Job Search Advice for Teens Looking for Summer Jobs

I know teens just went back to school after the break, but it is not too early to start thinking about summer plans.  The summer plans for many high school and college teens include finding a summer job.  If you have read my blog for the last six years, you know that this time of year is when I start to speaking to teens about the summer job search.

Teens should know there is a lot of competition for summer jobs in a bad economy.  Although employers are hiring in greater numbers than they have in the last few years, teens still need to think about the old adage - the early bird gets the worm.  The summer job worm that is.  These articles will help you or your teen get an early start on the summer job search.

Teens Looking for Summer Jobs Should Write Cover Letters Too
Why American Teens Need Summer Jobs
How Summer Jobs can Impact a Community
4 Steps for Teens to Get a Summer Job in a Government Agency
Looking for a Summer Job?  Government Agencies Hire Students
5 Ways Teens Can Shine in the Summer Job Interview

Attention College Students! Tis the Season to Apply for Holiday Jobs

With 9.1% unemployment rate, we are in a tough job market for sure. It may be harder this year for college students to find holiday jobs especially since there are laid off workers also job seeking. With slumping retail sales, there are definitely less part-time jobs to go around. Additionally, a tightening credit market means that some students who are self funding their education, have more bills to pay.

The job market this past summer was also tough for college students looking for part time jobs and internships. The News-Record published some job search tips from BullsEyeResumes to help students get hired this past summer. I thought it would be a good time to modify these tips slightly for use this holiday season.

* Dress for success. Put away the baggy pants and novelty T-shirts. Dress neatly, and check your attire ahead of time to avoid a wardrobe malfunction. Neither torn nor tight clothing will impress the hiring manager.

* Get to your interview early. The best way to not get hired is to show up late for the job interview. Remember that first impressions count.

* Be polite and friendly to everyone you meet at the work site, not just the interviewer. These people will be your colleagues if you get the job.

* Speak up, speak clearly and look the interviewer in the eye. This is a conversation, so have your own questions ready: What are the hours? When would I start? What’s the training like? What do you like best about working here?

* Bring a written list of names and contact information for personal references when you complete your job application.

* Bring an updated copy of your resume. (College Sample Resumes)

When you do land a job this holiday season, be sure to make a good impression. You may want to return to the same company next year. You might want to read this article before you start your holiday job - Internship Behavior you May Live to Regret!

Teenagers Singing the Summer Job Blues

Talking to New Grads? Think S.O.S - Sustainability of Self!

The S.O.S here is not the distress signal of dots and dashes meant to transmit "Save our Souls" that weary sailors and pilots use when they are in trouble. Then again, if you think hard enough, it could actually be a distress signal.

This new S.O.S I am talking about means "Sustainability of Self".

A little back story.

A few months ago I was having a conversation with my teens and a friend of theirs about their futures and their goals. I realized in that conversation that teens really hate the word "career". They don't just have a mild distaste for it, they really hate it. Especially my teens who are sixteen and seventeen.

I started to wonder if it was because, I, their mom, have been in the career management field for ten years and so the word "career" has been around for most of their lives? I know I have seen them roll their eyes when they heard Dad and I get into "alphabet soup" conversation about "typing" based on career assessments. Maybe that was it?

Or, could it be that their "Family Advocacy" class where they talk about careers and jobs and life, only address those well known occupational staples of Lawyers, Doctors, Accountants?

Considering my teens and some friends are in a "Visual Arts" cluster at school, I can see where they might zone out as uniformed teachers do their best to deliver "career education".

In that conversation, my daughter finally said, "Why do you have to call it a career? It's sounds like punishment or a disease!"

My instinct, of course, educator that I am, was to add more clarity, talk about a diversity of careers, but all my arguments came right back to using the word - career. I walked away stumped, but kept thinking about it.

What I see in my teens is the same thing I have seen in recent years working with hundreds of new grads. They are not wanting to talk about careers.

Then it came to me. What about "Sustainability of Self"? I passed it by my husband. What would you think if we talked about the future that way? Would this be better or am I just giving in to teen rebellion?

Here's what I discovered once I tested it on my teens, their friends and some new college grads - "Sustainability" is a good word to use with young people when talking about the future! They know what it means. They see it everywhere. In fact, they talk about it in the context of the environment and the globe, so why not use it to convey the concept of a profession? We know that this generation can expect multiple careers in a lifetime, so why not a new principle or a new metaphor?

My daughter, who is the C.R.O (Chief Recycling Officer) in our house, thinks it is a good approach. She would much rather have a conversation about future "Sustainability of Self" than talk about her future career or job.

I introduced the concept on Twitter and my Tweet buddy, Zach Smith, who writes The Capacity Evolution Blog, thougth the principle was good and we could extend it to: "Sustainability of Family" and "Sustainability of Community".

I like those!

What do you think? Where else could we go with that? Can you use the concept talking to new grads this year who are struggling with this job market!

Campus Jobs are Real Jobs Too

For many college students working while in school is a must and a reality. Whether enrolled in 2-year, 4-year or a vocational training or career education program, campus jobs are often at a premium and college students try to land them early in the semester.

One of the problems I continue to see on college campuses is that working on campus is not considered to be serious work by many students or by departments that hire them. It is not unusual to hear college students say something like – “Oh, I just work on campus”. Aside from the fact that no one ever “just works" anywhere, since all work is important, campus employment offers really significant benefits for college students. Putting aside the schedule flexibility and the short commute, college students can gain the following real advantages by working on campus:

1. Meet college and univesity staff beyond the classroom. Most employees on college campuses love to work with college students and speak positively of their experiences. University employees are always willing to support exemplary student workers with letters of recommendations or become a reference for them in a job search or internship search.

2. Gain real, marketable skills in your preferred career area. College campuses are just like other organizations with employees in pretty much every functional area. For example, business students seeking real experiences can find college internship programson campus working in accounting, finance, HR, marketing and/or communications offices.

3. Develop an understanding of the actual job search process. Many campus administrators put college students through the actual hiring process. If resumes and interviews are needed, students get to walk through the actual hiring process. On many campuses there are formal application processes and students have to do more than just show up to get hired. They actually have to conduct a competitive job search.

4. Develop actual professional soft skills which are necessary for workplace success. Office etiquette, workplace social savvy, communication skills, following instructions etc. are all valuable skills that college students need to learn.

At the urging of many college career centers, some campuses are taking a more serious look at how they model the real world of work for they college students they hire.

I was part of the rollout of such an initiative as a Job Developer at my own alma mater’s college career center, many many moons ago. We didn’t realize how cutting edge we were back then. (;> Since then I have introduced the concept to other colleges and the students and staff are better for it.

Campus jobs are real jobs too and college students need to use the opportunity to develop real networking relationships and real job skills.

Are Helicopter Parents Important? I think so.

Wikipedia defines helicopter parents as those who pay extremely close attention to his or her child or children, particularly while they are away at college. The term "helicopter parent" suggests that like an actual helicopter, parents "hover" nearby, able to swoop in quickly to address, fix or handle situations for their college students.

The term is mostly used in a derogative way on college campuses, sometimes by college career center professionals who are fielding calls from parents about job offers. Since these helicopter parents are accused of rushing in to prevent any harm or failure from befalling college students, sometimes, despite protests from the children they seek to protect.

Valerie Strauss in an article for Washington Post, says helicopter parents "are needy, overanxious and sometimes plain pesky -- and schools at every level are trying to find ways to deal with them".

As colleges and universities attempt to "deal with" helicopter parents, school administrators must balance other research that shows that students with strong parental involvement do better in school. The Harvard Family Research Project found that teens, whose parents played an active role in their education, do better in school and are more likely to enroll in college.

If parental influence supports better attainment in high schools, why would that not hold true for college students? Opponents of helicopter parents would seem to say that once their children are enrolled in college, parents should immediately take a hands-off approach.

With HigherEdInfo.com showing a 6-year college graduation rate in the US at 56.4% in 2006 and the 2003 annual ACT survey showed that only 37.5% of two-year college students were graduating within three years, would colleges not want more helicopter parents involved?

Experience, Inc., a provider of career advice and job hunting tools for college students and alumni, surveyed more than 400 students and new graduates on the involvement of their parents in their college or university life. The overwhelming majority of college students described their parents as moderately involved. Twenty five percent of students in the survey responded that their parents were "overly involved to the point that their involvement was either annoying or embarrassing." Only 13% of the respondents said their parents were not involved at all.

Is it possible that parental involvement at the college level could enhance rather than hinder college student graduation rates and should college administrators now begin to embrace rather than reject helicopter parents?

The College Board and the Art & Science Group found that almost 30% of college-bound seniors surveyed wished their parents did more to help them look for and apply to colleges. Only 6% wanted their parents to do less.

To help helicopter parents, the College Board offers this quick 12-question quiz to help parents gauge the current level of involvement with college age children.

Whether or not, one agrees or disagrees with the outcomes of the quiz, it does offer the opportunity for personal reflection and could be the foundation of a conversation between teenagers going to college and their parents.

********************************
I moved this post and wanted to share the comments:

2 comments:
Anonymous said...
of course parents play an important role in the education of their children. why would people call it pesky to want to be involved? i think more partners with school is better.

June 20, 2008 5:46 PM
Marcia said...
You are correct. Students succeed when parents continue to be involved. As with all things, balance is important as children get older and take on more responsibilities.

Teen Workers Can be Sexually Harassed Too

A law firm in the state of Delaware runs a great blog on employment law. I found this information that I think is valuable for teens. The blog entry alerts employers to the fact that the number of teenagers filing sexual harassment lawsuits is on the rise.

Here’s a quote:

Employers should also take steps to address the special vulnerability of teen workers to sexual harassment. As an item on this blog noted a few weeks ago, an ABA Journal story reported that the number of teen-aged workers filing sexual harassment charges is on the rise. Teen workers are often part-time or seasonal, and may be in the workplace for the first time. They tend to fall between the cracks when it comes to training. Many restaurants, movie theaters and retail stores have teen-age supervisors and managers as well as workers. Teens tend not to realize that the standard of conduct at work is different from what’s permissible in a social setting.

If you are a teen who supervises other teens at work, be very careful about your actions. Knowledge is power so ask your managers for details about appropriate workplace behavior.

Should I Ask Questions in the Job Interview?

Yes. You should definitely ask questions in the job interview. Questions will show your interest in the part time job and that you did your research and know something about the company.

Think about and write your job interview questions down ahead of time. Do not be afraid to open your notes and read the questions.

Sample questions to ask in a job interview?

1. What non-routine tasks are involved with this part time job?

2. When do you want me to start working?

3. What do you like most about working here?

4. Who will be my supervisor?

5. How much training will I get?

6. How many people will I work with?

7. How may I contact you if I have more questions? Is there someone else I should speak with?

Most teens have a lot of energy and like to share their opinions. The job interview is not the time to be shy - Speak up!

Check out the BullsEyeResumes High School career blog for the latest job interview preparation tips.

Preparing for the Job Interview in High School

For the latest career planning and job interview information for high school students, subscribe to the BullsEyeResumes High School career blog.

Here are 10 job interview tips for teens.

1. Visit the career counseling office at your high school for resume writing, samples job interview questions and interview tips.

2. Visit the company website and do some research on the company.

3. Practice answering sample job interview questions to demonstrate your job skills.

4. Prepare job interview attire so that you can avoid wardrobe malfunctions.

5. Arrive early for the job interview. Bring pen, paper and your high school resume. (High School Sample Resumes)

6. Be polite with everyone you meet at the job site.

7. Speak clearly and answer all the questions. You can say you do not know, instead of mumbling.

8. Make a list of questions you want to ask in thejob interview.

9. Have names and contact information for people who will give references for you.

10. Be careful filling out the job application.

11. Practise will improve your job interview performance.

Do not be disappointed if you do not land your first job interview. Sometimes it will take a while to land a job you like, especially in a tight economy.

High School Teens are Confident About The Future

Education Week shared details from The 2008 State of Our Nation's Youth report showed that high school students feel that the pressure to get good grades has increased over the last few years. The report shows that in 2001, 62% of the students felt pressured this way, compared to 79% now.

Over that same period the number of high school students who reported that grade pressure was a "major" factor in their lives, increased by 19%.

Other report details:

- 21% of high school students said they spent more than 10 hours per week on homework. This is 9% more than in 2005.

- 34% of high school students were concerned about the economy.

- 31% of high school students were concerned about the war in Iraq.

Despite their concerns, 88% of high school students reported confidence about their own futures and 66% said they are optimistic about their own futures.

Let us know how you feel, if you are a high school student? What are you concerned about?

High School Sample Resume Objective

Do I need a Resume Objective?

Although you might mention your job objective on your application or in your cover letter, most employers still like to see an objective statement in the top 30% of your high school resume.

The resume objective gives your high school resume a focus and lets the hiring manager know what specific type of position you are seeking. One job search strategy that really works is to create separate resumes with different resume objectives for different jobs.

Here are a few templates to use:
1. [Name of department] where my skills can [identify a goal].
eg. [Front desk assistant] where my skills can [help to serve customers].

2. A part time position as a [name or type of position] allowing me to use my [state your qualifications]
eg. A part time position as a [camp counselor] allowing me to use my [experience as a babysitter for the last 2 years]

3. To use my [qualifications] as a [position title].
eg. To use my [web design experience] as a [part time webmaster].

Check out these high school sample resumes.

Interview Tips for Teens

Here are 10 interview tips for teens and high school graduates. More Interview Preparation tips are available at BullsEyeResumes.com via High School Interview FAQs.

1. Visit the career counseling office at your school and ask for a list of sample interview questions.

2. Visit the company website and do some research about the job. Ask anyone you know who may already work with the company.

3. Practice your answers to sample interview questions before the interview.

4. Prepare interview attire and avoid wardrobe malfunctions. We know you are a teenager, but your dress does say a lot about you.

5. Arrive early for the job interview. Bring pen, paper and a copy of your resume on clean resume paper if you have it. If you have good white paper then use that.

6. Be polite with everyone you meet at the interview site. Be courteous to the secretary and other workers.

7. Speak clearly during the job interview and be positive with your body language. Don't slouch in your chair.

8. Prepare some questions for the interviewer. Write these questions down before the job interview.

9. Have names and contact information for personal references to complete a job application.

10. Be sure to follow-up with a thank you note. Most hiring managers feel that an email is a good way to do that. Keep it professional!

What Your Teen Resume Says About You

Teenagers need resumes for all kinds of reasons including looking for part time jobs, applying to college and applying for scholarships.

Regardless of the reason the teenager is writing the resume, most jobseekers teen resumes are basically looking for the same behaviors. If you are writing your first highschool resume, think about what you want the reader to think about you. Here are three personal traits that an employer could see from reading between the lines on your resume.

Error Free
An error free high school resume will say that you are a teenager who pays attention to detail. Not only are you conscientious enough to write a resume, you took the time to get help proofreading and correcting your resume.

Work Ethic
If your resume shows that you are a full time teen student who is juggling extra curricular activities, coursework and volunteer work, the employer will get a sense that you have strong work ethic and you are reliable.

Achiever
Your high school resume is a good place to show all of the academic awards and recognition you received. An employer would be impressed if they read a teenager's resume that shows outstanding achievements.

Poor Communication Skills Could Cost You the Job

It is never too early to start thinking about how your communication skills can impact your job - be it a part time job while in school or in your life beyond graduation.

Here are the places in a part-time job or job search where communication skills play an important role.

In the telephone interview
In a face-to-face interview
When you are interacting with your boss
Interacting with co-workers
Working with customers
Resolving customer issues
Asking for clarification of instructions

If communication skills are a weakness for you, consider a speech class, a leadership role in a school club or joining the debating society at your high school.

Bookmark MyCoolCareer.com for tons of additional advice and resources to help build job skills for teens.

Source - Satisfying Career - Happier Life

MyInternshipGopher.com

Myinternshipgopher.com is a new mentoring resource for students in the Philadelphia region. The site is a result of a collaboration between the Chester County Economic Development Council, ITAG (Innovation Technology Action Group), Chester County Workforce Investment Board and Chester County Health Care Partnership.

The goal of MyInternshipGopher.com is to provide a resource to help young adults prepare for internships and transition into a 21st century workforce and meet the needs of the regional economy.

The schools selected to participate in the project beta are Downingtown, Great Valley, Owen J. Roberts, Phoenixville, West Chester, and West Chester University.

The anticipated timeline for the rollout of the entire enterprise is:

July 23, 2008
Businesses Create New Accounts
Post & View college internships and high school internships


September 2008
Beta Schools Only
Student Internship Matching
Student Job Shadow Matching
Search and Select Internships
Teacher Exchange Opportunities
Host a School -- Visit a School
Online 3-Way Mentoring System
Online Resources


January 2009
Open to All Registered Schools
View Student Profiles
Add a School Administrator
Intern & Internship Assessment
Members Post Needs

If you live in Pennsylvania, find career resources on our Pennsylvania at Work Blog as well.

Help Teens Pick a College or a Career

The career counseling office at your high school can help teens discover interests, skills and abilities. However, many schools have limited budgets and might not even have career assessment tools in place.

Here are some prior career blog entries that could help teens learn more about college. None of these articles offer a complete solution, but each shares information to factor into a discussion with parents, teachers or career counselors about going to college.

Teen resources to help choose a career in the Arts
My Cool Career
Earn more through apprenticeship programs
Dropping out of high school will affect your career
Job shadow 2008

The goal of your research should be to learn about the skills employers want, what you like to do and which career would be a good fit for you.

Tips for Landing Part Time Jobs for Teens

About SnagAJob.com
SnagAJob.com is a job board that lists thousands of part time jobs for teens in all kinds of industries including restaurant, retail, office, homecare, light industrial and more. The ZIP code search lets teens looking for work easily find and apply to part-time, full-time and seasonal jobs. Job seekers can create accounts and receive job alerts via email with hundreds of part time jobs perfect for teens.

Here are some tips for landing the first part time job from Snag-A-Job:

1. Set expectations. Teens should know what they are getting into when they apply for part time jobs and set realistic expectations about their availability and their commitment.

2. Prepare. Learn about the job search process from resume writing to job application to interviewing.

3. Spread the word. Most jobs for teens are found through networking. Teens should tell people they are looking for a part time job.

4. Consider options. Teens shouldn't limit themselves to the dream job just yet. Keep in mind the first part time job for a teen is about gaining experience.

Some additional tips from BullsEyeResumes:
1. Teens looking for work should get parents involved.
2. Get documents such as resume, social security card and working papers together.
3. Teens can ask for job search assistance at the high school career center.
4. Use good communication skills and be courteous throughout the job search.

High School Diploma and Employment Certificate

Almost 200 high school students who graduated this year from Amador Valley High School in California, graduated with more than a high school diploma this year. They graduated with a eligibility certificate to show potential employers that they are capable of getting hired and keeping a job.

The "Tri-Valley Educational Collaborative "Employability Certificate" is available to schools in three school districts - Pleasanton, Dublin and Livermore.

To qualifiy for the "Employability Certificate" students needed to have a cover letter, high school resume and a career portfolio.

The program was a result of complaints from regional employers who said complained that high school job applicants did not have the basic skills needed to get hired and succeed on the job.

The hope is that this "Employability Certificate" will give students an advantage in finding a summer job and subsequent job searches.

Career Programs a Springboard in Mississippi

Rebecca Helmes • rhelmes@jackson.gannett.com • May 26, 2008
Published by the Clarion Ledger

A global economy still needs masons, plumbers and construction workers.

As the high school Class of 2008 picks up diplomas and starts life's next phase, not all graduates will go to college. Job options vary between rural towns and larger cities, and the earning potential tends to be less for a high school graduate than for those who attend college.

But jobs are out there for students who know what they want.

High school career centers offer what many times is students' first taste of work-force training, although the career centers' role has morphed in recent years.

Once places that focused almost exclusively on vocational training for those who weren't seeking higher education, career centers now are used by many students as a springboard for studies at community or four-year colleges, officials say.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 60 percent of graduating high school seniors go to college the following year.

At the Career Development Center in Jackson Public Schools, students in programs ranging from design technology for fashion interiors, culinary arts, early childhood services and education, business and computer technology and technology application all said they were going to further their education.

Thomas Burl, a graduating senior, plans to study computer science in college. Still, he believes his extracurricular work in the Student Technology Exchange Program, where he and students from other school districts learned about Nissan and programming or robotics, gives him experience that many other students don't have.

Melvin Johnson, principal of the JPS Career Development Center, said students who aren't interested in college can enlist in the military or use the technical skills they learned in high school to land jobs.

"It just depends on the child's aspirations if they're not interested in college," Johnson said. "The majority of our kids go on to community college, where they continue their skill training."

In JPS, someone who goes through the cosmetology program can graduate as a licensed cosmetologist and get to work right away.

Other programs require that students take outside cosmetology coursework before they can be licensed.

"We're trying to attach some kind of certification to all the programs," Johnson said. "At that level, they'd be ready for any of those skills-training-type jobs at an entry level."

The Hinds and Rankin county school districts work closely with Hinds Community College on work force development for young people interested in vocational training.

At the Madison Career & Technical Center in the Madison County School District, Principal Aimee Brown said one of the most popular programs at her school is allied health, which includes classes that start preparing students for careers as nurses, veterinarians, doctors or anything else in the medical field.

"For those not going to college, we try to give them, I guess, more opportunities to get out into the community," Brown said about job shadowing or internship experiences.

With Nissan nearby, automotive technology is the second-most popular field for students at her school, Brown said. Other students want to work in their uncle's body shop or have their own oil-change and car-maintenance stations.

But Brown said construction technology is a big class for students who aren't going to college. Students could end up as carpenters, masons, plumbers, electricians or in other related professions.

"That would probably be our biggest area ... where they could go right to work without any extra training," Brown said. "You have to figure out ... what the best thing for each kid is."

Teenagers Singing the Summer Job Blues

By Jeff Mills
Staff Writer
Friday, May. 16, 2008 3:00 am GREENSBORO

Let's say you're 16 years old. Maybe 17. Your junior year of high school ends in a few weeks, and you want to make some money this summer.

So, you go looking for a job — maybe your first real job — in an economy of $3.71 per gallon gas and government stimulus checks.

What can you expect?

"It's going to be tougher this year," said Andrew Brod, director of UNCG's center for business and economic research. "I've seen some figures that say upwards of a quarter of all kids who are able to work are going to be unable to find jobs this summer."

With unemployment about 5 percent, teens could end up competing with qualified adults, Brod said.

And a lot of the jobs out there are part-time and low-paying.

"I'm looking. I'm just not finding," said Zac Herrmann, a 17-year-old junior at Grimsley. "A lot of places require you to be 18. I tried Dick's (Sporting Goods), but you have to be 18 to sell firearms. You have to be 21 to deliver anything. Even (grocery stores) want you to be a certain age to work in the deli or sell alcohol."

Complete article

Tips for Teens to Succeed on the Summer Job

Teenage workers are an important part of the labor force and have a lot to offer. In 2006 the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that more than 8 million working teens were added to the payroll. Although teenagers are valuable in the workplace, many employers experience a difficulty getting them to be productive.

Working teens can succeed on their summer jobs or part time jobs and make a positive impression if they pay attention to these work behaviors.

Be a Team Player. Get Along With Other People
The National Association of Colleges and Employers surveys employers annually to find which job skills employers want from new hires. Teamwork and the ability to work well with others consistently show up on that list. It is a job skill employers expect teen job seekers to demonstrate on their resumes, in the interview and while in their summer job.

Be Respectful
Showing respect for supervisors, co-workers and customers is a good workplace habit that working teenagers should develop early.

Manage Time
The workplace is far more time sensitive than high school. Unlike high school, there are not many opportunities to turn in late work or show up late at work. Working teens may not get a second chance to make a first impression on the job.

Be Dependable; Show up as Scheduled
Employers rely on teen workers to show up for work as scheduled.

Be Willing to Go Above and Beyond Without Compromising Safety
To succeed on the summer job, teenagers should demonstrate a willingness to go above and beyond expectations. Teens and their supervisors should always consider safety first.

Be an Effective Communicator
Teens should develop and use strong interpersonal and communication skills on the job. Although teens exist in a “sound-bite” and text messaging world, a different type of communication etiquette is required at work.

Be Visible
Hiding from work is not an option on the job. Supervisors do not want to search for teen workers who are avoiding assignments or hanging out with friends.


Be Willing to Learn; Be Open to Criticism
Teen workers should keep their supervisors informed of their work and ask for feedback. Ask for clarification of instructions and ask for help. Employers prefer working with teens who ask for clarification rather than make costly product mistakes or, even worse, jeopardize their personal safety or the safety of other workers.

Be Confident; Ask for Additional Assignments or Training.
As new skills are mastered, employers are very open to changing the roles of their teenage workers if it will enhance overall business productivity. Teens should also be confident enough to ask for reference letters and recommendation letters at the end of a job if they have done well.