VOLUNTEERING! Good for you! More teens need to understand that volunteering is their first job. Keep looking, but it might be after school starts back up before much opens up. Consider campaign offices as it is election season and they might be adding people to calling banks, etc.

15 million people unemployed, and countless numbers under-employed or no longer looking. Don't take it personally.

Go into business where you have submitted applications and talk to the manager. Find out if there are openings and let him or her know that you are eager to work and will be an asset to the company.

Too many people, not enough jobs. That's all there is to it. And applying on line won't help you much. You need to do it in person and actually talk to someone if you want a better chance at landing something. It's still going to be hard though.

1. The economy really sucks right now and, depending on where you live, unemployment could be anywhere from 9 - 14%. That means that you are competing with a LOT of other people for the same job. Some of them will have more experience than you, more education than you, or simply present themselves better than you.

2. DON'T apply online. Even though they may tell you to do that, those applications rarely even get a glance. Put on a nice pair of pants and a respectable shirt, make sure you're clean and conservatively groomed, and go apply in person. This gives the manager a chance to check you out ahead of time and gives you another opportunity to make a good impression.

3. If you're filling out applications rather than providing a resume, make sure you use your very best handwriting. Bring a "cheat sheet" with you so that you don't have to scramble trying to remember that old supervisor's name or phone number. Most importantly, you don't want to leave any blank spaces on the app, because that's a sure-fire way for it to end up in the trash.

4. Finally, know why you are best for the job. When my daughter was in your boat, and looking for a job, she went to each store, restaurant, etc. and asked to fill out an app. If they said they weren't hiring, she asked to speak to the manager, and then she told him/her, "I am the best worker you'll ever have. This is what I can do . . . . and this is why you want to hire me . . . ." That girl ALWAYS has a job! :)

Good luck!