It's a Job Worth Doing

 By Ryan Hack   

    There are many businesses in the community that are open to high school teens as employees, but some have qualifications that a worker needs to meet. Here are some job ideas that a sixteen year-old can do.

     First, many stores are hiring cashier positions. However, there are many qualifications to be accepted for the job. Language, mathematical, and reasoning skills are key to being a cashier. A new worker will have to go through training about how to work the register, how to monitor activities at the front of the store, how to secure assets such a cash and checks, and how to check certificates, licenses, and registration. But most importantly, a cashier needs to have good personal skills. They need to be able to talk to customers to ensure that they had a good experience at the store.

     Second, a sixteen year old could be a merchandise associate which includes the responsibilities of assisting in the daily operations of the store, greeting and thanking customers, lifting and carrying items up to fifty pounds, and be able to stand for long periods of time. This job requires to look professional and have flexible work hours, however, it is offered as full and part time. One of the most important skills to have is cooperation, as merchandise associates work as a team. On a daily basis, the job has a worker work in the areas of markdowns, cashier, customer service, presentation, processing, fitting room, and layaway. Finally, merchandise associates need to be energetic as they will be moving around during their entire shift.

     Lastly, with experience in the kitchen, some restaurants will hire line cooks at the age of sixteen. The job is offered full time and part time, but a worker must have a flexible schedule, as they need to be able to work various shifts throughout the week, nights, and weekends. A line cook needs to be able to work quickly and efficiently, as a kitchen can be a noisy and stressful place. Line cooks prepare ingredients and assemble dishes according to the recipe and specifications given to them by the executive chef. The job has proven to be a good way to get into the field of culinary as a future full time job.

     A variety of jobs are available around the community for high school teens, so find the job that is right for you. A couple of places to look for openings are Michael’s Arts and Crafts, Uno Pizza, and TJ Maxx.