Home » Partners & Parents » Parenting Teenagers » Teens and Job Fairs

Teens and Job Fairs

© Terrie Lynn Bittner

An attractive, professionally dressed women entered a job fair with her two sons. They were teenagers and were dressed in very baggy pants and tee shirts with loud pictures on them. The mother stepped confidently up to the first booth and said, "My sons need jobs." The boys stood back, chomping gum and looking bored. The interviewers were polite but discouraging.

Any teenager old enough to have a job should also be old enough to get his own. Most job fairs have many minimum wage jobs that are ideal for teenagers, but teenagers have to know how to get the job themselves.

First, the boys were not dressed appropriately for the occasion. The fact that the mother was professionally dressed meant nothing. The mother was not the person looking for a job. The boys, while dressed fashionably, were not trying to impress other teenagers. They needed to be dressed in a manner that would impress the adult interviewers. Many of the adults at the job fair were also dressed very casually, despite instructions from the fair sponsors to dress professionally. Those who wore suits, had neatly trimmed hair and who looked ready to step into management got more attention and respect than did those who were dressed casually. Even if the teen is only applying for a casual job, he should be dressed professionally. He should remember that the interviewers know only what they see. If a teen is dressed correctly, it will be assumed that he will also be dressed appropriately when he comes to work. A teen in a suit, or at least a dress shirt and dress pants, will not only look mature and responsible, he may go into the interviewer's mind as someone who will be promotable in the future.

The second mistake was that these boys should have talked to the interviewers without help from their mommy. If you bring your teens to a job fair, stay away from them while you are there. Teach them how to present themselves to the reviewer. They should walk up to the reviewer-no gum please-introduce themselves and explain what sort of work they are looking for. They should come prepared to get a job.

Have your teen prepare a resume. Even though the jobs he is qualified for will require an application, the teen can attach the resume to the application with a paperclip. (He should bring his own paperclips.) Resumes, clips and pens should all be in an attractive binder, one that is plain colored without pictures. A zippered notebook or pouch is acceptable. The resume should include

The copyright of the article Teens and Job Fairs in Parenting Teenagers is owned by Terrie Lynn Bittner. Permission to republish Teens and Job Fairs in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.