Roots & Wings Online
With summer comes a more laid back schedule and many teens use this opportunity to take on a job. There are several reasons why getting a job is a great idea. For starters earning your own income is a crucial part of becoming and eventually living independently.
Written by Emma Megerian
Having a part-time job helps develop time management,communication, stress management skills and builds work ethic which have application to all areas of your life. Will Wollpert has been working at zpizza Ladera Ranch since last summer. He says, “Earning my own money gives me a sense of freedom and has opened doors." His income pays for food and gas, but mostly he saves it. Will recently purchased a guitar that he had wanted for some time. In addition to providing independence, earning an income develops financial responsibility.
Mady Meyer works a part-time job at Party City. She learned how to manage her time between work and school responsibilities, extracurriculars and time with friends. “It was definitely an adjustment at first. But now I’m able to find times during each day to do certain things and dedicate my time to school versus work.” She has developed her communication skills – with customers and other employees. There will always be coworkers with whom you do not get along, as well as customers who may be difficult. Problem-solving and working through conflicts are crucial skills that must be developed to maintain a position with a company or organization.
Landing a Job
Maurice Saaverda, store manager of the Stater Bros. grocery store, said “With Stater Bros., prior work experience isn’t really required. It’s a first job for many of our employees. We look for an applicant’s availability and if they’re able to manage their time and make a job a priority. It’s important for them tounderstand the commitment.”
Teens and Summer Jobs
Matthew Budnick, President, Professional Lifeguard Safety Services who places pool monitors in Ladera notes, “We look for teens who have put together a resume, even if it only includes three references, who show up professionally dressed to their interview, who fill out their paperwork neatly. All of it shows a certain level of dedication.”
Employers are looking for reliability; if you take on a job, you’re expected to be committed to it. Learning this lesson early on in life will help you to instill these things as habits for future occupations.
Naomi Manea, Director of Operations for Chick-fil-A in Laguna Niguel says that 99% of the time when we decide not to hire someone, it isn’t for a lack of experience, but because they lack the qualities we look for in a new hire. Mark Howery, owner of the Laguna Niguel location emphasizes the importance of character when interviewing for new employees. “I can train a team member how to work our computers in 30 minutes. But I look for a teen's ability to carry on a conversation with a guest, their ability to smile and demonstrate a genuine interest in serving people. These important traits are the ones you can’t be taught on the job.”
During interviews Howery and Manea look for eye contact, posture, enthusiasm, articulation, attire, involvement in school or extracurriculars, and attitude. “Attitude,” as Mr. Howery put it, “determines your altitude.”
Links to business' hiring pages:
Chick-fil-A:
ZippyApp.com/biz/cfalagunaniguel
zpizza Ladera Ranch: zpizza.com/join-our-team
Professional Lifeguard Safety Services: prolifeguarding.com/join-our-team
Stater Bros.: staterbros.com/careers/
Employers are looking for reliability; if you take on a job, you're expected to be committed to it. Learning this lesson early on in life will help you to instill these things as habits for future occupations.
