TOWN TOPICS, PRINCETON, N.J., WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2015 • 10
BACK TO SCHOOL Employment Opportunities for Teens in the Area Are Available From a Wide Range of Sources
F
inding that all important job is a challenge to day. At whatever age, job seekers face competition, barriers, and more specific eligibility requirements than ever before. Although adults regularly deal with these difficulties, the job search for young people can be even harder. And even though the economy has improved since the economic downturn of past years, teens looking for work today may discover that jobs previously open to them have frequently been filled by adults. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly all young people — 98.6 percent — hold at least one job between the ages of 18 and 25. The average young person has 6.3 jobs between those years. Some work part-time or in the summer only, while others hope for full-time employment as their path to economic independence. Infor mal weekend and summer jobs — from baby sitting to mowing the lawn and weeding the garden
to cleaning the neighbor’s pool — are still the answer for many teens. But other opportunities are out there too. It just takes some determined looking and perseverance to pin them down. Most Applications Summer jobs are those most available for teens, but there are others that are year-round, and sometimes, summer positions can lead to year-round employment. The Princeton Human Services Department provides a Summer Youth Employment Program that continues to expand, offering a variety of positions to teens. “This year we had the most applications ever, and we placed 37 teens in jobs,” says Elisa Neira, Human Services executive director. The program, which began in 1999, provides opportunities for teens ages 14 to 17, who live in Princeton or go to Princeton High School. Funded by the municipality, it links participants with local non-profit agencies, organizations, and municipal government jobs. The program begins right after the Fourth of July and
runs seven weeks, ending the third week in August. An introductory program to promote employment-readiness begins in May, and a job fair is also held when applicants can meet prospective employers. Helping teens to understand and adapt to the demands of employment is an important part of the programs’ readiness program, adds Ms. Neira. “This includes leadership workshops, financial information and management, and goal-setting. We help them with the appropriate dress code, preparing resumes, and we hold mock interviews.” Eye Contact In this age of ceaseless teen texting, advice on how to address an employer and make eye contact during the interview is very significant. All the participants work 25 hours per week, Monday through Friday, for the $8.38 hourly minimum wage. Work schedules are determined by the individual sites. This summer, teens worked at the municipal office, including
TEEN TIME: More teens than ever participated in the Human Services Summer Youth Employment Program this year. Shown are some of those who worked in various positions in the municipal offices, at the library, Princeton Nursery School, and the Princeton YM and YWCA. Occasionally, summer positions can lead to year-round employment. the tax department, also at the Princeton Nursery School, the Princeton Public Library, and the YM and YWCA. “We ask the employers to teach the teens and give them meaningful jobs and a meaningful experience,” points out Ms. Neira. “They can earn $1500 over the course of the program, and Continued on Next Page
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