You need a job. Or maybe even you want a job? No, you need a job. Look no further, for I am an employed student and I can guide you to the great light of adulthood.

Excuse the silly intro — You’re looking for a job in NEPA, but you’re having trouble finding somewhere to work. I had the same issue when I was 15, and I sought several responsible adults for guidance. Today, I am just about 18 and I have been working for nearly 3 years. Allow me to help you:

WHERE TO WORK (BY AGE):

15

Weis Markets ($10-11/hr)

My first ever ‘real’ job was at Weis Markets in Nanticoke. I worked there for roughly 2 years and I have no complaints. The management is generally flexible with student- schedules, and they do a pretty good job with working around you as a human being. Now, here is the catch: if you start at Weis at 15 years old, you can only work on the floor as a stocker. Essentially, your role as a stocker is pretty much in the name: you stock shelves. It sounds brain-numbingly boring, I know, but it definitely isn’t. Shifts move faster than you would expect, and it’s a very lax job to run. And for a great starting rate, you can’t beat that. I would recommend Weis 100% of the time when asked about a first job.

BEFORE YOU INTERVIEW, YOU WILL NEED:

• Work Permit issued by the school

• Social Security Card

• Birth Certificate

• Drug Test

• Resume (not a huge deal for 15-year-old interviewees; more important for 16/17/18-year-olds.)

• Base availability (days/hours you can work)

Gerrity’s ($9-$10)

Similar to Weis, Gerrity’s is a common first job for many students. Gerrity’s offers extreme flexibility with scheduling. However, they do have a reputation for not scheduling students for many hours or scheduling students for too many hours. That is something to consider, especially if you are an active participant in things like sports or clubs, etc. Regardless, Gerrity’s is definitely a step up from Weis in terms of foot traffic. You will be dealing with much friendlier people at Gerrity’s (generally). Due to Gerrity’s being a larger, more high maintenance store, there are a lot of people employed at once. If you’re concerned about getting accepted and/or reaching the interview stage, Gerrity’s is the place for you. I, personally, have never seen someone apply for Gerrity’s without getting a call. Gerrity’s vs Weis: Weis takes the higher wage benefit, but with Gerrity’s, you’re more than likely going to get the job, and quickly, too. Added bonus: Gerritys has a more flexible dress code, if you care about that.

BEFORE YOU INTERVIEW, YOU WILL NEED:

• Work Permit issued by the school

• Social Security Card

• Birth Certificate

• Resume (not a huge deal for 15-year-old interviewees; more important for 16/17/18 year olds.)

• Base availability (days/hours you can work)

RITE-AID ($11-$13)

Rite-Aid is awesome AND local. The store is clean and pretty generally friendly. However, it is a pharmacy, so it’s likely you end up working around sick people. It also runs on little staff, so it’s less likely to get an opportunity to work there than other places. They also tend to stray away from younger hires, although they do welcome applications from 15-year-olds. The pay is great for a starter job, the only real problem is getting hired.

BEFORE YOU INTERVIEW, YOU WILL NEED:

• Work Permit issued by the school

• Social Security Card

• Birth Certificate

• Referral

• 3 References

• Drug Test

• Resume (not a huge deal for 15-year-old interviewees; more important for 16/17/18-year-olds.)

• Base availability (days/hours you can work)

Grico’s ($???)

Formerly known as “Guiseppe’s”, Grico’s is Nanticoke’s finest, most fancy restaurant. You walk through the front door and you just feel like you’re made of money. The work environment, obviously, is extremely clean. From what I hear, the staff is very nice and the management is lenient. They don’t hire very often, but they do go through old applications every now and then. If you aren’t looking for a job ASAP, I would recommend submitting an application TODAY, just so they have it on document. Do note though: at 15, you are only permitted to bust tables. Regardless, I’d give it a look.

BEFORE YOU INTERVIEW, YOU WILL NEED:

• Work Permit issued by the school

• Social Security Card

• Birth Certificate

• Resume (not a huge deal for 15-year-old interviewees; more important for 16/17/18-year-olds.)

• Base availability (days/hours you can work)

16/17

Any Fast Food Chain

You’re now 16. This means that you can legally begin your work journey with a variety of starter jobs. You often hear about adults’ first jobs, and almost every time, it’s a fast food joint. There are many pros and cons to working in fast food. And I mean MANY. Here are some pros:

• Generally higher pay in reference to local businesses

• Generous employee discount and complimentary meals on shift

• Usually lots of hours

And, the cons:

• It’s fast food; greasy, nasty, and hot

• Demanding/exhausting shifts

• Oftentimes dealing with rude customers/unsafe work environment

• Very rarely lenient managers

But that’s totally up to you. Take everything into consideration when applying for a job in fast food. The money is there, but it most definitely isn’t cost free.

Most Stores in the Mall

Now that you’re 16 and most likely driving on your own, the mall is the best possible place for you to work. As someone that currently works in the mall, it’s the best work environment you could ask for. Unlike grocery stores, people go to the mall to have a good time, so you’re never really dealing with rude customers. Most stores pay at least $10/hr, or they pay a lower rate with the addition of commission pay. The only con of working in the mall is the distance from Nanticoke, obviously. It’s about a 20-minute drive usually. 81 is constantly being worked on, so some days it could be closer to a 40-minute drive. But outside of the drive, there’s nothing wrong with working in the mall.

BEFORE YOU INTERVIEW, YOU WILL NEED:

• Work Permit issued by the school

• Social Security Card

• Birth Certificate

• Referral

• 3 References

• Resume

• Base availability (days/hours you can work)

18

Warehouse Jobs

18! You are a legal adult. That being said, you can now apply for ‘adult’ jobs. Nanticoke Area 18-year-olds are very fortunate with the surplus of factory jobs. Chewy, Adidas, and FedEx are just a few examples of high-paying factory jobs locally. The pay is fantastic… the work? Exhausting. I have several friends that work factory jobs, and they pretty much hate their jobs up until they get the paycheck. And then they repeat the cycle. If you’re looking to make a big purchase, like a car for example, then I would recommend working a factory job short term. If you’re just looking for a consistent income in a job that isn’t too hard that you love? Factory jobs will NOT do that for you. Take that as you will.

BEFORE YOU INTERVIEW, YOU WILL NEED:

• Social Security Card

• Birth Certificate

• ID

• Referral

• 3 References

• Drug Test

• Resume

• Base availability (days/hours you can work)

Above are only a few options for work locally. There are plenty more job opportunities in your area, so don’t be discouraged if you’re not interested in anything listed. The goal of this article was to prove to you that there are plenty of jobs out there… no more excuses! Good luck in your endeavors!