Job Interview Tips For Teenagers

Job interviews aren’t easy for anyone, but they may be especially difficult for the teenager who may not know what to expect. If you are a teen looking for a job you’ll want to be prepared before you start your search. If you are a teen who has an interview coming up, don’t walk blindly into it. The following are some tips that will help teenagers succeed during their first job interview.

Practice answering questions. Have a friend or family member quiz you on common job interview questions. You'll want to know your strengths and weakness. You'll also want to be able to tell them why you want the job. Some other common questions include:

-Tell me about yourself. Don't chat about your puppy and hamster. Think of things about yourself that relate to the job. For example, if you are applying for a job in a hair salon, mention if you like to read up on the latest hair trends. If you are applying for a job in retail, mention if you are outgoing and people oriented.

-How do you deal with conflict? This is not the time to mention when you and your brother got into an argument over Cheerios that ended in you slapping him. Instead explain a difficult situation you had, and the steps you took to resolve it.

- Do you have any hobbies? Video games are fun but that's not really relevant unless you are applying at a toy store. Think of hobbies that you have that show your intellect as well as your fun side.

-Do you have any questions? The answer to this question should always be yes. A good question to ask, if it hasn't already been covered during the job interview, is "what kind of person are you looking to hire for this position?" another good one is "what do you like best about working here?"

Know the job. Don't walk into the interview completely clueless as to what the company does. Research as much as you can about the company. Know that the position is and why you are qualified for it.

Dress nicely. It doesn't matter where the job is; jeans and a sweatshirt are not appropriate job interview attire. Also, ladies need to keep in mind to go easy on the makeup and not to wear anything that is revealing. Dress as if you are going to church on Sunday with your grandmother. If that doesn't resonate with you, then have a parent or guardian look over your outfit before you go to the interview.

Go alone. Yes, your mom and dad can drop you off at the job interview, but do not bring them into the room with you. Job interviews are something that you have to do by yourself.

Know what days and times you are able to work. The interviewer may ask you this and you will seem unprepared if your answer is I don't know.

Don't be surprised if you get an immediate interview. If you plan to spend the day walking through the mall picking up job applications then make sure you are prepared to be interviewed should the manager want to speak with you right then and there. It's not uncommon to turn in an application to someone who will interview you on the spot. This means you need to dress nicely even when you are just picking up and turning in job applications. First impressions are the most important.

Send a thank you note immediately after the interview. This is a good habit for teens to get into because sending thank you notes is something you'll want to do when you get older and are interviewing for your first career based job. Try to get the business card of the person who interviewed you so that you can email them a thank you when you get home. It's even better if you can drop and handwritten thank you note in the mail right after you leave the interview. It's best to prepare in advanced by having a thank you card and stamp with you so that you can write the note and mail it when you leave. You'll want to thank the person for taking the time to interview you, tell them anything that you didn't get to say, and mention how you are looking forward to hearing back.