Interview Tips for Teens

Six Job interview tips to help you land a good job

Teens looking for their first job face unique challenges. Many no-experience jobs are available for teens and adults. However, many teens apply for the same jobs. These six interview tips can help you (or your teenager) succeed in their first job interview – and beyond!

Preparing for an interview starts before you apply for the job

Many of the questions teens have about possible jobs can be answered by doing a little research. Companies with a robust online presence typically offer the best jobs for teens. Finding answers to your questions can be fairly easy.

• Look at the company website. The About Us or Careers sections of many company websites can help you understand the characteristics of the people they hire. They also help you see what it might be like to work there.
• Use social media. Most companies have Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or TikTok accounts. Check out their posts. Are there fun activities? Do you see people volunteering? Do workers say good things about their jobs?

How to answer interview questions when you have no paid work experience

There are three types of job interview questions. Knowing the difference between these questions and preparing your answers in advance is the best thing you can do to provide better answers during the interview, even if you have little or no paid work experience.

• Traditional interview questions. These questions are about your work history, school, or volunteer experiences. Traditional interview questions help the interviewer see if you know what the job is about and if your past experiences have prepared you to enjoy and do well in the role.

If this is your first job, the experts at any of the Goodwill Workforce Connection Centers can work with you to help you tap into your school, club or volunteer experiences when answering traditional interview questions.

• Behavioral interview questions. Behavioral interview questions help employers see how you best solve problems. They also show how you handle conflict and face challenges at work. The best way to answer behavioral interview questions is to use the STAR method. Here’s how it works:
  • Situation: Start by describing the situation you were in. Think of it as setting the scene. For example, "Last year, I was part of a group project in school..."
  • Task: Next, explain what your responsibility was in that situation. What did you need to do? For instance, "My job was to create the presentation slides."
  • Action: Then, talk about the actions you took to complete the task. What did you do to solve the problem or achieve your goal? For example, "I researched the topic, organized the information, and designed the slides."
  • Result: Finally, share the outcome of your actions. What happened in the end? Did you achieve your goal? For instance, "Our presentation went well, and we got an A on the project."

The key to using the STAR method is to keep your answers short and sweet. Your answers should not be longer than 2 – 3 minutes. This helps keep your thoughts organized. Short answers are especially important if you are talking about a challenging situation. Avoid blaming others and be sure to share what you learned from the experience.

• Inappropriate or illegal questions. The third type of interview question is inappropriate or illegal questions. Hiring managers cannot ask about your age, finances, family, or other topics not related to your job skills. You should not be asked an inappropriate question in an interview. If you are, you can politely decline to answer. You might say, “I’d prefer to keep that information private. However, I am happy to discuss my skills and experiences related to this job.”

Answering hard job interview questions

The best way to prepare to answer hard interview questions is to practice. The team at Goodwill Workforce Connection Centers are here to support you. We help you research employers and do a mock interview with you. This will help you prepare and practice answers that show off your best qualities and help you achieve your full potential.

How to ask about pay

We get it. Pay is important. But it shouldn’t be your first or only question in an interview. The best time to talk about pay is when the interviewer brings up the subject.

The conversation will be easier if you’ve done some research on the job description and typical pay rates in your area for similar jobs. You can learn how to do this research at any Goodwill Workforce Connection Center. With the right information, you might even be able to ask for more money!

Finding background-friendly jobs

Sometimes, a past mistake can make it harder to find a job but it’s still possible. Once again, the most important thing you can do is research!

Start by researching yourself. We can show you how to do this. Researching yourself is important because many employers will run a background check as part of the hiring process. During a background check, they'll look into your past to see if there's anything they should know about. It's important to understand that employers can see things like your criminal record, school history, driving record and sometimes even your social media activity.

You can always place an anonymous call to an employer to inquire about their hiring process, including background testing and drug screening procedures.

If you think you might not pass a background check, it's better to be honest about it upfront. You can explain your situation and show how you've learned from your past. Being open and honest can sometimes help you get a second chance.

What to do after a job interview

It is important to send a thank you message to the person who interviewed you. This message should let them know you appreciate the opportunity to meet them and that you are interested in the job. The Goodwill Workforce Connection Center team can provide you with tools to help you follow up after your interview.

As you begin your job search as a young professional, remember that employers, including Goodwill, want to hire someone for a position. That person could be you. If you need help finding the best job for you, writing a resume, or preparing for an interview, Goodwill Workforce Connection Centers are here to help.

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