By: Olivia Tritschler
Senior Lindsey Story takes on the tedious task of searching for a job, instead of enjoying typical teenager activities like going to the mall or movies, with the hopes of finding a suitable job. Due to the economy, job hunting proves to be unsuccessful for adults and adolescents.
There are students who have jobs and spend their free time and weekends at work, while others continue to apply in hopes of getting a chance to earn money. Story has been trying to get a job since last summer. In gaining work experience she hopes to have an advantage over other applicants.
“I have filled out many applications online and at the actual stores or restaurants,” Story said. “I have also babysat a few times and applied at the recreational department to referee for soccer, which I have been doing for the past two weeks.”
Relationships with employees can increase the chance of getting a job. Parents who have their own company or store may give jobs to their children or family friends.
“My mom’s friend helped me get the job since she volunteered at The Twig Shop in Southside Regional Medical Center,” junior Emily Kidd said. “She thought it was a good idea for me to volunteer for six months for college hours.”
For teens having extra money can be a great advantage, but jobs also offer more than money. The experience working and the responsibility that come along with a career might motivate people to search for a job.
“I am looking for a job so I can be able to pay for my own things, such as gas for my car and clothes,” Story said. “I also want one so I can be prepared for the future for when I will actually need a job.”
Parents support their children’s decision to find a job. Parents’ influence can convince young adults to contact businesses to see if they are in need of help.
“My parents do have an influence in applying for jobs,” Story said. “They constantly tell me to go out and apply, because they want the best for me so I can get a feel of what it is like to be responsible and to be prepared for after high school.”
Time management is a necessary skill when students have to juggle school, extracurricular activities, a job, and hanging with friends.
“It’s not really difficult doing homework since we are allowed to bring it to work,” Kidd said. “I don’t have a lot of free time anyway being on the dance team, but I work on the weekends so it doesn’t cut into free time too badly.”
Applying to jobs is a lengthy process. First comes the application and then it may be followed by an interview. Lastly, one has to wait till they get the call saying they have been hired.
“My least favorite thing about the application process is writing the same information over and over again,” Story said. “It gets tiring after awhile.”
Outside of school it can be awkward to see a teacher, but English teacher Elizabeth Houlihan has other jobs to receive more income. Houlihan gives haunted ghost tours in Richmond and participates with Will Power to Youth, a company that helps crossing over gang and racial lines through theater.
“Part of [having a second job] is to earn extra money to pay back college loans faster or to be able to renovate part of the house,” Houlihan said. “The other part is that I enjoy giving the tours and working with the kids.”
Sacrifices have to be made in order to have a job, or two. Work cuts into free time, and the time spent with family and friends.
“Luckily my husband also works for Haunts of Richmond so it is something we do together,” Houlihan said. “For example I do not have a free weekend in Sept. or Oct. because we are getting into our busiest time of the year.”
Hard work and dedication might not always get the job, especially in a down economy, but they show that one is responsible enough to be trusted. This gives a major advantage over other applicants.
“You need to be willing to work no matter what the job,” Houlihan said. “We were hiring at the beginning of the season and received over fifty applications. Once we starting going through the interview process people would not show up. This showed that they were not willing to work even though they applied for the position.”