This comes from an interviewer I’ve known a long time:
1 Show up for the interview on time, properly dressed and groomed
2 Pass a drug test
3 Demonstrate command of English and arithmetic on a sixth-grade level.
I’m told some eight out of ten 18-yr-olds can’t meet these requirements. Pretty scary.
I know a firm that has a hard time getting young guys for work on refuse trucks (pretty decent paying >$15/hr) because they can't pass the CDL drug screen.
Not having a criminal record helps, too ... and a lot of 18-year-olds end up with drug convictions, even if they’re minor charges.