Here is how to write a job application for a first job: fill every field with what you do have, such as school, attendance, clubs, sports, volunteering, babysitting or yard work, name a teacher or coach as a reference, and state plainly which days and hours you are free.
Managers who hire teens and students do not expect a work history. They want to know three things: will you show up, can you learn, and when can you work. Every box on the form is a chance to answer one of those.
Quick answers
What managers want
Reliability, a willingness to learn, and a schedule that fits theirs.Youngest age
14 for most non farm jobs under federal rules, with hour limits until 16.Work permits
Not required by federal law, but many states require one for minors.Experience to list
Babysitting, lawn care, pet sitting, volunteering, school jobs, a family business.References
A teacher, coach, club leader or neighbor you worked for. Not relatives.
How old you have to be, and the hour limits
Under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, rules change at 14, 16 and 18. The Department of Labor's child labor fact sheet sets them out, and its YouthRules site has plain guides for teens and parents.
| Age | What federal rules generally allow |
|---|---|
| Under 14 | Only exempt work such as newspaper delivery, acting, babysitting and chores in private homes |
| 14 and 15 | Safe, non manufacturing jobs outside school hours: up to 3 hours on a school day, 18 hours in a school week, 8 hours on a non school day and 40 hours in a week with no school; between 7 am and 7 pm, or 9 pm from June 1 through Labor Day |
| 16 and 17 | Any hours, but not jobs the Department of Labor lists as hazardous, such as driving on public roads as a job or roofing |
| 18 and up | No youth limits |
Federal law does not require a work permit, but many states do, and when state and federal rules differ the stricter one applies. Ask your school counselor or check your state labor department's site before you apply.
How to write a job application for a first job, field by field
| Field | What to write as a teen or student |
|---|---|
| Position | The exact title, such as Crew Member or Seasonal Lifeguard |
| Availability | Days and times, for example Mon to Fri 4 pm to 8 pm, Sat 9 am to 5 pm, no Sundays |
| Education | Your high school, current grade and expected graduation month and year |
| Employment history | Informal work with dates, like babysitting or mowing lawns, or No formal employment yet plus volunteering |
| Skills | Counting change, speaking a second language, typing, working on a team, first aid |
| Desired pay | Open or starting rate is fine for an entry role |
| References | Two adults who are not family, with phone numbers |
For the full layout of a form, try the printable blank form.
Sample answers when you have no work experience
These entries come from a made up applicant, Maya, age 16, applying to a grocery store. Copy the structure and swap in your own facts.
Employer: Neighborhood babysitting (self employed)
Dates: [Month Year] to present
Duties: Cared for two children ages 5 and 8 after school, three days a week. Made snacks, helped with homework, followed parents' rules.
Volunteer work: Food pantry sorter, [Organization name], Saturdays for six months. Sorted donations and stocked shelves.
Activities: Junior varsity soccer, two seasons; school yearbook team.
Why do you want to work here?: I shop here with my family and like how friendly the staff are. I want to learn customer service and earn money for college, and my after school hours fit your evening shifts.
Do this, not that
Do: write No formal employment yet and then list volunteering, so the box is not empty.
Do: give your real school schedule, including sports practice.
Do: use a simple email such as firstname.lastname.
Don't: leave the history section blank or write none and stop.
Don't: say you can work any time and then cancel shifts for practice.
Don't: use a joke email address or a parent's phone as your only contact.
References when you have never had a boss
Pick adults who have seen you be responsible: a teacher, coach, band director, youth group leader, volunteer coordinator, or a neighbor you babysit or mow for. Ask each one first, tell them which job you are applying for, and confirm the best phone number. Family members are not good references, because managers know they will say nice things.
For layout and wording, see our pages on references for a job and the references template.
Applying in person as a teen
- Go between busy times, such as 2 to 4 pm on a weekday, not at lunch or dinner rush.
- Dress neatly and go alone; a parent can wait in the car.
- Ask, Are you hiring, and could I fill out an application?
- Carry a pen plus the practice sheet you filled at home, which holds every date and number you will need.
- Ask when the manager is in and come back to hand it over in person if you can.
Many stores now point teens to an online portal even when you walk in. Ask for the exact job title so you apply for the right one; our online application guide walks through the screens.
Student job applications for part time and summer work
College and high school students face the same form, but timing matters more. Summer jobs at camps, pools and parks fill early, often by spring. Campus jobs may open at the start of each term. Note your school calendar on the form: Available full time from [Date] to [Date], then 15 hours a week during term. For more on timing, see when to start applying.
A note for parents and teachers
Help with practice, not with the real form. A mock job application for students is a useful classroom exercise: hand out the blank template, have students fill it in by hand, then swap and review as if they were the manager. At home, quiz your teen on availability and references, then let them fill in and sign the real one themselves. Managers notice when an application is in a parent's handwriting.
Teens should never pay to apply, buy a starter kit or share a Social Security number on a first form. Those are common signs of a scam.
Questions people ask
Can a 14 year old fill out a job application?
Yes, for jobs that federal and state rules allow at 14, such as many retail and food service roles outside school hours. The employer must keep to the hour limits for 14 and 15 year olds.
Do I need a work permit for my first job?
Federal law does not require one, but many states do for workers under 18. Your school office or your state labor department can tell you how to get one.
What do I put for experience if I have never worked?
List informal work like babysitting, lawn care or pet sitting, plus volunteering, school roles and sports. Write No formal employment yet if the form needs a clear answer.
What jobs hire 15 year olds?
Common ones include grocery bagging, fast food counter work, movie theaters, amusement parks and some office help, within the federal hour and duty limits. Many kitchen and machine tasks stay off limits until 16 or 18, so the employer decides which duties you can do.
Can my parent be my reference?
Better not. Choose a teacher, coach or adult you have done work for, so the manager hears from someone without a family tie.
Is a job application for 16 year olds different?
The form is the same, but at 16 the federal hour limits end, so you can list longer availability. Some states still limit late night hours for 16 and 17 year olds.