Where to Find Work for Teens This Summer - WSJ.com

Where to Find Work for Teens This Summer - WSJ.com: "Where to Find Work for Teens This Summer



By RACHEL LOUISE ENSIGN

Teenagers may have to dig harder to find a job this summer.

Only about one-quarter of 16- to 19-year-olds are expected to find seasonal work this year, down from nearly half in 2000, according to a report from the Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University in Boston. That's projected to be the lowest figure since records of teen employment began in 1948.

With unemployment still high, adults are taking many of the jobs typically held by teens, says Joe McLaughlin, co-author of the report. And companies that laid off workers during the recession have been slow to rehire -- especially seasonal staff.

So where should teens be looking? The sectors that traditionally employ younger workers are still the best bet: retail stores, hotels and restaurants. Though these places have cut back on teenage hires, more than half of kids who will work this summer will have jobs in these sectors, according to U.S. Census data analyzed by the Center for Labor Market Studies.

Fast-food restaurants, which have done well through the economic downturn as more people have opted for lower-cost options when dining out, are still hiring teens for the summer. So are seasonal eateries like ice-cream shops and juice bars.

Teens also can find jobs assisting janitors in hotels or picking up balls at golf courses. But workers under age 18 may have a tough time finding work at the mall. Many of those jobs have been taken by older teens and adults who are still struggling to find better-paying work.

One bright spot for teen workers: health care.

In hospitals, teens under age 18 can find work as file clerks or cafeteria workers. Those 18 and over can work as a nurse's aide or patient escort, says Renée Ward, founder of teen job board Teens4Hire.org. Teens can do similar jobs in nursing homes and assisted-living centers, Ms. Ward says, which are expanding as the elderly population grows.

But young workers can forget about construction and manufacturing jobs this summer. Since the housing bust, there are far fewer construction projects under way. And after a decade of laying off workers, manufacturers are now having their existing employees work longer hours, reducing the need for summer help, says Mr. McLaughlin.

Many teen-friendly companies list available jobs on Teens4Hire.org, GotAJob.com and Snagajob.com/teen-jobs. For instance, Yowza, which developed a coupon application for smartphones, is planning to hire 10,000 teenagers age 14 and over this summer through Teens4Hire.org. The teens will be paid a commission for each local business they get to provide coupons for their products through the Yowza app.

Some career experts say teens with a skill may have better luck giving entrepreneurship a shot. For example, kids who excel at math, science or computer technology could start a tutoring or website-development business.

With more competition for fewer jobs, career experts say it's important for teens to look and act professional during an interview -- regardless of how casual the actual job is. They also should bring a résumé . If teens don't have a work history to list, they should put down any school, sports, extracurricular and volunteer activities, says Alison Doyle, a job-search expert for how-to website About.com. And they should indicate if they've had any leadership roles, such as team captain or running a club.

Dave Hastings says the small minority of teens who showed up to interview for lifeguard, swim instructor and pool maintenance positions at his Brecksville, Ohio, pool-service company and dressed professionally, had a résumé and wrote a thank-you note afterward greatly improved their chances of being hired. The reason: It showed they were responsible and professional, Mr. Hastings says.
—Email: rachel.ensign@wsj.com

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