Employment

Before you get a regular job there are many things you can do to earn money or gain experience that will help you later. You can baby-sit, mow lawns or do odd jobs. You can volunteer in a variety of church, school, or community programs. You might help in a hospital or serve in a program to help older people. Any kind of job or volunteer work will help you gain skills and meet adults who can recommend you to a future employer or hire you themselves. Certain courses in school can help increase your odds of finding a job by teaching you marketable skills like:

• Child Care
• Graphic Arts
• Culinary Arts
• Auto Mechanics
• Financial Planning
• Computer Skills

In order to start working, you will need a Social Security number. Ask your parents, they most likely have a number for you.

Be aware of the child labor laws. Certain jobs are not allowed for youth under 18 years of age. Also, for youth under 18, there are restrictions on the number of hours that you can work. Minors of any age may be employed by their parents any time, in any occupation on a farm owned or operated by their parents.

When you begin to look for a paying job, you will be building a work record. Doing a good job, being dependable and on time, will be as important as the type of work you do. Before you apply for a job, make a list of your work experiences, volunteer activities, odd jobs and people who will recommend you. This resume or fact sheet will help you as you move through stages of employment. Parents, teachers, and guidance counselors can help you compile and organize this information effectively.

Some questions to ask yourself:

• What do I like to do and what am I good at doing?
• How will I get to and from a job?
• How many hours and days a week can I work?
• Do I have any skills such as typing, computer skills, photography, and auto repair?
• Do I have any extra-curricular school activities or hobbies?

Getting Leads
To learn about job openings, you may use the classified section of newspapers, bulletin boards at schools, community centers, local businesses, ask family members or friends, or go to the Job Service Office located in your community.

Employment Discrimination
The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination in all employment practices, including job application procedures, hiring, firing, advancement, compensation, training, and other terms, conditions and privileges of employment. The ADA defines an “individual with a disability” as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, has a record of such impairment, or is regarded as having such impairment. A “qualified individual with such a disability” is a person who meets legitimate skill, experience, education, or other requirements of an employment position that he or she holds or seeks, and who can perform the “essential functions” of the position with or without reasonable accommodation. An employer is free to select the most qualified applicant available and to make decisions based on reasons unrelated to the existence or consequences of a disability. If you have questions after reading this very “legal-sounding” paragraph about employment discrimination, or if you want a copy of the entire ADA, contact your U.S. Representative’s office.

South Dakota and Federal law also prohibits employers from discriminating against job applicants or current employees based on race, national origin, color, sex, religion, creed, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, having children, or age.

Sexual harassment is a form of illegal discrimination. This subject is discussed later in this book.

If you have suffered from illegal discrimination in job application, hiring, advancement, compensation, training, or other terms and conditions of employment, call the South Dakota Department of Labor.