If your main goal is to amass $1 million, at some point, your allowance (if you are lucky enough to get one) isn’t going to cut the mustard. You’ll need a faster way to get more money to save and invest over time.
One of the fastest ways to get money is to have a job. A few lucky individuals can just fall into a job or have one handed to them. For most of us, however, finding a job requires a lot of work.
The good news is that a job is not only a great way to get money now, but it also gives you valuable experience to make more money in the future—even if all you learn is that you don’t want to clean horse trailers for a living. (Our apologies to those who like to clean horse trailers for a living.) There are thousands of first jobs out there that you can choose from. Most will be close to cleaning horse trailers (again, our apologies)—the lowest jobs on the ladder. We’re talking hamburger flipping, taco stuffing, bathroom cleaning, roof ripping, eel wrestling . . .
Which leads us to this: Don’t be confused between a job and a career. Your first job probably will not be your career. There are exceptions: You could start as an intern at a gaming company and end up spending the rest of your life in the industry. But no one is going to hand you the keys to their business on the first day. You need to show that you can handle the most basic responsibilities and demonstrate follow-through to gain trust. And get this: You need to work hard. It’s a proving ground for the employer to know if you can handle the work. But, for now, let’s focus on getting that first job.
This requires a little strategy. First, ask yourself what you are interested in doing. Making money is always first on that list, but what are you truly passionate about? What industry or business excites you?
Maybe you have dreams of owning your own restaurant. Get a job as a dishwasher, then quickly fill in for a server who’s sick. Soon you have a server’s job. Two years later, you take over as manager. Maybe you stay, or maybe you become a manager at a different restaurant. Hey, you’re moving up the ladder. You’ll probably work at a few jobs (and even try a few different industries) before you land the perfect gig.
Don’t confuse a job with a career.
These classic first jobs are often called entry-level jobs, and they’re just what they sound like—your “entry” into the world of money:
Babysitter, lawn mower and landscaper, pizza delivery person, restaurant server or dishwasher, pooper scooper, fast-food worker, farm worker, stocker and bagger at a grocery store, mail room sorter, stable worker, mechanic’s assistant, dog walker, golf caddy, house painter, lifeguard, music instructor, tutor, gym towel folder, theater concessions attendant, computer repairer, valet at a car park, cherry picker, asparagus harvester, horse trailer cleaner, gas station cashier, car wash attendant, errand runner for the elderly, etc.
Everyone has to start somewhere—even these billionaires. Notice how none of them had glamorous jobs to start with. They worked their way up, just like everyone else.
Here are the typical steps in finding a job—we’ll cover them all in the upcoming pages:
1. Decide what job you want.
2. Find an open job.
3. Apply for the job.
4. Get an interview (or several).
5. Keep at it! Repeat steps 1 to 4 until you get hired.
There might be many different steps to your “GET A JOB” master plan, but take your time and you’ll reach your goal, you financial genius.
1. Decide what job you want.
One of the first things you should do is put together a list of potential jobs that you can do. Brain surgery is probably out. So is running the World Bank. What can you do? Don’t say “nothing.” Everybody can do something. Go ahead, think about it for a minute . . .
Okay, time’s up! Here are some ways to figure out which jobs might be right for you:
Divide a piece of paper in half. List your skills and strengths on one side. List your interests on the other. Think about what kind of job might play to both. Do you enjoy interacting with people? Retail or food service could be a great choice. Love animals? Look into pet sitting or assisting at a veterinary hospital.
Ask around. Talk to family and friends. What kind of work did they do when they were young? You might be surprised at the answers, and this may inspire you to look for a job you never thought of.
Volunteer. Helping out at different types of charitable organizations is a great way to gain skills, try new jobs, and see what fits your interests.
Are you a pet person? Volunteer at a shelter or animal hospital.
Consider your natural abilities. Are you an early riser or a night owl? Funny or serious? Always on time or constantly running behind? Think about jobs that might suit your personality best.
There are also internships offered at thousands of companies across the country. Internships usually are unpaid positions, but in exchange you get great work experience and get your foot in the door at some pretty amazing businesses.
As a general rule, 14 years of age is the minimum age for employment in America, but most state labor laws require you to be 15 or 16 years old. There are also limits to the number of hours you can work and rules that may prevent you from doing certain jobs until you are 18 or older. These include jobs that are hazardous—like running a nuclear power plant, operating chain saws, or driving a taxicab. It’s pretty easy to look up the laws for your state online, and most employers have this info as well. There are exceptions to the rules. For example, you might be able to work for your parents in a family-run business.
You can always work for a friend or a neighbor, if you can agree on a job and an hourly rate. Maybe you let the cat out every day for a family next door. Maybe you rake leaves for people on the block. Maybe you detail cars. We know a young kid who was too young for regular employment, so she started her own dog-walking business. If being a young business tycoon is something you find appealing, you can learn how to start your own business in chapter 6.
2. Find an open job.
The next step is to find a job that’s open—meaning they are actively looking for someone to fill it. There are several places to find open jobs.
• Family & Friends. Talking to the folks you know is the best place to start. So get the word out! Tell everyone you know that you’re looking for a job. Definitely talk to people who work at places you like and find out if they hire young people. You’ll have a built-in recommendation!
• Job Listings. Search job posting sites in your area, and you’ll get lots of results in a fifth of a second, or try local message boards. You can also still find classified ads in your local newspaper. Have a trusted adult help you with any job search and never go to an interview without having thoroughly checked out who your potential employer is. Never go to an interview alone.
• Just Walk in. At many restaurants and retailers, you can just walk in and ask for a job application.
• Business Website. If you want to work for a specific company, you can see if they have an application on their website. This is especially common with fast-food chains and retailers.
3. Apply for the job.
Once you find an open job, you’ll have to fill out an application, provide a résumé, or both.
Here’s some information you should have with you when you’re going to apply for a job, in case you have to complete an application form on the spot:
• Personal info, including your Social Security number, address, contact info, etc.
• Other jobs you’ve had, including any past responsibilities, dates of employment, and past employer contact info. You can include volunteer work here, too.
• References, meaning people the employer can call to find out if you are trustworthy. The best references are former employers, but you can also use coaches, teachers, or other adults who know you well. Avoid using friends or family members. Employers don’t want a reference from your mom.
Make a résumé!
Let’s say you want a job as a babysitter or bagger at a grocery store. The person who would hire you will want to know who you are. A résumé is a one-page story of your work or business experience—an advertisement for why someone should hire you. Even if you don’t need one for the jobs you’re applying for, it’s a great exercise to put one together.
Make sure your résumé looks professional. Also, you don’t have to give the same résumé to every employer. You can tweak it for different jobs.
Name and contact information. Put your name, mailing address, phone number, and email address at the top of the page. Make sure your email address isn’t immature or offensive—if yours is partydude@lazymail.com, you might want to get a new one just for job applications.
Objective. This tells the employer what kind of job you are looking for. Don’t be afraid to advertise your skills here a little. You can just put it in your own words like this:
OBJECTIVE:
Seeking employment in the food service industry to demonstrate superior people skills.
You can change the objective to reflect who’s reading your résumé. If it’s a golf course, change the objective to say something like “seeking employment in the golf industry.” If it’s a grocery store, say something like “seeking employment in the food and retail business.”
Education. List the schools you’ve attended. You don’t have to go back to pre-K, but you should list the name of your current school or any other relevant classes you’ve taken, including the dates when you took them. For example, if you are applying to work in day care, you could mention babysitting classes. If you are trying to get a job in a music store, make sure you list band or orchestra class. Also include any awards of recognition or the honor roll.
Work Experience. You probably have more experience than you think. List any paid, unpaid, or volunteer experience. Let’s say you are applying at a landscaping business—maybe you list experience mowing neighbors’ yards or caring for plants. When listing your experience, make sure that the most applicable experience is listed first.
Other Skills. These are the additional skills that make you a good candidate for the job. It could include specific software knowledge or skills acquired through volunteer jobs. If you are applying at a grocery store, maybe you have experience volunteering at a food bank stocking shelves. If you volunteered at an animal shelter, list that on your résumé when applying to a veterinary clinic. If you are applying to be a lifeguard or babysitter, and have taken CPR training, list it. You might also include points like hard worker, self-motivated, or good with people.
Hobbies & Interests. This is not the most important part of a résumé but an employer is always curious about your interests. It can be a great point of connection during the interview. If you ski, make sure you list it, particularly if you are applying for a job at a ski area. Do your friends ask you to fix their computers? Mention that here. Don’t forget club memberships, extracurricular awards, or scholarships.
References. Many potential employers ask for references. You can either list them on your résumé or write “References available on request.” It is very important to check with your references in advance to make sure it’s okay for employers to contact them.
The actual format of a résumé isn’t set in stone. We’ve given you a guide. Now it’s time to make it your own. Here is a sample résumé to get you started.
• Proofread. Once you have written your résumé, make sure there are no spelling mistakes or grammatical errors (don’t rely on spell-checker!). One mistake can make the difference between getting the job or losing it.
• Simplify. Avoid freaky fonts or crazy colors. Keep it simple and spend your energy on what the résumé actually says.
• Update. Rarely are résumés perfect on the very first pass. They should constantly be tweaked, added to, and adjusted.
• Never lie. Never! If you don’t have any relevant experience, don’t make it up!
Want to score that first gig? The clothes you wear to school or the mall aren’t likely to cut it in an interview. Toss the gum, keep good eye contact, and relax. If you remember that first impressions count, you’ll be able to count on that first paycheck!
4. Get an interview.
You wouldn’t hire somebody without getting to know them a little better, would you? Neither would anyone else. So if you want the job, you should know how to ace an interview. Everybody is nervous during a job interview. Everybody! But you can be less nervous if you are prepared.
Here are a few interview tips:
• Do homework. Do some research on the business. Find out all you can about what goods or services it provides. That will make it easier to talk about what value you can add, and how you’ll be a great employee.
• Practice. Go online and research common interview questions and answers. Then do a practice interview with a friend or relative. Have this person ask you five or six sample questions. Learn to confidently answer in short, articulate sentences.
• Be curious. During the interview, ask questions about the company. Are they planning on expanding? What products or services would they like to offer in the future that they do not offer now? Ask where they see themselves in five years. It may seem a bit awkward, but they will be impressed. It means you’re interested in helping make their company a success.
• Be confident. Look the interviewer in the eye and greet the interviewer with a firm handshake. Even if you’re nervous, act like you’re not! Answer questions honestly, but be brief. You don’t want to say just yes or no, but you also don’t want to go on and on about your trip through the Canadian Rockies.
• Follow up! After the interview, send a nice thank-you email to the interviewer. If you really want to impress them, send a handwritten note. And don’t be afraid to follow up in a week or two. Here’s an example note:
5. Keep at it!
If you don’t get the job—don’t despair. Most people who are looking for work apply to several places before they get hired. The secret is to keep at it. Sometimes it’s good to get feedback on why you didn’t get the job. Don’t hesitate to follow up and find out how you could do better, where you did well, or where you fell short. Sharpen up your skills. Polish your résumé. Be persistent and someone will eventually say “Congratulations, you got the job.”
Losing your job is not the end of the world—in fact it could mean a new beginning. Case in point, Steve Jobs created Apple Computers when he was just 20 years old. Ten years later, Jobs was forced out of his own company by the board of directors. After his exit Jobs founded NeXT, which ended up developing the software used for Mac OS X, 10 years down the road. Jobs also launched Pixar, which went on to produce many animated box-office hits, like Toy Story, Finding Nemo, Inside Out, and more. Then, 12 years after his departure from Apple, Jobs returned to become CEO and helped reinvent and reinvigorate the company.
Once you start a new job, you have to prove that you’re worth keeping. Here are a few tips to help you stand out in a good way:
• Look smart. Looking sharp shows you take your work seriously. If you wear a uniform, make sure it’s clean. If there’s a dress code, follow it.
• Be on time. They’re paying you for your time and they expect to get it! Arrive early and you’ll definitely get noticed.
• Listen, watch, and learn. Pay attention to people who have been doing the job longer than you have—they can provide valuable information.
• Get into it. Find ways to improve your skills, help out when you have extra time, and put a little elbow grease into everything you do.
• Speak up. After a while, you’ll probably have good ideas for how to make things work better. Don’t be afraid to share them.
• Be honest. A lot of companies have tools, supplies, products, and equipment that may be tempting to “borrow.” Don’t even think about it.
• Take the lead. Your boss will definitely notice if you volunteer first for any project assignment.
• Check in. Don’t be afraid to ask your boss how you’re doing and how you might improve.
So you have the job, and you have some income. Congratulations! Hopefully your new gig is a great fit and you can’t wait to start walking those doggies, mowing those lawns, or flipping those burgers. Check back with your plan, goals, and budget to start saving as much of that money as you can.
A lot of employers offer direct deposit of your paycheck into a bank account. Do it! Getting that first paycheck will make you feel rich, and you’ll be tempted to spend it all. Your savings account is just a little way to help you manage your money, instead of blowing everything. Hey, you worked for it. Don’t just toss it away. Keeping that money safely tucked away will have you well on your way to earning $1 million! Bon voyage!
Getting your first paycheck will make you feel like a million bucks—even if you’re only making $100!
1. Getting a job is the fastest way to earn cash toward your million-dollar goal.
2. Figure out what kind of job you want, find an open position, write a résumé, apply, and prepare for an interview.
3. Once you get the job, kick butt and lock away part of your paycheck in a savings account.