Jobs That Hire at 15 in the USA

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20 Companies That Hire at 15 in the USA

States have different rules on employment, therefore, certain businesses may hire 15-year-olds in some states but not in others.

• AMC

At 15, AMC hires people to help with ticket and concession sales as well as theater upkeep. To find out if they can recruit you in your state, get in touch with your local AMC. Additionally, independent movie theaters might be open to hiring teenagers your age if you live close enough.

• Robbins Baskin

Jobs at Baskin-Robbins include cake decorator, ice cream scooper, and team member. It’s a lot of fun to work in an ice cream shop because you can make kids and families happy. Among other things, Baskin-Robbins offers discounts and flexible hours.

• Wendy’s

15-year-olds may be able to get employment at your neighborhood Wendy’s as cashiers, restaurant cleaners, or food preppers. Wendy’s flexible scheduling enables young people to continue participating in band, sports, and other extracurricular activities.

• Winn Dixie  

In Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, and Louisiana, make sure to inquire if your neighborhood Winn-Dixie accepts 14- and 15-year-olds.

• The Giant Eagle

Inquire about employment chances as a cashier, clerk, or check-out attendant at your neighborhood Giant Eagle if you reside in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Indiana, or Maryland.

• Stop & Shop

Young people as young as 15 are employed by this East Coast grocery company, which has more than 400 sites, to work in the bakery, grocery, or floral departments.

• Taco Bell

Consider a job at Taco Bell if you are at ease taking orders from customers and operating a cash register. With over 7,000 outlets, Taco Bell might be a fantastic place to work.

• U-Haul 

Some 15-year-olds can apply for in-person reservation manager/agent employment at U-Haul. Consider applying if you have great customer service skills and feel at ease speaking with clients over the phone.

• Publix

The largest grocery shop in the United States, Publix, takes great pride in providing excellent customer service. Cashier, front service clerk (bagging support), and cart attendant duties are filled at 14 and 15 in some places.

• Albertsons & Safeway

For work as a cashier, courtesy clerk, or cart attendant, certain Safeway or Albertsons locations hire at age 15.

• Six Flags

There may be adventure for you as a guest or employee if you’re fortunate enough to live close to a Six Flags theme park in one of the 11 states where they operate! Some of these occupations could be seasonal, such as summer employment at a waterpark.

• Kroger

Teenagers under the age of sixteen can work as cashiers, cart attendants, order pullers (for online grocery orders), bakery assistants, and floral assistants at Kroger, which owns 29 grocery store brands in 42 states.

• Local Locations for Entertainment and Amusement

Teenagers are frequently employed by local fairs, carnivals, and amusement parks, particularly for temporary positions.

• McDonald’s

Some McDonald’s restaurants start hiring at fifteen. The culinary crew, counter crew, and maintenance crew are the three crew groups. McDonald’s Archways to Opportunity Program, which helps its employees with their education, is a good perk.

• Community Centres

Jobs for 15-year-olds may be available at your local parks and recreation department or community center.  Jobs could include lifeguards, coaches, tutors, program directors, front desk help, after-school kid support, and more.  To find out more, visit the website of your city or your community center.

• Dairy Queen

15-year-olds may be able to get employment at your neighborhood Dairy Queen as cashiers, restaurant cleaners, or food preppers.

• Chick-fil-A

With over 2,000 locations around the United States, Chick-fil-A might have a chance for you. Since children cannot operate hot equipment like grills and deep fryers, make sure to search for front-of-house (FOH) team member jobs like a cashier.

• Culver’s Restaurant

Family-friendly fast food chain Culver’s is well-known for their frozen custard and ButterBurgers. Teenagers can also get their first job experience there. 15-year-olds are employed by some Culver’s locations as kitchen assistants (with restricted responsibilities), dining room attendants, and housekeeping crew members. In a nurturing setting, these first jobs teach teenagers responsibility, collaboration, and customer service techniques. To accommodate school and extracurricular activities, schedules are frequently flexible. Visit Culver’s website to view their available positions.

• Babysitter

Check your community to see if any families or acquaintances need additional help with child care or tutoring.

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How to Effectively Do Your Job at 15

• Examine your employment schedule with your academic obligations

Your top priority as a teen is your studies and not jobs that hire at 15. When looking for a job, keep in mind your coursework, extracurricular activities, and other responsibilities as a student. Certain jobs that hire at 15 may work better with your school schedule than others because they have distinct timetables or peak seasons of the year. If you’re seeking hours on the weekends or after school, a regular part-time job is an excellent option.

If you don’t want to work year-round, seasonal labor employs more people for peak seasons. For instance, an amusement park will require more workers in the summer than in the winter. Since you may choose your hours and workload, entrepreneurial endeavors, such as launching your own dog walking, babysitting, or photography side business, offer the greatest flexibility.

• Think about the abilities or job settings you wish to explore

Consider your existing hobbies and talents when applying for jobs that hire at 15. Do you get along well with children? A career as a camp counselor or babysitter can be a suitable fit. Do you enjoy entertainment and movies? Then you might be a good fit for a job at a movie theater. Even while you might not have as many alternatives at 15 as you would have at 18 and higher, there are still many opportunities to look into jobs that interest you. Think about the type of atmosphere you wish to operate in as well. Do you like being outside? Think about landscaping or lifeguarding if you are looking for jobs that hire at 15. A job at a supermarket or restaurant would be a better fit if you envision yourself flourishing in customer service.

• To generate ideas for possible careers, use job boards and your network

There are plenty of job listing websites to choose from, but some excellent ones are Indeed, Glassdoor, Monster, and LinkedIn. If you have a car or can use public transit, try typing “teen” into the search field and then setting your location to your town, county, or any other radius you’re willing to travel. Remember, not every job that opens up are jobs that hire at 15. Please feel free to message them to see if they accept applications from 15-year-olds if the job posting does not state an age requirement.

Ask your parents, neighbors, instructors, acquaintances who are working, or any other people you know, whether they know of any places that are employing adolescents in addition to employment sites. Having a referral or link might sometimes be crucial to getting the job. Additionally, don’t be scared to go to businesses in person. Making a good first impression on prospective employers can be as simple as asking a manager if they have any openings or following up on a “help wanted” sign in the window.

• Create a basic cover letter and resume to send with applications

You don’t have enough professional experience to add to a résumé at the age of 15, and that’s okay. Rather, concentrate on those abilities and experiences that set you apart and qualify you for the position. This could include your hobbies and interests, volunteer work, academic achievements and honors, or unique abilities like coding or multilingualism. Resumes are a requirement for most jobs. In essence, a resume is a one-page document that highlights your accomplishments, major duties, and prior employment history.

Writing a cover letter that introduces you to potential employers and supplements your resume may also be important for some applications. Describe why you want the job, how it fits into your broader career goals, and what special abilities or viewpoints you can offer that make you stand out from the competition. Use school resources such as your guidance counselor, writing tutors, or even dependable professors and coaches for input if you need help with your resume or cover letter.

• Have an excellent interview with organizations that reply to your application

If a prospective employer contacts you to set up an interview, be ready for some typical questions they might ask, and educate yourself about the company’s mission and goals so you know everything there is to know about it. Plan to come early in case of traffic or delays, and dress nicely, cleanly, and without wrinkles (slacks or a skirt and a dress shirt or a good dress are ideal for most scenarios). During your interview, don’t be scared to be a little quirky! They may appear scary, but most companies want to know they’re hiring

• If your state requires one, obtain a work permit

You will need a work permit issued by your legal guardian to work if you reside in a state that requires work permits for kids under the age of 16 or 18 (the precise age varies). A work permit is accessible through your school, school district office, or a regional Office of Education in your county or state (for precise information, visit the website of your State Labor Office).

Each state has different requirements for a work permit. In general, you will require a letter from a potential employer expressing interest in hiring you. Also, provide evidence of your age, such as a passport or birth certificate, and your Social Security card. Additional requirements are a current driver’s license or state identification from your parent or legal guardian and a parent or guardian’s signature. A note from your doctor confirming your ability to work and our principal’s consent (only during school hours) might be a necessity. Finally, you might need evidence of a Coogan or UTMA account (for teenagers involved in modeling, acting, or performing).

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United States Labour Laws for Teenagers

The jobs and hours that teenagers can work are restricted by the Fair Labor Standards Act. To safeguard children’s health, welfare, and education, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) prohibits child labor. Most significantly, the law mandates that children earn at least the federal minimum wage. It prohibits minors from working in dangerous occupations (such as construction or excavation, driving, or operating dangerous machinery), and establishes 14 as the minimum age for employment.

Additional restrictions on the hours and times of day that 14 and 15-year-olds can work are also put in place by the law.  On school days, including Fridays, teens in this age group should not work more than three hours. Teens also cannot work more than eighteen hours a week during the academic year. Over eight hours per day, when classes are not in session, are not for teens. More than 40 hours a week outside of the regular academic day is also not for teens. Except June 1 through Labor Day, when nighttime work hours end by 9 pm. Before 7 am or after 7 pm on any day.

Teenagers who are 16 or 17 years old are exempt from certain of these rules and regulations, which permits them to work longer hours and in a wider variety of capacities. Ranching and jobs in agriculture are exempt from the FLSA as jobs that hire at 15. To find out more about the FLSA and federal regulations for juvenile workers, visit the Department of Labor’s Child Labor Laws and Young Workers page. The standards provide exceptions for certain situations that can apply to you or your scenario.

Conclusion

Finding a job at 15 in the USA may seem challenging. There are rewarding opportunities for teens who wish to work, and some companies hire at 15. In various industries, employers are open to hiring young, motivated people. If you are looking for jobs that hire at 15, use your network and build your skills.  Also, find opportunities with a flexible structure. Finding jobs as a teenager might be challenging but it is possible.