Teen job market down

We had some recent discussions about parks struggling to find people. The word is that teens in some places have a hard time finding jobs:

ABCnews.com

Just this morning I got an e-mail from Paramount Parks asking me to take a survey. The survey was all about sumemr jobs and what they could do to get you to work at their parks. It asked questions about what you thought was most important about working a summer job. What were your best and least favorite things about working a summer job. Simple questions.

I took the survey, even though it really doesn't mean anything to me since I have a full time year round job. I answered everything as best as I could and told them that if I could afford to work there I would in a heart beat even though it is 3-4 hours away. I said I would have to make enough money to rent an apartment and that I don't think they could afford that. :)

I have a hard time believeing this stupid article. What kind of jobs are these kids looking for? How difficult is it to get a job at McDonalds, Arby's or any other fast food joint, or there are always server, busser jobs available. If you'd prefer not worknig around food, there are the retail conglomerates like Best Buy, Target, the local grocery store, and the mall kids can work at. If kids think they are struggling to find a job, maybe they should quit looknig in the wrong places, and start out their first job like every other kid does, starting from the bottom.

Here's something really dumb, they are using volunteers to man the concession stands at Petco Park in San Diego. What's up with that???!

Anyway, the fans aren't happy because the service is slow and unreliable and everyone else is angry because a company is giving away paying jobs to volunteers. If I were a charity, I'd be angry that a business was tapping into the volunteer market. What a load! I swear, some people need a swift kick in the cojones.

Well, I'm no longer officially a teen, but I can tell you, Dan D McD, that last year, I applied to every fast food joint within three miles of my house. The job I finally got was not fast food, and was gotten through special connections. I've worked in fast food before, and I don't think there's anything in particular that disqualifies me. They just didn't have any openings. There are a lot of adults working for fast food these days, and working full-time (thereby destroying much of the need for Summer or other transient help). From everything I've heard, I can look forward to a similair situation when I get home this Summer.

I'd work in an amusment park in a hearbeat, even as a sweeper or whatever (that's normaly the kind of work I get anyway). But there just isn't one close enough to justify the time or gas money I'd spend in getting there and back. And don't even talk about living closer. Apartments are expensive, and on-site housing (like CP has) is barely worth it if you get the full-season bonus (which is unatainable for a college student like me). Parks and teens are in need, but it's just impraticle for most teens (and others in the same shoes) to work there.

The article doesn't address it but...I wonder how many teens were previously employed by the telemarketing industry. What, if any, affect did the Do Not Call list have?

According to my phone, none whatsoever! ;)

Grrr!

Heh...I had no luck finding a freaking job. I finally had to go into telemarketing to pay for my car insurance.

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janfrederick said:
Here's something really dumb, they are using volunteers to man the concession stands at Petco Park in San Diego. What's up with that???!

...I swear, some people need a swift kick in the cojones.

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I tried to find a job kicking people in the cojones.....but the kids from South Park had already filled the position...;)

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rollergator said:

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janfrederick said:
Here's something really dumb, they are using volunteers to man the concession stands at Petco Park in San Diego. What's up with that???!

...I swear, some people need a swift kick in the cojones.

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I tried to find a job kicking people in the cojones.....but the kids from South Park had already filled the position...

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Kids take note, Rollergator's use of quotes = good

Mine = bad ;)

And to try my best to stay on thread, when I worked at Great America, we always had a tough time getting enough workers...towards the end of the season anyway.

It just seems like a bunch of hooey to me.

Between high school sports (which are increasingly being pushed further into the summer), the rediulously low rates they charge, the long hours and the, lets face it, down right horrible working environment (due to weather, grumbling people, etc) I can understand why teens are not rushing to work at Amusement Parks these days.

While I am no longer a teen, I am in college, and if I had a park close to my house and didnt have my on campus job (which requires me to come back a month early) I would definatly apply, however I can understand why most dont.

It is hard for me to understand why teens wont apply at amusement parks seeing as I wouldn't trade my job for anything. Every day I go to school and my friends say, "Ugh...I have to go to work after school" while I'm thinking "YAY! I get to go to work after school!" (well, maybe not that much but you get the idea). I wouldnt trade my job for anything. If you have a conflict, they'll find a way to make sure youre off, vacation? just find someone to work for you. And most of all it is fun! You get to make people happy all day, what better thing is there?

I think the article is BS, just like any other questionable "report" or "study" that is released by the media. I don't believe it for a second.

There are TONS of places around here begging for teens. The malls, fast foods, retail, golf courses, motels, state parks, etc. are ALWAYS hiring.

-Tina

^ I think people missed the SOME places in the post.

Face it, the economy stinks, add that to child labor laws, etc. and anyone under 18 should be thankful for a job. Many teen style jobs are filled with adults who are out of work, or are under employed at other jobs.

In Florida, if you are still in high school you CANNOT work more than 20 hours a week and you cannot work past 10pm (it maybe 11, but I think its 10).

Parks here are year round, and generally don't hire school aged teens for that reason.

When I worked at KI, I made $3 and hour and got a $0.35 per hour bonus for lasting the whole year. I loved working at KI, but the reality is, as Touchdown noted, the job sucked. The hours, the people, the pay.

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coasterqueenTRN said:
I think the article is BS, just like any other questionable "report" or "study" that is released by the media.

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Northeastern University isn't "the media." Why would they make things up?

Most major league stadiums use "volenteers" for their concessions. these "volenteers" are earning meager money for groups like high school bands and stuff like that.

There was a similar report in the Baltimore Sun two days ago (I believe). The problem is people who are getting downsized are competing with the kids for the jobs at the fast food joints, and discount retailers. And the sad fact is, experience is hard to overlook when hiring someone. On the flip side, a young kid is someone who can be molded, whereas an older employee might not be so adaptable.

Just remember these facts when thinking about a themepark job:
a) Long hours (If you're old enough). Expect double-shifts at times.
b) Low pay. No benefits.
c) Extremes in temperature
d) Everyone else is having fun, while you're not
e) Finally, unhappy customers

Finding a job as a teen isn't very easy, as many of you seem to believe. Getting a ride there, for the people that don't drive, for one. That is the biggest pain in the ass. Also, tons of places aren't hiring, or they have age restrictions.

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ZambeziZinger said:
Most major league stadiums use "volenteers" for their concessions. these "volenteers" are earning meager money for groups like high school bands and stuff like that.

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The they would not be volunteers, would they? If they are working for a charity, they would be there for a cause the believe in, not just to be there because it may seem fun.

Also, I manage a food service establishment in Detroit. We have teenagers come in every day and fill out applications. I have hired 2 people in the past 2 and a half months. We probably have had 200 hundred applications to sort through. So, to answer some people's questions... It may be more difficult to get a "fast food" Job. Here are some reasons why (not in any particular order).

* Employee Turnover is pretty low right now. even Teenagers are smart enough to realize that if they quit thier jobs there may not be another one waiting for them somewhere else.

* Teenage Employees are staying at thier jobs longer than ever before. Many First and second year students are opting for community college instead of moving away. They are maintaining thier jobs from high school. This has a couple advantages... they generally will be making more staying at the same place rather then starting out new at a new job, and the current employers are usually willing to bend around school scheduals for employees who have senority.

* Many High School students are now being trained in work Ethics (yeah, it sounds funny, but the High school sthese days are slipping it in quietly). This causes students to not do the stupid thinsg teenagers do to get fired (calling off for no reason, being lazy, etc.) It also trains students about how to obtain job security, among other things.

* Since production jobs are pretty low right now, a lot of "out of work" auto workers, steel workers and what not find themselves working in fast food or similar services. I probably have 10-15 "laid-off" people a week asking if we are hiring upper-level employees.

* A lot of seniors who have retired from thier careers are working to fill in the gaps. One can find many more seniors working in retail and foodservice then I remember seeing in previous years. Since age discrimination is illegal, if a senioris more qualified (whic they most likely would be) they would get the job over a teenager. This also has an added bonus for the business, from my experiance, most people seem to prefer to have a nice "Aunt Bea" type checking groceries/food at the counter then a "punk ___" teenage kid. I know it makes little difference, but customer retention is huge in the market today, and little things like this do make a difference.

There are other reasons, but I digress. I agree with this article, based on personal experiance.

I just find it difficult to believe that any teenager has THAT much difficulty getting a job. It may not be the job they desire but it's a job. I just see so many places (as I mentioned above) around here hiring all the time.

Maybe it's a regional thing, I don't know.

-Tina