Page 11 - The Edge: Issue 5 2020

is currently working for Norwegian Cruise Lines. What does she do there? Every Saturday, she helps check in people to their cruise lines.
“It’s really easy work, so I think it’s really good for high school students,” Sigurdson said.
SMS, too, is hiring. However, their website does not have any open applications for individuals under the age of 18 at the moment, so unless you happen to be a legal adult, that might not be your best bet. If you are a legal adult, it would certainly be worth looking into if you can work weekends.
If you find yourself too busy for weekends or anything else during the year, it may be best to wait until the summer, when your schedule will be more open. It is, however, never a bad time to start keeping a resume, as you will need one to apply for the vast majority of jobs.
If you have prior work experience, great! Put that on there. If you do not, that is perfectly alright, you have more room for other things—things that will also make you attractive to a prospective employer. High grades show focus and dedication. Lots of extracurriculars show effective time management. Whatever it is you spend your free time doing, you can use it. There are enough resume templates online that you should not have any trouble with formatting. Just make sure you use spellcheck.
Once you have
decided where you
want a job, created
your resume, and
ensured you are
prepared to start
working, it is time
to look into applying.
Many businesses have online applications, which takes away some of the apprehension of applying in person, but always be prepared for when businesses require you to actually have a conversation or an interview with your employers.
Are you the kind of person who keeps their phone on silent all the time? Outside of school hours, turn the ringer on, and answer any number with a reasonable area code. (Reasonable meaning ‘least likely to be a telemarketer or robot call,’ meaning 321 or 407.) Keep an eye on your
voicemail.Ifyoureceiveacall asking you to come in for an interview, you want to call back and schedule that interview as soon as possible, because that means they are seriously considering you.
Then, make sure you are prepared for the interview. Look up common interview questions and practice how you will answer. Make eye contact. If that is hard, stare directly at the bridge of the interviewer’s nose (odds are they will not know the difference). Answer calmly, and emphasize the qualities you have that make you a good applicant.
“An attitude and hard work ethic trumps any kind of natural gifted ability.” Giancarlo Mandato, 12, said. “Workers and employers... want somebody with drive and work ethic, and they can teach them the rest.”
Mandato works at the Dairy
Queen just down the road from Edgewood, and has for over
a year. He does everything
from human resources to taking and making orders there, and has a great time doing it. He even has an office that may or may not be the sink in the back.
“When you’ve got brothers coming in, right, ordering things, I’m taking their order. I’ll take their order, make their order, can it out, get fat stacks of tips,” Mandato said. “Furthermore, when there’s in-office problems— certain types of assault, certain things said to one another—we take it
to my office.”
According to Mandato, his Dairy
Queen is also hiring.
“Apply to the Queen, alright? We
may not hire you, if I don’t like you, you won’t be hired, that’s the second thing,” Mandato said. “It’s a good job, and get a job, that way I can stop hearing about ridiculous problems. Go Cookie Monster Tribe.”
According to the official Dairy Queen website, applications there or to any location must be done in person. So, if you happen to be interested, try asking
Mandato about it. You never know— you might be just what the Dairy Queen needs. And, although this might seem like common sense, you will not get a job anywhere if you do not apply.
If you don’t get the job, at Dairy Queen or anywhere else, that is alright. It is entirely possible that your rejection was due to something out of your control, but look over everything anyway just to be safe. Consider building up your resume or making yourself more available, or focusing on other things at the moment.
If you get the job, great! Training varies based on the job, but most employers will be understanding if this is your first time in the workforce and will help you through getting started.
Make sure you know your work schedule and your school schedule, and make sure nothing conflicts. If there will be conflicts, let your work know about them as soon as possible so they can work with them. Show up when you are supposed to, and be on time to work. It might seem stressful, but it will all be worth it once payday rolls around.
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