Austin's Thoughts

Summer jobs pay off

Fran Hendrick wrote the following great piece about The Cincinnati Enquirer about the benefits of summer jobs. Fran writes, a "real job" can benefit teens by helping them develop the ability to say, "This is who I am, and this is what I can do," working alongside others gives teens a sense of their own competence, The "real world" experience of a job, where their parents cannot intervene on their behalf if they fail to meet expectations, teaches teens a "no excuses" work ethic, collecting a paycheck helps teens understand financial realities, on-the-job experience teaches teamwork, and having a job can clarify for your teen what he doesn't want to do as a career - as much as clarifying what he does want.

These are all great pieces of advice that every teenager, parent, and potential employer should remember this summer. Thanks Fran!


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Growing pains

After we started myfirstpaycheck.com, we quickly learned that there is a big need a job information and job listings for teens - especially right now with the hunt for summer jobs in full swing.  So to meet the growing demand nationwide we've been working hard on updating our site. Our 'beta' version should be live soon but we've encountered a few glitches when going live. Please let me know if you have experienced a problem on myfirstpaycheck.com and please come back soon to see what we've done.

We plan on being the number one place for teens to go to find summer jobs, and we'll get there. As always, please let us know if you have any suggestion or advice

Web site founder honored by SBA

Shawn Boyer turned an idea he had as a lawyer into an online success. A Henrico County businessman who at times wasn't sure he could make payroll was named the National Small Business Person of the Year yesterday. SnagAJob.com President and Chief Executive Shawn Boyer was honored at a Small Business Administration luncheon in Washington.

Congrats Shawn! You are an inspiration to myfirstpycheck.com and all other small businesses out there.

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On the Internet, It’s All About ‘My’

People generally feel pretty strongly about the domain name, myfirstpaycheck.com - they either love it or hate it. We've spent a lot of time thinking about it (I actually bought it when I was 16) and the 'lovers' far outweigh the 'haters' so we're sticking with it, but it's an interesting issue to revisit every once in a while.

This Sunday, The New York Times published an article about 'My' Domain names, David Browne wrote, "the Web is awash in sites that begin with that most personal of pronouns, and not simply MySpace. A few quick clicks will connect you to MyCoke and My IBM — even MyClick, a mobile-phone marketing company. Collectively, they amount to a new world of Web sites designed to imply a one-on-one connection with a corporation or large business."

They don't mention myfirstpaycheck.com, but they could have.

The article continues, "The rise of sites with the “my” prefix is an outgrowth of an increasingly customized world of technology, such as the iPod and TiVo. “Marketing says, ‘We all want to be individuals and this brand will help you express your individuality,’ ” said Nick Bartle, a director of behavioral planning at the advertising agency BBDO. “These ‘my’ Web sites are the logical extension of that strategy.”

But they illustrate how corporations are striving to show that they can be as intimately connected to their customers as in-vogue social networking sites. They’re not just impersonal businesses; they are your close, intimate friends."

I like to think of myfirstpaycheck.com as a friendly company, do you think it's working?

Email Correspondance

Unfortunately, myfirstpaycheck.com doesn't yet have jobs listings nationwide so there are lots of teens (and their parents) who email us asking for us to find them jobs. We're happy to help and flattered that people come to us to find their first job.

Below is a sample of what we get, what do you think?

      

Hi,

      

My name is Amy. I am seventeen years       old and I live in Hampton, VA. I was directed to your web site from        about.com and I am writing because my area was not listed. Where I       live the only jobs for sixteen and seventeen year olds are in fast       food restaurants or a supermarket, so as you can see there's not much to       choose from. A lot of the retail stores and telemarketing corporations       moved the ages up from seventeen to eighteen because of       problems with past teenage employees. But with a lot of the retail and       telemarketing jobs you have to have at least three years of customer       service experience. And many teens don't want to stay at a supermarket or       fast food restaurant longer than we have to before we can get a better       job. I, like most graduating seniors will be going off to college and many       of us won't be 18 when we get there and we need help to find jobs       other than fast food and grocery. So, please look the Hampton Roads area       up and see what you can do to fix our problem.

      

                                                                                                        Thank       You,

      

                                                                                                                       Amy

I responded

Hi Amy -

We are currently working on going national, and hope to have job listings in Virginia and the rest of the country by the end of April. I appreciate your interest in myfirstpaycheck.com and hope that you continue to check out our website. Have you seen our job advice section? http://www.myfirstpaycheck.com/advice.html  I think it, particularly our resume builder http://myfirstpaycheck.com/resume/index.html, can be a big help to you and your friends even if we don't have listings in Virginia yet.

I have to say that I understand the difficulties you face, because teens across the problem have the same issues. While fast food is not ideal it is a great way to start working, other good places are country clubs, camps, and pools. Just keep applying!

We are working hard on trying to grow, and would really appreciate if you could pass myfirstpaycheck.com on to your friends and family.

Best and thanks,
Austin

Myfirstpaycheck.com- Austin Lavin and Alexis Glick interview

Austin Lavin, CEO of myfirstpaycheck.com discusses how the site he co-founded with his 17-year-old sister helps teens find job, volunteer and internship opportunities and helps businesses find young employees and customers.

Woo-hoo us!

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Summer jobs may be at risk for teens - The Boston Globe

The sour economy is threatening local summer job programs for city teenagers, a decades-old safety net designed to keep youth off the streets and prevent violence during the bloodiest months of the year.

This is bad news for a great program, and this quote "A lot of work sites are telling us, 'We can't take as many,' " because entry-level positions that were in the past filled by high school students are being snapped up by college students, said Aaron Tanimoto, the agency's program director. "You can see how the economy is bumping everybody down," isn't good for high school students anywhere.

But people are still posting jobs on myfirstpaycheck.com, and businesses are still hiring. Make a resume, get creative, and go out and find that summer job.

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myfirstpaycheck.com in the news!

              Frankie Darcell from Mix 92.3 in Detroit interviewed me about teens jobs on her radio show on Friday.

Frankie Darcell is mother, lecturer, businesswoman, author, talk show host and one of metropolitan Detroit's most prominent radio personalities. She has been spokeswoman for women tackling real issues, while combining lively listener interaction along with Detroit's strongest songs, for a great ride home, when she worked for WJLB FM 98.

She is very concerned about the lack of jobs in Michigan, and is looking for ways to help. She realized that myfirstpaycheck.com  is a great resource for teens (and business owners) and we really appreciated the shout-out, thanks again Frankie!

Our great resume builder  was also written about on Jim Stroud's site, The Recruiters Lounge, a blog that explores the wacky world of employment with articles, podcasts, comics, videos and more. It looks great.

We always appreciate a nice write-up and are happy to be talk about myfirstpaycheck.com, summer jobs, teenage employment, or just teens in general. If you are a reporter looking for a good story, or a good source, feel free to send me an email.

14 Easy-to-Start Summer Business Ideas

I found this list of 14 summer businesses on YoungEntrepreneur.com and wanted to share because I think they have some really good suggestions.
While we are always trying to get more job listings on myfirstpaycheck.com, sometimes you just can't find something that you're looking for, but it doesn't mean give up. If you are looking for something to do this summer, maybe you can start your own business. The pay and hours will probably be even better than a retail or restaurant job.

1) Lawn Care / Landscaping

It’s a perfect seasonal business that can pay well and make you enough money to cover your expenses during the year. The startup costs are relatively low and you get to work outdoors. It can also be a repeat customer business for the next year.

2) Cleaning Service

People are always using the summer to clean out their garage and other rooms in the house. Offer your services to help customers organize themselves and haul away the garbage.

3) Dog Walker

If you love dogs and the outdoors, what better way to make some extra money and work on your tan? It could also give you a part time business for the rest of the year to earn cash on the side.

4) Car Washing

Everyone needs their car washed at some point in the summer and your startup costs involve a bucket, soap, and a few rags. Consider adding extra services in like detailing and interior cleaning.

5) Yard Sale Organizers

The start of summer also leads to countless yard sales around the country. Most people just want to get rid of their junk and don’t want to do the work. Offer to help them organize the yard sale and promote it for a fee or percentage of sales.

6) Sports Equipment Rentals

Rent bikes, scooters, rollerblades, and other summer-related sports equipment to people looking to have a day of fun. The startup costs are higher as you need to get the inventory but you can pick up used equipment for cheap to get you going.

7) Computer Helper

Are you a computer expert? If so why not offer your help out to people who aren’t? Many adults could use help in learning how to use their computer and the Internet. You could also help them solve specific problems and offer a maintenance package.

8) Window Cleaner

Another low cost idea is to become a window cleaner. With all the summer parties people throw they will need to have their houses looking in top shape - including the windows. Also look at commercial stores where they need clean windows to promote a professional appearance.

9) Sell on eBay

Starting an online business can take a while to turn a profit but with eBay you can get other people’s junk and sell it for an immediate return. One person’s junk is another person’s treasure!

10) Run Errands

With people being busier than ever and wanting to enjoy their summers as much as possible, why not offer to run errands for them? It can be as simple as picking up groceries, dropping off dry cleaning, and delivering packages. Also look to help seniors who aren’t as mobile and need help on a regular basis.

11) Offer Guided Tours

Do many tourists come to your city in the summer? Why not learn about your local history and offer guided tours? They could be simple walking tours or you could rent a bus to take customers around. People always spend more when they are on vacation so why not take advantage of the opportunity?

12) Cater Parties

Are you handy in the kitchen? Why not create a catering service and offer to supply food for all the summer parties that people hold? If you have a few friends who need some extra cash you can expand by also offering to serve the food in addition to making it.

13) Instructor / Tutor

What are you really good at that you can teach others? Can you help summer students in a particular school subject or teach people how to play the piano? You’ll get to do what you’re good at and love while making money at the same time.

14) Painting Service

Summer painting has paid for many college educations and can help you earn additional income. You’ll need to have some basic painting skills but your startup costs will be minimal. The customer will pay for the paint - you just need the brushes and tools.

Jobs for teens harder to find

Interesting article about the summer jobs search for teens in Jackson, Michigan where it seems to be harder to get jobs now because of the economy. I think the most important thing to take away from this article is this advice from Michael Neece, chief strategy officer at Pongoresume.com who said that Teens tend to limit themselves to just retail and fast-food jobs. He added, more white-collar businesses, such as public relations and architectural firms, are looking for young interns eager to work in the industries.
Neese goes on to say, ``Teens are often reluctant to contact these types of firms,'' Neece said. ``The reality is that they do have the skills. It's just that they don't even know they have them.'' Neece also suggests young people look outside the local area for seasonal work if possible. They can also look into volunteer work or an unpaid internship to build experience if they can't land a paid job.

``They have more options than they realize,'' Neece said

... could not have said it better myself, thanks!

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