Jobs & Support
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During a financial crisis, we at times may need a job in order to support ourselves or add additional income to your family. Hiring ages for companies vary between states and the majority of jobs hire at around 15 and up. I have curated a list of jobs that hire starting at 16+. It is important to remember that in order to get & keep a job as a student you need to:
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Have an approved work permit (contact your principal/counselor)
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Keep your grades up to date (work permit can be immediately revoked if the student is not proving to be able to manage both a job & education)
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Have communication & time management skills
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Have a form of transportation
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Manage your money well
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Written & Researched By Nataly Meza
Work Permit
All high school students require an active work permit in order to work. It's important to understand that working without a work permit can bring trouble to both you and your employer. In order to get your work permit, you may need to contact your counselor/principal. I have provided the California Student Work permit so you can print it out or fill it out virtually! This work permit needs to be filled out and turned in once you are hired since it requires employer information. It is a two-step process. You, your guardian, and your employer are responsible for filling out form B1-1, once you provide these to your school. Your school is responsible for issuing this work permit by filling out B1-4.
Building a Resume
Some job applications will require you to provide a resume. If it is your first time creating one, I have provided a great website that curates one for you based on a series of questions you will need to answer. These are questions on, for example, your grades, gpa, volunteer history, skills, strengths, and more. You are also then given a variety of different looking resumes and you may pick the one you like the most. It is important to note that of course, you can build your own, and a resume is a professional piece of paper therefore it is recommended you try your best to choose the most professional and simple template. After you choose your resume, you may download it as a file or print it, all for FREE.
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Notes & Tips:
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Volunteer Service may count as work.
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Be sure to inform yourself on which format your resume needs to be in for your employer.
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During interviews be sure to ask questions such as:
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"Would you be able to tell me about your best employee?" - This allows for you to see what your expectations are and what you can do in order to perform well
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"Based on what we've talked about today, are there any hesitancies with hiring me?"- This is an opportunity for the employer to be honest about any concerns, giving you the chance to clarify or prove yourself face to face to steer clear of these concerns.
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Ask trusted adults to be your references, these can vary from teachers, therapists, volunteer coordinators and more!
Jobs that hire at 16+ in California
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To get started Indeed is a very simple resource to use! Not only can you search for jobs locally with your criteria and get updates about listings, but you can also apply to those job openings through Indeed with an account and create your digital resume for Indeed applications on there (that isn't to say you shouldn't make a separate resume for other jobs).
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