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[therron57]

I am applying for a job at a local carpentry business, and I'm not sure what to do. I just got back home after having a second chat with the manager (I was there last Monday as well), who gave me the application to fill out. As I'm reading it, it says the following:

"As an equal opportunity employer this company's policy, as well as Federal and State Law, prohibits discrimination in employment based on race, color (yada yada yada)... or age with respect to individuals who are at least 18 years of age."

When I asked about the job last week, he asked me about experience (I previously had a woodworking class at school) and told me he would teach me the basics. He also mentioned another kid (who apparently lives right down the street from me) that applied a week or two before and was currently very unreliable. He said he'd determine the kids fate (so to speak) along with another co-worker and would consider hiring me. He never asked about my age or where I live. Now, I'm 16, and I REALLY don't look like it, in fact, I look younger. How I could pass for an 18 year-old, I have no idea. I live a couple of blocks away and could get to work in a jiffy, but I don't know what to do because he's ready to fire the other kid figuring I could start working there soon, and legally, I don't think he can hire me. I mean, everyone's been telling me to apply here, and I absolutely love carpentry and working with my hands, but I'm afraid I just wasted this guys time and that I'm never going to be able to get a job.

The whole reason why I decided to apply here is because I don't have a car yet and can simply ride my bike to work. This is also a rural area and there aren't many job opportunities, except by school which is currently more than 30 miles away in the suburbs (I have three job offers out there). In town by my house, there's a local bar/restaurant that I personally love, but they're not hiring now since they just hired about 20 people, and a few gas stations but they aren't hiring either. My mom can't drive me because she leaves for work at 4:30 in the morning, and my stepdad doesn't want me to have anything (a car, friends, let alone another job or any kind of income). I really need this job, as I need a car to drive to and from school in and money to help with insurance.

I just called one of the other guys that works there and I told him that I'm only sixteen and that I'm taking an online class through the state (which shouldn't interfere with work hours). He seemed a bit reluctant, but told me to finish filling out the application and bring it back this afternoon or tomorrow morning, and that he would talk to the other manager (I guess these two both run the business, as they are the only two other guys that work here other than the kid they intend to fire, who, by the way, is out of high school, so maybe about 19) and we'd go from there. The fact that I can't really drive their trucks yet would be a bit of a downfall, but he said that there's plenty more to do.

Any idea what's going to happen? I'm freaking out! HELP!!!!

[vruyk]

The paperwork just means they can legally discriminate against you because of your age since you're under 18. Like, if they really needed someone for driving the truck, they could legally not hire/fire someone for being too young (under 18) without it being a thing to fuss about, legally.

It's not illegal to hire a 16-year-old, it's just there's things you can't do like operate heavy machinery. It sounds like they'e eager to hire you, and think you're trustworthy. I'd go ahead with applying and not worry about it. I mean no one's going to get in trouble with you working there, since they want you to work there and you want to work there.