Austin's Thoughts

Rich Karlgaard's advice on first jobs

Rich Karlgaard, publisher of Forbes.com, posted a nice column that I stumbled upon today with practical advice for those starting out on careers.

Like almost all of us, Karlgaard had no idea what he wanted to be when he 'grew up,' and ended up working as a security guard after graduating from college.  But he figured it out, and did well for himself. And I wanted to pass on some tidbits that users of myfirstpaycheck.com | jobs for teens could benefit from.

1. Fall in love with reading. Karlgaard writes, "It doesn't matter what the writing is. What's key is that the kids claim it as their own."

2. Find a mentor. He suggests that the mentor doesn't have to be the boss, or even know that you have chosen them, but what's important is to pick "mentors because they had something I needed to learn. "

3. Think like an owner. Karlgaard writes that it's easy to pick up destructive habits such as downsizing your view of the world on the bottom of the totem pole. But he insists that you have to fight them off and think big.

I think these all make a lot of sense, how about you?

A cool new site for those a little older

A friend of mine recently created this great site, One Day, One Job | A blog about entry-level jobs

It's a neat idea, http://www.onedayonejob.com/ is a place for young adults looking for full-time, entry-level employment to go to learn more about new companies and the positions they are posting.

It's casual, well-written, and generally entertaining, and it helps readers become more informed job searchers.

It also changes everyday, so there is always something new to see.

Good luck Willy!

 

More media coverage!

Check out these two great stories published about MyFirstPaycheck | Jobs for Teens last week!

This article in the Main Line Times was on the front page and looked awesome, and this one by Danielle Builta, was published in the local Quad Cities paper, pretty cool huh!

Every mention helps and we're thrilled that people are as excited about the positive impact MyFirstPaycheck | Jobs for Teens has had on teen employment as we are.

MyFirstPaycheck | Jobs for Teens has already helped many teens find jobs, are you one of them?

 

“Corporate Idol”

Here is a fun article in the Times about a great contest that McDonald's is running. They have created an "American Idol" knock-off for it's employees. McDonald’s put out a casting call to its 1.6 million restaurant workers worldwide and was overwhelmed by the response. Video auditions came in from 3,600 singing workers across the globe, all vying for a chance to win the $25,000 prize. 14 finalists get to compete in a final showdown in April at a McDonald’s convention in Orlando.

This is a great example of the little (and not so little) things that employers can do to make things fun. Companies can't buy advertising like this article in the Times or on this blog, and I guarantee that all 1.6 million McDonald's employees told their friends and families something positive about McDonald's after participating.

Happy employees are your best advertising, and happy teenage employees are even better.

Find them at MyFirstPaycheck | Jobs for Teens.

Myfirstpaycheck.com crippling newspapers?

Alan Mutter, a Media-technology consultant, wrote about MyFirstPaycheck | Jobs for Teens in his recent white paper about the newspaper industry. He used MyFirstPaycheck | Jobs for Teens as an example of how the 'help wanted' market is  developing to meet niches. This is not good for newspapers, but very good for us.

I'd like to point out that I'm a huge newspaper person, and am not celebrating the end of newspapers. Rather, I am highlighting this white paper (and our mention in it) to illustrate the little things that newspapers could be doing now to change their fortunes.

If there are any newspapermen who are interested in chatting about Alan's paper, or teen viewers, shoot me an email.

I'm looking at you Brian Tierney.

Alan wrote, "MyFirstPaycheck.Com not only helps teens find their first jobs but also shows them how to write a resume and tells them what to expect in an interview. If you are retiring from the Navy, you can post your skills and career goals at NavyLeague.Org, where employers will seek you out. " Alan writes, in an industry that Peter Zollman, the founder of the Classified Intelligence consulting group, conservatively estimated sold some $3.5 billion in recruitment ads in 2007 by the conservative estimate by such online entities as Monster, Hot Jobs, Dice, Ladders, 6FigureJobs, Craig's List (which charges a modest fee for  help-wanted ads in the largest metro markets) and scores of tiny sites like GasWork.Com, which  specializes in positions for anesthesiologists.

Alan adds that Gordon Borrell, who heads a research firm bearing his name, believes the total online expenditure for recruitment last year was a much larger $6.7 billion. His estimate includes not only money spent on sites ranging from Monster to Gas Work but also the funds that corporations spend on the recruitment environments they build on their own websites.

Alan D. Mutter is the former CEO of three Silicon Valley companies involved in online media technology and broadband media delivery; the former COO of a national cable television company with more than $200 million in annual sales, and a former editor who led the newsrooms of the Chicago Sun-Times and San Francisco Chronicle during periods of record-high circulation at both newspapers.

He has consulted on media, technology and mobile strategies for Texas Pacific Group, the Sun-Times Media Group, the Fox Television Network Affiliate Board, BASF and Kyocera. He devotes significant time to investing in and advising private companies delivering Media 3.0 content and advertising solutions. He has lectured at Northwestern and Arizona State Universities and publishes a widely quoted online commentary on the technological developments challenging the traditional media. His blog, "Reflections of a Newsosaur," is at www.newsosaur.blogspot.com.

Philly Startup Leaders

Woo-hoo Philly Startup Leaders!

This is a great group started by Blake Janelle and a few of us other young local entrepreneurs who are interested in helping each other out, and creating a better community for tech companies and start ups, like MyFirstPaycheck | Jobs for Teens here in Philadelphia.

I've been working with Blake and others on this for a few months, and I'm very excited about our progress, and our potential. Please let me know if you are interested in getting involved.

Why are teens working less?

From a MarketWatch Article by Ruth Mantell - "New data indicates that last year's labor-force participation rate for 16- to 19-year-olds hit 41.3% -- down from a peak of 57.9% in 1979, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Experts cite increasing competition for jobs, as well as low wages and high pressure for college admittance as factors keeping kids out of the labor pool."

The article continues, "In 2006, the typical earnings of more than half of working older teenagers were less than $200 per week, according to BLS. With wages like these, even parents see that extracurricular activities such as sports and clubs can be better options to help kids prepare for their future, Goodman says."

I think that teens can participate in sports and clubs and hold down jobs, and I think that there are a lot of benefits from working.. but there is something to be said about the decision between making a choice between playing a sport and making less than $200 a week. Although most teens (and parents) I know would be happy to have an extra $800 in their pocket, the statistics show that the percentage of teens participating in the labor force is going down.

Teens want to work, they just don't know how to find jobs, and how to apply for them. This is where MyFirstPaycheck | Jobs for Teens can help, but it also requires the understanding and effort of hiring managers.
It might take a little more effort to hire a teen, but the long term benefit is immeasurable.

Why do you think teens are working less?

Where are the snow shovelers?

It hasn't snowed yet here in Philadelphia, but when it does, are you going to be ready to shovel?

Florence Shay writes, "What happened to all the youngsters carrying snow shovels who would ring the bell to ask whether you wanted your driveway cleared?  I haven't seen one in years.  Did the snow-blower make the entrepreneur obsolete?  I'd love to see a team of young shovelers when the snow is less that 4" deep.  True, my husband goes out with the shovel (snow blowers are for sissies) and does the job, feeling empowered by his success."

Here's an article in the Sun-Times about snow shoveling. Neil Steinberg writes, about the likelihood of teens asking to shovel his driveway, "In my dreams. The odds of something like that actually happening are about the same as Jessica Alba stopping by to read the meter. All the youngsters in my -- well, it isn't so leafy of late -- snowy suburban paradise are so stuffed with cash from their over-indulgent parents that the last thing they need to do is stir from the sofa and go out into the cold to earn a little folding money."

I'm looking at you Chicago area teens...