Jon Gets a Job at a Pizza Place

Most eighteen-year-olds are pretty much the same—they’re busy planning their next party or thinking about what to wear on the weekend. Jon, however, was different from most of his friends at school. When he turned eighteen, he knew that he wanted to make sure he had a plan for his future, which meant getting a job so that he could start saving money and get a good start on life when he went off to college in just a few years.

The interview

In addition to being a little older than most college students applying for minimum wage jobs, Jon knew he'd need to make a good impression if he wanted to land an interview. So, he dressed nice and arrived 15 minutes early. He also told them that he could work weekends, so they didn't have to worry about paying him overtime on holidays or busy nights. During his interview, Jon was sure to use key words like good communicator and team player. In other words, just because you're young doesn't mean you can't have great interview skills. Jon managed to get an offer as soon as they were impressed with his confidence—and his dad's willingness to cosign any paperwork. Not bad for someone who wasn't even sure what questions would be asked!

Putting in my two weeks' notice

A new job means leaving my old one, and in order to do that, I have to give my boss an official notice. I'm pretty bummed about leaving. It's going to be tough saying goodbye. But it's time for me to move on, which is why I am giving two weeks' notice instead of just showing up one day with my bags packed. Gotta show him respect, after all!

The first day

Jon showed up for his first day of work at Sunnyside Pizza & Pastas, and it was a good thing he’d had an extra slice of pizza. His stomach was grumbling so loudly he could barely hear Tom (the owner) explaining what he wanted him to do: We’re kind of busy today, Jon. Why don’t you start chopping veggies and get them in water? We open in less than an hour! Jon got started, then someone called out that they needed him to make pizzas. Someone else came in to say they were almost out of breadsticks.

Lessons learned

Jon is new to town, and he's looking for a job. He knows he wants to work in hospitality but doesn't have any experience in pizza or coffee shops. So what can he do? Does Jon know someone from his hometown who can help him? Does Jon know anyone in his Facebook network who works for a coffee shop or local restaurant? It’s always easier to get your foot in the door when you have connections, so if you don’t have them, now is not a bad time to start making friends with people you could see yourself working with someday.