According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, three out of four teens will not have a job this summer. The North Carolina Employment Security Commission says the key to finding work may be thinking outside the box.
This summer, 18-year-old Jonathun Muldrow is not spending his days at the pool. Instead, he is working on a commercial for Raleigh's Downtown Farmer's Market. Muldrow and high school senior Sierra Fox are among the lucky ones.
“I'm really glad I got this opportunity,” said Fox.
Muldrow agrees.
“I feel lucky because I've been trying to do this for a long time,” said Muldrow.
Muldrow and Fox are defying the odds by simply having a summer job.
“We got a record number of applications this year. This year, we received more than 976 applications from young people,” said Cathey Ector with the Raleigh Community Services Department.
In North Carolina, the number of kids under 18 that can seek work has fallen off by approximately 50 percent over the past five years.
The ESC says jobs are hard to come by because adults are filling the traditional teen jobs, consumer spending is down resulting in less retail jobs, and local budgets are tighter meaning fewer jobs at places like libraries, parks, and pools.
At Yogen Fruz in Raleigh's North Hills, manager Jessica Wood says despite being fully staffed they get multiple applications each day.
Wood says teens need to have a flexible schedule, dress the part, and remember the basics.
“Follow instructions, I know that is ridiculous, but seriously follow instructions,” said Woods.
Some teens may also want to think about getting creative.
“I've seen where some kids have started their own business, going around doing birthday parties, dressing up as clowns,” said Bonnie Helmink with the ESC.
Because the earlier you start working, the earlier you can start building your resume, and this summer that is what Muldrow is glad he is doing.
“This is a great experience for me to get ready for college and it's really preparing me for in the real world,” said Muldrow.
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