Working hard for the money
Experts say Lawrence teens can find jobs despite tight market
Kati Wheatley works as a lifeguard at the Lawrence Indoor Aquatic Center. Wheatley will continue the work as a summer job, splitting time life guarding at the indoor facility and the outdoor pool downtown.
Something for tweens
Looking for ways to keep your tweens busy over the summer? Here are some ideas that can build on their job-seeking skills for later years:
• Look into teen classes, says Carol Weston, advice columnist for Girls’ Life magazine. Seek classes in areas kids may have an interest in, like writing, drama, art or lifeguarding.
• Help kids find work, such as baby-sitting, car washing, dog walking or lawn mowing, Weston says. Perhaps you know someone who could use some extra help in his office.
• Check churches, soup kitchens, senior centers, animal shelters and the like to see if they need volunteers.
• Explore summer camp options. Many have counselor-in-training or other programs for teens. For pricier specialty or residential camps, ask about financial aid or a group rate if several kids enroll together. Find camps at acacamps.org.
— The Associated Press
Lawrence High School students from left, Hannah Hall, 16, and Jesse Pacheco, 16, work afternoons at Hy-Vee, 3504 Clinton Parkway, as part of their summer employment.
For 18-year-old Kati Wheatley, being a lifeguard runs in the family.
“My mom did it when she was in high school, and my brother and I both went through training for it,” says Wheatley, who currently works part-time at the Lawrence Parks and Recreation’s Indoor Aquatic Center and plans to put in more hours this summer.
While Wheatley tried several other part-time jobs such as being a farmhand and working in food service, she says her younger brother, Thomas, knew just what he wanted.
“He started on the day of his 16th birthday,” she says with a laugh.
Lori Madus, Lawrence Parks and Recreation aquatics supervisor, says working in aquatics is an ideal choice for young people looking for a summer job.
“They don’t need to have any particular experience, just a love of swimming and an eagerness to work in the public. We put them through all the necessary training,” Madus says.
She finds the enthusiasm shown by the teenagers on her summer staff has made working with young people a positive experience.
Other opportunities for youths age 16 and up through the Parks and Recreation Department can be found in the areas of computers, golf courses and even marketing. Duane Peterson, special events supervisor for LPRD, says one of the more popular positions for youths is the summer playground assistant.
“They assist counselors and play games or activities with the kids, so it appeals to people who enjoy working with children,” Peterson says.
He cites baby-sitting as a typical past experience of applicants from this age group.
Peterson says application numbers this year have been about the same as other years.
Jennifer Jordon, director of business services at the Kansas University School of Business, says it is difficult to say whether the country’s economic situation will play much of a factor when it comes to young people on the job search this summer.
“Junior high school students can find work in baby-sitting, swim lessons, landscaping or as camp counselors, and those opportunities are always going to be there,” Jordan says. “It’s possible college students could start taking jobs that high schoolers otherwise might be looking for because of the economy, but it’s hard to tell for sure.”
In fact, young people reaching certain income guidelines may find a unique opportunity this summer as a result of economic stimulus money. Topeka-based organization Heartland Works Inc. hopes to find employment for 350 youths and young adults across a 17-county region in Northeast Kansas through their summer youth program.
“We’ve been awarded stimulus funds from the American Recovery Act and are starting to accept applications from 14- to 24-year-olds who meet income requirements and at the same time are accepting applications from employers who would be good mentors for youth,” says Phyllis McCune, of Heartland Works Inc.
McCune says there will be an emphasis on green jobs this year, which may include employment in areas such as weatherization.
“If possible, we try to tie the youth interest with the jobs of a career goal,” says McCune, who hopes the opportunities will serve as stepping stones for young people on the path toward their future. “It’s an investment in the work force, and what better way then to give it to the youth?” she says.
And while Wheatley works part-time during the school year, she says the summer provides a much different experience.
“It’s a lot busier, and there’s a lot of kids in the pool so you have to be constantly watching,” she says. “But it’s pretty social, too, and the majority of the people here are friends.”
She says the increased activity of the summer not only provides young workers with a more lively and close knit environment, but with another significant benefit as well.
“In the school year, I mostly work to pay for gas and stuff like eating out,” she says. “In the summer, I save for college.”