are targeted are between 16 and 24, are in school, and want to work, but have a barrier to employment.
Programs vary by community and region, but there is no harm in exploring her options.
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