Hello -

My 16-year-old son is looking for a part-time job in Centreville/Fairfax/Manassas area. Any suggestions for how/where he should look and apply?

Thanks!
Centreville Mom

He's just got to hustle and not be picky. Spend 2 days driving door to door and responding to craigslist ads. His generation gets a lot of flack for having no drive so he'll impress anyone he talks to if he's able to sell himself.

There are so many opportunities around here. Retail, food service, literally anything. Any kid who can't find a job is just lazy.

School should be able to help - they usually have job listings for teenagers available.

The fact that you are posting looking for a job FOR him speaks volumes.

First, he should be out doing his own legwork to get the leads and information.

Second, get a skill. Have him signup for a lifeguarding class. It's a great summer job. It doesn't pay all that well, but it has certain benefits that don't come with a lot of other jobs 16 year olds have (well, at least it did 20 years ago when I did it).

I would suggest outdoor work at a nursery now that the weather is good. He'll be exercising, and getting some sun. Some of those guys who load mulch into cars for instance will also get cash tips!

Does he play a sport? Refereeing is great job for a kid, although around here he will have to compete with a lot of adults for those jobs. Very flexible and can make $20 - $40 per game depending upon sport/certification.

Thanks for your suggestions. He doesn't drive yet so that makes things complicated since I work all day. I want him to do something this summer and earn his own spending money . . . but I'll have to drive him there/pick him up. Since he isn't active in sports or swimming, that limits him.

What 16 yr old doesn't drive?

Is he retarded or something?

I would imagine the many golf courses and parks in the area are looking for seasonal help. Moreover, both are normally busiest on the weekends so that could help alleviate the transportation issue.

Thank you, LNHLG - that's a terrific idea as well! I'll pass this along to him to follow up.

Vk4ed Wrote:
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> What 16 yr old doesn't drive?
>
> Is he retarded or something?


Well, he isnt active in sports or swimming which means he's retarded, or a fat brat.

Does he have access to a bicycle? Know how to walk? I started working summers when I was 14. I walked or biked or hitched rides to work with coworkers who could drive. No way in hell was I going to get dropped off and picked up by mommy.

Response to "Let him Grow Up" -

Yes, he has a bike. And he does walk. And, yes, he won't be happy to be dropped off by Mommy but the fact remains that he is still needs to get his driver's license (that's been fine with me as I'm not eager to buy another car or pay for additional insurance). He wasn't able to earn enough part-time in the summer at 15 last year to save up for his share of car payment, insurance and gas. Hopefully, he can start saving for all of that this summer.

I, too, was able to walk to my first job - babysitting for a neighbor - but that was many years ago. And hitching in this day and age? Don't think so. Are teenaged boys routinely hired to babysit for kids in the summer? Not so much these days. Don't mean to be dismissive or sarcastic but it might be that you got your first job in the era that I did - before bicycle helmets were mandatory, online job applications routine and kids applying for part-time cashier positions with actual resumes! He needs to get a job before he has o co-workers to ride-share. However, I do appreciate your response - thanks. I have always worked from a very young age, and I'm trying to encourage him to do the same - even if he's starting a later than I did.

Vk4ed? You're just a nasty person. If you've got time to respond to my posting TWICE with such disrespect for others ("retard?" - you actually use that term? Unbelievable."), it's not worth engaging in debate with you. The kid just turned 16 and I was looking for tips to pass on about getting your first job - beyond "working" as a unpaid camp counselor. Most of the comments I received were very helpful.

^^ helicopter mom

Let your son get out there and find a job by himself. He needs to learn Mommy won't always be around to wipe his ass.

He's get paid and learns Spanish for free!

I've seen lots of teenagers hired to bag groceries. Also check at the library for page positions.

Notwithstanding the gratuitous nastiness (par for the course here), this is the wrong place to ask such a question.

And it does seem odd/wrong/something for the parent to be asking it.

Always looking for part-time help....

Get him a lawnmower, cut the neighbors lawn, this time of year he' ll make money.

You own a lawnmower? Get him to knock on some doors and see who wants their lawn mowed. He can make more money doing that. I made more money doing that than all my friends who had regular jobs

Thanks to all of you who provided the great suggestions and supportive comments. I've shared the information and it's up to him now to make it happen. Thanks again.

the military - where all indifferent parents send their kids to get rid of them !

show him what a good parent does and how you've prepared the town and or your family business for his life.

show him he'll work for minimum wage and mexicans will not hire him - and most everyplace in fairfax is %100 foreigner run.

Most have been said but...

Lifeguard

Walk Pets

Bagger @ grocery store, Costco, BJ's would pay a little more!

Walmart/Target (worth a shot!)

Babysit (he is a boy- but get him classes and advertise that fact you might luck out! I wish I had a male sitter for my son when he was younger- he had one at his preschool that was WONDERFUL!!! Male role models rock! So do male nurses!)

Help push around patients in beds/wheelchairs at the hospital? (dont know the technical name for that but i have seen young people doing that)

Cut lawns- I could have used a young man but I did it already! Just $10 for a townhouse lawn and $20 for a house lawn ($40 for larger lawns)= $$$

Clean cars- using their hose of course- but you provide bucket, soap, wax (armor all is good you can get a big jug at walmart cheap), 30-40 min. per car, $10 a car for a good handwash!

Summer camps that PAY their workers (check with the county? I did back in the 90's!)

The best thing in the world for OP's son is to get a job.

The next best thing in the world is for OP's son to find this job with no help whatsoever from OP, except to drive son to his job interview. The kid needs to do the leg work.

What OP can do is remind the kid about little things like dressing well, saying "Yes, Sir" and "Yes, Ma'am." And being on time. And always having a smile on your face when you are at work, no matter what. And the other things.

These things all add up to success.

Or your son can go occupy some sidewalk in New York like a good Liberal.

There are tons of life saving jobs. The only thing is that you have to get certified which is good for three years.

Y4kCp Wrote:
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> He's just got to hustle and not be picky. Spend 2
> days driving door to door and responding to
> craigslist ads. His generation gets a lot of
> flack for having no drive so he'll impress anyone
> he talks to if he's able to sell himself.
>
> There are so many opportunities around here.
> Retail, food service, literally anything. Any kid
> who can't find a job is just lazy.


is a string of short term jobs better than no job? Adding that these string of short jobs will be included on government checks?

Well, Centreville Mom, are you hot? Sonny boy could pimp you out and take a percentage of your bj and fumbuckery action.


Centreville Mom Wrote:
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> Thanks to all of you who provided the great
> suggestions and supportive comments. I've shared
> the information and it's up to him now to make it
> happen. Thanks again.