10 tips about exactly where to search and exactly how to behave on job interviews

Even in the best of times, teenagers face plenty of hurdles when they look forsummer work opportunities. Would-be recruiters often worry that they’ll be undependable, late and generally flaky - and youngsters must convince prospective bosses 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 competitive. In many cases, teens will be going head to head against adults who have years of work experience behind them. And they’ll be doing so in a job marketplace that has fewer opportunities available in the market.

A current market research by SnagAJob.Com, an employment Website that connects people with hourly jobs, found that just about half of hourly hiring supervisors won’t be enrolling summer months employees this season. Even more ominous, 73 percent of hiring executives anticipate receiving more applications this summer than they did previous summer from job searchers of all age groups.

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

1. Start looking right now. Shawn Boyer, ceo of SnagAJob.Com, said recruiters are already thinking about their approaching summer staffing concerns, although we’re only in the month of April. A way to out raced at least some of the competition is to begin your job search early 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 sharing with people that you’re looking for a position. Think about all the adults in your life: your teachers, guidance advisors and instructors, your family medical doctor and veterinarian, your parents’ good friends, your friends’ parents, and so on. This solution could turn you on to job prospects.

3. Plan for a repeat performance. The investigation of more than A THOUSAND hiring executives revealed that 65 percentage of their summer work forces will consist of coming back staffs. If you had a job previoussummertimeand you didn’t absolutely dislike it, think of reapplying once more this year. Your past employer will be interested in you because you’re already trained.

4. Be qualified. Try to make convinced that all the things you involve in your job application is spelled accurately and is free of grammatical errors. Don’t use all lowercase or all uppercase letters, Boyer recommended. 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 cellular phone or home phone.

5. Do mock job interviews in advance. A job interview can be a lot more difficult than you might imagine. To work out the jitters ahead of time, do a few practice interviews with somebody other than a friend or parent, 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. Display some power. Employers who bring teenagers on board say they appreciate their enthusiasm and restlessness to do whatever it takes to get a work done. Display those attributes on your job interview - and on the job, as well.

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

8. Play up your good points. Many teens show a trend to be hard on themselves and minimize their achievements. Remember that a job interview is not the place to beat yourself up. Instead, point out flattering facts about yourself, such as being an honor-roll university student, juggling extracurricular activities and volunteering in the society. &Quot;List out in particular the leadership positions that you’ve held," Boyer said. &Quot;That helps to dispel the idea that teens aren’t responsible.&Quot;

9. Know exactly where to look. As bleak asthe job market placeis right now, Boyer said these places are still available 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. Think about 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 summer season months when many of their staff members go on holiday, Boyer said - and he added that a bank job can look good on your resume.