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by Anonymous |
With the unemployment rate in Canada for 15 to 19-year olds holding at nearly 20 per cent, almost double the rate for the total labor force, is it surprising that teenagers have little confidence when it comes to looking for that first job?
Young people are the most vulnerable in times of high unemployment. With few qualifications and little experience, they are the lightweight contenders in the job scramble.
You can deal with this problem by meeting it head-on with a method of building confidence and making the most of yourself that has been devised by Mrs. Grace Halasz, Head of Guidance at North York's Emery Collegiate, Toronto.
Her idea is simple, and it seems to work. Her advice is to make the best of yourself; whatever work you do, volunteer or paid, babysitter or busboy, get a letter of reference from your supervisor. These letters go into your personal work portfolio so that you can present a work record when you go for job interviews.
"Just as an artist looking for work keeps a portfolio, or collection of drawings to show people, teenagers should keep a job portfolio," Mrs. Ralasz says. "They must learn to make the best of themselves and sell themselves.
"Young people aren't confident about getting jobs. I tell students not to be discouraged; they become paralysed by panic and don't apply for positions they might get.
"Make the most of every scrap of work experience. Ask the person in charge to write a brief note saying whether you were dependable, how you got along with other people, whether you took instruction well and above all, worked well."
It's not so much what you do but the way that you do it, according to Mrs. Halasz, that counts to future employers. She says she's also found that most students get very good reports from supervisors because they know all the time that they are "on trial" and that a reference is at stake.
"Do anything," she urges. Contact your church, the Y, the Red Cross or the Humane Society for volunteer work if you can't get a job, and explain that you want to work for the experience of working.
"You must build up a good work record. Employers rate personal qualities very high, especially dependability, and students don't always believe this until they've had work expenence.
In the past, Mrs. Halasz has admittedly pushed some very shy students into work situations so that they can get a confidence-building report. North York, in common with many other boards, has a work-study program that enables students to work unpaid with employers for a week, sometimes two. As well as valuable work experience, Mrs. Halasz feels it helps students understand a very basic fact-that good workers are in demand.
One very shy girl who was a willing worker got two excellent work reports which she took to her first job interview and got the job.
Another student at a school where Mrs. Halasz taught in the past was given a poor report and criticized for lack of initiative.
"I asked her what she did when she ran out of work and she said she sat down. That's exactly what you don't do!
"Find things to do. Think. If you're in a garage, take a broom and sweep the floor-even if it's clean. If you're in a restaurant, wipe tables or offer to fill the salt shakers. You must always appear willing to work; it's that simple."
Mrs. Halasz challenges students to take any jobs they can get, and use those jobs to get references saying they are good, dependable, honest workers even if the job dosen't relate to their career goal. "A waitress who does the little extra without being asked is the same worker who, as a teacher, prepares a class well. A good worker is a good worker in any situation. Every employer is looking for someone who works well. They look for spunk and spirit."
An ex floor-scrubber, sales clerk, waitress and resort hostess, Mrs. Halasz has proved her point and claims she always got a summer job through college because she wasn't afraid to get her hands dirty.
Her portfolio idea isn't just for high school students. If you're planning to go on to college or university keep up your portfolio with records of all part-time and summer work. Some time in the future, your portfolio could be that little bit extra that gets a job for you.
©1999 TG Magazine/Le Magazine TG
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