First Job

[alenka402]

I am 16 and looking for my first job. I have zilch experience, and have no idea where to start, what to do or how to go about it. I am in need of one as when I turn 17 i will need money for drving lessons etc. What can I/should I do?? Any advice appreciated.

[mrs_overall]

Is this just for the school holidays or permanent? If it's just for the hols there are a zillion things you could do....waitressing, shelf stacking, shop sales assistant, babysitting, delivering lealets, dogwalking, cleaning etc.
If you're saying you've left school I assume you are waiting for your GCSE results in August? Your results could make a big difference to the jobs you apply for. I assume you must have had at least one careers interview in Year 11?
A good start would be to make an appointment with your local Connexions advisor at your local job centre.
Good luck.

[spudqueen]

Aswell as all the things that mrs_overall suggests why don't you buy the local paper? They usually have jobs advertised. If it's a daily paper they often only print the jobs section on one day a week so you may have to buy it for a few days until you find the right day. If it is a part-time job you are after then also look in the local newsagents window as these jobs are sometimes advertised there. Again, if part-time then ask around in the local pubs and restaurants as they sometimes need glass collectors or washer uppers or waiting on staff.

[klulis]

good place to start would be a local supermarket. They don't always have full time work as most of them prefer to take on part time staff. Do you live near any tourist attractions? They might have something now the summer holidays are here. If there really in't anything going don't sit around doing nothing-perhaps try doing some charity work as employers like to see that you are a doer. Local jobcentre is a good place to try as well. They have been very helpful to one of my kids.

[spatzy]

You can work on the Internet. It depends on your knowledge and area of interest. You can do data entry, e-books writing, content writing, rewrite texts, promoting sites...You can also try to work for restaurants, snack-bars, newspapers in your town, babysitting, things like that :)
for getting a job at a restaurant you will need perhaps to write a cv and a resume, so here is a site to help you:
http://www.cvtips.com/how_to_write_a_CV.html
http://www.cvtips.com/resume.html

[alenka402]

Thanks for all your help.

But.. what do I say? How do I go about it? I have been looking in the local newspapers for ages and the internet, but nothing seems to be available.

[klulis]

I think the fact that you are trying hard to get as job is a good sign-not just sitting around. Go to the local Jobcentre and explain. They usually have lots of job vacancies on display via their internet site which you can access while you are in there and there should be advisors that can help. Have you tried any local supermarkets?