If you're 16, in most cases, you can work at established businesses like fast food restaurants at least several hours a week. Keep in mind that school is still your most important priority, so make sure you don't work so many hours that you can't keep up with schoolwork, too.
If you're under 16, you can still do part-time jobs that can earn you some extra pocket money, like mowing people's lawns, babysitting, or even cleaning houses part-time. Again, be careful with this, though, because there may be licensing, bonding, and/or insurance requirements in your state for certain jobs, which means you have to avoid applying for part-time jobs you won't qualify for in these particular circumstances.
One great part-time job you can get into if you're at least 16 is as a telemarketer. Telemarketers solicit customers over the phone and try to sell them a variety of products and services; this is pretty flexible work so that you can work around your school schedule, and generally pays a relatively decent hourly wage. In some cases, you may also get commissions when customers buy products or services from your company based upon the fact that you were the one that called them and enticed them to sign up for the service or buy the product.
Some Points on Getting Part-Time Jobs
Much of the time, you'll be able to apply for a part-time job online, such as if you want to work at a fast food restaurant. Once you are hired, make sure you show up on time and are clean, neat, and professional. This will give you a good foundation for future work, and can also get you some pretty decent references both for college applications and for future job applications as you advance in your chosen career.
Employers like to see employees who are prompt, courteous, and willing to work hard -- which means that you should make clear you're willing to volunteer for any job you're capable of doing during your initial interview. For example, if you're applying to work at a fast food restaurant and the really distasteful job is cleaning out the deep fryer, make sure your potential employer knows you are for that kind of work; your willingness to chip in and do the hard stuff as well as the more "fun" stuff is going to bode well not just for getting the job, but for future references as well. It can even influence, to some extent, whether or not you get into the college of your choice; that's because if your employer is willing to step up to the plate for you and write you a glowing reference, school administrators are going to sit up and take notice.
Brush up on computer skills and basic math skills, if you haven't already. That's because computers are increasingly becoming a part of any job you're going to apply for, and you'll need those skills in just about any job you get. Chances are you're already pretty good on the computer, but make sure you know what you're doing regardless.
