How to Help Your Teen Get A Job: A Parent’s Guide

By Cassandra Jesik

If you’re wondering how to help your teen get a job, you’re not alone. Entering into the working world is a big milestone. It’s a chance for them to earn money, build responsibility, and gain real-life experience. In 2025,  job applications are mostly digital, which has changed some of the rules of the game. That’s where your support comes in!

Explore Teen-Friendly Jobs

When someone doesn’t have work experience, it can be difficult to know what you’re good at and what you’d actually like to do. You can help your teen pinpoint what kind of job they’re looking for by asking questions, like: What do your friends or teachers say you’re good at? If you could get paid to do something fun, what would it be?

Industries that often hire teens include:

• Retail & Food Service – Cashier, barista, fast food worker
• Recreation & Hospitality – Camp counselor, lifeguard, hotel staff
• Tutoring & Childcare – Babysitter, tutor, coach
• Seasonal Work – Amusement parks, holiday retail, landscaping

Ask Around

Old-school networking still works! It can be uncomfortable, especially for shy teens but networking is a lifelong skill that will serve them well.

Encourage your teen to ask:

• Friends and family
• Teachers or school counsellors
• Local businesses

Parent Tip: If your teen is nervous about speaking up, help them practice what to say with a simple script like, “Hi, I’m looking for a part-time job—do you know if anyone’s hiring?” Rehearsing builds confidence, and the more they do it, the easier it gets!

Do Some Research

A little research can go a long way. Start with online job sites like Indeed, which list entry-level roles alongside more advanced positions. If there’s a specific company your teen admires, encourage them to visit the company’s website and check the “Careers” page for openings.

Government programs like Young Canada Works and Canada Summer Jobs are also great resources. They fund opportunities specifically for young adults ages 15–30 and are a reliable way to find real, paid work experience.

Parent Tip: Bookmark a few trusted job sites and explore them together. It’s a good opportunity to teach your teen how to spot red flags and avoid job scams!

Make a List

Now that you’ve done some research, help your teen rank job opportunities by their level of interest. They’ll want to keep an open mind and apply to many different places to help their chances of finding a job. However, time and energy can run out, so they’ll want to start with applications for the jobs they care about the most. 

Parent Tip: Set a weekly goal (e.g. apply to 3–5 places) to help them feel motivated but not overwhelmed.

Build a Resume

The next step is building a resume. This can be a hurdle, especially when teens feel like they have “nothing to put on it.” Even without formal work experience, they can still craft a compelling resume that highlights their strengths, potential, and character.

Here’s how you can help your teen identify what to include:

1. Academic Work

• Advanced coursework, specialized exams, and academic competitions can help demonstrate discipline and initiative
• If the job relates to a particular subject, like math, science, or writing, highlight assignments or projects that connect directly to the skills needed in that role

2. Leadership Roles

• Positions like student council representative, club president, or team captain show employers that they can take initiative, work well with others, and take on responsibility
• These roles can be listed just like work history, with the organization name, title, and a short summary of the impact they made

3. Volunteering & Activities

• Extracurriculars like playing in a sports league, performing in a play, or participating in a debate team demonstrate a willingness to contribute, communicate, and learn
• Volunteering shows similar skills, like helping out at a local food bank, animal shelter, or a fundraiser at school 

Parent Tip: Have a conversation about your teen’s examples of teamwork, leadership, or problem-solving. Help them explore and explain the “impact” they made. Remind them that character counts just as much as experience!

Write a Cover Letter

A cover letter is a short, one-page note to a potential employer that explains why you’re interested in the job and what makes you a good fit for it. Even if a job doesn’t ask for one, writing a cover letter can work to your advantage. It shows that you’re attentive and interested in the opportunity.

Here’s how you can help your teen structure their cover letter:

1. Start with the Basics

Encourage your teen to address the letter to the hiring manager (if a name is available) and make sure the company and job title are clearly stated. A personalized, correctly addressed letter shows attention to detail—something employers notice.

2. Highlight Key Skills and Experiences

The body of the letter should focus on a few of your teen’s most relevant strengths. These could include school projects, leadership roles, extracurricular activities, or volunteer work—anything that demonstrates skills the employer is likely looking for, like teamwork, communication, or problem-solving.

3. Express Genuine Interest

The cover letter should also explain why your teen wants to work for that specific company. Is it a brand they admire? A place they already shop or visit? A company that supports causes they care about? Employers appreciate applicants who’ve taken the time to learn a bit about the organization.

4. Finish Strong

At the end of the letter, your teen should thank the employer for considering their application and encourage them to take a look at the resume for more details. A professional, polite closing leaves a positive impression.

Parent Tip: Brainstorm with your teen about what excites them about the job or company. A little enthusiasm can go a long way!

Format and Polish

Once your teen has written a resume and cover letter, the job isn’t quite done. The next essential step is formatting and editing. These final touches can make a big difference in whether their application gets read.

Why It Matters

Employers often spend only a few seconds scanning an application, so clarity is key. Clean formatting helps highlight your teen’s strengths at a glance, making it easier for hiring managers to spot relevant details like skills, experience, and availability. Encourage them to use a clean, professional font (like Arial or Calibri), avoid excessive colors or graphics, and stick to standard formatting (bullet points, bold headings, etc.) But it’s not just people reviewing applications anymore!

Understanding Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

Many companies, especially larger employers, use software called Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to screen resumes before a human ever sees them. These systems scan for specific keywords related to the job. If a resume doesn’t include those words, it might not make it through the first round of screening, no matter how qualified the candidate is!

That’s why it’s important to read job descriptions carefully and help your teen mirror some of the keywords and phrases used in the posting. For example, if the listing mentions “customer service” or “teamwork,” make sure those words appear naturally in your teen’s resume or cover letter—especially if they have relevant experience to back it up.

Parent Tip: Offer to help your teen proofread for spelling, grammar, and clarity. Fresh eyes can catch mistakes they might miss!

Nail the Interview

Once your teen lands an interview, the next step is preparation—and your support can make all the difference. A confident, polished interview performance can set your teen apart, even if they don’t have much formal work experience yet. Here are some key areas where you can help them get interview-ready:

1. Practice Answers

Encourage your teen to rehearse common interview questions. Practicing out loud, whether in front of a mirror or with you or a friend, can help ease nerves and build confidence. You might suggest looking up typical interview questions for the role they’re applying to and writing down possible answers together.

Also, remind them to pay attention to their body language—things like posture, eye contact, and fidgeting can influence how they’re perceived.

2. Use the STAR Method

If your teen is asked, “Tell me about a time when…”, help them prepare with the STAR method—a simple, effective way to answer situational questions. 

STAR stands for:

• Situation – What was going on?
• Task – What were you expected to do?
• Action – What steps did you take?
• Result – What was the outcome?

This format helps them stay organized and show problem-solving and communication skills, even if their examples come from school or volunteer experiences.

3. Dress for Success

First impressions matter and what your teen wears can influence how seriously they’re taken. Even if it’s a casual role, showing up clean, neat, and appropriately dressed shows respect for the employer. If there’s no specific dress code given, help them choose simple, professional-looking clothes—think clean shoes, wrinkle-free tops, but nothing too flashy. They can always borrow something from a friend or relative if needed!

4. Arrive Early

Punctuality speaks volumes about responsibility and reliability. Encourage your teen to plan to arrive 10–15 minutes early, especially if it’s their first time going to the interview location. This buffer time can help calm their nerves, navigate any last-minute hiccups, and start the interview off on a positive note. 

5. Be Polite to Everyone

Remind your teen that every interaction matters, from the receptionist to someone they pass in the hallway. Employers often pay attention to how applicants treat everyone they encounter. A respectful attitude and friendly demeanor can be just as important as what’s said during the interview itself!

Parent Tip: Practice basic etiquette like eye contact and a polite thank you.

Everyone Gets Rejected

Not every job application will lead to an interview—and that’s completely normal. Rejections are part of the process, even for adults with years of experience. For teens, though, hearing “no” can feel especially personal, especially if it’s their first time putting themselves out there.

Let your teen know that rejection isn’t a reflection of their worth or potential. Sometimes it comes down to timing, experience, or simply how many applicants applied. Every application and every “no” is still valuable practice. It means they’re trying, learning, and building resilience.

Parent Tip: Share a story about a time you didn’t get a job you wanted. Let them know you’re proud of their effort, not just the outcome.