plus 2, Job Outlook for Teenagers Worsens - Gainesville Sun

Job Outlook for Teenagers Worsens - Gainesville Sun
Tips on how to make the temp-to-permanent job ... - NWI.com
Five Visalia career counselors lose their jobs - Visalia Times-Delta

Job Outlook for Teenagers Worsens - Gainesville Sun

Posted: 01 Jun 2010 04:24 AM PDT

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State and local governments, traditionally among the biggest seasonal employers, are knee-deep in budget woes, and the stimulus money that helped cushion some government job programs last summer is running out. Private employers are also reluctant to hire until the economy shows more solid signs of recovery.

So expect fewer lifeguards on duty at public beaches this summer in California, fewer workers at some Massachusetts state parks and camping grounds and taller grass outside state buildings in Kentucky.

Students seeking summer jobs, generally 16 to 24 years old, are at the end of the job line, behind the jobless baby boomers who are competing with new college graduates who, in turn, are trying to elbow out undergraduates and high school students.

With so many people competing for so few jobs, unemployed youth "are the silent victims of the economy," said Adele McKeon, a career specialist with the Boston Private Industry Council who counsels students on matters like workplace etiquette, professionalism and résumé writing.

Getting that first job "is an accomplishment, and it's independence," Ms. McKeon said. "If you don't have it, where are you going to learn that stuff?"

The unemployment rate for the 16-to-24 age group reached a record 19.6 percent in April, double the national average. For those job seekers, said Heidi Shierholz, an economist at the Economic Policy Institute, "This is the worst year, definitely since the early '80s recession and very likely since the Great Depression."

Or as researchers at Northeastern University, who issued a report in April on youth unemployment, put it, "The summer job outlook does not appear to be very bright in the absence of a massive new summer jobs intervention."

Still, the poor numbers this year are not solely a symptom of the continued weak economy. For generations, government data shows, at least half of all teenagers were in the labor force in June, July and August. Starting this decade, though, the number of employed teenagers began to drop, and by 2009, less than a third of teenagers had jobs. This year, the number could fall below 30 percent.

That is a stark contrast to the job market for recent college graduates seeking full-time employment — a market where this is actually a slight increase from this time last year.

There is no simple explanation for the large drop-off in summer jobs this decade, though experts say that more high school students are choosing to volunteer and do internships to burnish their college applications. But the Northeastern researchers said a large number of youths had been left out of the work force and wanted to get back in.

The forecast for this summer is so dire that high school students took to the streets this year in Washington, Boston and New York to push lawmakers to come up with money for summer youth jobs programs as Congress did last year, allocating $1.2 billion for a program for low-income youths.

On Friday, the House passed a measure that included the summer jobs provision, though its future in the Senate this week is uncertain.

The Northeastern researchers estimated that an additional $1 billion federal infusion would create some 300,000 job slots this summer, barely putting a dent in the demand for jobs.

Still, those types of positions are desperately needed, said Neil Sullivan, executive director of the Boston Private Industry Council, which works with private and public employers to place students.

For students like Anthony Roberts, 18, and Deandre Briber, 18, at the Prologue Early College High School in Chicago, the federal money offers some hope. Both are applying to the alternative school's summer jobs program.

Last summer, with the aid of stimulus money, the school hired dozens of students, according to its principal, Pa Joof. This summer, without the money, the school can afford just 10.

"It was great last summer," he said. "We had 80 to 90 kids kept off of the street seven or eight weeks. They were able to come right back to school without any problem" in the fall, he added. "What's happening right now in Chicago, you let these kids out there for four or five weeks, we are going to lose some of them. That's just the nature of the streets."

Mr. Briber, who graduates next January, said he had applied at T.J. Maxx, Target, Kmart, and at a local docking company, with no luck. Having an income will help ease the burden on his mother, he said. Also, he said, "I feel like I do need to get a job because I'm kind of a handful. I want things, clothes, and to take care of myself. I just want to be on my own, to help out with bills."

Mr. Roberts, who graduates in June and plans to attend college, said he had been searching for a job for a year and a half. Everywhere he goes, Mr. Roberts says, there are other teenagers ahead of him. "It bothers me, but at the same time," he said, "I try not to let it bother me."

In Boston, at the Charlestown High School, Jamila Hussein, 19, said she had been running into the same problem in looking for a part-time job in retail or restaurants. "It's harder than it sounds," said Ms. Hussein, who has a summer internship lined up in July to clerk for a judge. "Right now, some of the things, even if they are available, you have adults looking."

Last week, Ms. Hussein was at the office of Ms. McKeon, the career specialist with the Boston Private Industry Council. The partnership with the private industry council and public schools is well entrenched, about 30 years old, Ms. McKeon said. Even so, she said, "we've never seen it like it is now."

Jada Bonner, 15, another student at Charlestown High, was at Ms. McKeon's office applying for a summer job through a community program. "I just want a job, independence. I don't want to ask my mom 24/7 for pocket money, and she might not even have it," she said.

While cities like Boston and New York have had to cut summer youth jobs programs, Cincinnati has maintained a $1 million budget for its youth initiative the last few years because of the mayor's commitment to the program, according to Jason Barron of the mayor's office.

About 700 high school and college-age youths will be hired to create murals, landscape, work in the parks department, serve as junior counselors and intern at neighborhood recreation centers, he said.

Elsewhere, the Interior Department has committed to hiring at least 12,000 youth in 2010 — a 50 percent increase over the 8,000 in 2009 as part of its Youth in the Great Outdoors initiative.

But for the second consecutive year, CareerBuilder.com found in its summer hiring forecast that a vast majority of employers did not intend to hire seasonal help. "Summer hiring plans clearly show that they are still waiting to see what the future brings before they move forward with recruitment," said Rosemary Haefner, vice president for human resources.

Still, Ms. Haefner said, there have been some positive signs, like an increase in job postings.

Retailers like American Eagle Outfitters are hiring at various locations, including its flagship stores in New York City, where it plans job fairs in June. In tourist spots like Atlantic City, businesses are expecting a rebound in seasonal hires, according to the Convention and Visitors Authority.

Indeed, career specialists say job seekers who persevere can find work. "It's still going to be a tough summer for teens," said Renée Ward, who runs the job help site, teens4hire.org.

To which Mr. Sullivan of the Boston Private Industry Council, said, "Everyone has fond memories of their summer jobs as they grew up."

"For almost half of this generation," he said, "that has been lost."

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Tips on how to make the temp-to-permanent job ... - NWI.com

Posted: 29 May 2010 10:14 PM PDT

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Contract work and temporary employment are on the rise as the economy improves, especially for companies that need to meet increased demand but are hesitant to commit to permanent employees and higher benefit costs.

Working a temp job can be a great opportunity to keep skills current and make new networking contracts while continuing to look for permanent employment. But those seeking to turn these positions into full-time jobs need to be cautious, says Tim Schoonover, chairman of career consulting firm OI Partners.

"There are often no guarantees and no promises that they will be hired full-time even if suitable openings arise," Schoonover said. "The downside of contract work is there is the possibility that it can detract from a regular job search and create false hope about a full-time job."

OI Partners offers this advice for making the most out of your short-time position and potentially making a smooth transition into permanent work:

* Ask up front if you can apply for full-time openings that arise during your contract period.

* Aim to out-perform full-time employees who are doing the same or similar jobs as you.

* Be positive and upbeat about your commitment to the company, and act as if you already are a full-time employee during your contract period. "Don't go around the workplace thinking of yourself as 'only a contractor,' and never display a negative attitude," said Schoonover.

* Understand the reason for the contract job and the circumstances surrounding the position. This will help you determine whether there is a future with the company.

* Meet as many key people in the organization as you can. Sit in on staff meetings and let it be known what you are doing for the organization, as well as your past background, experience, and accomplishments.

* Keep in contact with people who recruit for the company, as well as employees in other departments.

* Complete any projects you are working on, even if you aren't hired. "Leaving projects unfinished will hurt you if you need to be a contract worker again or want a reference for your work," said Schoonover.

Moving to the Big City

You've just graduated from college and are ready to settle down, find a job and start a new chapter of your life. Now you just need to grab a map, close your eyes and drop your finger.

Not so fast. For new grads feeling the pressure of deciding where to live after college, Apartments.com and CareerRookie.com have released a list of the Top 10 cities for young adults. The roster is based on the inventory of jobs requiring less than one year of experience, the average cost of rent for a one-bedroom apartment and the highest concentration of young adults between the ages of 20 and 24.

"Finding an affordable apartment and a good job may determine where to live, but it's also important to look at cities offering the culture and lifestyle these young adults enjoy," said Tammy Kotula, spokeswoman for Apartments.com.

The best cities, including the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment:

1. Atlanta, $723

2. Phoenix, $669

3. Denver, $779

4. Dallas, $740

5. Boston, $1,275

6. Philadelphia, $938

7. New York, $1,366

8. Cincinnati, $613

9. Baltimore, $1,041

10. Los Angeles, $1,319

Wedding bells and dollar signs

More people are tying the knot and spending on their weddings this year as the economy improves, according to a recent survey of the entire membership of the National Association of Catering Executives.

More than three-quarters of those polled said more weddings were taking place in 2010 compared with 2009, a near reversal of the trend reported last year. At that time, less than a third said they saw more weddings compared with the year before.

Meanwhile, nearly 30 percent said this year that they saw an increase in expenditures per event, while 40 percent saw increases in total wedding revenue.

Last year, nearly 90 percent reported seeing a decline in overall wedding spending due to the economy.

"We are cautiously optimistic that our survey results this year will predict a return from the brink of the recession," said Greg Casella, president of NASE and owner of Catered Too! in San Jose, Calif.

While spending is up, Casella said members of NACE reported that brides and grooms were looking for the best deals.

"While we're seeing a busier year, caterers are definitely noticing that people are shopping around and asking for price matches," Casella said. "That wasn't as common before the recession."

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Five Visalia career counselors lose their jobs - Visalia Times-Delta

Posted: 01 Jun 2010 04:03 AM PDT

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Five Visalia high schools' career technicians will begin next week by looking for jobs for themselves.

Their jobs were eliminated in an effort by the Visalia Unified School District to cut a budget deficit of more than $11 million, district officials said.

The cuts were announced in March.

The five women will leave a big hole for staff to fill, principals and students say. Their duties included helping students apply for financial aid, filling out job and college applications, résumé writing and career placement.

The fall is busy with students applying for colleges, while spring is filled with students looking for scholarships and financial aid.

"[The district] is affecting our future with these cuts," said Staci Barnett, 16, a Sequoia High School sophomore. "They are taking away the one person who gave us advice, listened and helped us."

Teresa Ramos of Sequoia, Heidi Gonzalez of Redwood High School, Pam Zschau of Mt. Whitney High School, Lisa Waters of El Diamante High School and Ana Bilvado-Alaniz of Golden West High School had their positions cut. They are among the 26 classified positions cut by the district.

The district, which cut more than $5 million for the 2010-2011 school year, will be faced with cutting an additional $6 million for the 2011-2012 school year. It's a task board members are not looking forward to.

"I don't want to cut anybody," trustee Rodney Elder said. "We finally came to the point where we ran out of options and had to make cuts."

But some of the career technicians say there are other options that would save their jobs and money.

"I'll be the janitor, the librarian, the career tech and the cafeteria lady, so I could stay," Ramos said. "We're pushing students to go to college and now will have no one here to help them."

The consensus among the career technicians is that students will be hurt the most and current school staff will have to pick up the slack. Counselors, who already have a full plate with hundreds of students to look after, will be doing just that at most schools. Secretaries will be handling a portion as well.

"We're going to have to shift the work onto others and work hard to make sure students don't feel the shift," Mt. Whitney Principal Jeff Hohne said.

Sequoia Principal Yolanda Flores says it may offer students a new chance to learn on their own and gain more skills. The school will adapt the current Sequoia library into a multimedia center in which students will have access to computers and technology.

Redwood's career center, housed in the library, will still offer students access, but with limited supervision.

Aside from having to find a new job, career technicians say the saddest part of leaving will be that they will no longer be able to interact with students who looked to them for help and the staff they bonded with.

"It's like a family here. Students come in for help and we do our best to make sure they are on the right track toward college and careers," Zschau said.

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