Positive qualites? What positive qualities?

In therapy we're about to start working on interview skills, and in preparation for next session I'm supposed to be thinking of any positive qualities I have that would be relevant to employers. But I'm 17 years old, very shy (social anxiety level, apparantly), with only a week's work experience...what use would I be? I can't think of any job that I'd be able to do - I've filled out application forms for sales assistant jobs mainly, but I've only been called to one interview and I didn't get the job - and I'm not surprised, either.

Friendly? Caring? (I've seen both of those here!) Can work independently? (Better than saying that working in groups isn't fun for you)

Have you found any sites that list a whole bunch of qualities? You can usually go through the list and pick which qualities you think best suit you.

I have seen lots of positive qualities in you from reading your posts.

You are extremely articulate and intelligent. Your spelling and grammar are exceptional. You are also careful, conscientious, kind, sensitive, thoughtful and compassionate.

You could see if you could find a job in an office. You can obviously communicate well using a computer, so you might enjoy an office job -- working on your own tasks, typing, doing data entry, etc. When you're 17, it's not important to worry about what sort of job you're going to have for the rest of your life. It's just good to get some work experience.

I'm a communications coordinator now -- writing, art directing, etc. and before that I was a graphic designer for many years. So, I'm in my chosen profession. Before I got to my chosen profession, though, I worked as a temporary secretary and then a legal secretary. I knew how to type and I was articulate, so I did well in those jobs and gained some positive experience, as well as earning money to pay my university fees. Doing well at a job can really boost your confidence too. You have lots of positive qualities. I would hire you if you lived nearby!

Perhaps you could also consider if you would enjoy working in a hospital or nursing home -- helping to care for people. You seem like a very caring person, so maybe you would enjoy doing something like that... or working at an animal shelter or veterinarian's office... lots of possibilities out there besides being a shop assistant. I worked in shops a few times but really didn't enjoy it because I'm not much of a sales person. I always preferred to leave them alone to their shopping and it turned out that's not what my bosses wanted.

Are you responsible, especially about time? Many employers have had bad experiences with young people who arrive late, don't show up, and quit abruptly. Examples of how you are prompt and reliable (such as my classes start at 9 a.m., and I haven't missed a class all semester) can be very appealing to employers.

Another grievance is young people who spend too much time on cell phones and text messaging. "I always turn my cell off while I'm class so that I can pay attention" is another plus.

Willing to dress in casual business attired -- shirt and khaki type pants, no jeans.

Good grades. Say what subjects -- math and science are a plus. So are communication skills such as good English.

Polite and respectful. Patience. Helpful. Willing to pitch in even if it's not my job description.

Good luck with this. I agree with Juliana.

Potential employers like to hear that you have a strong integrity, that you are willing to work hard and are open to learning new things. We also like to see that a candidate can smile and articulate well.
Good luck to you!
Okie

Thanks, Canders! I like "can work independently" - hadn't thought of putting it like that before, that's a good idea.

I tried looking last night, but all I could find were sites for people writing their first CVs after graduation...seeing as I haven't left school yet (only a few weeks left, though!), mine would be different. I'll have another look, though.

Wow, thanks, Juliana! My dad actually suggested data entry the other day, it does sound like something I could do...I'm not sure where to look to find a job like that, though. When I've finished university I want to be either a mechanical or a design engineer, but I realise it'd be very hard to get work in those areas without having a degree first, so I'm really just looking for a job to give me something to do for the four months between finishing school and starting university.

That sounds fun! Graphic design was something I considered at one point - I loved Graphic Communication lessons at school. I'd probably be able to do secretarial work if it wasn't for answering phone calls...I'm better at doing that now than I was, but I still don't find it easy unless it's someone I know calling. Thanks!

Working in a hospital or nursing home would be good, except I'd have to talk to strangers all the time. Animals might be easier, though. I'm glad there are more possibilites than being a shop assistant, I thought all other jobs would need experience. Personally, as a customer I prefer it when I can be left alone to do my shopping unless I ask for help, so I'd probably do the same as you!

Thanks, Wants2Fly. I've never been more than a few minutes late for class, and most of the time I am on time, so I guess so. And I don't bring my mobile to school, either. Our school has a uniform which I always wear, and minus the tie I'm pretty sure it could pass as business casual wear, so that's ok. I took maths and physics at Advanced Higher level (no idea what the American equivalent of that is, sorry ) - I've got predicted B grades in both. Communication skills...well, written communication is fine, but like I said I'm very shy so spoken communication can be hard. It's something I'm working on in therapy, though. Think those last five points are ok.

This is making me feel a lot more hopeful. Thanks again!

Thanks for replying, fayerody.

Thanks, okiedokie. Other than the articulation, I think I can do the rest of the things you mentioned...maybe I should get a job where I can write instead of speak. With any luck, therapy should help me find speaking to people easier.

Hey Rio!

I did a search for just positive personality characteristics and came across this site:

http://www.gurusoftware.com/GuruNet/...al/Factors.htm

Hopefully it's helpful - it looks to be!

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Rio_ said:
When I've finished university I want to be either a mechanical or a design engineer,

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Every time I read this thread, I get a strong intuition that you might like working in a copy shop. I don't know what country you're in, but in every US state I've been in, there seem to be a lot of young people in copy shops. Some are open long hours, so lots of schedules to work around school. And eventually you might be able to work on designing business cards, banners, etc. I hope that's not an insulting suggestion and off-base.

That's a great idea W2F! I think that would be a fun place to work -- opportunity for some creativity too. I would have loved a job like that when I was younger.

Rio, what do you think?

That's great, thanks Canders!

That does sound good, Wants2Fly, thanks for the suggestion! I tried looking online for copy shops around here (I'm in Scotland), but didn't get any good results...is there another name for them I could try?

Try print shops or photocopying services. Maybe you'll find something that way. Do you have "Kinko's" in Scotland? It's a chain of copy shops here. There are lots of them and they hire lots of young people. If you don't have Kinko's in Scotland, there's probably a similar chain of shops that offer copying and printing services.

You're right, Juliana, it does sound like fun. I'm not having much luck finding one, but they might be called something else here.

Edit: Just saw your reply...I'll try searching for those, thanks for the suggestion. I haven't heard of Kinko's before, but you're right, there could be a similar chain. I'll check!

Well, I was wrong - it was mum who suggested data entry work, not dad. And they had a "discussion" today while I was at my driving lesson...now it seems I have to do sales assistant work, whether I like it or not. I tried telling dad that I didn't want to do that sort of work, and he said that's a bad attitude - talk about stating the obvious! How am I possibly going to fake an enthusiasm about a job I don't want? I'm a terrible liar, and nobody's going to hire someone who doesn't want the job. I don't see the point in applying, but it looks like I don't have a choice. Funny, I thought part of getting older was being able to make your own decisions...

Rio, if you want to be a mechanical or design engineer, you'll need CADD/drafting and if you've had any computer courses in this, you can get a job no problem with a mechanical or other engineering firm! If you haven't had that course in high school, I would take the summer off to take one of those courses and wherever you take it will have places looking for draftspeople and lots of places (at least in the Eastern US :-) love to have student interns because they get to "teach" them and the pay isn't quite as much as what they'd have to pay a "professional" draftsperson (yet -- but as you got on-the-job training you'd become more and more valuable to them and could soon ask for higher salary). It's a very real/marketable skill so you wouldn't have to rely so heavily on personal skills.

Check out this site: http://www.glenco.org/cad.php

Get a job with an engineering firm, even if only as a "runner" (they have to go to government agencies to get permits, to clients to drop off papers, to architectural firms who are working with them to pick up papers for the engineers and/or drop them off, etc.) Then, while you are in school, the firm you work for will still hire you every summer because they "trained" you and, when you graduate they'll snap you up right away because they always need "good" engineers and you will have experience with them and the way they do things, their type of clients, etc. They'll know you and how well you work and know how truly valuable you are so will probably pay you a bit more to make sure competitors don't get you :-)

Thanks, Perna. That looks like a good course...shame the offices are both quite far away. Still, I did a lot of CAD work (and manual drawings) in Graphic Communication lessons at school, and my work experience was using CAD software as well, so I know how to use it.

I tried searching quickly for engineering jobs, but all the ones I found were asking for a degree...would I have to contact a firm directly if I just wanted something fairly simple to do? (To be honest, I'm not sure how much use I'd be as a "runner", seeing as I can't drive. ) It'd be great if I could get some engineering experience, certainly.

Here's an example of the sort of job you're looking for (though it has more requirements because it's for European students coming to the UK). Look for CAD jobs specifically rather than engineering ones (since you're not an engineer yet :-):

http://www.placementuk.org/ops/job.p...b=CAD-Engineer

You might want to call a couple engineering firms near you though and ask them about internships or ask your teacher if he has any business contacts and maybe somebody knows somebody who knows somebody :-)

My next door neighbor is in the same situation as you are (he's 19) and I'm going to get his resume/info and send it to my old engineering firm if he likes and recommend to the VP that he hire him as a "summer" job. If my old firm needs someone, they'll be thrilled to have my recommendation because they know me and know who I'd recommend would be good also. So, ask your parents and your friends' parents if they know any engineers so you can find someone who will help you that way.

Talk to your teachers about how to get such a job; they'll know and help!

Thanks! I should have thought of that, I was looking for engineering jobs and wondering why I couldn't get any good results...

I don't take Graphic Communication any more, but my dad's an engineer so he should hopefully know some other firms - I could ask him. He's taken me to a company where one of his friends works before, and they seemed nice...they're in Edinburgh, though. Still, I'd probably be able to get there using public transport, it might just take a while!

Thanks again. And sorry about taking a while to reply!