Teenagers, I Know Who's Hiring This Summer

My career began when I was 16 years old. I figured the situation was a win-win because I'd landed my first retail job. Not only did I meet a program requirement for school, but I also earned enough money to support my shopping habit. At the time, I didn't realize that my career was being birthed; I simply acknowledged that I had a job. My part time job as a shoe salesperson afforded full-time opportunities for me, which later turned into a management role in my early 20's. Fast forward to 2011, where people between the ages of 16-24 can't find summer employment due to the current economical challenges. According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate last year for people ages 16 to 24 who were looking for work was 18.4 percent. This is the worst annual figure on record since the government began tracking the data in 1948! That rate fell to 17.6 percent in March, but that's still more than double the national average. The good news is that companies are hiring this summer, especially those who have peak seasons between May and September. Teens4Hire.org not only lists job openings, but there is also a list of industries such as those associated with recreation and hospitality that are specifically looking for teenagers.

The U.S. Department of Labor launched Summer Jobs USA , an effort to create and fill 100,000 jobs for workers ages 16 to 24. "The idea is to provide a foot in the door, through internships or part-time summer work, which could turn into a long-term career," said Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis. There are other employers who are committed to this program in who could possibly be in your local area . In addition, major U.S. companies have pledged to ramp up their summer hiring as part of the program. One company in particular, Wells Fargo, plans to hire college and MBA students as interns this summer. If you are interested in an internship, there is a website specifically dedicated to such positions called Internships.com.

Some of the benefits of summer employment include:

-Work experience, which provides you with a chance to learn about the workplace and acquire skills. Classroom experience and education is great, but hands on experience allows you to obtain attributes necessary to succeed on the job. I'd never taken a management course prior to being offered a management position. My experience on the job, my work ethic, and my performance caught the attention of senior leadership and I was ultimately rewarded for my efforts.

-Education about career pathways. Summer jobs can teach you about career pathing and can inspire you to seek the education necessary to achieve long-term career goals. When I started my career in banking, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do after becoming a Financial Center Manager. I used the resources provided to learn about future opportunities across lines of businesses. I decided to start with a global perspective, acknowledging that my skills were transferrable, and then narrowed my options to what I truly wanted to do next.

-Confidence and competence. Summer employment can provide both, proving to young people that they have a future in a particular job or sector. Regardless of where you find employment, learn everything that you can and build upon your current skill set. If you are great in customer service, perhaps you can learn another operational function or the art of selling. Knowledge and experience will always benefit you when it comes to employment.

It's not too late to start looking for your summer opportunity. Although your assignment could only be a couple of months, think long term and conduct yourself as if you are in an assignment for at least the next 18 months. Your hard work, dedication, and professionalism won't go unnoticed; I know that mine didn't and better opportunities were presented to me as a result.

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