Sonic also has great opportunities for those of you who already have some management experience. They’ve got assistant manager jobs, manager jobs, shift leader jobs and supervisor jobs.

Check out Sonic Drive-In jobs today!

You’ve got to be a natural born leader in order to be a Pizza Hut manager. In fact, everyone who gets a Pizza Hut job is honest, hard-working, energetic and fun.

Do you think you’d be right for a Pizza Hut manager job? Learn more about Pizza Hut jobs today.

February 10, 20XX

Dear Hiring Manager,

I am interested in the team member position at Schneider National that I saw listed on your website. I have extensive experience working as a truck driver, because after my spaceship crashed to earth four million years ago, I was transformed into an earth vehicle. Through my work at Transformers, Inc., I learned about the transportation industry, being a hero, and fighting the evil Decepticons.

In addition to my transportation experience, I also have leadership experience. In my role as the leader of the Autobots, I was response for overseeing the team – including Bumblebee, Ironhide, Ratchet, Chromia and Sideswipe – in our fight against Megatron and Starscream. I believe that my work in transportation, partnered with my leadership experience, would make me an asset to your company.

Thank you for your consideration. I can be reached at (555) AUTO-BOT or (555) OPT-IMUS. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

Optimus Prime

Optimus Prime

Employer Contact Information

Name
Title
Company
Address
City, State ZIP Code

Date

Dear Hiring Manager,

I am interested in the <insert position name> at <insert employer name> that I saw listed <place where you learned of the position>. I have <name relevant experience> because <how experience was acquired>. Through my work at <former employer> I learned <list additional skills>.

In addition to my <previous listed experience>, I also have excellent <skill 1> and <skill 2>. My past experience as a <community service role/other job experience> at <volunteer organization/other employer> allowed me to <list skills acquired at community service position>. I believe that my <skill 1>, partnered with my <relevant job experience>, would make me an asset to your company.

Thank you for your consideration. I can be reached at <primary phone number> or <secondary phone number>. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

Your Signature

Your Typed Name

Job search lessons learned from “He’s Just Not That into You”

Breaking up is tough. No matter when it comes, no matter what the circumstances, no one wants to feel rejected or unwanted.  Much like dating, there are few things worse than building yourself up for the thrill of starting a new job, only to be let down by an employer.  Sometimes you’re formally notified that they’re not interested, but sometimes you’ll have to break out your copy of “He’s Just Not That into You” to decipher the code.

Chapter 1: “He’s just not that into you if he’s not asking you out.”

Translation: You applied, they didn’t call.

You’ve sent out all the signals to let them know you’re interested: you applied online, wrote an awesome cover letter, everything.  They’re just not picking up on your signals and for whatever reason, they haven’t called you back.  Sorry, you aren’t what they’re looking for.  It’s okay. There are a lot of fish in the sea! But this particular fish just isn’t that into you.

Chapter 9: “He’s just not that into you if he’s disappeared on you.”

Translation:  You interviewed, they didn’t call.

You had your first date interview and it was great.  You wore your favorite outfit and you had great chemistry, but now they aren’t calling you back.  It happens to the best of us. Sometimes they just don’t feel the spark, or maybe they were looking around and found a better match.  Give it a week or two, but if they haven’t called you back, they’re just not that into you.

Chapter 10: “He’s just not that into you if he’s married (and other insane variations of being unavailable).”

Translation: Are they really even hiring?

Sometimes employers like to play it safe and put up a “Help Wanted” sign when they don’t have a position open at the moment.  This is called proactive hiring, and it’s a lot like dating around.  They want to keep it casual and explore their options, but they might not really have a permanent position available.  They may call you when you least expect it; but if all signs should be pointing to “yes” and their answer is still “no,” then they’re just not that into you.

Like any relationship gone awry, the best thing you can do is get back out there.  There’s no time to wallow in self-pity about a job that just wasn’t a good fit.  You’ve got to keep looking and eventually, you’ll find a job that’s a perfect match!

Officiating is always one of those things that makes people mad.  It doesn’t matter what the outcome is; the day after the Super Bowl, the losing team will complain about a bad call.  Last year it was LaMarr Woodley’s hit on Kurt Warner that was ruled a fumble.  This year, with two teams heavily dependent on their passing game, there is sure to be a pass interference call that changes the momentum of the game. 

Here’s the thing: in the game, the coach has a challenge flag.  You, my friend, do not.  If you make a bad call in an interview and throw out something about “hating your boss” or you show up late, you can’t have a do over.  There is no coach’s challenge, there is no booth review, and you’ll be toast.  So here’s the game plan:

1.       Know the rules: Specifically, know what not to do in an interview.

2.       Pick your plays: Know how to answer difficult interview questions.

3.       Wear your best uniform: You’ve got to look good to feel good.

Penalties might cost them the game, but it won’t cost you yours.  Follow the game plan and get started with your job search!

You’re guaranteed to hear them, so let’s think about what to say

While these may not be the hardest interview questions to answer, they are some of the most common. The hiring manager has probably heard a thousand answers to every question, so how can you make yourself stand out in your job search?

Interview question 1: Tell me about yourself.

This question will probably be the first out of the gate. First impressions last forever, so don’t go overboard. The hiring manager isn’t asking about what you got for your first birthday party or your favorite food. A few facts about yourself, like where you go to school, what you want to do after you graduate and your favorite hobby, will do just fine.

Interview question 2: Why do you want to work here?

This question requires a little homework. Try not to say, “I love the #6 combo” (although the Spicy Chicken sandwich at Wendy’s is my favorite too). Even though the sandwich is delicious, it’s not really what the hiring manager is asking you. Maybe you’ve had a friend recommend you, or maybe you love the customer service you get every time you come. Maybe in your research you read that it’s a fast-growing company. Giving a thoughtful answer will help you stand out.

Interview question 3: What’s your greatest strength?

You’ve got to nail this question. Your interviewer is asking you to brag about yourself, so brag on. Maybe you work well on a team. Maybe you’re a people person and everyone naturally gravitates to you. Mention your best trait. If, however, your greatest strength is dominating at Modern Warfare 2 or holding your breath for 17 minutes, you should not mention it. Your strength should be work-related.

Interview question 4: What’s your biggest weakness?

Here it’s best to mention one good thing you do to a fault. If one of your strengths was, “I’m detail-oriented,” here you could say, “Sometimes I focus too much on the small things.” Immediately follow up your weakness with something you’ve done to address it: “So I’m very careful to stay on task and to always have a good idea of what the end result should be.”

Interview question 5: What would you do if….?

You saw a customer steal something? You saw a co-worker steal something? You saw your friend steal something? A customer yelled at you? A co-worker yelled at a customer? This question comes in many forms, but mostly they just want to know that they can trust you. The safest way to answer this question is to say you’d always tell a manager and let them handle the situation.

Four things to tell your boss to help you keep your schedule balanced

If you’re working while going to high school, you’re not alone. Statistics show that around 75 percent of teens (3 out of every 4) have student jobs. But it’s tough to work nonstop while keeping your grades up, and everyone needs time off every once and a while. Here are four quick tips to help you be the teacher’s pet and keep your boss happy at the same time.

1.       Tell the truth: No one likes to be lied to. When you’re interviewing for the job, don’t over-promise the amount you’ll be able to work. If your availability only allows for a weekend job, tell the hiring manager that. If you’ll never be able to work Tuesdays, be up front. If the job allows for it, the manager will usually be able to accommodate your schedule. Saying you can work when you can’t will only put you and your manager in a bad spot.

2.       Tell them early: Things come up. In the fall there will be homecoming. In the spring there will be prom. If you play sports, there will be games. Even summer jobs will almost always be interrupted with a vacation. The best thing to do is tell your manager as early as possible so he can make the appropriate schedule arrangements. Give him enough notice to generate the schedule without you on it.

3.       Tell them again: If you’ve given your manager lots of notice, it’s always nice to remind her of whatever event you have taking place. Your manager may have 10 or even 20 people’s schedules to keep track of, so a friendly reminder never hurts.

4.   Tell them thank you: When a manager accommodates your scheduling needs, say thank you with your words and your actions. There’s nothing worse than doing a favor for someone and getting no gratitude for what you’ve done. Show your manager how much you appreciate him by going into work, doing a great job at work and maybe even writing him a thank you note.

Three things to think over before you apply

So your birthday is coming up and you can hardly stand it. Not everyone is lucky enough to get an MTV Sweet 16 birthday bash, but all you really need is a birthday cake, right? You’re out-of-your-mind-excited for your first job because along with work comes  a healthy dose of independence. Here are the most common questions we get about getting your first job:

1.       How early should I apply? While being prepared is important, there is such a thing as too early. A lot of people will tell you “it’s never too early” to apply for jobs, but that’s not entirely true. While it’s never too early to start looking for jobs, hold off on the applications until you’re a little closer to your start date. As a good rule of thumb, don’t apply for a job more than 4 weeks before you can start.

2.       What kind of job should I apply for? It really depends on what you like. Think about things you like to do. If you love meeting new people, you’d probably be great in a cashier job or a sales associate job. If you love to work in the kitchen, a restaurant job would be a great option for you.

3.       How much will I get paid? There’s no reason to beat around the bush: the best part of the job is getting paid. You’re probably eager to know how much you’ll be making, so do the research on your expected salary before you apply. If the pay range isn’t what you’re expecting, keep looking.

Author of Hey, Get A Job!

There’s a common list of skills and requirements for employees. This section discusses the traits that make a great employee and those that are sure ways to get fired. These are true not only for teens, but for all workers young and old in any field. After reading through this section, the things your teachers are teaching you in school might make more sense.

Hardworking - This would seem obvious, but people are fired for not working all the time.

Anne was a lazy student in school. When she passed a class, it was barely. Anne promised herself when she got a job her lazy ways would change. Anne was lucky enough to interview with an employer that didn’t ask about her GPA. She got and started the job, but she and her employer discovered habits are extremely hard to break. She was fired because she didn’t have a good work ethic.

Dependability - Most often this is tied to lateness and absences without good reason. Attendance issues are one of the top things people are fired for in this country. Businesses are strict, much stricter than your school when it comes to attendance. In order for an employer to benefit from your work, you have to be there.

Scott couldn’t seem to make it to work on time. He was never more than 3 minutes late, but the company he worked for had a very strict policy. A note went into his file after he was late two times, which meant he received no holiday bonus. After his 4^th, he was fired.

If you don’t already use a planner, you need to start. Don’t depend on memory to keep track of school, work schedules and all your other activities. It will get to be too much. As a part-time worker, your schedule could be different from week to week. To avoid costly mistakes, write things down.

Dependability also has to do with doing what you said you would, when you said you would do it. As you mature, more and more people will depend on you. If you want to have value, you can’t check out physically or mentally and leave people hangin’.

Responsible - Self-motivated people are mature people. They are also the people who can make decisions and stand behind those decisions, good or bad. It’s like life rule #6 - If you screw up, it’s not your parents’ (or anybody else’s) fault so don’t whine about your mistakes. Learn from them.

Barbara’s employer knew his young employees would make mistakes. What he didn’t expect was his inability to discuss those mistakes with Barbara. Each time he tried to teach her something about her job she interrupted him to explain why her mistake was someone else’s fault. This grated on the nerves of her employer and her fellow employees until he was forced to let Barbara go.

In school, being responsible is really a suggestion. There’s truthfully not a lot educators can do if you decide to do nothing. In the world of work, employees must be responsible. If you cannot meet that expectation, you will not have a job.

Honesty and integrity - If these are not two of your qualities, then please don’t get a job because you give all teenagers a bad name.

Flexibility and willingness - Adapting to new situations and things you are asked to do is important. You are going into an entry-level position, which means you will do some things you don’t like to do. We’ve all been there. Ask your parents about their first jobs. Have the ability to be willing and flexible in your job.  Do the things you don’t want to, pay your dues, and someday you won’t be at the bottom. As life rule #5 says, Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your grandparents had a different word for burger flipping; they called it opportunity.

Jared was hired as a receptionist in a dentist’s office. He wasn’t told when he was hired that one of his responsibilities was to clean the bathroom. Jared refused when his boss told him to grab a toilet brush and get busy. He stated, “That’s not what I was hired to do.“ Jared quit that job, but found that no matter where he went to work, he was expected to do tasks he didn’t necessarily care for.

Respectful - Without respect for others, you can’t get along in the workplace. This inability to demonstrate respect shares the top spot with dependability for the reason people are fired. All jobs require you to be a member of a team. It can only be a team if there is respect between its members. And as you’ve probably been told a number of times, you can’t get respect until you give it.

Chris knew copy machines very well. When his employer gave Chris and his fellow employees a big project to do, he emphasized the need to work as a team in order to meet the deadline. Chris didn’t have respect for the others’ ability to get things done. Chris tried to take over the project himself, ignoring another employee when she pointed out a typo to Chris. He was fired when he printed ten thousand business cards with a mistake on them.

Positive attitude ­- You can’t be depressed, mad or moody while you are at work. Many of you will be working with customers who expect a positive attitude ­- not to mention your fellow employees have to be around you too. A negative attitude in the workplace is like cancer in the body: it spreads. In order to return to health, the cancer has to be eliminated, just as the employee has to be fired.

Kara was having a lot of problems at home. Instead of embracing the time at work as a time to be away and think about something else, she stewed about the issues. Kara snapped at customers and her coworkers, and generally made everyone around her tired of her attitude. When her mood became so destructive that customers began to complain about her rude behavior, her employer fired her.

What it really comes down to is remaining an optimist rather than a pessimist. This is not an easy thing to do, particularly if there are negative things going on in your life. There are several choices you get to make on a daily basis; your attitude is one of them. For the sake of remaining employed, choose to have a positive attitude.

Life-long learner - If you’ve ever read your school’s mission statement, it probably includes something about creating life-long learners. What this means is that you are willing and able to learn new things throughout your life. In other words, just because you get a diploma doesn’t mean you’re done learning. Jobs are going to require you to keep training and keep learning. Otherwise you cannot advance within your company, or in some cases, even keep your job. My job as a teacher, at least as I see it, is not to cram information into a kid’s head as much as it is to teach them to learn without me.

Focus - Having ADD or ADHD will not work as an excuse at a job. Employers need you to be able to focus and pay attention to detail. Not only is this needed for quality in your work, but it’s for your safety as well. Work accidents happen when employees lose focus.

Lee was not known for his ability to listen. He tended to daydream instead. He was doing just that when his boss was explaining the company’s filing system to him. When she finished, she left Lee to file a stack of documents. He completed the task, but did it wrong. Needless to say, Lee’s inability to focus lost him a job.

Focusing, like a lot of things, has to do with habits. What are you used to doing? Are you used to listening when being spoken to? Are you in the habit of completing tasks, or do you quit when you lose interest? If you want to experience success in life in general, you must form good habits.

Read more in Jennie Withers’ book for teens, “Hey, Get a Job!“

Find more info on teen jobs on SnagAJob.com