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Teens, students hit job market
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| H&N photo by Andrew Mariman Mark Larsen is a full-time student, the father of six and has two jobs, one of which is a position at Klamath Community College's Learning Resource Center. The center plays an integral part in helping students find summer jobs to supplement their income. |
May 10, 2007
Each spring, hundreds of teenagers and college students apply for a finite number of summer jobs, hoping to earn money for school and personal expenses.
Tiffany Totten, youth employment counselor for Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council at the Oregon Employment Office, says there are opportunities for youth as young as 14, such as cleaning at motels, or working on cleanup crews at construction sites. They also can be dishwashers or wait staff in restaurants.
But who gets the jobs?
“It depends on the initiative of the youth,” Totten said about the potential for success. “They can start using the contacts they already have, and putting out the word they are looking for a job.”
Various jobs are out there if students are willing look.
Youth as young as 12 can watch children, Totten said, but it's helpful if they have taken a Red Cross babysitting course.
Integral Youth Services also is accepting applications for food prep for the schools' summer lunch and recreation programs and for jobs in Bonanza on a fence-building crew.
The Park Service offers opportunities at Crater Lake National Park Lava Beds National Monument through the Youth Conservation Corps.
Human resources specialist Jean Heacock at Crater Lake said most jobs for younger people are in concessions, and recruitment is now being done at local high schools and colleges. Available jobs can be researched on the Web at www.craterlakelodges.com.
Lava Beds will accept applications for teenagers, ages 15 to 18, for YCC work projects through May 19. The projects include exotic weed control, native vegetation seeding or planting, backcountry trail maintenance, firebreak improvement, cave mapping and cleanup, cave trail maintenance and education programs. More information can be found on-line at www.usajobs.gov.
Help with applications, interviews
Totten's job is to help young people in the job-seeking process and improve their chances of being hired.
“Youth have skills they are unaware they have,” she said. “They've gained valuable skills in classes, chores, neighborhood work and on the computer.”
Youth can come to the Oregon Employment Office at 801 Oak St., and Totten will help them fill out applications, prepare resumes, practice interviews and use the iMatch computer program, which matches skills with available jobs. They can also practice keyboarding skills, take a free test and have a verified speed to add to their resume. These services are free to all job seekers, regardless of age.
Food job tips
Youth wanting work in jobs where they would be handling food was to study for their food handler's license on-line (they can pay for it with a credit card and print it out immediately once they complete the course), and have it in hand when they submit an application to a potential employer.
Totten also stressed the importance of volunteering, if a youth can't get a paying job, as a way of building experience and giving them credibility and references. An example would be volunteering at nursing homes reading to and assisting residents, which would show they have customer service skills.
“Seek things just a little above you,” suggested Totten. “The worst thing (an employer) can do is say ‘no.' How many times does your mom say that to you in a day? You just don't take it personally.”
Employers contact colleges
At Klamath Community College, Beth Pachenco often fields requests from employers for college students for summer jobs and refers them to the appropriate department chairs.
“Requests are picking up. We just received two more this week,” she said as she posted the on their job opportunities board.
KCC students Jill Feinberg and Mark Larsen stopped between classes to see what was on the board, though neither is job-hunting at the moment. Both are balancing school and family, and Larsen works at the Learning Resource Center and at Roth's.
Patti Springer, coordinator for a KCC apprenticeship program, said students can apply year-round for the program. They can work on the job in the summer, then during winter, work days and go to school nights, to work toward state licenses as electricians or plumbers. There are eligibility requirements to be accepted in the program.
“It's definitely worth it, especially for women and minorities,” she said. For more information, go to the Web sites www.boli.state.or.us or www.klamathcc.edu.
Keith Duren, KCC natural resources department chair, said hardly a week goes by that he doesn't have someone in the U.S. Department of Agriculture or U.S. Forest Service inquiring about summer workers.
“We have developed relationships with federal agencies. In ag, there are monitoring and technician jobs, conservation districts and vector control.”
If youth want to get a job in forestry, classes they might take at the college will help them, for instance, ecology, biology and tree and shrub identification, he said.
“The amount of jobs in environmental science and agriculture will continue growing. It's the Wild West of jobs,” Duren said.
- Lee Beach
Each spring, hundreds of teenagers and college students apply for a finite number of summer jobs, hoping to earn money for school and personal expenses.
Tiffany Totten, youth employment counselor for Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council at the Oregon Employment Office, says there are opportunities for youth as young as 14, such as cleaning at motels, or working on cleanup crews at construction sites. They also can be dishwashers or wait staff in restaurants.
But who gets the jobs?
“It depends on the initiative of the youth,” Totten said about the potential for success. “They can start using the contacts they already have, and putting out the word they are looking for a job.”
Various jobs are out there if students are willing look.
Youth as young as 12 can watch children, Totten said, but it's helpful if they have taken a Red Cross babysitting course.
Integral Youth Services also is accepting applications for food prep for the schools' summer lunch and recreation programs and for jobs in Bonanza on a fence-building crew.
The Park Service offers opportunities at Crater Lake National Park Lava Beds National Monument through the Youth Conservation Corps.
Human resources specialist Jean Heacock at Crater Lake said most jobs for younger people are in concessions, and recruitment is now being done at local high schools and colleges. Available jobs can be researched on the Web at www.craterlakelodges.com.
Lava Beds will accept applications for teenagers, ages 15 to 18, for YCC work projects through May 19. The projects include exotic weed control, native vegetation seeding or planting, backcountry trail maintenance, firebreak improvement, cave mapping and cleanup, cave trail maintenance and education programs. More information can be found on-line at www.usajobs.gov.
Help with applications, interviews
Totten's job is to help young people in the job-seeking process and improve their chances of being hired.
“Youth have skills they are unaware they have,” she said. “They've gained valuable skills in classes, chores, neighborhood work and on the computer.”
Youth can come to the Oregon Employment Office at 801 Oak St., and Totten will help them fill out applications, prepare resumes, practice interviews and use the iMatch computer program, which matches skills with available jobs. They can also practice keyboarding skills, take a free test and have a verified speed to add to their resume. These services are free to all job seekers, regardless of age.
Food job tips
Youth wanting work in jobs where they would be handling food was to study for their food handler's license on-line (they can pay for it with a credit card and print it out immediately once they complete the course), and have it in hand when they submit an application to a potential employer.
Totten also stressed the importance of volunteering, if a youth can't get a paying job, as a way of building experience and giving them credibility and references. An example would be volunteering at nursing homes reading to and assisting residents, which would show they have customer service skills.
“Seek things just a little above you,” suggested Totten. “The worst thing (an employer) can do is say ‘no.' How many times does your mom say that to you in a day? You just don't take it personally.”
Employers contact colleges
At Klamath Community College, Beth Pachenco often fields requests from employers for college students for summer jobs and refers them to the appropriate department chairs.
“Requests are picking up. We just received two more this week,” she said as she posted the on their job opportunities board.
KCC students Jill Feinberg and Mark Larsen stopped between classes to see what was on the board, though neither is job-hunting at the moment. Both are balancing school and family, and Larsen works at the Learning Resource Center and at Roth's.
Patti Springer, coordinator for a KCC apprenticeship program, said students can apply year-round for the program. They can work on the job in the summer, then during winter, work days and go to school nights, to work toward state licenses as electricians or plumbers. There are eligibility requirements to be accepted in the program.
“It's definitely worth it, especially for women and minorities,” she said. For more information, go to the Web sites www.boli.state.or.us or www.klamathcc.edu.
Keith Duren, KCC natural resources department chair, said hardly a week goes by that he doesn't have someone in the U.S. Department of Agriculture or U.S. Forest Service inquiring about summer workers.
“We have developed relationships with federal agencies. In ag, there are monitoring and technician jobs, conservation districts and vector control.”
If youth want to get a job in forestry, classes they might take at the college will help them, for instance, ecology, biology and tree and shrub identification, he said.
“The amount of jobs in environmental science and agriculture will continue growing. It's the Wild West of jobs,” Duren said.
- Lee Beach
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| County's budget cuts target health department |
Reader Comments
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leesa wrote on Jan 23, 2009 12:37 PM:
" these things should never happened in this world. the world should be safe. "
samantha r. wrote on Sep 23, 2008 12:12 PM:
" this article is So true when your a teen girl and your pregnant It seems to feel like your life is over and there is no way you can fix it but that's not true if your young and your going to have a child then stay focused in school your child wants you to succeed in life so he/she can succeed in life my name is Samantha R. I'm 14 years old i live in Klamath falls and i might be pregnant :] If so I'm determined to make sure my child has a better life then i did :] "
Babe wrote on Jan 23, 2008 6:54 PM:
" I think that chiloquin people do need help and not just the teens but i have also seen places that are alot worse i moved from L.A to chiloquin and ive been back there since and trust me chiloquin is nothing. I also think that crime and drugs etc. are noticed more because it is so small compared to other places and there is no form of disaplin at all "
Tony P. wrote on Jan 19, 2008 7:55 PM:
" I remember the night the plane went down.. My mother crying and my dad in tears.. his dad searched for him for years...
"
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Jane D. wrote on Apr 10, 2009 12:00 AM:
I Love You Bobby
May your soul Rest In Peace
-Deems "