Employers Offer Tips for Job Applicants

Employers have a lot to say about summer job applicants, and much of it isn’t good. If you want to get hired, don’t show up chewing gum or wearing inappropriate clothing, and fill out your application legibly.

“It doesn’t take much to stand out against the rest,” said Gary J. Vien, director of administration at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, adding that teen-agers sometimes come barefoot to his office.

Valley employers offer this advice:

Don’t call and ask if any jobs are open. Instead, go in person and ask during business hours. If the firm advertised a specific time to accept applications, go near the beginning, not the end of that period. And go alone. Employers said they can’t stand young applicants who come to apply for a job with a friend or relative in tow.

Wear proper clothes. Sandals and baggy pants are out. So are water bottles and chewing gum. Most employers say they expect applicants to dress as they would on the job, and several said they are impressed by a tie and jacket. If in doubt, ask beforehand what sort of attire is expected, said Harold Gordon, senior director at Camp Kinneret Day Camp and Sunny Skies Day Camp in Agoura Hills.

As for the interview, be on time. Don’t answer questions with a simple yes or no. Employers want you to talk. “I don’t want to have to probe for answers,” said Loren Farell, owner of Regal Cleaners in Tarzana. “Employers want to see interaction, eye contact. They want you to smile,” added Vien.

If at the close of the interview the employer asks if you have something to add, ask a question or make a comment. Chances are, the employer is simply trying to draw you out.

Don’t ask the employer early in the interview about pay or days off. Many employers say they are turned off by applicants who seem too eager to cut to questions about money and benefits. After the interview send a thank-you note. So few young applicants do so that those who do give themselves an instant edge.

For many entry-level jobs, employers have their own application forms and a resume isn’t necessary.

But if you want a resume, the most important thing to include is any experience that might relate to job skills, even for applicants who have never worked before. “Many times people have experience and they don’t realize it,” said Ann Morey, Cal State Northridge career counselor. “Even baby-sitting, you learn people skills and supervisory skills.”

List any school activities, such as organizing a school store, or any courses that may have required special skills. Employers also often look for computer experience, communication skills or foreign language ability.