Welcome to this week’s edition of our Tuesday Top 5, Econ4U’s weekly tips post to help you manage your money in five easy steps.
As we’ve blogged before, this is a tough summer to be a teenager. There are very few job opportunities for unskilled workers this year, as evidenced by the 26.4 percent national unemployment rate among teens who would like to score a seasonal job. (And it’s even worse for minority youths.) But if you missed out this year, here are a few ideas to make yourself an attractive job applicant by the time next summer rolls around.
- Be willing to do whatever it takes. Your first job is unlikely to be glamorous — that’s why they call it “paying your dues.” Sure, flipping burgers or changing diapers may not rank up there on your list of dream careers, but at least you’re getting a paycheck. And if you do it with a genuine smile on your face, you’ll reap the rewards with stellar references.
- Act fast when opportunities arise. This week in Massachusetts, Gov. Deval Patrick pledged $9 million in taxpayer money to create 4,700 new jobs for teens across the state through the YouthWorks program. Check in your district to see if anything similar exists and take the initiative to get on a waiting list to secure a spot before the word gets out.
- Get experience any way you can. Set yourself apart from the pack by having some background in the job you’re applying for. Even if it doesn’t come with a paycheck, volunteer work can be a great way to gain the skills and knowledge of your field of interest.
- Keep a structured schedule. Don’t take unemployment as an excuse to be glued to the Wii all summer. Use your free time productively and you could collect money for doing chores or offering to run errands for your parents and neighbors. Plus you’ll feel more fulfilled than if you stay inside all day.
- Persist. A dog groomer in Connecticut said she received 60 applications for 8 job openings this year — most of them teens and college students. While the odds are against you, be polite yet persistent and tailor your resume to demonstrate to a potential employer all the reasons why you should be among the select few to get a coveted space on the employee roster.
