Austin's Thoughts

Teen Job Options: Starting a Business

I wrote this column about stating a business for About.com. If you are still looking for something to do this summer, think about starting a business. It's a great way to stay busy, earn money, and learn something. And hey, if Celeste and I can do it, you can to!

Here are some quick tips from the column:

Find a problem and fix it

Think small to get started

Don't let yourself get overwhelmed by the obstacles

Keep it up

Spread the word

Be safe

Make money

Enjoy

Despite tight job market, teens can still find summer work

The Martinsville (Va) newspaper published this article yesterday about the local job market for teens. I can't say that I have a lot of personal experience with Martinsville, but it seems that the job market is pretty similar to what's found in the rest of the country. Unemployment is generally up, but smart, enthusiastic, and prepared teens can still find jobs.

The article states, "Though Martinsville has the highest unemployment rate in the state, teens can still land summer jobs in certain sectors, according to a Virginia Employment Commission official. “In Virginia, I don’t think it will be that bad,” said Bill Mezger, chief economist for the Economic Information Services Division of the VEC, in response to the study. “I think 2008 will still be a fairly good year for summer employment, though not as good as the last two years.” The city’s high jobless rate, just above 10 percent in April, comes mainly from the factory sector, a field that would not attract many teens on summer break, Mezger said. However, he added, “The fact that unemployment is higher in the area means there’s more competition for the jobs that are available.” In Martinsville, Mezger said jobs should be available in the retail and service industries “where most teens look for employment. Some jobs are pretty much aimed at teenagers, and adults would not be seeking them in great numbers,” he added."

And suggests (like we do at myfirstpaycheck.com) that teens should look for summer jobs in food service, lifeguarding, and referring.

How's your job searc going?

How to Find a Last Minute Summer Job

I was going to write about Bob Herbert's column in today's New York Times, but most visitors to the best place to find summer jobs for teens know the importance of summer jobs, instead I wanted to pass on some advice from the great internship site onedayoneinternship.com.

You'll have to go to his site to read the whole thing, which is about searching for an internship but applicable - but basically Willy says,
 

Keep on Truckin’

Go Local

Cold Call

Ask Your Parents and Their Friends

Consider Unpaid Internships

Consider Non-Profits

Use Craigslist/myfirstpaycheck.com

Schedule an Informational Interview

 Get a Summer Job Earn some money and get some work experience. You may not learn high level skills, but you’ll learn a lot about yourself and other people. MyFirstPaycheck.com is a great resource for Summer jobs.

Create Your Own Internship

Volunteer

Travel

Read

Relax

Another very cool job site

Cool Works^® is about you finding a seasonal job or career in some of the greatest places on Earth. Some of the listings are careers, many are jobs that would be great for teens looking for something to do this summer or for a year or two between school.

We're big fans of CoolWorks here at myfirstpaycheck.com. If you are looking for a summer job in Yellowstone, Yosemite, or another national park - it's a great place to go.

How's your summer job search going?

Job advice for teens from teens

I hope it's as nice where you are as it is here in Philadelphia.... a great day to apply for jobs.

One of the neat interactive things we do at myfirstpaycheck.com - jobs for teens is provide a forum for teens to give each other job advice through our survey. I recently posted a punch of new responses from teens like you - what do you think?

I think these teens make some great points, first impressions are important and you have to network with friends and family!

How's your job search going?

Job Market Has Room For Teenagers

MidwestBusiness.com has an interesting article about summer employment for teens.

Unlike many other sources, they write, "While teenagers may experience increased competition for coveted jobs this summer, the economic slowdown is not expected to significantly reduce the number of seasonal jobs filled by 16- to 19-year-olds between May and July. In fact, some seasonal positions may go unfilled as teens avoid areas requiring heavy labor.

Between 1.5 million and 1.6 million 16- to 19-year-olds will be added to payrolls this summer, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). That is down significantly from a recent high of 2.02 million teenagers – who found summer positions in 1999 – but is only slightly lower than the average number of teen jobs added the previous four summers (1.674 million)."

There is hope!

The article suggests (Just like we do!) that the bigger problem is "inexperienced job-search techniques" and suggests (Just like we do!) that "Finding a job as a teenager is just like finding a job as an adult. It requires constant attention and depends significantly on the strength of your network. Use your parents, friends and the parents of your friends as sources for job leads. Try to meet with hiring managers face to face rather than dropping off a completed application form.

Most important, don’t get frustrated by failure. Many teens give up after applying to 10 or 12 jobs and conclude that “no one is hiring teens this summer”. As the chances are good that there are more than 10 or 12 employers in your city or town, it’s necessary to cast a wider net. There are many summer job opportunities outside the confines of the local mall."

But than the article takes a step back and suggests looking in the newspaper classifieds instead of the job listings on myfirstpaycheck.com, d'oh!

 

5 Places Teens Should Look for Summer Employment After Memorial Day

Due to their lack of experience, teens often encounter challenges while searching for summer jobs.  With the school year about to end, many are finding that it’s too late to apply for some summer positions. 

To help our peers, we put together a list of five places where teens should look for the perfect summer job.

1.    Golf Courses.  Golf courses are everywhere and have a huge need for seasonal employment.  Caddying, landscaping and working in the gift shop or restaurant are some opportunities available to teens.
2.    Offices.  Whether it’s helping to answer phones, filing or doing paperwork, there is always a lot going on in an office for a smart and responsible teen to do.  Working in an office also provides teens with the chance to learn about being in a professional workplace.
3.    Museums and Other Cultural Institutions.  Summer is the time for big shows and large crowds.  Museums are always looking for energetic, enthusiastic and affordable help.  Teens provide the perfect fit for these unique opportunities.
4.    Restaurants.  Because of high turnover, the restaurant industry is always hiring.  Working in a restaurant setting provides teens with a skill set  that can be transferable to other jobs as well as provide valuable life lessons.
5.    Volunteer.  Although volunteering does not provide a salary, it offers a great way to make an impact on the community. Volunteering enables teenagers to develop skills, network, and strengthen their resumes so they can have a more fulfilling job search the next summer.

What do you think? Any other suggestions?

Top 10 summer jobs for teens

I think this is just a press release from CareerBuilder that CNN published but they have some good basic, although not creative, ideas. I would share it but they write, "Copyright CareerBuilder.com 2008. All rights reserved. The information contained in this article may not be published, broadcast or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority" and really there is nothing that interesting in it. Anybody would come up with these 10 jobs - and everybody is going to be applying for these jobs. Where else should teens look?

5 TIPS TO HELP TEENS FIND SUMMER JOBS

Teens often encounter challenges while searching for summer jobs due to their lack of experience in the job world. To help their peers, the teenage job experts at Myfirstpaycheck.com put together five tips to make the job search a little easier.

1. Be Brave. Even in this economy, there are plenty of employers out there looking for the affordable, enthusiastic, and energetic help that teenagers provide, but you have to go out and ask for it.  Don't be afraid to apply for jobs.

2.  Be Polite. You are applying for a job; dress up, make eye contact, shake hands, and avoid using slang. First impressions matter - make sure you are remembered for your application and not your attitude.

3. Be Prepared. Bring a resume and a cover letter whenever you apply for a job. Having a good resume is essential. It shows that you are serious about the position, and that you are mature and responsible. If you need help writing a resume, myfirstpaycheck.com provides a dynamic free resume for teens
that is very helpful.

4. Be Persistent. It would be nice if you were immediately offered every job that you ever applied for, unfortunately this is not the case for anybody. Persistence pays off; send a thank you note to interviewers, follow-up if you do not hear about the job after a week, and keep applying.

5. Be Creative. Look for work in places other than the mall. The weakening economy means that people are going to be looking to cut costs in areas such as lawn and child care. Get a few friends together and start a landscaping or a babysitting business. Working for yourself is a great way to earn money and develop skills that will help you find your next job.

Learning how to apply for jobs isn't something we always learn in school, but it's an important skill. It's especially important as a teen applying for your first job to make a good first impression, and Myfirstpaycheck.com can help.

A first job, from a dad's perspective

Stewart Allyn wrote a nice post on his blog a few days ago about his son's first job. Stew's 16-year-old son got a job as a hockey referee, and Stew seems to be pretty happy about his son entering the workforce. Stew writes, "Becoming a referee has taught him many valuable lessons in both life and in his chosen sport." 

It seems like it's worked out well for both him and his son, and If you are still looking for a spring/summer job - maybe you can look into being a referee too. Hockey season is over but is your local little league/soccer league looking for refs?