Specific Ages and Other Excuses

It's tough, but you've got to expect this. When you're running a business, those are all perfectly sensible reasons for not hiring someone.

As businesses get more profitable and staff expands, they can get more selective with who they hire. Naturally, they are bound to pick people with more experience. It's not that more experience is strictly needed, but it is always better to err on the side of caution. Hiring someone just for the summer can be expensive, because they have to make the effort to train you, and then, before you can train someone else, you leave again. The thing with the special needs people is a little dodgy- they could be doing it just for the tax breaks. But then, honestly, where else is a special needs person going to find a job in their entire lives? At least you will grow up and into better opportunties.

Of course, these rules will bend from time to time- when the business is more desperate for staff. It's a tough market, and it's always going to be difficult to break in when you are young and unproven.

Gianna; Joe Jonas:

Since last year, I have been applying for different jobs. I tried at Shop Rite when I was 14, and just recently tried at McDonald's last month.

Here's what happened.

Shop Rite hires young; youngest being 14. Well, when I submitted my application (over the wonderful freaking web), my dad asked (he worked there, remember this now) and asked if they had gotten it. They said yes but they weren't going to consider me because I was too young and they weren't hiring.

Now, I know for a fact that people who work there were 14 when they were hired. And they were hiring. they were giving the jobs to the special needs people. They said wait untiI turn 15, and then try again. Then, I find out that my best friend's boyfriend was hired two months ago, and he was 14 at the time. he even made Employee of the Month!

Apparently, now they want 16 year olds, since 15 year olds can't do a lot. We can't even bag, because if we break a jar and get hurt, they're afraid we'll sue.

So, then I tried at McDonald's. I know the owners, I went to school with their daughter for six years and we were best friends. I walk in, nicely dressed and very polite, and hand in my application. This one manager comes over and says it may be a problem since I was only going to do it for the summer. I told her that I didn't know my schedule for the fall, since I had school, but I'd be willing to work after school once I found out what was going on. Then, this ruder manager tells me she has to talk to another manager because it could be a problem that I'm only 15. Meanwhile, there's a girl I know from school, same age as me, working by the drive-thru window. They said they'd call later that afternoon. I'm still waiting. That was 3 weeks ago.


So, has anyone else had these kinds of troubles in finding a job? Please tell me I'm not alone!

Do you have a work permit? That could be a reason why they never called you back. I don't know if you need them where you live but around here you do until you're 18. McDonalds sucks anyway.

I applied at Border's before... I'm a lazy bum who still thinks I'm going to be a rockstar so I haven't applied at many places. They didn't even consider me because I didn't have a permit. I guess I kind of needed one of those back then though. It was sad because I was really amped to apply! I wanted to work around music and books all day. They crushed my hopes and dreams! Not really...

It seems like a lot of businesses want to hire older people these days. People with college degrees that have a clean driving record and are most likely over the age of 21. At least that's all the jobs in the classified section of the paper.