I'm 16 and I need help getting a casual job for the weekends and holidays?

Question

I have never had any prior experience. Would it be hard for me to start looking now? I'm interested in working for fast food outlets or stores like City Beach.

Would I need a resume? Or references?

Can anyone explain the application process involved?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

You're probably a little old for places like McDonalds as they like the 14 yr olds. Try KFC, Burger King, Red Rooster and other fast foods that don't hire the little kids but don't hire adults either.

Fast food would be the easier industry to get in without experience.

Make a quick resume including, general stats, educations, achievements, voluntary work (did you participate in peer support for eg) hobbies/sports groups, aspirations for the short term (such as be engaged in casual or part time employment while I concentrate on my studies with a view of attending university or something similar), referees (school teachers or sports coachs)

Places such as those above you simply go in the store and fill in an application form. The best time would be just before the December school holidays, so start doing the rounds in late October/November.

Don't limit yourself to only weekends, Thursday nights are a big factor, employers will want you available. In most fast food there will be work every night of the week but try and limit it to 2 or 3 nights a week.

All the best for your future endeavours.

Answer 2

Congratulations on wanting to become a bit more financially independent! I'm in a similiar positions...I'm 17, in Grade 12...I worked for a year at Mcdonalds when I was 15, but have since tried to concentrate on school...Having a casual job requires huge time management skills! But if you've got your priorities right, you should be fine!

Fast Food Outlets are probabaly the most likely place you'll get hired...Mcdonald's is good for hiring on young people and provides excellent training if its your first time job.

On your resume, you should have a cover letter adressed to the manager. Introduce yourself, and let them know you're looking for casual work (weekend & holiday work)

- Include your availability to work!

example : between the hours of 5pm-9pm on a thursday night

Don't forget to clearly include your home & mobile numbers, when you're contactable.

Since you don't have any previous employment experience, your resume should highlight any achievements...Don't disregard any volunteering, sporting achievements, school awards...Employer's love to see that you've been involved and comitted and ACHIEVED in just about anything! Make sure you showcase your personal attributes...list that you're reliable, punctual, honest, hard-working, etc...

Don't make your resume too long, and don't include certificates. Employers are too busy to look over resumes. Just list your achievements in dot point form...

As for references? Since you don't have any past employers to use as references...You can either list a teacher, sports coach, someone who knows you (someone you babysitted for)

GOODLUCK!

Don't be discouraged if you don't hear back from places...give it time, be patient. If a place looked promising, and you don't hear back from them within a week...go in and see them again, and say you want to check the status of your application...REMIND the employer of who you are, and BE the one that wants the job!!!

A HUGE TIP...Always make sure you hand your resume into THE MANAGER. Don't be satisified handing it into someone on the job, as they're not likely to hand it to the manager, or may lose it.

Answer 3

Go on line and look up city beach and go to the employment section and follow the prompts.

Coles, woolies, target, bit w all put on young people along with mcdonalds, hungry jacks.

Go to all their websites and check out the employment sections.

You are enthusiastic and are showing interest and that is a good start.

Good luck.

Answer 4

I agree with everything everone else has said, but you don't have to limit yourself to supermarkets or fast food.  Any retail business may wish to employ you, just take your resume to the managers at your local shops and small businesses. They generally view anyone with enough initiative to go and ask as a good potential employee.

You won't have any trouble, you've written some very mature answers to peoples questions, employers will notice that - they are always looking for capable people.

It's pretty obvious, but just make sure you're well presented. I've seen so many people ask for jobs while chewing gum with unwashed hair, wearing thongs etc.

Good luck.

Answer 5

It shouldn't be too terribly hard. I got my first job at a grocery store at 16, my next job was at a restaurant at 17.

Most places like that are looking for someone around your age. Pretty disposable and relatively have, not really looking for promotions to manager or anything like that.

Since im assuming you're in school your probably would be best looking into fast-food places, small grocery or chain clothing store etc. Any type of hourly jobs really. Weekends and holidays specifiaclly might be a little hard as most places are looking for people to work at least 3 to 4 days a week, evenings etc.

Good luck. You asked this in Australia, im going to guess that's where you are, try looking up job sites like http://Snagajob.com. I think they also list openings in other countries.