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 Tia Shae O'Neal, 18, is spending her second summer as a lifeguard at Riverbend Country Club. (T-G Photo by Micky Pietkiewicz) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo] |
The local unemployment rate has risen to double digits in recent months, figures that are nearly twice what they were at the beginning of last year.
That glut of job seekers has led to stronger competition for work across the country.
For instance, teenagers in Jackson, N.J., are fighting laid-off adults for part-time summer jobs.
In Bedford County, however, teens are not having as much difficulty finding jobs, according to several local businesses.
"We employ five teenagers who have been working here for a long time," said Misti Smith, general manager at the Shelbyville Papa John's. "Most of our older workers are delivery drivers, so we have not had adults take jobs that would normally go to teenagers."
The Shelbyville Wal-Mart employs 12 cashiers who are under 18.
"We have not seen the problem of adults and teens battling for jobs here at Wal-Mart. We have many older cashiers and we hire teens as cashiers or cart-pushers. For several of the jobs here, you must be 18 or older," said Jill Reese, who is in charge of employment at the local Wal-Mart.
The local Burger King has not had problems with teen employment either, according to its management.
While retail and fast food are popular teen choices for work, lifeguarding is a great summer job, and an old standby for motivated teens.
Tia Shae O'Neal, 18, is spending her second summer as a lifeguard at Riverbend Country Club.
"It was not too difficult getting a job here as a lifeguard," she said Wednesday. "The difficult part was becoming certified.
"There were six applicants last summer and this summer there were only five. I am more concerned about finding a job once I go to college this fall."
But, she says she's confident that persistence will pay off in the end.
"The real difficulty in getting a job is just searching until you find something," she said.
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So...what you're saying is a teen from the projects should apply for a job at the country club?
Nobody special, if a teen from the projects were certified as a lifeguard, why would it matter where they resided ?
What does living in the projects have to do with getting a job?
I agree with superx1250 and driedleaves---if one is certified to be a lifeguard, why shoud it matter where he/she lives?
The way I see it, if you live in the projects, chances are you are not LOOKING for a job, cause you are already spoiled to the ways of the "entitled". The "give it to me" folks. The "somebody else" fix my needs and take care of me. Probably an "Obamamite" too.
Maybe nobody_special is saying they have experienced or someone he/she knows is experiencing difficulty getting employment, and the story above saids or "makes it seem like" it was or is easy for teens to get jobs.
I do have a question how many Black Male work at Walmart, Jill Reese? Someone mentioned something to me that struck me as odd, just curious. I thought I may have seen one or two, not sure if they were employeed or not, perhaps in stock or something.
Momof3&3step&1gran: You are correct, just because someone is certified, doesn't mean they are wanted and the lens in the rose colored glasses were getting a little thick. I'm just sayin..
Momof3.....,
Why does it matter how many black males work at walmart? I do hope you have more important things to do than wander around and count how many black males are working.
Are you implying that Walmart is racist? Actually, until just recently there was a black male employed as an assistant manager.
gottago, seriously asking a question is not implying anything, unless I said Walmart does not hire any blacks. That is not what I said. I know a few of the blacks that work their. Something was pointed out to me a while back that I never paid any attention to before. And when this story came out about their not being any battling of teens and adults for jobs their, it reminded me of what someone mentioned.
And asking me why does it matter how many black males work at Walmart, would be very similar to asking the locals that live in Shelbyville, why does it matter how many locals are being hired at Tyson. If it does not pertain to you, then obviously it would be of no concern to you.
"Actually, until just recently there was a black male employed as an assistant manager".
gottago, that explains alot! Thanks....
nobody_special, I do understand. Sometimes you have to look "outside" the box in some situations. You as well as I, just like a few others will be limited to what you can, and where you can find employment in many areas not just here in Shelbyville. There is alot of Good-Ole-Boy system going around, especially in small towns, and cities. Depending on what it is you really want and is looking for, you may have to look beyond your local environment.
Or settle for the employments that are available, and would accept you, and this is not pertaining to just a black race, or any race at all. As a matter of fact their are probably some places of employment that may not hire the white race either. Gender, Looks, Weight, as well as skills and attitude do play a part also. Some things we can fix, and need to check ourselves to improve on such as skills and attitude, and actually our health and the way we carry ourselves as in appearance. But their are things that we can not change of ourselves that can and has affected some from getting employment in certain places that have work. "It is, what it is".
Momofthree.....,
I wasn't really trying to be rude, I just found it strange that anyone would ask such a question.
I can honestly say I have never walked into a business and took a mental inventory of the race and gender of the employees. I guess I am not super sensitive to these things.
My opinion and experience is that employers will hire the person best suited for the job at a price that best suits the employer. Good help is hard to find. Trust me.
My opinion and experience is that employers will hire the person best suited for the job at a price that best suits the employer. Good help is hard to find. Trust me.-- Posted by gottago on Thu, Jun 4, 2009, at 8:18 PM
Yes, that should always be the case, so are you denying that some places do not hire some people because of their race, gender, weight, looks, and even religion? And are you denying that some people that are over the employment hiring do not hire by the "Good-ole-boy system" as in keeping it among family and friends. Everyone do not fall into this type of category so they would not experience it. Sometimes it also depends on who you know, to get a job.
Thank you for clearing up that you are not trying to be rude. Sometimes things written are of true questioning and not intentionally ment to be rude.
And please don't take me as being rude either; just shopping to get what someone needs, you would not pay attention to such a thing. But when a person is looking for work, and they see the type of people being hired you notice a pattern, and quite often the pattern lasts for many years. Someone said something about it, and when I did go into Walmart to get a few things I paid attention to what was mentioned to see if I noticed the same thing, it did seem to have merit. But I thought I remember seeing a couple of black male at one time doing stock work or something, I'm not even sure if that was the same store I seen them in.
Their could also be the fact that hardly any, or not any of them are putting in applications their. ???
Momofthree....,
I do know that the good ole boy system exists, but sometimes it is simply a matter of an employer recognizing an applicant in a load of other resumes and picks the individual simply because he knows who he is. Let me illustrate.
This week my partner and I were going through resumes of applicants requesting consideration for a new position at a new location. It is quite possible that we had 100 resumes, and I was losing my patience looking at them. We require both a four year college degree and a national certification, which about 30% of the applicants had both. Without any knowledge of these applicants ( and I am sure they are fine people), we had no real way to make progress except to cull some and interview the rest. Two days ago a friend in a related business calls us, recommends one of the applicants, and we, after interviewing him (and others), went with our friends recommendation due the personal,albeit limited, connection. It just happens that way sometimes.
Also in certain positions, there is a TYPE of person a business is looking to hire. We have to cater to certain demographics and we must match these as best we can.
I understand what you are saying. The one's that did not get pick for the job position and that does have the qualifications for that paticular job however will view it as the "good ole boy system".
There are a lot of jobs that I guess you could say use the Good ole boys system if that is the way you wish to define it..
Ever see any over weight girls at Hooters or Toots? Walk in Hot Topic and then tell me if you looked as if you just walked out of Sunday School would they hire you? Preppy kids work at Buckle..I have never seen any Goth Dressed kids working in there, have you? Life guards? How many over weight life guards are there out there, even if they are certified? Every time someone is not hired for a job does not necessarily mean they were not qualified or because it was race or gender based decision. People with rotten teeth do not work in dentist offices, people who are not in good physical shape are not gym instructors. Is any of that discrimination? Maybe to a small extent but it is mostly about catering to the type people you have coming into your business ..it is all about perspective.
Would you buy a car from a salesman who has long, dirty, stringy hair and unwashed clothing? I know I wouldn't and Car Dealers know that also but neither would I purchase a home from someone who wore their pants sagging around their knees with their underwear hanging out. Young teens entering the work force need to realize the job market is tough right now and they have to look like the type of person that the company is looking for, as well as be qualified. Don't show up for a job interview squealing your wheels 5 minutes late and looking like you just crawled out of bed and then wonder why you didn't get the job.
Qualified for the job, "Is qualified for the Job", Dianatn. That would be physically, skillfully, mentally, and apperance wise as well; "The Good-Ole-Boy system" would still be used, based on friends, relatives, or friends of realatives, money in the family, or any of the racial profilings. It is what it is!