MARITZA MESTRE
Gargoyle staff reporter
Posted Wednesday, April 16, 2008

THE WORKING AGE varies throughout the United States. Most places allow teenagers 16 years or older to work, and those under age 16 may work if they acquire a working permit.

I had always heard that people who are 15 are allowed work with limited hours. I myself am now 15 and was looking forward to working for the first time this summer.

I’ve always ruled out the idea of working during the school year due to homework and sports. But the prospect of working in the summer when there isn’t much else going on always seemed like a viable option to me.

About a month ago I received an application from Sholem Aquatic Center for a job as a lifeguard. But when I opened the application and saw the “previous work experience” and “personal reference” area I realized it may be harder for me to get a job this summer than I had thought.

What will it look like if I put “babysitting” down? How are teenagers who were not legally allowed to work until their current age supposed to have any previous work experience? Teenagers have to compete with older people who have more work experience and are therefore more qualified for their desired jobs.

Many employers also doubt the teen work ethic, and there are now a good number of adults (e.g. migrant workers) applying for jobs that teenagers have previously occupied. Another advantage of hiring adults is that employers don’t have to worry about them going off to school.

Many parents have kept their teenagers out of jobs so that they can focus on school and extracurriculars. There are still those parents who want their kids to earn their own money, though, but with the economy slowing down it may be harder for teens to find work this summer.

Although the legal working age is 16, an age at which teens are able to obtain a driver’s license, there are still teens out there under 16 who work, and they don’t have driving privileges. How are those individuals supposed to commute to work?

Their working schedule is most likely not going to correspond with when their parents can take them. Their only other option is public transportation, which some parents may not want their young children to use.

Even for those who are 16 and have a driver’s license, they may have to share a car with their parents, and therefore have the same problem as those who are under the age of 16.

Another issue I worry will effect my ability to get a summer job is the amount of time I won’t be able to go into work. During the summer I go out of town several times and attend camps that would prevent me from taking on a good number of hours at a job. I could hope to find a part-time job that accommodates my scheduling, but I’m not sure how easy that would be.

A recent article published by MSNBC recommended checking out sites like TeenJobSection.com, JobDoggy.com, and GrooveJob.com. Their sources say it is good to post a résumé on general boards (e.g. Monster and Careerbuilder), but also to set up feeds so that when new jobs are posted on the boards you will be notified. But they say it is also important to go out looking for jobs, because the majority of job openings are not advertised.

Having extra spending money is nice, though I worry that the hassle and complications that come with a job may outweigh the perks. Teenagers all over the country will face a tougher job market this summer, but I’m determined to keep looking for one.

Jobs build responsibility, confidence, and leadership skills. Job credentials are a great addition to any college application and can help show you are a viable candidate for that school.

When looking into a job at the U of I Library recently, I learned that some employers prefer hiring Uni students “because they’re so smart.”

So, after all, there may be one thing working for me as I go job hunting in the months to come.