Which career field is best for a 16-year-old?

Career? Sixteen year olds don’t have careers, they have summer jobs. Find something that interests you (or in this economy, someone that will hire you). If you plan to go into a particular area of study in college (medicine, law, etc), you can find a job in that area to get some experience. Many colleges will look at your work history to see if you are truly dedicated.

Vacation. If you don’t need to work, just relax. You have 60 or 70 years left to work.

Full service restaurants will give you the best short term earning potential.

Your tips will be determined by the service you give.

All of them. Now if you had asked what kind of a JOB, rather than a career, would be suitable for a 16 year old, that’s an answerable question.

All of those are pretty reasonable, but the question is, what do you like? What are your hobbies? Do you have any worthwhile abilities or expertises?

For example, I’ve been the head sound engineer for my high school drama department for a few years, and this year my school district hired my to run and managed events. I get paid a lot more than minimum wage because of my special talents, and I didn’t even ask to be employed.

Also, don’t focus on one of those categories too specifically – you might have to apply to all of them to get one job (or none will hire you) and unless you are considering one of those categories to be directly related to your future long term career, it doesn’t really matter where you work as much as that you do work.

Don’t take job hunting too seriously yet – it’s not a very influential or important part of your life (yet).

Aren’t there any local shops/boutiques in your area or have they all been overrun by crappy chain stores?

You mean you have left school already, but you’re not learning a trade?

Okay, I mean job, not career, sorry.
But I do need a job.
It would take too much time to explain why, and you probably wouldn’t understand.
I do take this seriously, as I need enough money to provide for myself in a couple of years.

Everything you listed except restaurants is considered “retail.” If your interest is in sales or business, that’s not a terrible way to go.

Restaurants provide for a lot of good transferable skills. Plus you go home with cash every night if you work for tips.

I don’t know if you’re old enough yet, but I make no less than $15 an hour delivering flowers @ $6.50 per delivery. It’s a good shop, though.

I also make $15/hr as a theater tech (working to set up and tear down shows). If you have a lot of performance venues around, this is a pretty good gig, although there are lots of ways to be injured and some of those are dependent upon the incompetence of others. If you can follow directions, you can do that job.

I should add that working in construction will give you on the job training and opportunities to move up, apprentice, and/or specialize.

Take a course called career exploration the course will help you to determine what fits you best by exploring what’s inside you. You may think money is everything but it’s just one part of a career. This type of course will help you to make those life long choices. Good luck, motivation to start that journey is hugh keep on searching You will get there.

Hon…the thing is, you just have to put your apps out. For every 10 you put out you’ll get maybe one hit. You just have to blanket the area. You really don’t get your pick of jobs…

@ashxmy_lovee wow…a lot of people really jumped on you for your wording there huh? I can understand why you reposted this question.

@Val123 ashxmy_lovee, this is what i meant by my novel sized answer on your other question. the more apps you put out the better your chances are. i know you have probably heard this before but you gotta start somewhere and everything builds you to something better. :)

@bright_eyes00—Actually, yeah. I feel bad. As a teacher I should have recognized a 16 year old with vision and a good vocabulary. I flubbed. I’M SORRY @ashxmy_lovee !!!!

@Val123 honestly i thought your post was one of the nicer ones. one of the few that was more helpful than condescending. (i think i spelled that right :S) You get my point though i’m sure.

@bright_eyes00 Yep, you spelled it right. Which is more than I could do without spell check! Might consider down loading Firefox. It has an auto spell check in it…. Oh. And @ashxmy_lovee go for the cheesecake factory. You can send the screw ups to 123 Sesame Street, Where? Kansas 67689.

Child actor.

@Val123 actually send those screwups to me in Arizona. :P i lurv cheesecake. i’m on my works computers so i’m stuck with explorer

@Val123 Had the best answer so far. Apply to all of them. Take what is offered, give it at least 3 months. If you don’t like it then you can reapply elsewhere.

Here guys. She reposted…

@bright_eyes00 No! Arizona wreaks heaky with cheesecake! NO NO NO!!

@Val123 OHH!!! And Kansas is sooooooo much better!?!? I don’t think so. Me likey cheesecake. XD

Well…well….Arizona is too dry for that moist, yummy cheesecake! Five minutes in Arizona it turns into CheeseSAND.

sooooooo not true!!! don’t believe her lies!! cheesecake LURVS arizona!!

Any of those are good. Way to be responsible!

@Captain_Fantasy Good Answer! Arizona sucks the life out of cheescake.

In this economy I’m surprised anyone actually has the kind of choice you are asking about. My 22 year old Grandson has a full year and a half experience behind him and he puts out a dozen resumes a day, with about one interview a week, and no job offer for over three months.

^ happened to me also.

ultimately found job in glass factory, nepotism ftw.

@Val123 you suck the life out of cheesecake :P

@bright_eyes00 Not before I EAT it ALL in ONE SITTING! Cheesecake is the only dessert that I can do that with…which is why I rarely, RARELY have it in the house!

@Val123 I just made a cinnamon roll cheesecake and I highly recommend it. It was amazing and more filling than normal cheesecake. I changed the glaze though (it was too sweet so I made it a little more tart). Amazing!

@bright_eyes00 OMG!! PM me the recipe!