Now that summer is here, teens are out looking for work, but finding that summer job may be hard to come by. The latest numbers show the unemployment rate stands at 15 percent in Kern County, making the job search difficult for everyone. The Labor Department says the unemployment rate last month for those ages 16 to 19 was more than 24 percent. Compare that to May of 2000, when the rate was less than 13 percent.
High school student Caitlin Bransby has been on the job hunt for two months. She says looking for a summer job has been a full-time job. "There are so many people out there in America right now who are getting laid off and are looking for the same types of jobs I'm looking for, and how am I supposed to show that I'm just as good as some adult that's had several jobs and this would be my first job," said Bransby.
According to career specialists, the poor economy means that teens are now competing with experienced adults for summer jobs and the adults are getting them. Teens who already have jobs are reporting that they're working with more adults and former retirees. Bransby is not alone; many first-time job seekers face similar problems. However, career specialists say there are some simple things teens can do to make the job search more successful.
"Many teens ask, 'How do I get a job if I haven't had a job in the past?' I tell them to rely on what you've done, through your school, if you've done any volunteer work or any academics, sports, put that on your resume. All those things are great keys that shows employers you're a good employee," said Karine Kanikkeberg, career resource specialist, at Kern High School District. Career resource experts also say many teenagers make common mistakes when they go out looking for jobs.
"Remember that your job search starts before you leave your house. We find a lot of young people out looking for work are not prepared. They need to have all the information with them, like phone numbers of a reference or they're not dressed right or they forget that they need to go job searching by themselves, not in a group," said Kanikkeberg.
Bransby said she has followed that advice but still was having difficulty finding her summer job, until she walked into a yogurt shop in northwest Bakersfield on Friday. "We are looking for a part-time person who is really enthusiastic and who's willing to work and especially available to work weekends," said Carmen Baker, of The Chilling Berry Yogurt and Tea. Career resource experts added that timing is key when you are looking for a job. You need to check back with potential employers because their turnaround could be high.
Other career specialists say another tip for late-to-the-game teen job seekers will be an aggressive approach. Tech-savvy teenagers are apt to conduct 90 percent of their job search on the Internet and submit applications online. However, they say, nothing beats actually walking into a business, introducing yourself to the manager and asking about job opportunities.