Now that you have researched the laws in your state and obtained a work permit if necessary (for information on work permits in your state click here), you are ready to look for a job. Ideally you would like to work somewhere that you would find interesting and being that you are really into cars, you think working at a car dealership would be pretty cool. There are some car dealerships not far from your home and you wonder if you can you get a job at a car dealership when you are 15.

Finding a job with a car dealership will be difficult when you are 15 years-old. Many have a minimum age of 18 before they are willing to hire someone. Dealerships are often privately owned, however, so this may not always be the case.

This blog post will cover:

• Obtaining a job at a car dealership
• Options for employment at a car dealership
• Other opportunities available to you at age 15

Obtaining a Job at a Car Dealership

A job at a car dealership is a great idea for someone who is into cars. Many dealerships will not hire those who are under the age of 18, however if you are interested in working at a car dealership when you are 15, you can’t lose by contacting the dealerships near you to see what their hiring requirements are.

The first thing to do is make a list of the car dealerships that are located near you. Once you have put your list together, you can go to the website of the dealership to see if you can find any information about their minimum age for employment. It may be easier, however, to just call each dealership and ask what their minimum age is for employment.

If, when you contact the dealership they say that they are open to hiring those that are 15 years old, ask if they are hiring and if so for what positions. You can also ask whether they have applications for employment online or if you should pick one up at the dealership.

Submitting your application in person is the best way to get noticed when applying for a job. If they have an application online, go ahead and print it out. You can complete the application at home and bring it to the car dealership. If you find out that they don’t have any current job openings you can still submit an application in person. Bringing the application in will give you the chance to make a good impression. It is definitely important to dress nicely when going in to submit your application.

Upon arriving at the dealership, ask to speak with a manager. Should a manager be available, introduce yourself and ask if there are any jobs open.  Whether or not there are openings, you will want to give your application to the manager. Ask the manager for their name as well as when they anticipate next having a job opening.

Let the manager know that you plan to follow up on your application in a few weeks. Make sure to thank the manager for their time.

It will never hurt for a manager to see you and know that you present well. This will help them put a face and demeanor to the paper application, something they won’t be able to do for all applicants.

Often, a manager will not be available. If this is the case, you can either leave the application or ask who you should follow up with, or ask when a manager will be in so that you can submit your application.

Going to the dealership with your application is a good way to get noticed and stand out from other applicants. Even if you don’t walk away with a job, leaving with the name of the hiring manager and the timeframe for the next expected job opening is a success. This is great information that may lead to obtaining an interview in the future.

For more information on applying for a job in person, click here.

Remember that it is important to have an idea of the child labor laws and work permit requirements in the state where you live prior to beginning your job search. Click here for more information on child labor laws and work permit requirements in your state.

Options for Employment at a Car Dealership

As with many employers there are different jobs that are filled at a car dealership. It is important to remember that every car dealership is different and opportunities at one may be different from another.

Car dealerships will typically have sales people. These are the employees who talk with customers about what they are looking for and presents them with options that will suit what they are looking for. Sales experience is often preferred for these positions.

Another opportunity for employment is in maintenance. This can include cleaning the vehicles to making complicated repairs. Experience and education will typically be required for positions in auto repair.

Probably one of the best ways to begin working at a dealership at 15 is to work in an administrative role. This would involve answering phones, greeting customers or performing general office tasks. While this may not be the work you were thinking of at a dealership, working in an administrative capacity would get your foot in the door which could help you transition to a job that better meets your interests.

Other Opportunities Available to You at Age 15

As it may be difficult to get a job at a car dealership, it is important to remember there are many other options for earning money at the age of 15.

At 15, there may be job opportunities at retail stores, restaurants and movie theaters.  You can also consider online jobs which offer the chance to earn money while working from home on your own schedule.

Building websites or blogs is a great opportunity for those who would enjoy using their creativity. Business and individuals who are looking for a website or blog but don’t have the time or interest in creating it, will be willing to pay you to do the work. This may sound like more than you can handle, but there are templates available that you can use to build websites and blogs and you can do so without being an expert. To build your portfolio and ultimately your business, offer to create your first few websites or blogs for free or a very low cost. Having the portfolio and references will help you grow your business.

If you are hesitant about getting clients, you can design your own website or blog around an interest or hobby that you have. You can create your site around this interest or hobby and then learn to drive traffic to you site. You can also design a website or blog for yourself.  Think of an interest or hobby that you have and build a site around it. You can than focus on driving traffic to your site which will help you earn money.

If you enjoy writing, check out Upwork.com and Fiverr.com which offer freelance writing opportunities. You will be able to complete a profile and apply for jobs that involve writing. Many of the opportunities are to write content for other blogs or websites. It is a good idea to bid for jobs with a low rate and as you gain experience and build your business you can increase your rate.

For those who are fluent in a second language, translating documents can be a way to earn an income. Translating jobs can be found at Upwork.com and you can apply for the jobs that you are comfortable you can do well.

For more information and opportunities to earn money online, click here.

Side jobs are another way to earn money though these are done away from your computer. Side jobs are great for being able to work completely around your school schedule.

Consider tutoring if you are comfortable with younger teens and children. You can work the hours you choose and tutor on the topics you are comfortable with. You will work with the parent of the child you are tutoring to come up with a scheduled time that works for all involved.

Parents would also appreciate an offer of homework help for kids in elementary school. It often feels like there is not enough time to get everything done and having someone able to help a child or two with homework is a huge help. A starting rate of $10 per hour is appropriate, and you can negotiate an increase once the child you are working with shows improvement in their grades.

Assistance running errands would be appreciated by many adults who are trying to keep up a household while working full time.  Your service can offer help with grocery shopping, going to the post office, etc. Your customers will refer you to their friends if you treat them well, which will lead to your business growing.

Earning money is also possible through pet sitting and dog walking. For many, pets are members of the family and they want to be sure they have the food they need and the exercise and attention they desire. People are willing to pay for someone to take care of their animals while they are out of town as well as when they are working a long day. You can charge a rate per visit or walk and set a schedule that works for you.

For more information on side jobs click here.

Getting a job at a car dealership will be difficult at age 15 but it is possible. It is important that you be persistent in your job search. It will probably take multiple applications and interviews prior to obtaining a job. Keep in touch with the manager for jobs that you apply for and consistently follow up so that should a job become available, you will have made an impression and they will look for your application.

So, what do you think about whether a 15 year-old can work at a car dealership?  Do you agree with what was said above?  Comment below to let us know!