Classifieds D-2
FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2013 THE NEW MEXICAN SECTION D
BY NANA PARK GENERATION NEXT
Auriel Zimmer, a junior in the MASTERS program at Santa Fe Community College, assists a customer while working at her part-time job at Target. NANA PARK/GENERATION NEXT
ON THE
JOB
HUNT
AS SUMMERTIME APPROACHES, TEENS BEGIN SEARCH FOR WORK best experiences; I met brand new people; I saw a whole new different side of food service and I learned better manners,” he said. Of course, in order to secure a job, one must put together a
strong application. To apply to most jobs, teens should prepare a résumé, and in some cases, a cover letter tailored to the particular business and position. Sometimes, businesses will have a prepared application
What’s the worst job or chore you’ve ever had to do?
Sonya Bear, MASTERS Program “Cleaning the bathroom. There’s a lot of kids in the house and they’re messy.”
COMPILED BY TILCARA WEBB GENERATION NEXT
Arielle Mattes, Santa Fe Preparatory School “I’ve never [had] a job. Chores are fun: Cleaning your room, taking out the trash, those aren’t bad jobs. Taking care of my brother and his crazy pterodactyl friend [is].”
Santa Fe Prom Closet set to open The Santa Fe Prom Closet, which provides free formal wear for high school juniors and seniors to wear to prom, will be open from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. during the next three Saturdays, April 20, 27 and May 4. The prom closet is located at 1636 St. Michael’s Drive (next to Rob and Charlie’s) and offers a selection of new or gently used dresses, suits, jewelry, shoes and evening bags. The organization aims to provide students with great prom attire without financial stress. For more information, visit www.santafeprom closet.org. Generation Next
n o i t ra
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“A
s a 16-year-old, you need money,” said Christopher Legits, a junior at St. Michael’s High School. “I needed gas money, [and] getting ready to take the ACT and other tests that cost money, I had to pay for those.” The main reason that teenagers get jobs is to support themselves financially. Many teens are faced with situations requiring extra money, which doesn’t always come for parents. According to the United States Department of Labor, 26 percent of teens aged 16 to 19 were employed in 2012. In a report about unemployment among youth, the Department of Labor states that between April and July, the youth labor force greatly increases. Now that summertime is around the corner, many teens are looking to get a head start in the search for summer jobs. Auriel Zimmer, a junior in the MASTERS Program at Santa Fe Community College, got her first job at Target in November in order to save money for a car. “I decided to get a job because my mom financially doesn’t really support me with the extra stuff I needed,” Zimmer said. “My main purpose for getting a job was to give myself money for college and the things my mom couldn’t provide for me.” Zimmer works Thursday through Saturday. She’s close to her goal and expects to purchase a car in two weeks. Making money isn’t the only perk that comes from having a job. Job experience gained in high school is useful for the future. “I love [my job]. I love the other employees and I am a cashier, so I get to be with people all day long, and I get to talk to them,” Zimmer said. She plans to continue working through summer vacation. During the school year, many teens with jobs work only on weekends in order to devote time to school and other activities. Maria Lozoya, a junior at St. Michael’s High School, works on Fridays and Saturdays at Piccolino, an Italian restaurant. Lozoya said it isn’t difficult to balance working with schoolwork and life in general. “I work on the weekends, and the rest of the week I work on homework whenever I can,” she said. Legits’ work experience at La Posada (he later quit to focus on academics and extracurricular activities) was positive. “I got the
ready to be filled out. Potential employees should learn about the business and inquire about what to submit. If you’re looking for a summer job, it’s a good idea to apply now. Barry Secular, the manager at the Cowgirl BBQ , suggested that teens “apply as early as they understand what their summer commitments will be. … Start applying now.” When asked about what he wanted to see in potential employees, Secular said that teens should be, “doing well in school, because that indicates how serious they’ll be about their work. Their availability is also very important.” Most job applications include an interview, and certain jobs may have a dress code or require materials, so it’s a good idea to ask what to bring beforehand. Physical demeanor is also critical. “The most important thing is to smile, because all businesses want employees who can be cheerful and upbeat and a pleasure to work with,” said Simon Brackley, president of the Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce. Practicing before an interview can also be helpful. “I talked with my mom just like a normal interview and she asked me some questions,” Zimmer said. “I am pretty confident with talking to people and I already expected what it would be like, so when the time came to answer questions I was prepared.” Teens like Zimmer who are applying for their first job shouldn’t worry about not having prior work experience, because that doesn’t necessarily mean having an empty résumé. Dallas Steele, who hires teens and young adults for positions at the Santa Fe Children’s Museum, suggested that teen applicants “put together a nice résumé that looks clean, tidy, no typos. Even if they don’t have a lot of experience, they might have baby-sat, they might have taken care of neighbors’ houses, the animals, they might have worked in their churches, done volunteer work.” According to Steele, all of these experiences are relevant and may be helpful to employers. From internships at the hospital and businesses to baby-sitting to bussing tables, there are a wide variety of job opportunities for teens in Santa Fe. The first step to getting a job is taking a chance and applying.
Ivan Olivas, Capital High School “Janitor, helping out at my little brother’s school. I really don’t feel like cleaning other people’s stuff.”
Webb Garrison, Santa Fe Preparatory School “Either painting the entirety of a 4,000-squarefoot house, or landscaping six acres.”
Nana Park is a junior at St. Michael’s High School. Contact her at santafesian@gmail.com.
SPEAK OUT
Iris Pecorelli, Santa Fe High School “I would have to say unclogging a toilet.”
Gina Maran, Santa Fe Preparatory School “Clean up my dog’s crap.”
Xavier Valencia, Tierra Encantada Charter School “I had to clean my pig’s pen in Ojo Caliente; they fed it more food then they’re supposed to. On a scale of one to 10, [on how bad it was] it was like an 11.”
MY VIEW
Work offers more perks than cash By Marielle Dent Generation Next
G
etting a job, whether it is year-round or only for the summer, is extremely important for teenagers. Employment offers a kind of responsibility that one cannot learn in school and provides basic skills that are necessary for holding a permanent job as an adult. In addition, jobs allow teens to be productive, and there’s the obvious perk of earning money. As an intern at the Santa Fe Children’s Museum, I have experienced all of these benefits. My job entails keeping the floor clean and neat, working in the shop, belaying children on the climbing wall and running my own weekly program. My job requires a lot of responsibility and a willingness to learn and improve. I am very lucky because the museum makes a special effort to help its interns get used to hav-
ing a serious job. Most workplaces are not as patient or easygoing with their employees, but the museum encourages everyone to learn from their mistakes. Working at the museum is a lot of fun and has resulted in many amusing occurrences with the children. Once, I was playing in the toy kitchen with two little girls who taught me all about making “lemon meringue soup.” Another time, a girl told me about how her mom wouldn’t go swimming with her because she thought she looked fat in her bathing suit. The girl’s father was listening to our conversation, and clearly became embarrassed. My job has also helped me deal more easily with difficult people. Surprisingly, some parents and visitors can be rather rude at times. While dealing with difficult people used to fluster me and make me quite upset, I have become much
Section editor: Adele Oliveira, 986-3091, aoliveira@sfnewmexican.com Design and headlines: Carlos A. López, clopez@sfnewmexican.com
better at knowing what to say and do. Coming up with my own program, plus planning and executing it each week, has helped me become more articulate and thoughtful. The science-based program I run requires me to think of age-appropriate experiments and explain what is happening and why it works in a way that children are able to understand. My science program has been invaluable in learning how to interact with kids. Although the majority of jobs that teenagers hold are not at all like this one, they teach similar principles. No matter where you work, the job will require responsibility, good interpersonal skills, willingness to improve and effort. These are abilities that adults are required to possess in the workforce, and it is beneficial for teenagers to get a head start.
for and by teens
HELP WANTED Employers seek to hire teens By Yujie Ding and Raina Wellman Generation Next
Summer jobs offer experience, extra cash and a way to be productive. Some teens begin building their résumés by volunteering, while jobs like baby-sitting and yard work can also be a good place to start. When applying for a position, make sure you understand its requirements, prepare recommendation letters, a list of skills and contact information. Here’s a list of opportunities that may lead to becoming member of the Santa Fe workforce. Warehouse 21 Warehouse 21 usually hires teens that have already completed community service or volunteer work. “We have a small staff, so the people we hire work above and beyond and have good work ethic,” said W21 manager Ana Rose. “We look for creativity, initiative and someone who can start a job and finish it.” Contact Warehouse 21 at 989-4423. Wal-Mart Depending on an applicant’s skill set, Wal-Mart hires teenagers for positions like working on the sales team or as phone operators. Use the on-site computer system to apply. According to Abby Mendoza, a manager at the WalMart Supercenter, working at Wal-Mart is “fun, but will definitely keep you busy.” Contact Wal-Mart at 424-9305. Polo Ralph Lauren and other stores at Fashion Outlets of Santa Fe Outlet stores like Polo Ralph Lauren accept applications year-round and typically load up on seasonal teen employees during the summer. A manager at Polo Ralph Lauren said that the store provides a “family environment” and that everyone gets along. Visit www. fashionoutletssantafe.com. The Santa Fe Opera The Santa Fe Opera offers seasonal employment, volunteer opportunities and apprenticeships. Most teen opportunities are for ushers. “We look for a person who’s outgoing, an applicant who can define what they think is good customer service, someone who’s interested in learning more about our art form and our programs, and who exhibits a positive attitude,” said human resources Director Liz Kellogg. Call 986-5955. Frogurt If you’re looking for a delicious job, frozen yogurt shop Frogurt typically hires “eight to 10 teenagers over the summer,” according to owner David Christianson. Employees must be able to interact well with customers and “have a good time!” Call 474-6336. Tomasita’s “Working at a restaurant is a great experience for a teen. It really builds a work ethic!” said Georgia Maryol, the owner of Tomasita’s. Generally, teen employees rise through the ranks, from host to busser to wait staff. Applicants must be adept at teamwork and serve patrons efficiently and courteously. Call 983-5721. Girls Inc. “We’re looking for a person who is intentional, self-motivated, loves to work with children and be part of a community,” said program coordinator Madonna Hernandez. Only girls may apply, and should believe in the organization’s motto, “Inspiring all girls to be strong, smart and bold.” Send a cover letter and résumé to hiring@girlsincofsantafe.org. The city of Santa Fe Teenagers can contact the city for jobs at the Geneva Chavez Community Center, city-run summer camps, or to be lifeguards and swimming instructors. “We are looking for an application that is filled out neatly and correctly,” said Vicki Gage, the city’s human resources director. “We understand that [teens] don’t have a lot of work experience. We appreciate when they list volunteer or baby-sitting jobs they have had previously.” Call 955-6597.
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