10 recommendations about exactly where to look and exactly how to respond on job interviews

Even in the best of times, teens face plenty of hurdles when they look forsummer season jobs. Would-be recruiters often worry that they’ll be undependable, late and generally flaky - and teenagers must convince prospective employers that they’re actually trustworthy and accountable.

This summer could be even more challenging for teens, though, because competition for jobs is expected to be so fierce. In many cases, teens will be going head to head against adults who have ages of work experience behind them. And they’ll be doing so in a job market that has fewer placements available in the market.

A recent study by SnagAJob.Com, an employment Web site that connects people with hourly jobs, found that nearly half of hourly hiring supervisors won’t be hiring summer season workers this season. Even more ominous, 73 percent of hiring supervisors anticipate receiving more applications this summer than they did previous summer from job seekers of all age ranges.

Does this mean that youngsters should give up all expectation of finding gainful employment this summer? Not at all! The following tips can assist.

1. Begin hunting today. Shawn Boyer, ceo of SnagAJob.Com, said employers are already thinking about their coming summer staffing issues, even if we’re only in the month of April. One of the ways to out raced at least some of the competitors is to begin your job search earlier rather than waiting for the school year to end. &Quot;Consider telling them, ‘I can work 10 hours a week now, and then I can ramp up my hours after school gets out,’ " Boyer said.

2. Get the word out about yourjob search. Begin actively showing people that you’re looking for a job. Think about all the adults in your lifetime: your teachers, guidance advisors and coaches, your family doctor and veterinarian, your parents’ close friends, your friends’ parents, and so on. This strategy could turn you on to job prospects.

3. Plan for a repeat performance. The survey of more than 1,000 employing executives revealed that 65 pct of their summer work forces will consist of coming back staffs. If you had a job previoussummer timeand you didn’t absolutely dislike it, take into consideration reapplying once again this year. Your past manager will be interested in you because you’re already trained.

4. Be qualified. Try to make certain that everything you include in your job application is spelled accurately and is free of grammatical issues. Don’t use all lowercase or all uppercase words, Boyer advised. Be sure the e-mail address you put down isn’t silly or distracting. The same holds true for the voice-mail prompt on your mobile phone or home phone.

5. Do mock job interviews in advance. A job interview can be a lot more difficult than you might think. To work out the jitters ahead of time, do a few practice job interviews with somebody other than a buddy or mom or dad, Boyer recommended. &Quot;Practice with a guidance counselor, a teacher or a friend’s parent that you’re not that comfortable with so it will be more realistic," Boyer said.

6. Show some power. Employers who bring teenagers on board say they appreciate their enthusiasm and restlessness to do whatever it takes to get a task done. Show those attributes on your job interview - and on the task, as well.

7. Get appropriately gussied. Costume nicely for your job interview, as if you were about to attend a religious service. Do this even if the dress code for employees is informal. Absolutely bear in mind to send a written by hand thank-you note after your interview - a step many adults routinely forget to take.

8. Play up your strengths. Many teens show a trend to be hard on themselves and reduce their achievements. Try to remember that a job interview is not the place to beat yourself up. Alternatively, emphasize flattering details about yourself, such as being an honor-roll pupil, juggling extracurricular activities and volunteering in the community. &Quot;List out in particular the leadership positions that you’ve held," Boyer mentioned. &Quot;That helps to dispel the idea that teens aren’t responsible.&Quot;

9. Know where to start looking. As bleak asthe job marketis right now, Boyer said these places are still open to hiring teens: fast-food restaurants; movie theaters; merchandising companies that stock shelves for retailers - American Greetings is looking for this sort of help, he noted - and health care facilities. &Quot;There are a wide range of positions in the health care sector that don’t require you to have a certain level of credentials," Boyer said. &Quot;There’s valet-parking people’s cars, working in a hospital gift shop, working in a cafeteria, being a receptionist.&Quot;

10. Consider working at a bank. If you’re at least 18, you also may be able to land a job as a bank teller. Bankers often need help over the summertime months when many of their workers go on trip, Boyer said - and he added that a bank job can look good on your cv.