I really hate how so many part-time/summer jobs insist on online applications. My son applied for a summer job online for Dairy Queen last summer and he had to answer a multi-page questionnaire with the most insane questions it was quite funny. If I were your son I would go by the store and see if they will let him fill out an application there. Often they will have the listing online but will also let them apply in person. Which seems much more sensible to me. ETA if he does go to the store tell him to ask for the manager and ask him/her if they are accepting applications. Employees might just tell him to apply online.

Get some character references from teachers and people well known in the community .

Most kids start doing things at 14 such as CIT positions. This way they move up to the paid positions.

I don't think I would list working a few days for his dad on an application.

Jobs are highly competitive. In your situation, I would try to brainstorm with every friend, relative and neighbor for "an in" some where. One of my youngest DD's first jobs was at a rec center. I called the director and asked if there was anything there for my daughter. The director knew me and my DD because she participated in programs there. She offered a part-time receptionist job for her summer job. I honestly think if my DD called, she would not have been offered the position.

From that point forward, DD was on her own with a resume with an actual job on it

Some kids need a little bit extra to get started.

Forget online resume. Go by the store. I have the same thing where I work. Filling out an application is just a formality. Folks realize a teen will not have a lot of work experience. So the real question is, are the real people at the grocery willing to hire one and start to give him some experience! Don't need a job objective, that is too old school. Obviously your objective is to get the job you have applied for. Just list some work experience, what you posted is fine. Make it simple, easy to read and spelled correctly. Add some references. Call it a day. The key is to shop it around (him and his resume) and find someone willing to hire a teen and mentor/train him. Don't just apply to one place. If he hasn't identified at least five possible places to inquire, he may not get any job. He should not be nervous or embarrassed to ask someone about a job at their store or company or business. IT is reasonable and shows initiative. He should be courteous and respond enthusiastically and always get back to people when they call him. I say this as someone who regularly hires high schoolers. Eld is right, don't just settle for one application at one place. Inquire at all places you can think of. My rule is at least ten for college students but I said five for high school, as a minimum.

My son's objective, on his first job application: To save the world.

I still laugh every time I think about it! He got the job, BTW.

I agree with the others. Drop by the store and go to the customer service counter and ask for an application or to speak to someone about a job. They will know from his age what he is looking for and that he has limited experience. That's how my kids did it because they recognized that filling out the online application wasn't pertinent for them.

Generally the no experience/entry job at grocery stores are for baggers. They also retrieve the shopping carts from the parking area. It can be smart, in the future, to apply before the summer period actually arrives, maybe by offering to work some busy weekends, so he has a step up on the summer job before a lot of other teens apply. But the turnover can be high in some areas, so it can pay off to keep asking periodically if there is not something available immediately and none of the other jobs pan out. It can be a tough job market to get that first one, but persistence pays off better than giving up. Then dependability and a good attitude can help in subsequent years.

I think stopping in is a good idea. But make sure he doesn't just walk in and ask another entry level worker about an application. They will just tell them to go online and he'll be back at square one. He should ask for a manager and then introduce himself and briefly explain his situation.

You should practice with him at home, especially since it sounds like he may be shy. Good handshake, speak clearly, look the manager in the eyes, be prepared if the manager says "Why should I hire you?".

Bus boy or dish washing in a restaurant are also good entry level part time jobs. Visiting restaurants during mid afternoon is a good way to grab a manager.

I work in a professional field, and when we hire "kids" it is straight out of college. The single biggest thing we want from job experience (and this sounds kind of pathetic) is that they have experience showing up every day, on time, and understand that at work their time is not their own. Anything that your son has done that required a regular commitment, whether it is volunteering, counselor-in-training, team sports, etc., would probably be appropriate for his resume. Emphasize things that demonstrate reliability, dependability, and commitment.

I agree, go to the location. But what advice would you give him about dressing appropriately? How should he presents himself to whoever? Years ago you absolutely would have had to wear a suit and tie to apply for a job I'm sure that is not true anymore. Does he just need to be nicely dressed and well groomed? Should he bring any paperwork with him?

Dressing appropriately for an inquiry means clean clothes. I would probably err on the side of being conservative and wear pants instead of shorts but they don't need to be fancy at all for an inquiry, just clean and neat looking. Even jeans would be OK if it is a casual job, but not faded, torn, etc. Chinos for a more formal job like as a sales clerk. Pants pulled up and shirt tucked in if it is long. T-shirt or polo OK but nothing with goofy slogan on it that makes him seem like he has an attitude. CLOSED TOED SHOES. You can't hardly do any work jobs in flip flops so absolutely not on those. Athletic shoes or closed toed sandals boat shoes whatever are fine if they look like you can do work in them. Look like you are ready to do the work that the business has to offer, which varies. The most important thing is to just look like you are ready to do the work you are inquiring about. You're selling yourself to someone so think about what they want in an employee. Don't fake it, just get to know what your strengths are. I have a kid working for me right now who has a long ways to go with his professional behavior, but he is responsible about showing up and he is polite and really wants to work, so we're working with him/on him. So many kids now days just seem to feel like they need to shrink into the woodwork and are afraid to make eye contact. That's the most important thing, look like you want to be there and can treat other people respectfully.

As for paperwork, if he's going to get hired he will need proof of citizenship. If he has a driver's license with a photo, great Otherwise he will need his social security card and birth certificate. He needs two out of the three documents. A passport will also work but doesn't sound like he has one.

Thank you. I too thought he should to in to the store, but when we started looking online for info...it said to apply online. We know a couple people who work at that particular grocery store and I though we'd hit them up so maybe they could put a good word in for him. My son is sorta quite, shy...he'll definitely need to work on or understand they will expect more than a yes or no answer.

Do you think he should have his "teen" version of a resume with him when he does in places to ask about work/filling out app so they know he's serious? I'm thinking so.

I think he'd by fine with pants, a button up or collared shirt and neat hair.

It is my understanding that most stores no longer have the ability to accept applications, because their headquarters had put it on line. That being said, here are some thought I had.

Any high schooler has had experience in organization when doing home work and determining what to do first and what method to use to complete the homework. They also have experience in dealing with people; other students, teachers, siblings, and perhaps negotiating resolutions to conflicts. If they have been in debates, they have experience in putting thoughts down and attempting to persuade others, in writing and in speaking, to their way of thinking. Writing skills are another thing that can be addressed in an application. If after-school activities are part of their life, think of the skills required in those areas. If they participate in church activities, peruse those activities and determine what skills are required. Just think of it as volunteer experience and see how much they can include on an application.

I think it is a good idea for him to take his "teen" resume with him. Our local grocery stores, even though they are part of chains (eg Safeway) do post "job available" signs but they are for the entry level jobs. They do know it's the local high-school kids who will be applying for and needing these jobs. Anything for management positions would be online.

You can also try local hardware stores. Both my kids started at Canadian Tire (a real catch-all store) and although it's a national chain, they went directly to the store.

They may not have the ability to accept a paper resume, but it doesn't hurt to have all your references and info that you would need to fill out an application on a piece of paper (resume) to take with you just in case you hit up one of those places that is not online. Also, while the application process may be online, the person at the store will be able to tell you if they have any actual openings at that actual store. No sense wasting time filling something out online if they don't have an opening. You never know, you may show up the day someone quits (it happens for various reasons). You are quite late in the game, but sometimes folks burn out and a place is scrambling for a last minute replacement. That's how I got my first full time job offer, I showed up with a resume for someone to just look at, on the very day he got a call from a colleague asking if he know of anyone to fill an position that opened up at the last minute.

Maddielee, that's a great creative answer!

i once applied for a job (not a first job, it was in my career) that they weren't hiring for. Yet. My cold call app letter said "I see you are staffing up in X area. When you are ready to hire for (my) area, here is my resume." yeah, I got it.

• My froend's child started working as a bagger, and by the time graduated from high school was working dairy (it's a promotion) . Grocery isn't his career goal, but it's paying for his car! And he has promotions to show on future applications, even for jobs in college.

Just a thought, has your son looked at sites like Indeed.com?

I'm hoping all the advice above will help your son land a first job. If he is unsuccessful though, please consider encouraging him to volunteer somewhere. I am the volunteer coordinator for a mental health agency. We use teens in our community education puppet shows. After just a couple of months of working with someone I am happy to be a reference -- and several kids take advantage of it every year. Just like a part time job, I can speak to whether the applicant is reliable, trustworthy, shows good judgment and how they get along with their fellow volunteers. Plus, volunteering shows initiative. Good luck to your son.

agree. Go talk to the manager and bring a resume to leave with them. Agree on nice clean clothes, well-groomed appearance.

If there is an online application system, have son tell the manager that he will be applying through the system and will check back with them. Then make sure he checks back!

Note also to your son that this is a chance to look around the behind-the-scenes operations at the store and figure out if he WANTS to work in that particular location. Is it clean or dirty? Do the employees seem like they like working there? Does the manager seem nice or is something off? What about the employee bathrooms? Are they clean or dirty?

Try a skills resume. This is what we used to do for students, graduating from technical school.

For your son....what I see is RESPONSIBLE young man, with many skills.

He's worked a few days at his dad work in their warehouse, has worked
for the neighbors doing vacuuming, he's helped me cleaning the office
here where I work and helped me when we've watched the neighbors dog
when they were out of town.

Those are all 'jobs' that no one would let him do, if he was not responsible and trustworthy. He's been given responsibilities at your office (home or work) at the neighbors and at his dad's work.

So he has cleaning experience (vacuuming and cleaning office) he knows how to multi-task (I'm guessing, since most kids can do almost anything and be on a tablet/phone at the same time) and he's good with animals. What did he do at the warehouse?

Is he on time? Does he finish what he starts? Will the neighbors give him a reference?

It's a start : )