Finding your First Job

For your first real job you will need to have your social security card and State Id or drivers license, to fill out the application. When you fill out the application you will be asked to fill out another form called the I9 (Employment Eligibility Verification), which will ask you if you are legally allowed to work in the United States. Your first job will most likely be working per hour. Currently the minimum wage in California is $8.00 per hour. 

Underage work permit;

Since you are under 18 years of age (a minor), many regulations apply to you. Typically, after an employer agrees to hire a minor, the minor obtains from his or her school a Department of Education form entitled "Statement of Intent to Employ Minor and Request for Work Permit". The form must be completed by the minor and the employer and signed by the minor's parent or guardian and the employer. After returning the completed and signed form to the school, school officials may issue the permit to be employed  and work. Permits issued during the school year expire five days after the opening of the next succeeding school year and must be renewed.

The minimum age for employment is 14 years old, and children under age 14 may not be employed in any capacity.

The following restrictions apply to the employment of children under eighteen years old:

Age 14-15:

The employee may not

• work during regular school hours;
• work more than eighteen hours per week nor more than three hours per day when high school is in session.
• work more than forty hours per week nor more than eight hours per day when high school is not in session.
• work between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. in any one day, except in the summer between June 1 and Labor Day, when the evening hour will be 9:00 p.m.
• perform hazardous duties.

Age 16-17

The employee may not

• work during regular school hours.
• work more than forty hours per week nor more than eight hours per day when high school is not in session;
• perform hazardous duties.

My first job was working for my best friends fathers business. He had a small store like a 7-11. While I was visiting my friend at his house I asked his Dad if I could work at his store. I was already 16 and could drive so I could transport myself to the store. He hired me on to do menial tasks, sushi as sweeping, stocking shelves and a lot of general cleaning. But he put me on the payroll and I had my first real job.

After this job I got a job for 7-11 as a cashier an gas station as a cashier. I used the experience of working for my friends Dad on my application for my next job. I worked both jobs concurrently because each job only gave me 16 hours a week to work and by working both jobs I could work between 20 and 30 hours per week. Minimum wage was $4.00 an hour at that time and I worked like this through high school.

When you are looking for your first job, look for family members or a friend parents who own businesses.

Example of jobs from family or friends;

Aireps owned by Uncle Lucky and Sheri. Might allow you to work sweeping and counting  inventory.

Fresh Ideas owned by your parents. Might allow you to help prep food, serve food and setup parties

OC Fair Parents have jobs, that will let you volunteer to paint, clean and setup events.
Bistro 400 owned by Uncle Robert and Pierre.

Example of jobs available for teenagers;

Seasonal Fairs and Special Events-parking/exhibit attendants, event setup, food handlers, sweepers.

Theaters-ticket takers, cashiers, ushers, food handlers.

Fast Food Franchises-cashiers, food handlers.

Theme Parks-parking/ride attendants, cashiers, food handlers, sweepers

Retail- Box, stocking