<!–Saxotech Paragraph Count: 19
–>

Job perks

Marisa DiNatale, director and economist at Moody’s Analytics, said the teen employment rate has been declining for more than a decade as teens choose to focus on academics.

Michael Saltsman, a research fellow for the Employment Policies Institute in Washington, D.C., said the value of a first job isn’t just the paycheck it’s experience.

“When teens miss out on these skills, they become less viable, less attractive in the labor market,” he said.

Patty Milka, director of Career Connection, a program of the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce Industry, which introduces K-12 students to various professions, said it’s important to develop skills such as how to find a job, effective communication and understanding professional courtesy.

“That first job, you learn so many things from the importance of teamwork to why it’s important to show up on time,” Milka said.

For those unable to find work, volunteering or job shadowing also can teach transferrable skills, said Chris Matheny, vice president for instructional services at Fox Valley Technical College.

“Volunteers have the opportunity to do an assortment of things within an organization,” he said. General labor or basic office skills, such as proper telephone etiquette, are among the skills that can be developed.

“Sometimes it’s not about the paycheck but the broader experience,” Matheny said. “An applicant who has volunteered with an organization and did an assortment of jobs with that organization, who comes with a glowing recommendation, certainly would stand out to me.”

The more skills you can list on a resume, even for someone who is seeking a first job, the better.

“If someone gave 20 to 30 hours a week to an organization and you made an impact there, I don’t think you could buy that kind of impression with a minimum wage job,” Matheny said.

Scherer enjoys being his own boss. He doesn’t consider himself an introvert, but said having to find customers for his painting business made him more comfortable making cold calls.

“I’m a lot more comfortable just talking to people regardless of the situation I’m in now,” Scherer said.

Yulga considers getting her first job a personal accomplishment.

“It was something I’ve been hoping would happen for a long time,” she said. “Getting this job makes me feel good.”

Reaping the benefits

Yulga said money she earns will be used for several things, from saving for a college education to one day buying a car.

She is considering a career in accounting and believes working at Capital Credit Union will offer good experience.

“When I get older, I hope to get a degree in accounting and then get a full-time job in that field,” Yulga said.

Scherer said his family is helping him with his college expenses, but some of the money he earns through his business also will help.

“I’m fortunate that my family can help me pay for school but the money I get will help with other expenses and pay utilities,” he said.

Article source: http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20110701/APC0101/107010472/Data-shows-decline-seasonal-teen-workers

Like most college students, Ben Albers needed a job that would
support him during the school year and through the summer.

Albers never expected that he would end up managing a network of
employees ranging from college students to family men.

At age 19, the St. Louis University student is the district
manager of a nationwide entrepreneurial internship program for
undergraduate students that allows them to create and manage their
own businesses.

College Works Painting is an internship program started in
California by four college students who had worked as interns for
Student Works Painting in Canada.

After Student Works dissolved in 1993, the students took what
they had learned and created College Works Painting, giving college
students in the U.S. the opportunity to gain knowledge on how to
run a business.

College Works has about 2,000 interns covering 23 states.

Last summer, Albers became one of College Works’ newest
employees.

By the time he went back to school, he had painted 25 houses,
managed six painters, trained six marketers and made $80,000 all
before entering his junior year of college.

But it wasn’t easy.

For the first three months, Albers was on his own as he searched
for professional house painters on Craigslist and sought out
marketing interns from local colleges and universities.

“I did well in the very beginning, but then I struggled a lot
because I wasn’t listening to the people trying to help me and I
was trying to do everything on my own,” he said.

But Albers soon realized that he needed help and, after hiring a
few friends, he started going door to door in his neighborhood
looking for clients.

Because the business hadn’t made any money yet, Albers paid the
workers from money he made in a previous job at a car wash. As
customers started booking College Works to paint their homes, the
business began to grow and the summer got busy.

Soon he had a team of painters whose ages ranged from 20 to 50.
At first, Albers worried about the age disparity.

“When I first did this last summer, I was pretty shocked when
they listened to me,” he said. “But then I realized that it was all
about how I carried myself and that it doesn’t matter how old you
are, it matters what you do.”

This summer Albers and College Works Painting are off to a fast
start. Sixty-three houses are already scheduled to be painted.

Production manager Greg Smith, who was hired by Albers this
summer, said working with College Works has been great because
everyone involved is extremely motivated. Smith also said that
although the economy is rough, business is still flourishing.

“With the way the economy is, people aren’t buying new homes,
they’re fixing up the homes they have,” he said. “So it’s a great
time because it increases the value of their homes and gives it
good curb appeal.”

Chuck Michel, 55, had his bluish gray Webster Groves home
painted by Albers and his team last June after Albers knocked on
his door while looking for clients.

“They were diligent and did a great job,” Michel said. “You
could tell that Ben had put together a crew who really knew what
they were doing.”

Michel said that Albers’ young age never crossed his mind but
that he applauds any young person willing to venture out into
entrepreneurship.

“Any time one can go out of their way to find opportunities,
they’re ahead of the curve, and I applaud them for going out there
and chasing the dream,” he said. “Especially in this economy,
because people aren’t just calling around handing out jobs.”

During the school year, Albers juggles being a student and being
a boss even when the painters stop painting. In the fall he
recruits and teaches new interns how to market and sell the
business — all while attending class, completing assignments and
cramming for exams.

Albers said it has been tough managing both school and the
business and that, although he is equipped with all the tools
needed to run a successful business, he thinks school is still very
important.

“If I would’ve known already what field of business I wanted to
go into, I probably would’ve dropped out of school and started
doing it,” he said. “But I think there’s a lot more to learn in
terms of business and marketing strategies that school can
provide.”

Every student should take a class on how to run a business, even
if they aren’t business majors, said Jennifer Ehlen, 34, director
of St. Louis University’s Center for Entrepreneurship.

“In today’s economy and subsequent job market, employers are
looking for students who can come into their place of employment
and look at a job from an entrepreneurial perspective,” she
said.

Ehlen said what Albers is doing transcends house painting
because he is learning two of the most important concepts of
running a business: managing a workforce and understanding cash
flow.

“There’s no greater way to understand concepts like that than if
you’re having to be the CEO of your own business, even if it is a
painting business,” Ehlen said.

Although running a business is not easy, Albers said that
college students are not just limited to the typical summer job
anymore and that there are lots of other opportunities for
them.

“The best way to start your own business is just to do it,” he
said. “There’ll be a lot of failures and no’s, but the trick is to
see through those no’s and get to the goal, which is running a
successful business or company.”

Article source: http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/article_1b1b60fd-53cc-5590-8c55-f6f6189a73aa.html

While most students are spending their summer getting coffee, answering phones and filing papers, University of Colorado junior Kyle Ambler is running his own business.

Ambler, a self-proclaimed entrepreneur, is hoping to start a business after he graduates — so he wasn’t willing to settle for a typical internship this summer.

“From what I know about other internships, the work you’re doing isn’t that beneficial,” Ambler said. “A lot of times you’re doing busy work. I wanted more of a leadership role.”

Ambler is working as an intern, managing his own house painting business for College Works Painting, with the training and support from the company.

Besides a few training courses, Ambler said he is responsible for marketing, hiring and managing his own painting business.

“It definitely feels like a test run to starting my own business,” Ambler said. “It’s like training wheels. I can’t fall too far since I’m not risking my own money.”

Ambler and 15 other students in Boulder are learning the ins and outs of managing time, expenses and personnel, while getting paid an hourly rate (with additional compensation for sales).

Lisa Severy, director of Career Services at CU, said the school does not offer network marketing operations jobs, such as College Works Painting, because of the inconsistent nature of the positions.

“Some students have a great deal of success with these types of opportunities,” Severy said. Although, “some students put in a great deal of time and effort and actually make very little money, or end up owing the organization at the end of the experience.”

Book sales, knife sales and cosmetic sales companies often offer similar positions, allowing students to run their own businesses, but often relying on commission-based salaries. Severy said this might not always be convenient for tight student budgets.

“When students come to us to ask advice about these types of opportunities, we recommend that they thoroughly examine all paperwork before they sign — and even consider having things reviewed by Student Legal Services,” Severy said. “They should also carefully plan out a budget, including both hours and expenses, to make sure they feel comfortable with the numbers.”

Ambler said he’s aware of the financial risks of the job, relying heavily on sales for his income, but the learning experience is worth it.

Grant Tallmadge, district manager for College Works Painting, said the hands-on experience is unique to these internships.

“This is much more responsibility because it’s up to the interns to do the sales and promotion for their business,” Tallmadge said. “It’s a lot more hands on. They’re handling every aspect of their business, start to finish.”

Ambler said he’s planning on starting his own business next year.

“I am already learning so much just in the first few weeks,” Ambler said. “But, the most important thing is I’m learning to sell myself. That’s going to be a big part of owning my own business, when I have to sell my personality and my idea to investors.”

Article source: http://www.dailycamera.com/ci_18283065?source=most_emailed