The car needs gas.

Your friends have invited you to a movie.

There’s a great sale at your favorite store.

Youth camp at church is coming up and you don’t want to miss it.

What do these four situations have in common? They all cost money. And since you’re only finding lint in your pockets and candy wrappers in your purse, there’s only one solution.

Get a job.

It’s a thought that’s often gone through your mind, and you’re probably starting to hear it from your parents and friends too. "When are you going to go get a job?" But where? How?

Thankfully, it is possible for you to get a job—in fact thousands of teenagers just like you are already members of our nation’s job force. When it comes time for you to join them, remember these important pointers as you begin the employment process.

Listen to the story of this young woman’s first job:

"I heard they were looking for courtesy clerks, a fancy way of saying grocery baggers, at a store near my home. I thought this would be the perfect job. I enjoy talking with people and could see myself chatting with customers.

"I applied and got the job right away. The bagging was just as fun as I thought it would be. Unfortunately, I soon learned my job also included a lot of mopping, sweeping, taking out trash, and other custodial chores I didn’t enjoy. When I found I’d be doing more cleaning than bagging, I realized I’d chosen the wrong job for my interests."

This teen could have saved herself a lot of trouble by doing a bit of research. Ask yourself these questions:

•What kind of work do I enjoy doing? What kind of work am I willing to do? What kind of work do I absolutely not want to do?

•Do I work better alone or as part of a team? Do I need supervision to complete a job or not? Is it important to me to work with friends, or am I willing to try something new?

•What skills do I have to offer an employer? In what areas am I a quick learner? What kind of job would be too difficult for me to tackle?

•What laws are there that regulate my schedule? Do I have to be 16 to get a job in my state? Do I need a work permit from my school to get a job? Will I be able to handle work as well as school, church, and other responsibilities?

After you’ve answered these questions, you’ll have a better idea of where you should start looking.

For example, if you enjoy children, don’t require a lot of supervision, and have a background in baby-sitting, you might look into day cares, preschools, summer day camps, sports lessons for children, and other similar jobs. If you prefer to work on a team, don’t mind getting a little dirty, and need some supervision and guidance, you might try fast food, other restaurant positions, construction, a lawn service, or housekeeping.

Some employers will conduct a quick interview when you turn in your application, so it’s best to be prepared right from the start.

As you fill out your applications, be honest and as complete as possible. If you don’t have previous experience, don’t make anything up. However, baby-sitting, paper routes, and school or club responsibilities (such as being your class treasurer or club president) can be included as they demonstrate you’ve been trusted with responsibility already.

Jeff Stinson was reviewing the application of a young woman wanting to be a cook. No education was required for the job, but on her application the teenager said she’d attended a prestigious college. Jeff called the college to verify this, and discovered the girl had lied. "It was sad," he explained, "because she would have been great for the job. But we can’t hire someone we can’t trust."

Every interviewer has his or her favorite horror stories. The girl who brought her lunch along to eat during the interview. The young man who needed to shower so badly that the interviewer had to cover his face with his sleeve to bear the "aroma." Or this story, that happened to me!

I once worked for a company in the entertainment industry that hired hundreds of teenagers each summer. I handled the initial screening of the applicants and determined which departments to forward applications to, or which applications could be "filed"(forgotten!) immediately.

One hot summer day, a young man walked into my office pulling his bike along beside him. He was wearing Spandex biking shorts, and, was...let’s say, far beyond damp. (OK, he was sweating like a pig!)

"I’d like to apply for a job," he said.

"Sure, just fill out this application," I answered, handing him a clipboard with an application and pen.

"Oh no," he refused. "I’ve already got my application filled out."

He then proceeded to reach into the leg of his tight shorts and pull out an application he’d completed, rolled up, and stashed there. The paper was completely soaked through with his sweat! He handed me the paper which I gingerly accepted and tried to unroll without touching too much. When he turned to go, I quickly "filed" that application. Obviously, he never got a job offer from my office.

The point is, appearance counts, and that first impression is vitally important.

Over the years, Debbie Harmon has hired and trained hundreds of teenagers at Knott’s Berry Farm, a large amusement park in southern California. She explains, "Your personal appearance tells the interviewer a lot about how serious you are about the job. Casual attire has become acceptable interview attire for entry level jobs, and while we don’t expect every applicant to come dressed in a suit or shirt and tie, those who do definitely make a positive first impression with interviewers. The applicant should be neatly groomed and attire must be clean."

Brenda Walters, manager at an Esprit clothing store suggests you check out what employees are wearing at places you want to work. When you arrive to turn in your application or have that first interview, be wearing similar clothing. If you see employees at the video store wearing dresses or ties to work, wear the same thing when you apply. If you’re applying at a restaurant, being very clean and having your hair out of your face will make a good first impression.

Besides appearance, other qualities employers will be looking for include:

Friendliness. Says Harmon, "Being friendly to strangers is a basic part of everyone’s job. Applicants who can make eye contact and smile show they possess these important qualities of being friendly."

Enthusiasm and initiative. Bob Hunt owns a used car lot. He didn’t have any jobs available when a teenage guy came in asking for work. Bob tried to send him on his way, but this young man kept pressing. "Is there anything I can do?" he asked. Bob says, "I was impressed. I took his number, thought about it, then called and asked if we’d be willing to wash our cars. He’s been doing it for two years now."

Inquiring minds. Now’s the time to find out everything you can about the company and the job you’re applying for. Neal MacDonald, owner of a shipping business that employees several teenagers, suggests applicants be "Inquisitive about what the business is and what they’re going to be doing. I want to see they have an interest in the job." And like the courtesy-clerk-turned-custodian, finding out about the job before you take it is better than having to quit only a few weeks into the job.

You’ve passed all the interviews and impressed the socks off everyone. Congratulations! You got the job! Now what?

That’s what we’ll be talking about next time in the article called, "Keep That Job!" Look for helpful tips on how to succeed at your new job—and don’t miss the story of the Pie-in-the-Face Customer, all in the FamilyFans.com Article Archives! See you there! {Click Here to go directly to the article, "Keep That Job!"}

SIDEBAR

Not everyone wants to work in fast food, video stores or at the local mall. Here are some other places you might consider applying, along with types of work you might do there:

•Restaurants (waitress/waiter, dishwasher, bussing tables)

•City Parks and Recreation (lifeguard, playground supervisor, golf course tee-time scheduler, sports coach, sports referee)

•Amusement parks (ride operators, arcade operators, food preparation or sales, custodial jobs, entertainers at shows)

•Temporary agencies (data entry, answering phones, stuffing envelopes, assembly-line positions)