If you weren’t tuned in last time, we’re right in the middle of a discussion on getting and keeping a job.  {Click Here to go back to part one of this series and view the article entitled, "Get a Job!"}

If you followed the guidelines from last month, we hope you’re now gainfully employed. And now on to tips on how to keep that great new job!

Perhaps the easiest and most important tip for keeping your new job is to show up to work! Debbie Harmon, who hires teenagers at Knott’s Berry Farm amusement park says, "One of the first requirements in having a job is to show up when you are scheduled. Employers only hire and schedule enough employees to fill their needs, so when an employee is late or doesn’t show up for a shift it makes it difficult to do business."

Why all the fuss? Here’s a typical scenario:

You’re hungry and decide to stop for a burger before work. "It’ll only take a minute," you rationalize. But by the time you’re back on the road, you’re fifteen minutes late. "Fifteen minutes," you think. "No big deal." But to the co-worker waiting for you so he can go to lunch, it is a big deal! This doesn’t make for great relationships with co-workers!

Even worse is not showing up. It may only take one "Oops! I forgot I was scheduled today," to land you back where you started, searching through the "Help Wanted" ads.

The key is planning. Make a note of your schedule on your calendar, notebook, or even tape it to the bathroom mirror. Just don’t forget! Then ask what you need to do before work. Is your uniform clean? Gas in the car? Lunch packed? Get all these details cared for ahead of time, and be at work five minutes early. Then if you get stopped at a traffic light you’ve got a couple minutes to spare.

If a true emergency arises call as soon as possible. This at least lets your supervisor know your situation and then he or she can make other arrangements instead of sitting around and wondering where you are.

Dawn was a cheerful teenager hired to work as my office assistant several years ago. She had a good attitude about learning, and soon was busy with filing and answering the phones. However, Dawn had a small problem. She like to stay out late with friends.

At first Dawn got enough sleep before work. But after a couple weeks, she missed hanging out with her friends. "I can handle it," she told herself, and she headed out for a party,

The next day, Dawn had the simple job of putting labels on envelopes. When I check on her after a half hour, Dawn was snoozing with her head resting on a pile of file folders. She was embarrassed when I woke her, and promised it wouldn’t happen again. Sadly, it did. Dawn was soon removed from the schedule at my office.

Showing up for work too tired to perform, bringing your homework along to do behind the cash register, or making calls for youth group when you should be stocking shelves is going to cut your employment short. You’re there to work, and you should be ready to do so.

Here again, planning ahead is the means to success. You know how much rest you need, how much time you need for church, school, family, and other activities. Plan your time so when you’re at work, you can work.

Randy Jones is a supervisor at a large grocery store. He says the best way to keep your job and get ahead at it is to do what you’re supposed to do!

"There are times when employees are unsupervised. Times there’s not somebody watching. If they get that job done and ask ‘What would you like me to do next?’ That’s what I like to see."

You were hired to work, and the company wants you to do that work in the best way you can. This means following guidelines, wearing your uniform properly, and obeying your supervisors. Adds Debbie Harmon, "Teens who understand that when they have a job they’re part of a business and it’s their responsibility to do what they can to make the business succeed are light years ahead of their peers." For Christian teenagers, this not only brings you honor in your job, it brings honor to God.

One young man, Mike, learned this the hard way. He worked at a food stand in a mall. When closing one night he forgot to do one small part of his job. He forgot to turn off the coffee pots. The next morning a cloud of black smoke and a terrible smell greeted the owner of the stand when he opened for the day. Fortunately, no fire had started and the only damage was to the coffee pots which had to be replaced. Mike received a warning.

Not long after this, Mike was closing again. In a hurry to meet his date, he again left the coffee pots burning. Again, there was no permanent damage, but this time Mike lost his job. Failing to do even the simplest part of your job can result in damage to the business, and damage to your employment record.

"One of the toughest concepts for teens to grasp," explains Harmon, "is that work is a business, not an extension of their social activities."

Randy Jones agrees. "In the grocery store environment there are a lot of other teenagers to talk to, so the temptation is there to talk. We’re a customer business, so we want them to interact with the customer, not be talking to the person next to them. Then they’re ignoring the customer. The customer is paying for the groceries which is paying for their job. If they’re talking more than they’re bagging they’re not giving attention to the job at hand."

Talking with friends and ignoring customers is sure-fire way to lose that job you love. Playing around instead of working is another.

One employer shared about two young men who enjoyed playing pranks. One of them got the great idea that he’d greet his friend with a pie in the face. So he piled on the whipped cream, then hid his pie until the right moment. Unfortunately, at that "right moment," the friend saw what was coming, ducked out of the way (wouldn’t you?), and the pie ended up hitting a customer. Whoops! Both of these pranksters lost their jobs. The moral (of course) is to save talking, hanging out and playing with friends for after hours.

The final key to success at your new job is to have a good attitude. Neil MacDonald, owner of a packaging store that employees several teenagers says, "Attitude, friendliness towards the customer, politeness, being willing to help—these are all a part of customer service."

Having a good attitude, even if you’re assigned the lowest and dirtiest job in the company, can go a long way toward success at your job. Others notice whether you’re willing to work, or whether you’re quick to complain or make excuses. Be sure these things are remembered when it’s time for promotions and raises! And again, your attitude is a reflection of your relationship with Christ. It will be hard to share about God’s love to co-workers after you’ve been unloving toward them or others.

Now what are you doing sitting around reading this? Get to work!

SIDEBAR

Need more independence? Have some skills you’re willing to share? You might be the entrepreneurial type. Here are ideas for small businesses you can start and run yourself:

•Computer consultant (one 14-year-old makes $20 an hour trouble-shooting technical problems.)

•Lawn service. This could include planting and caring for flowers, mowing grass, raking leaves, then snow removal during winter months.

•House cleaning

•Clown for children’s parties

•Washing cars or doing minor services such as oil changes

•Pet care, such as washing pets, walking them, or caring for them when owners are out of town.

•Selling hand-made greeting cards or other "crafty" items

Be sure to do some research before starting as to what your costs will be, how you’ll advertise, what taxes you’ll have to pay, and other concerns. Look at your local library for books with guidelines for young entrepreneurs like yourself.