High school is a great time for students to start gathering work experience by applying and working at their first jobs. What types of part-time jobs would be suitable for a first-time worker? What kinds of requirements would a potential employee have to possess? How rewarding would working at a part-time job be?

Some typical easy part-time jobs would be waiters/waitresses at fast-food restaurants or clerks/cashiers at retail stores. These jobs do not require much prior experience, which most students do not have. These restaurants and stores can be found in many places, so transportation fees would not be too much of a problem. A few examples include Starbucks, Baskin Robbins, McDonald’s, Pacsun, and Brandy Melville.

To apply for jobs, an online application must first be filled out. Depending on the store, they will provide contact information if you have further questions and concerns. Most likely, the applicants are also interviewed about a set of general questions that talk about the applicant’s background, extracurricular schedule, resume, past experience, and how they would respond to a few in-store situations. Considering that these jobs are entry-level jobs, the bar is not set very high for applicants, which opens up a wide window for many people to apply. However, a good attitude and personality is essential in the world of customer service. 

For all students under the age of 18, a work permit is needed to be filled out by the student and his/her guardian in order to be able to get a job. Applications can be issued from their respective schools, and the student must have satisfactory grades and attendance in order to apply. 

Regarding salary, most fast food restaurant jobs pay minimum wage or slightly above minimum wage. Employees are paid by the hour, and there are laws in place that restrict minors from working over 40 hours a week.

Some slightly higher-paying jobs would require more knowledge and skills than the ones previously mentioned. Being a babysitter requires an extremely well-behaved personality and cooperative child-caring skills. Being a tutor would require sufficient knowledge in the topics that they are tutoring in. Being a lifeguard requires swimming skills and bravery. The difficulty of the job reflects the salary of the job.

The standard set of requirements that every single job position needs include a good attitude, an ability to work (they’re in good health), time-flexibility, and a kind and forgiving nature. It is always important to let the customer feel welcome and well-cared for, for they are the ones paying the money. 

Another part-time job that is pretty unique as compared to working in a chain store is being the owner of a small business. From selling handmade goods to reselling old clothes, there are plenty of platforms out there to reach out to customers who may be interested in what you have to offer. 

During COVID-19, many businesses have changed their process of hiring workers and may be in need of fewer employees compared to before the pandemic. Some jobs that would be a good choice during the pandemic would be food delivery jobs, online tutoring, and food service (if you’re willing to have a slightly higher risk of contracting the virus), while jobs that require more in-person interaction such as babysitting would probably not be a good idea.

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