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Paper Delivery Jobs For Kids

Written by on August 20, 2011 · Leave a Comment

It can be difficult for kids to find jobs in this economy, especially with so many adults out of work and these adults are taking jobs that kids might of had as a summer job or a job during the school year.  The days of images of a newspaper delivery boy riding through a neighbor wreaking havoc and delivering papers, like from Nintendo, are getting rarer by the day in reality.  That being said although times are tough a job can still be had and paper delivery jobs for kids may just be the right opportunity.

The benefit of newspaper delivery job for kids?

If your kid enjoys being outdoors and wouldn’t mind riding a bike or walking for a few hours a few days a week then paper delivery jobs may be the perfect place for them to find employment.

For kids aged 13 through 17, jobs teach them about responsibility and the value of money.  With so many young adults having credit card problems and wasting their 20s away just being irresponsible you can’t help but wonder if they had a job as a child, and if so, would they be the same type of person they are now, or a more responsible person that managed their money better.  Also, with your kid’s earning money you can help them budget it for things they want; like that cool outfit they’ve had their eye on at the mall.  You can also teach them about long term savings and help them set something up like a college savings fund.

Where to find newspaper delivery jobs for kids and how to get them?

Local papers have taken a huge hit due to the rise of internet news reporting, but they still do exist and they may just be the best option for finding a paper delivery job.  Local and home town papers have more invested in their local community and will be more willing to help out a youngster looking for their first job or just a job in general.  That being said you should still exhaust all your options when searching for a job, so you should also contact major papers in your area as well.  You can start by contacting local papers directly via phone or even stopping by one to talk to someone in the human resources or circulation department.  As a parent always make sure you accompany your young teen if they are going to be walking into places of business (you can sit in your car and watch them walk in and be waiting for them when they walk out.)  If they are walking into places or going for an interview they should always dress professional in a suit and tie.

If you aren’t have luck with the direct approach you can try online job boards, checking open jobs on the papers website, or in the job section of the paper itself.

Once you find a job and throughout your job search always be cautious with where you let your child go on their own as they will typically be dealing with strangers.  In some cases you may, as a parent want to go meet the person first.  When in doubt always be overly cautious, no one is going to think badly of you because you are over protective these are your precious children that we are talking about.

Laws

Visit the US Department of Labor – Youth And Labor division for more information on child labor laws.  Remember that there are also state specific labor laws for children in addition to the federal ones that you will want to be aware of as well.

In most cases 13 year olds are not allowed to work outside the home.  It can be difficult for 14 and 15 year old potential job candidates because where they can work for businesses many will not hire them due to the strong restrictions on the number of hours they can work and when they can work.  Also, some local laws may require a work permit.

Taxes

As dependents on your tax return there are earning thresholds in which a child must file their own taxes.  You should check with your local accountant to make yourself aware of these specific thresholds and how to properly file your child’s tax return.

With so much to know and be aware of some people may just want to not worry about having their children find a paper delivery job.  Although there is quite a bit of leg work to be needed on the parents end the benefits to your child’s money management skills and overall improvement to their sense of responsibility are priceless.  So, go help your child find a newspaper delivery job today!

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How To Find Newspaper Delivery Jobs

Written by on July 21, 2011 · Leave a Comment

In the hard economy of today many folks are seeking work and some jobs that might go unnoticed are newspaper delivery jobs. These jobs are out there in many communities. There are a few easy steps that you can follow on how to find newspaper delivery jobs.

1. You must have a driver’s license that is active in the state that you are trying to find this type of work in.  One important thing to remember is that there are some types of these jobs that a person can walk around to accomplish the work, but many companies want a person who has a driver’s license.

2. Make sure to have the proper insurance on the automobile that you will be driving during working hours.

3. Start looking around for newspaper delivery jobs. One spot to start this search is online at one of the many job search sites.  A few good sites to explore for jobs like these are, craigslist.org, monster.com, snagajob.com, indeed.com, or careerbuilder.com.  Usually a person will have a lot of success just finding a newspaper delivery job on one of these sites.

4. Another spot to look is in the classified sections in the newspapers that are printed and delivered in your very own community. A lot of newspaper companies put these help wanted ads in their own papers because it saves them money on advertising.

5.  The newspaper specific websites will also sometimes list newspaper delivery jobs and other types of jobs. You can find jobs in your area in the yahoo newspaper directory.  If the newspaper in your area that you are looking for doesn’t have a specific site you can call the paper and request to speak to someone in the department in charge of hiring newspaper delivery drivers.  In most cases this will either be a circulation or human resources department that will have the responsibility of hiring new drivers.  Be forewarned though you should be prepared before you call any employer with pen, paper, resume, and questions (Always be professional!)

6.  Make a list of all the jobs that you located in steps 3, 4 and 5, that you are interested in and make sure you meet the requirements that the company is looking for in applicants. This way after you are done with the searching you can go through the list and start applying.

7.  When you are all done searching for opportunities then go through your list, and start applying for the jobs in whatever way the advertisement asks applicants to use.  If you are really unsure of something and aren’t able to come up with an answer on your own call the hiring department at the newspaper with your question, but remember to be professional.

8.  The hardest part is waiting for replies to your applications, just remember while you are waiting to respond promptly to anyone who calls or sends you emails regarding your application.

If you try to follow these few steps you should have a job in no time, at all.

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Customer Service Role In Newspaper Delivery Jobs

Written by on June 11, 2011 · Leave a Comment

A customer service center at a newspaper is really at the heart of all newspaper delivery jobs.  Their role is to resolve problems with the delivery of their paper and also, disputes with their billing.  The key complaint they will hear from a home delivery customer early in the morning is that they did not receive a newspaper that morning.  What the agent does first is ask for an address, a phone number, or an account number to access and account.  Once they bring up the address information on the screen, they will first check to see if there is a delivery problem on the route or a problem with the carrier.  An example might be street closure due to a flood or an accident.  Or, it can be that the carrier called in ill.  More often than not, no reason is given.  In that case, the agent would send a message via computer to have a paper delivered on the same day.  A paper redelivery can only be done during a prescribed set of hours in the morning.  If the customer calls after the deadline, they can only be credited for the missed paper on that day.

There may be instances where a customer may call and report ongoing missed deliveries.  In cases like that, the agent then needs to escalate the complaint to the district manager to look into the problem and try to fix it at his level.  If the problem remains unresolved, the next step is to escalte the complaint to the Area Supervisor.  At this point, a customer may want to speak with an Area Supervisor.  The customer service agent can send a request to the Area Supervisor to contact the customer.  The agent can also release the name and phone number of the Area Supervisor so the customer can call directly.

This is one key role customer service plays in newspaper delivery jobs.

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The Outlying Area’s Need For Newspaper Delivery Jobs

Written by on June 11, 2011 · Leave a Comment

Historically, newspaper delivery jobs have been confined to cities that are served by a large metropolitan area.  Each major newspaper has had their own newspaper delivery jobs which consist of their distribution staff which includes the drivers who transport the paper from the printing plant to the carrier who drops the paper off at the home of the subscribers.  But as many city residents have left the cities to communities in far-flung areas, there has been an increasing demand to have the city newspapers delivered to these communities since many readers who have left the cities still want to stay in touch with the local news.  Newspaper delivery jobs of that sort are not handled by the same carriers that deliver in the city but are handled by independent contractors.

Independent contractors are not employed by the newspaper itself.  For example, even though the San Francisco Chronicle employs its own distribution and delivery staff, there are independent newspaper distributors in the outlying area that receive the papers from the printing presses and then deliver the papers themselves.  If there is a large enough readership in these outlying areas, they might even employ some of their own staff to deliver the papers.  The disadvantage of having the San Francisco Chronicle delivered by an independent dealer or contractor is that the price of the newspaper can be higher than in the San Francisco Bay Area.  A lot depends on how many subscribers there are in a particular area.  Generally speaking, the farther away you are from the San Francisco Bay Area, the higher the price of the paper is likely to be.

One advantage with independent dealers or contractors serving these areas is that they often have a closer contact with their client base than residents of the city have.  If a customer did not receive a paper in the city, they can contact the newspaper (which is a large company) directly for a redelivery on the same day.  However, if a resident lives in an outlying area and does not receive a paper, they can call the independent dealer directly for a redelivery and can also discuss their bill with the dealer.  There’s a more personal connection there.  On the flip side of things though it could be much harder getting a redelivery for an independent because they tend to be one person operations, so the customer may not have a choice, but to settle for a refund.

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Dispatchers And Newspaper Delivery Jobs

Written by on June 11, 2011 · Leave a Comment

It may seem self evident that a dispatcher is connected to newspaper delivery jobs.  The dispatcher does not deliver or pick up papers. A dispatcher at a newspaper is an important part of the newspaper home delivery system because they are in direct contact with the district manager and the local regional offices.  If there is a problem with the number of newspapers a carrier received one morning, for example, the carrier will contact the dispatcher to report the newspaper shortage.

The role of the dispatcher as far as newspaper delivery jobs goes includes receiving messages from carriers out in the field to report shortages in their bundles.  When the message is received, the dispatcher then needs to notify the carrier’s district manager who carries a two-way radio in his vehicle.  The dispatcher tells the district manager where the carrier is located so that he can have the number of papers that are missing delivered to the carrier.  Time is of the essence here.  If the carrier does not receive the missing papers before he completes his route, it is likely that the customers will call to report a missed delivery.  It is important that the carrier call the dispatcher once he knows his bundle is missing some papers because it would reflect poorly on him or her if the paper is not delivered on time to the customer.

Other messages that a dispatcher will receive include routes where delivery will be late. At a newspaper such as the San Francisco Chronicle, a customer needs to wait until 6:30 a.m. before reporting it “late” or “missing” if the paper isn’t there.  However, if the area supervisor or the district manager report that certain routes will be late or “locked out” because of problems with the printing presses or the carrier’s car broke down, the carrier will not be penalized for the late delivery.  The dispatcher then notifies customer service about the late routes.  A customer service supervisor will then display the message on the computer screen so that the agent can inform the customer the reason why delivery is late.  They usually have an estimated time on when the problem will be resolved and when they may expect to receive their paper.

Dispatchers also receive messages from independent dealers who are not employees of the newspaper but do deliver the paper in outside communities.  Because customers in those areas often end up calling the customer service center, the agent can address concerns from that caller regarding delivery problems in his or her area.

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Paperboy Game (Video Game)

Written by on May 18, 2011 · Leave a Comment

The Paperboy game is probably the most popular game ever to deal with the subject of paper delivery. It was originally released by Atari Games in 1984 as an arcade game.  The object of the video game was that you were a paperboy on a bicycle and you needed to deliver papers to houses while dodging/avoiding numerous obstacles.

The original arcade version of the game had a bicycle handle controller that would be used to brake, accelerate or turn.  Then you would have a button to press as well that would cause the paperboy to throw his paper to the left either onto the doorstep or in the mailbox or to cause some destruction.

There were three courses to choose from, where each one was progressively more difficult; Easy Street, Middle Road, or Hard Way.  Points are gained by successfully delivering papers to your subscribers and breaking windows and other things on the properties of non-subscribers.  At the end of the day you could earn a bonus (more points) from the subcribers you successfully delivered papers to.  Likewise any of your subscribers that you missed would unsubscribe the following day.  The way to gain subscribers back would be to deliver perfectly to each subscribers house, in which case you would receive double the points for each subscriber delivered to, and you would gain one lost subscriber back, unless of course you were already at your maximum.   Each course run represented a single day, with the whole game going Monday through Sunday.

The days get harder as the game progresses throughout the week.  The overall difficulty of the game is increased by making it harder to get the paper on the doorsteps or in the mailboxes, adding more and more obstacles and by increasing the speed of the cars crossing the intersection.  That being said though the course never actually changes from day to day, so eventually you can memorize it over time.

Some of the obstacles you may encounter are mail boxes, bushes, brick walls, push mowers, garbage cans, fences, swarm of bees if you slow down (arcade version only) and even the houses themselves.  When you run into one of these obstacles you immediately fall off your bicycle and lose a life. What makes dodging the obstacles difficult is the Paper Boy character is forced to be moving forward at all times, and being that you can only move right or left so quickly, you can sometimes find yourself in a situation where you simply cannot move side to side quick enough to avoid an obstacle.

At the end of your street is a Paper Boy training course where you can practice and get more points.  And then finally at the very end of the training course is a GRAND STAND filled with your fans.

Paper Boy has been remade many many times since it’s days as an arcade game on the original nintendo, TRS-80, Commodore 64, Wii, Xbox 360, and PS3.

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