The first interview - How to help your teen get that job

So the time has come for your teen’s first interview (or maybe another slightly older child that is yet to fly from the nest) and there are so many ways you can help them get that gig.

First reassure your child that interviews can be scary and it’s normal to get a nervous, no matter how many interviews people go to or what age, nerves almost always tag along.

Now it’s time to get into their wardrobe! Now don’t get distracted by doing a clean out, let them guide you. This is an exciting time as for most teens as this is their first taste of adulthood and responsibility so just like when they were a child, let them put on a fashion parade. Now parents, be gentle, some teens only have seen “dressing up” clothes on Gossip Girl or Bondi Hipsters so their impression of “professional wear” may need a little coaching. Especially girls and their skirt lengths!

Talk them through how important their appearance, cleanliness and presentation is and how it forms opinions of them. Sad but true and best they hear it from you now and not in a performance review where I have seen some real esteem damaging comments be thrown around. This is all new for them.

Now we have the outfit and a little mindset work done, keep up the excitement with asking them about why they want this job, what it will mean for them (ie. Freedom, money, savings, meet new friends, get away from their younger brother) and what their goals are – this is not only great for bonding but keep them inspired because (big spoiler alert) they will lose that excitement in time so having this information under your belt will feed great conversation to get them motivated and to work on time in the future.

Now it’s time for the really critical part: practice!

So make up that you are the interviewer. Have fun with it, put a business jacket on, sit behind a table in a closed-door room if possible and don’t break character (I’m sure they will think you are a dag but trust me, I have seen how valuable this practice truly is).

Ask your teen the questions the interviewer may ask, things like “Why do you want to work here?” “What similar experience do you have?” “What are your biggest strengths?”

These questions can be hard to answer for a first time employee but give them examples to use from work experience, volunteering or events they have been apart of in school, the community or work they do around the house for you.

Help them with their communication; make a fun little buzz noise every time they say “um” or “like” too many times to raise their awareness to these word habits. Teach them about the non-verbal communication also; such as: smiling, eye contact, good posture, clear pronunciation, and all the elements to make a great first impression through the whole interview.

Now the rest is up to them (ensuring that they get there on time). It’s an exciting moment and one that will open many doors as they grow, professionally and emotionally.

I would love to hear how the experience, interview and job success goes so be in contact.

97 Comments

- - ivfmum said
  - 01 May 2013
    11:24 am
Wish I’d had some of these tips whe I was first looking for work

- - freeone1 said
  - 01 May 2013
    10:38 am
Have just gone through the first interview with my son it was pretty casual but the practice before definitely helps with their confidence, and I always tell my kids to look at the interviewer and not at the ground or elsewhere. Great tips thanks MOM

- - kwolfert said
  - 30 Apr 2013
    9:03 am
such an informative read thank you

- - mrsdew17 said
  - 29 Apr 2013
    8:39 pm
2 of my teens have part-time jobs and both interviews were very casual. Best advice – be youself and have a sense of humour. Think these ‘lead in’ part-time jobs are great for preparing them for the real deal when they leave school.

- - eliseellabban81 said
  - 29 Apr 2013
    1:36 pm
So nerve racking – This day is almost on us for our teen, I can’t believe she’s already old enough to go for a job. Thanks for the tips

- - rustyblue said
  - 29 Apr 2013
    12:08 pm
this is really good advise – it can be stressful, that first interview, but honesty, neatness and FRESH breath can be a big bonus.

- - lovebeingmum said
  - 28 Apr 2013
    9:52 am
I still remember my first interview, the overwhelming panic and the stress before and after. Great tips.

- - kozack said
  - 27 Apr 2013
    9:17 pm
terriffic tips as my eldest is just at the stage where he wants to get a job after school or for weekends got him to read this aswell and i think it helps the nerves

- - spunkychick said
  - 26 Apr 2013
    6:05 pm
This is a very helpful article, giving wonderful advice for preparing sons and daughters for interviews. Teens who do succeed in getting their job may also need practice in how to answer the phone in a businesslike manner.

- - tc_burcu_genc_ilhan said
  - 25 Apr 2013
    10:11 pm
it s so stressful .

- - tc_burcu_genc_ilhan said
  - 25 Apr 2013
    10:09 pm
thanks for great informations .

- - lonsdale said
  - 25 Apr 2013
    2:27 pm
My daughter is an absolute bucket of nerves at interviews – she is highly intelligent, well dressed and well spoken, yet the nerves kill her chances every time – it is very disheartening that interviewers cannot see past the nerves to give her a chance. I keep telling her that it’s all valuable practice, but each rejection just makes it harder.

- - riss_whatever said
  - 24 Apr 2013
    3:44 pm
Great advice. I’ll rehearse questions with my nephew in preparation for his first job 🙂 Thanx

- - sallty said
  - 22 Apr 2013
    10:14 pm
I’ve interviewed teens for jobs before and I totally agree with the part about rehearsing answers to questions like why they want the job. I used to interview so many who had no idea how to get across any enthusiasm for the job and why I should employ them over the other applicants.

- - hopefullyheidi said
  - 22 Apr 2013
    3:26 pm
Wonderful ,educational article in preparing a teen. Gone are the days of getting jobs through nepotism or being in the right place at the right time. I feel for the youth of today,more and more we are needing to become greater educated just to earn a basic living. But on the flip side I read a comment from one of the ladies below and I agree with you about the facial piercings and also i was thinking tattoos etc. Obviously an employer cant tell a prospective employee they didnt get the job because they have a tattoo on their neck or a lip ring.

- - zara-ballet said
  - 20 Apr 2013
    2:13 pm
My mum is a store manager for a large supermarket, so she has interview hundreds of teens looking for their first job. Definitely neat appearance & good hygiene is a must, also honesty in availability, if they have sport on Saturday mornings – say so. Language is also important, keep it professional..

- - heggsy said
  - 20 Apr 2013
    1:25 am
my 15 has just got his first job on his first interview it was a very strange feeling dropping him off on his first day of work

- - snoopy said
  - 19 Apr 2013
    8:14 pm
Mock interviews can be really helpful, it prepares you much better for questions you may not have otherwise given much thought to.

- - lisakaye said
  - 19 Apr 2013
    2:59 pm
wonderful advice, it such a stressfull situation going for an interview

- - penny05 said
  - 18 Apr 2013
    10:14 pm
Im 24 and still get someone to do a ‘mock’ interview with me!!