The Value of the Summer Job
By Albert B. Kelly
I think a lot these days
about the future; shaping it, worrying about it, getting to it. And when I
think about the future, it includes the next generation or two; our children
and our grandchildren. The truth is I’m simply not sure what type of future
they will inherit or what type of world they will inhabit.
Recently, I came across a
piece in USA Today that examined youth and summer jobs. In 1975, labor force
participation for 16-19 year olds was at 53.8%. Today, after 40 years and
several recessions, the labor participation rate nationally is 34.3%. Depending
on where you live and, dare I say it, the color of one’s skin; those numbers
are considerably lower.
Back in the day, the
summer job for a teen was anything from being a lifeguard to washing dishes,
stocking shelves, or roofing. My first real job was at Ed Fisher's market in
downtown Bridgeton. Aside from money, I learned about hard work and responsibility
in that food market; lessons that remain with me today.
But the thing about it was
that he gave me a chance and he was willing to invest his time and energy in me
even though I had no experience and I was a young unknown with no work history.
Today, most employers want “experience”, yet few will let a young person get
that experience.
This is unfortunate
because that first summer job was as much about learning life as it was about
the money itself. A young person learned to work with and for a diverse group
of adults; in some cases they learned how to interact with the public. In a physically
demanding job, they got to test themselves in a physical way.
The young person hopefully learned a little of
the pride that comes with a job well-done; perhaps they learned the value of a
college education by seeing what life as a working stiff looked like. They
earned money and maybe a little about how to manage it.
But sadly getting that
first chance is a lot harder; the jobs that we once assumed would be filled by
a teen are now sometimes the only ones an adult can score in this economy.
Other jobs have simply disappeared through technology; like cashiers being
replaced with self-checkout.
Of course, there are other
things to consider. While I support giving our young people a shot to succeed
in the work-a-day world through a first job, young people also have to take
some responsibility for how they prepare and conduct themselves in a first job
opportunity.
I’m talking about some
basics, like saying “Thank you”, looking people in the eye, wearing appropriate
clothing, and keeping iPhones and earbuds in their pockets while on the clock.
I think we’ve all had a young cashier grunt in response to “thank you” while
handing over the receipt.
Then there are the
would-be young workers who show up for a job interview poorly dressed and
unkempt; I can only conclude these ones
are not serious about a job. But I’m not really focused on the ones who are not
serious; it’s the ones who are and who need that first break…someone to take a
chance on them.
Though late in the summer season
now, I hope that employers would, to the degree possible and practical,
consider giving that young job seeker a shot at an entry level
position-remembering that it is their first work experience and that they may
be a little rough around edges.
I also hope parents won’t
be afraid to insist that their teen work- and work well- at whatever job is
available. There’s always something to be learned; whether about the job or
about one’s self and with that mindset, I’ve found that there’s little room for
the thought that a particular task is unworthy.
Is it possible that
today’s teen or twentysomething wants to start nearer the top without paying some
dues? Is it possible that today’s young people have an unrealistic set of
expectations? Maybe so and maybe that’s the price to pay for making sure
everyone gets a gold star and a trophy.
I encourage young people
to seek out opportunity and value those opportunities when they get them.
Often, employers are willing to teach and train a young worker, they only ask
that there be a willingness to learn and a commitment see the thing through. Let
that be the value of a summer job.