Turning in applications to the store: If the manager is not present, your child can chat with the employees and ask them about working there. If your teen can build a quick rapport with them, they may make a positive comment about him or her to the hiring manager.

Follow up: Experts say your teen should follow an application with a phone call or email 1-2 weeks later to show enthusiasm and dedication, and to keep their name fresh in an employer’s minds as they review applicants. “Hello, my name is Mary Dean and I am calling to check on the application I submitted last Wednesday.”

These strategies all showcase qualities like determination, communication, friendliness, and a dynamic personality—strengths that are hard to translate on paper, but that help make a memorable, positive impression. An employer may hire a less experienced candidate who seems like he or she will catch on quickly and fit well with the work environment.