It's the toughest job market in recent memory for teens, who are finding themselves competing with more people for fewer jobs, a result of layoffs that have left many people 10 years older or more desperate for jobs and willing to consider work that was once the domain of the under-20 crowd.

It's probably too late for summer jobs now, but many teens will want to work during the school year to save for college or, more likely, blow their money on convenience store snacks and overpriced, overrated, mall-based teen apparel. Struggling to find a job isn't any fun but, in the long run, dealing with a tough job market as a teen might be the best thing that could happen to someone.

Teens will have to learn how to put together a resume, interview well, dress appropriately, and hunt for jobs, skills that they could have gotten by without in a better economy -- it's no secret that many of the great entrepreneurs (Sam Walton being the most prominent) came of age during the Great Depression. Adversity breeds life skills.

If your teen is struggling to find a job, consider heading to the library to read up on job-hunting strategies -- it'll get him thinking about it long before most people do, and he'll be better for it.

When I was in college, every summer meant the same thing: I would make the trek home to Northern Virginia with an immune system that was depleted by weeks of substandard food and not enough sleep, kiss my family, catch a cold, and spend a week in bed.

While I was convalescing, I would update my resume, which meant that as soon as I felt better, I could print out a few dozen copies and begin papering the local mall. Within a week or two, just as I began getting freaked out by my inability to get a job, somebody would hire me, and I'd begin learning about knives, or kitchen supplies, or how to make subs. I'd spend the rest of the summer picking up all sorts of useful skills while pulling together enough money to buy books and beer for the following semester.

It was a kinder, gentler time.

According to a recent article in the New York Post, college students in search of summer jobs are finding themselves competing not just against each other, but also against an unexpected foe: adults. As prices on gas and consumer goods continue to soar, many people who previously didn't work or worked a single job are picking up part time gigs to make ends meet. This is squeezing out the college students who traditionally fill the ranks of entry-level positions during the summer and winter. Added to this, of course, is the fact that retail jobs, long a mainstay of summer-employment, are also taking a major hit due to the economic downturn. If you had a good job last summer or during Christmas, this might be a great time to re-establish some old business relationships!

Bruce Watson is a freelance writer, blogger, and all-around cheapskate. If he was a college student, this would be the year to try to get a job in repo.

As I've written before on WalletPop, this is a tough job market for teens. The retail sector is the largest employer of teens and, given the uncertain economy, it isn't adding large numbers of workers this summer. I gave some suggestions for teens hoping to secure jobs, but the people at West Coast Asset Management -- Kinko's founder Paul Orfalea is among the founders -- have another wonderful tip: start your own business. Check out this article (PDF File) in their Exclusive Outlook for June.

Given the low wages that most teens earn, it's possible that many could do as well or better starting their own businesses -- even something as simple as mowing lawns. But the benefits can be more than financial and can more than compensate for any decline in income. According to the WCAM team:

... Many jobs for teens emphasize obedience, mindless activities, and hierarchical deference. Often, they train people to become followers rather than leaders. Starting your own business requires obedience too, but it comes from self-discipline. Your business may also require mindless activities, but you will understand the importance and value of the activity. And yes, owning your own business actually subordinates you to both customers and coworkers (if you do it right), but this is deference to an ideal of valued service, not power of position.

That's a pretty compelling argument for entrepreneurship.

The current economic malaise has made this a difficult job market. It's especially tough for teens because the consumer is especially weak -- and most jobs suited to teenagers are in the retail sector.

A recent SnagAJob survey shows that 49% of hiring managers aren't planning to hire anyone at all this summer -- and 54% of summer jobs that are available are expected to go to people who worked at the same place last summer.

What's a teen to do? Fill out a ton of applications. One expert quoted in this Fortune column suggests seeking employment at 12 or more places. if you're a parent, you'll want to help junior put together a professional-looking resume emphasizing scholastic, athletic, and community achievements. It's a competitive market, and even 14-year olds have to find a way to differentiate themselves from the pack.

In the long run, this is a wonderful opportunity for kids to develop great skills. Sure, it's a lot more fun when jobs are easier to come by. But learning how to interview well and make yourself stand out are skills that will serve kids well for their whole lives.

Another tip: getting a job with the government could have better resume-building and networking opportunities than folding Marilyn Manson t-shirts at Hot Topic. Check out StudentJobs.gov to find openings in your area. Jobs there may be more plentiful. As Ron Paul will tell you, the government continues to expand rapidly.