Published: Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Teens should start planning now for a job next summer
I've been hearing a lot about teenagers lately.
How hard they try to find seasonal work. Pounding the pavement. Looking for "help wanted" signs in store windows. Combing through online job boards for entry-level positions. Almost every time I hear people talking about teens and the job market, the sentiment is the same: They simply can't land jobs.
I am skeptical of blanket assumptions like this one. It's true that there aren't as many positions as there were several years ago. Perhaps you have to consider taking a job outside of your ideal field. But jobs still exist.
Too many teens find excuses to sit back and do nothing. I'm not saying that kids should plunge straight from high school into headstrong careers. Just like their parents, kids need time to unwind. They deserve a break after school lets out, but as soon as they utter the words "I'm bored" in any context, break time is officially over and it's time for a change.
Nearly halfway through the summer, there are still countless opportunities for teens to make money, learn new skills or give back to the community. Ready to kick laziness out the back door? Here are a few tips that may help:
Seasonal employment. Yes, there are still jobs opening up for motivated teens. Look for part-time positions in restaurants, grocery stores and other high-turnover businesses.
If there aren't any jobs in your area, remind your teen that self-employment positions can be created at any time. Entrepreneurial efforts may include baby-sitting, mowing lawns, walking dogs and even basic Web page design.
The easiest way to land a seasonal and entrepreneurial position is to contact employers or clients directly. Teach your teenager the art of networking, which includes starting conversations, establishing trust and spreading the word about his or her availability and skills.
Professional internships. In a competitive job market, internships are like step ladders. They give ambitious teenagers a leg up by providing training, insight and networking relationships in a specific field. Plus, talented interns often receive job offers that lead to exciting and lucrative occupations.
Since most internships are filled in advance, your teen would be wise to begin researching 2011 opportunities right now. A quick online search will bring up dozens of businesses seeking interns for the coming year. Also, check out libraries, school career counselors and local job-finding resources for additional information.
Volunteer positions. Here is some advice for teenagers and adults: If you are bored, restless or unable to find employment, contact a local organization and volunteer. Depending on your interests, you can work in a hands-on capacity (hospices, pet shelters, literacy organizations or soup kitchens) or provide much-needed administrative or marketing support.
In addition to valuable service to the community, volunteering can improve computer proficiency, enhance communication skills and practice networking. It can also fill an employment gap on a resume, which may increase the chances of landing a job in the future.
If your teen insists on lazing around this summer, use the next couple of months to plan for 2011. If your teen starts early, he or she will be first in line for the best jobs, internships and volunteer roles next year.
Eve can be reached at Eve.GetAJob@gmail.com.
How hard they try to find seasonal work. Pounding the pavement. Looking for "help wanted" signs in store windows. Combing through online job boards for entry-level positions. Almost every time I hear people talking about teens and the job market, the sentiment is the same: They simply can't land jobs.
I am skeptical of blanket assumptions like this one. It's true that there aren't as many positions as there were several years ago. Perhaps you have to consider taking a job outside of your ideal field. But jobs still exist.
Too many teens find excuses to sit back and do nothing. I'm not saying that kids should plunge straight from high school into headstrong careers. Just like their parents, kids need time to unwind. They deserve a break after school lets out, but as soon as they utter the words "I'm bored" in any context, break time is officially over and it's time for a change.
Nearly halfway through the summer, there are still countless opportunities for teens to make money, learn new skills or give back to the community. Ready to kick laziness out the back door? Here are a few tips that may help:
Seasonal employment. Yes, there are still jobs opening up for motivated teens. Look for part-time positions in restaurants, grocery stores and other high-turnover businesses.
If there aren't any jobs in your area, remind your teen that self-employment positions can be created at any time. Entrepreneurial efforts may include baby-sitting, mowing lawns, walking dogs and even basic Web page design.
The easiest way to land a seasonal and entrepreneurial position is to contact employers or clients directly. Teach your teenager the art of networking, which includes starting conversations, establishing trust and spreading the word about his or her availability and skills.
Professional internships. In a competitive job market, internships are like step ladders. They give ambitious teenagers a leg up by providing training, insight and networking relationships in a specific field. Plus, talented interns often receive job offers that lead to exciting and lucrative occupations.
Since most internships are filled in advance, your teen would be wise to begin researching 2011 opportunities right now. A quick online search will bring up dozens of businesses seeking interns for the coming year. Also, check out libraries, school career counselors and local job-finding resources for additional information.
Volunteer positions. Here is some advice for teenagers and adults: If you are bored, restless or unable to find employment, contact a local organization and volunteer. Depending on your interests, you can work in a hands-on capacity (hospices, pet shelters, literacy organizations or soup kitchens) or provide much-needed administrative or marketing support.
In addition to valuable service to the community, volunteering can improve computer proficiency, enhance communication skills and practice networking. It can also fill an employment gap on a resume, which may increase the chances of landing a job in the future.
If your teen insists on lazing around this summer, use the next couple of months to plan for 2011. If your teen starts early, he or she will be first in line for the best jobs, internships and volunteer roles next year.
Eve can be reached at Eve.GetAJob@gmail.com.
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