10 guidelines about exactly where to look and exactly how to behave on job interviews

Even in the best of times, teens face plenty of hurdles when they look forsummer jobs. Would-be recruiters often worry that they’ll be undependable, late and generally flaky - and teenagers must convince prospective bosses that they’re actually trusted and accountable.

This summer could be even more difficult for teens, though, because competition for jobs is expected to be so competitive. In many cases, young adults will be going head to head against adults who have ages of work experience behind them. And they’ll be doing so in a job market that has fewer positions out there.

A new review by SnagAJob.Com, an employment Web-site that connects people with hourly jobs, found that close to half of hourly hiring executives won’t be getting summer months workers this year. Even more ominous, 73 per-cent of hiring executives anticipate receiving more applications this summer than they did past summer from job seekers of all ages.

Does this mean that young adults should abandon all expectation of obtaining gainful employment this summer? Not at all! The following suggestions can help.

1. Start looking right now. Shawn Boyer, chief executive officer of SnagAJob.Com, said employers are already thinking about their coming summer staffing problems, although we’re only in the month of April. One way to outperform at least some of the competition is to start your job search earlier 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 telling people that you’re searching for a position. Think about all the adults in your life: your instructors, guidance advisors and trainers, your family medical doctor and veterinarian, your parents’ friends, your friends’ parents, and so on. This technique could turn you on to job prospects.

3. Plan for a repeat performance. The market research of more than A THOUSAND hiring managers revealed that 65 pct of their summer time staffs will consist of returning employees. If you had a job previoussummerand you didn’t absolutely hate it, consider reapplying once again this year. Your past manager will be interested in you because you’re already trained.

4. Be expert. Try to make sure that all the things you involve in your job application is spelled properly and is free of grammatical errors. Don’t use all lowercase or all uppercase words, 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 cellphone or home phone.

5. Do mock job interviews in advance. A job interview can be a lot more stressful than you might imagine. To work out the jitters ahead of time, do a few practice job interviews with somebody other than a buddy or mum or dad, 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. Show some energy. Employers who bring teenagers on board say they appreciate their passion and eagerness to do whatever it takes to get a task done. Display those characteristics on your job interview - and on the job, as well.

7. Get suitably gussied. Costume nicely for your job interview, as if you were about to attend a religious provider. Do this even if the clothing code for employees is informal. Absolutely keep in mind to send a handwritten 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. Keep in mind that a job interview is not the place to beat yourself up. Instead, point out flattering particulars about yourself, such as being an honor-roll learner, juggling extracurricular activities and volunteering in the society. &Quot;List out in particular the leadership positions that you’ve held," Boyer mentioned. &Quot;That helps to dispel the idea that teens aren’t responsible.&Quot;

9. Understand where to start looking. As bleak asthe job marketplaceis right this moment, Boyer said these places are still open 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 cv.