It seems today that more and more of my classmates, in all grades, are intensely working at — or even more intensely looking for — a job. Speaking as someone who has had to pay for just about everything except room and board since sophomore year, I know what a struggle finding a job can be — especially as a high school student trying to balance school work, social life, and every teen’s favorite, sleep!

So, to help you job seekers, I’ve compiled a simple list that I think will help you in your job search. When job searching, there are many factors one should take into consideration, more than most people would imagine.The first factor is usually the hourly wage. I will warn you now that, unfortunately, unless you are working for a family member, it is unlikely you will be making much more than minimum wage.

Instead, focus more on the quality of the work you will be doing instead of the quantity of dollars you will be accumulating. I promise that an enjoyable job where you make only minimum wage is better than a job you can’t stand while making that extra two or three dollars per hour.

The next factor to consider is distance from home and school. There is nothing worse than missing out on work hours because you can’t make it to an open shift on time from school. Try to find a job where the location is as close to a middle distance between home and school as possible.

I would suggest not working any farther than 15 minutes from either. You’ll regret it when you have to get up 30 minutes earlier than you normally would on weekends to account for the drive you have to make to work. If you are working to pay for gas, it makes no sense to spend all your gas money driving to work.

Flexibility, I have found, is important in a solid job — from both the employee and the employer. Find a job where you are able to request off a few days here and there. Working every day after school and all day on the weekend is indeed as horrible as it sounds.

When applying for a job, make sure to let them know up front which times which you will and will not be available. Also, try to have good relationships with your coworkers. In case something comes up and you need a substitute for your shift, you want those you work with to like you enough to offer to take your shift. Taking someone else’s when they need one covered is a great way to get on their good side.

Don’t choose a job doing something you hate. Pick something you know will be rewarding. As a lifeguard, I can definitely say that after my first real rescue, I was proud of what I had accomplished and knew that only a select few could have completed the task. Be proud of your work. Do it right the first time so you don’t have to do it again and so you’re never second-guessing yourself. If you respect the work you do, others will too.

Finally, don’t think of your high school job as something you are going to be stuck doing for the rest of your life. A high school job will basically never end up being something you do forever.  The job you choose now is simply for experience, building good habits, and, yes, money. So have fun with what you choose, be on time for your shifts, and save up as much money as possible along the way.

If you follow these guidelines, you will be able to find a job you enjoy. Even if you dislike your job, remember the experience will look great on resumes and college applications in the future, and the guy with a job will always be more prepared than the guy without.