Youth Ages 14-17

Balancing school and work can be difficult. Find information that will make it easy for you to find out where to go for working papers, safety and health on the job, and filling out job applications and resumes while giving you the time to focus on your studies.

Working papers serve as your official employment certificate. Working papers were established to make sure businesses do not work you too many hours while you are in school and in the summer as well.

You will need working papers if you are under 18 years old. Working papers are divided into two age groups (14-15 and 16-17):Find out how to get working papers and what you will need to get them.

Working Papers

Today, most businesses require identification from you before you can apply for a job. Below is information on how to obtain important documents if you do not have them.

• If you have lost your social security card, you can replace it
• If you don't have a license, but need photo identification you can get a New York State Non-Drive Photo ID card
• Birth Certificate requests for New York residents (outside NYC)
• Birth Certificate requests for New York City residents

Job Duties

As a young person you are allowed to do most job duties. However, there are some limits as to what you can do. Go to New York State Department of Labor Occupation Limits for job duties you cannot do on the job.

Hours You Can Work

When in School

When School is Not in Session

When You are Not Attending School

Health and Wellness

Trying to balance school, homework, work? - Since there are many things going on in your life, it is important to keep yourself healthy and maintain a daily balanced routine. Below is information that provides tips on dealing with stress, staying healthy, and balancing your life now and in the future.

• Stress Management - Are you feeling bogged down with homework, sports, applications? This link provides you with tips to decrease stress.
• Food for Thought - Tired in the AM? Can't make it through that next class? Find out how a balanced diet can help you stay alert and energized throughout your day to keep your mind and body focused.

Dress for Success: Learn How to Leave a Lasting Impression

• Not sure what to wear to your interview? – The way you dress for an interview can leave a lasting impression with a business/organization. Below are some helpful resources to help you prepare for your big day.
  • How to Dress for an Interview - Provides information on what you should and should not bring to a job interview
  • Make a Lasting Impression - Help a business remember you after you leave the interview
  • How to Tie-a-Tie - Time for the interview and your tie is not tied! Watch videos that provide step-by-step directions on how to tie a tie

Interview Tips: Know What to Say Before They Ask!

• Need help preparing for your interview? - Interview questions can be stressful if you’re not prepared. The resources below provide suggestions while on an interview to help you get the job.
  • FIND THE CAREER YOU LOVE, Interviewing - Tips on what do while you are in the interview
  • Getting the Interview - Provides information on how you can land job interviews
  • Preparing for the Interview - Extracurricular activities? Leadership skills? Learn what to highlight about yourself on the interview

Your Digital Identity Matters

What is Social Networking? - Whether it is sending an email or driving on a highway, linking people and places is an everyday occurrence. Social networks are how people connect with each other whether it's through text messaging, Facebook, or the lunch table. Social networks connect you to people who could help you find jobs, provide you with resources to find a job or direct you to their social network. Check out this YouTube video on social networking. Below are other resources to help you understand social networking and the importance of your digital identity.

Keep Your Digital-Self Professional - Remember that your social networks connect you to hundreds and thousands of people across the country and world. Here are some tips on how to make your social networks work for you:

• Use a formal email address on your resume. It is recommended that you use some form of your name so that a business will remember who you are.
• Ringback and voicemail messages on your cell phone may sound good to you and your friends, but employers may not call you back because of it. Just have a simple voicemail message with your name and phone number.
• Have you ever "Googled" yourself? After a business enters your name into a search engine, they evaluate you based on your Social Network profile (e.g. facebook, Twitter)

So Why Should I Belong to Social Networks? - Social networks can still be fun, but use them to your advantage. Many companies and organizations use social networks to find or attract candidates. Below are a few tips about your social network online accounts:

• Create two different accounts: one that's private for friends and family, then a professional account searchable by employers.
• Learn how to change your privacy settings, and who can and cannot view your profile.
  • Facebook Privacy Settings
  • Instagram Privacy Settings
  • LinkedIn Privacy Settings
  • Twitter Privacy Settings
• Seek out and join professional organizations and online social networking groups. Ask your contacts who you should meet and get introduced.
• Be friendly, respectful and brief. Also be very clear about what you are looking for. Be realistic. A new contact is unlikely to provide a job offer. Your goal is to gather valuable information in your field or occupation of interest.
• Follow-up. It's your responsibility to keep the communication lines open. Touch base every so often updating your contact on your progress.

Showing Off Your Skills

Are you a good leader? Are you a team player and dependable? Employers are looking for these kinds of qualities in their employees. Find out more below on how to stand out to a potential employer.

• Everyone has Skills - Visit the CareerZone Portfolio Job Readiness Skills Module to find out which skills you can add to your resume from your previous work, volunteer, or extracurricular experiences. Make sure to create a Portfolio account or sign into your Portfolio account if you’ve already created one to access the Job Readiness Skills Module.
• Get the Competitive Edge with Soft Skills - Businesses are looking for people with soft skills (good communication, a strong work ethic, and many other skills). Find out how you can gain soft skills today!

Not sure where to find the job you want now? The links below are just some job search websites that can help with finding a job that's a match for you!

• New York State Job Bank
• Teens4Hire
• CoolWorks
• SimplyHired
• SummerJobs.com

Volunteering and Internships

Volunteering and internships help you stand out to a business, while making you and someone else feel good. These experiences can help you add to your resume.

• New Yorkers Volunteer
• Youth Serve America
• DoSomething.org
• The Volunteer Center of United Way
• Internships.com
• Idealist.org
• Student Conservation Association

Start Your Plan - Explore your strengths, skills and talents with a no-cost, career plan portfolio account at CareerZone . Learn more about what you may be interested with the following CareerZone features:

• CareerZone Assess Yourself Tools - Use this tool to discover what occupations you may be interested in
• CareerZone Portfolio - Save your work and volunteer experiences

Budgeting - Whether you earn an allowance from your parent/guardian or a paycheck from a job, creating a budget can help you plan for the future. Below are some tools to help you create and keep a budget.

• Dollars and Sense Budgeting Tool - This tool in CareerZone can help you create a budget around an occupation or based on life choices
• On the Money - Provides information on opening a bank account, credit card and a savings calculator
• Five Budgeting Tips - Not sure how to budget or what makes up a budget? Here is a link with tips to help when making a budget

Preparation for College - If college is going to be a part of your career planning process, there are many steps you can take while you are researching and deciding which college you would like. Below is information on preparation for college exams, as well as financial aid.

• Pre-Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) and Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) – Many colleges require you take the SAT as an entrance exam in order to attend. The PSAT is a practice exam that helps you prepare for the SAT. The links above provide information on what the SAT and PSAT are and how you can prepare and sign up for the exams.
• Financial Aid – It is important to know what financial aid you qualify for to help pay for college. A lot of people end up taking out more loans than they can afford and don’t realize how debt can impact the rest of their lives. It is also important to get financial aid information from trusted resources and websites. Below are some of these trusted websites to help you navigate through the financial aid process:
  • Student Checklist This link provides a checklist of activities to look into during middle school and high school. Information ranges from where to find scholarships to exploring careers.
  • Federal Student Aid Portal – Contains information on different types of financial aid (including scholarships ), how to apply for financial aid, and managing student loans.
  • Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) – This is a form that is prepared annually by current and potential college students ( undergraduate and graduate) in the United States to determine their eligibility for student financial aid (including the Pell Grant, Federal student loans and Federal Work-Study).
    • Student Aid Estimator - Walks you through different questions about your income, and other financial questions that lead to an estimate of the federal financial aid you would receive.
    • Start a New FAFSA – This link will direct you to complete a new FAFSA if you are a new college student. If you are a returning college student, you can login to submit a new FAFSA you must resubmit for every school year that you attend and desire financial aid.
• Check with your School’s Financial Aid/Bursar’s Office – Some colleges and universities may require additional paperwork for you to qualify for financial aid. To make sure you all of the paperwork submitted, contact your school’s Financial Aid/Bursar’s Office.

Paths to Success - Below are resources to help you explore education and training opportunities and figure out your next steps toward reaching your dreams.

• SUNY College Exploration - Want to find out what the State University of New York (SUNY) campus network can offer you as a potential student? Explore community colleges and universities across New York State and make SUNY.
• CUNY College Exploration - Did you know that New York City has a network of community colleges and four year colleges called The City University of New York (CUNY)? This website will provide you with information on the 23 campuses throughout New York City and help you decide which college suits your interests and career goals.
• Apprenticeship: Earn it While You Learn it! - Find out how apprenticeships can help you gain new skills and earn money while learning.
• • Military careers offer the opportunity to travel, get a free or subsidized education while being paid and learning skills.
• College Match Maker - Helps match a college with what you want to go to school for.
• College Navigator - Search for colleges based on location, type of degree, public, private, two or four year schools, and other factors that may be important to you on your quest for college.
• Career and Technical Education (CTE) training opportunities can lead to careers in auto mechanics, nursing, carpentry, and many other in-demand occupations.