This teenage rite of passage is looking up—a little.
The uncertainty of the presidential election is over. We haven’t fallen over the fiscal cliff. Most economic indicators point to a solid recovery in the works. The S&P 500 recently closed above 1500 for the first time since 2007. This may be the time for business owners to take a risk and invest to grow their businesses. With growth comes the possibility of new job opportunities and this could include more businesses willing to hire teens, says Teens4Hire.org.
For the past decade, statistics show 3 out of 4 teens who wanted to work could not land jobs. They were stymied by a lackluster job market and having to compete with older adults who were willing to accept the type of jobs traditionally held by teens, as well as, the same rate of pay.
Renée Ward, founder of the organization and an advocate for teen employment says, “Teens will still have to “duke it out” with older workers but they have to get their foot in the door sometime, so they might as well start now to prepare for a job and learn how to land a job. We help with all of that on a national basis.”
A bit of good news is the rise in the stock market has helped older workers near or at retirement age to see a nice increase in their 401k plans which gives many seniors the opportunity to bypass taking low wage part-time positions (traditionally held by teens) solely for needed income.
As always, experience will trump inexperience. Adult teens (18-19) have an advantage over minor teens (14-17) in getting a job. That’s because older teens may be more mature, have prepped themselves better and/or already have some work experience. This could be through a previous paying job, volunteering, on the job training or self-employment.
Businesses complain that teens are not prepared to work and don’t have the means or inclination to train young adults in work place fundamentals.
To meet this need, in the spring Teens4Hire.org will offer a premium membership that includes a package of services designed to get teens ready for the workplace and armed to compete with older adults for openings. Premium membership will include an online job readiness and certification program, resume development, how-to eBooks on networking, interviewing, and other services.
Teens4Hire.org is asking parents to make a small investment to “develop job readiness” in their teenager. They say it gives teens an edge in overcoming employer reluctance in hiring, has credible results and it’s a proven foundation that lasts a lifetime.
Teens4Hire.org celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2012. “We’ve evolved to become the #1 recruitment site for U.S. teens having served over 8.8 million teens and 1300 employers”, Ward says. “We enable employers to find ambitious ready to work teens and prepares teens for the workplace to improve their ability to land a job.”
Internships (paid and nonpaid) are proliferating. Now is the time to get them. Young adults can find openings in a plethora of industries from computer technology to fashion. Traditional summer jobs in quick service restaurant/casual dining, leisure/hospitality, and retail will also be available.
Teens4Hire.org polls show that 80% of teens 14-19 want paying jobs. Teens crave paid work-based learning experiences such as internships, co-ops and apprenticeships that make education relevant and interesting and let them explore career options. But for pay, teens are willing to work as housekeepers and gardeners too. They need the income for necessities such as school supplies, transportation, phones, clothing, college and in many cases to help support their entire family.
Ward says, “We catch young people at the moment “they” feel they are ready to work. It is at this time that young people make critical choices that affect their transition into adulthood and shape their perceptions about the world of work. Work experience at this stage in life is critical, and people who spend a large share of their young adult years unemployed have a hard time finding and keeping a job later in life.”
More helpful information can be found in the RESOURCES area of Teens4Hire.org to help teens land a job, get work experience and/or explore other ways to earn money.
As a quick reference, check out:
Get Ready for the Workplace
Top 10 Tips to Land a Job
Top 10 Tips on How to Write a Resume
Job Titles/Positions Suitable for Teens
Best Things to Do if You Can’t Land a Job
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Officially launched February 15, 2002, Teens4Hire.org is the #1 resource for recruiting the U.S. high school and college age group online. Find eager-to-work young adult candidates today!
Teens4Hire.org, a membership site that gets ambitious adult and minor teens ready for the workplace online, is published by The Forward Group, a privately held company that also publishes Seniors4Hire.org, a career center for those 50 and older, as a socially responsible service.
If you would like to be a sponsor contact us today.
