4 Tips For Teen Job Interviews

Have you landed your very first job interview? Congratulations! This is an exciting opportunity for you to begin earning extra income for school, to help out at home, or just for extra spending money.

Your first job will help teach you responsibility and time management, and make you more alluring to prospective colleges as well. So it's important for you to put your best foot forward in your interview. Keep these simple tips in mind as you prepare for this big milestone in your life.

1. Prepare hand-outs or note-cards in advance of the interview.

You want your interviewer to think of you as a competent, professional person, even though you've never worked for pay before. Think of other experiences you've had that you can discuss in the interview. Maybe you have volunteer or school experiences that speak to your attention to detail, or your customer service.

Jot these stories down so you remember them for the interview. Most hiring managers will be more than okay with you bringing notes in - it shows you're taking the interview seriously. If you have a teacher or church leader you've worked closely with, ask them to write a letter of recommendation for you, and bring a copy to the interview as well.

2. Dress for success.

You're interviewing with someone who works there for a career, so show them respect by dressing professionally. Girls should wear nice blouses with pants or skirts no shorter than mid-thigh. Shoes should be flats or low-heeled, with closed toes. Wear minimal jewelry and makeup. Boys should wear button-down shirts tucked into nice pants, with clean, shined shoes.

Sneakers, jeans, and tattered or wrinkled clothing are not acceptable in almost any working environment, so never wear these items to an interview. Additionally, many employers do not allow facial piercings or visible tattoos, so remove or cover these if at all possible to increase your mass appeal. Remember, employers are looking for workers who will visually represent their store to their customers - this isn't a time for personal expression.

3. Make good eye contact in the interview.

The manager is trying to get a good sense of how you will work with other employees and interact with customers. Making good eye contact shows respect and interest in someone else. If you're very shy, practice eye contact in your mirror or with a parent or friend in advance of the interview.

4. Always send a thank-you note.

It may sound easier to call, but writing out a thank-you note only takes a couple of minutes, and helps distinguish you from the other job candidates the manager has interviewed. Include your contact information and the date of your interview in your note, to help trigger the interviewer's memory of you. Have a parent or a friend read the note for spelling errors and handwriting legibility before you drop it off at the store.

These ideas will help you feel more at ease in an interview situation, and better able to sell yourself to prospective employers. The right attitude and appearance will balance out your lack of paid work experience, and help get you that first job offer.

Jay has been interested in family, finance and health issues for many years now, although he is fairly new to article writing.

Please visit his latest website at http://dvdstoragecases.net which helps people find the best Slim DVD Cases and other information and pricing on storing your DVDs.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jay_A._Jenkin