The Tough Search For Teen Summer Jobs

(CBS)  Teenagers are not known for their patience. Yet more than 1,000 stood in line for hours, for something that used to be a cinch.

"You have to really work at it," said Ian Segal, 16. "You have to really want to find a job to do this."

The summer job now means more than spending money, reports CBS News correspondent Ben Tracy.

"I'm trying to help out my mom, said Dania Abelhadi, 16. "They cut her hours at work."

"Any little thing I can help with I'm willing to do," said Alex Jefferson, 16.

Alex needs work fast. Her mom Wanda is being laid off in two weeks.

"She's trying to take on my struggles," said Wanda Mitchell. "And she shouldn't have to at that age."

Alex has interviewed for eight jobs. She's heard a lot about cutbacks. Her nerves are starting to show.

When it comes to retail, movie theaters and fast food work, teens are now competing with laid-off adults. Nearly 1.5 million teenagers are now unemployed, a 17-year high, and a 9 percent jump from last summer.

While "Help Wanted" signs are hard to find, experts say there are jobs out there for teens. But they need to enlarge their network to land one.

"They're going to have to work with friends of friends, and associates of associates, and go to places that no one in the family has maybe looked for work in the past to try and find it," said Matt Ferguson, the CEO of careerbuilder.com.

Alex applied at a L.A. radio station owned by Stevie Wonder, and met the boss himself.

Alex tried out her radio skills and landed an internship.

"When you become a DJ, make sure you play all my music," Wonder said.

She also got a job doing office work.

"The ninth time is a charm," Tracy said.

"Yes," said Alex, laughing.

The actual work will be a whole lot easier than what it took to get it.

[tbbaot]

Too bad 7 million illegals occupy the jobs some of these teens would be happy to have. Before someone points out the tired old progessive mantra "jobs americans won't do" stop and educate yourself. Less than 3% of illegals work in agriculture. The rest work in the same occupations as Americans.

[mutnauq4842]

The real issue is enabling people to retire appropriately, allowing the next generation to fill their working shoes. Solutions for that is what we will need in the next 5-10 years.
Posted by 1notrub11 at 4:16 PM : Jun 6, 2009

An LPN diploma can be obtained in a little over a year. An associate degree in nursing can be obtained in two years which will enable a person to become an RN. The work is hectic, but it is work that pays fairly well. And at age 60, I get job offers in my mailbox two or three times a week. And the good thing is, contrary to myth, male nurses don't have to shave their legs.

[wdh3007]

The are not many jobs for any age in the new age of the Obamanation but that's what we all voted for according to the government media complex or liberal media. People who wanted this guy to do something for the country are now very dissappointed and feel betrayed as they should. The fact of the matter is he was put in to power to reward the bankers or gangsters of wall street specifically Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley nothing more nothing less. Now we all wait and hope that our country is not gone before the next election which can't arrive soon enough. God Bless America or what is left of it.

[1notrub11]

No one will employ you at age 60? Try Pharmacy or Nursing. I am 60 y/o, retired, and am still getting pressured to work. Health care is still in demand.
Posted by mutnauq4842

An interesting suggestion and I say: good for you. However, it is clear you were originally trained in health care and are "extending".

In my view, the issue of teens finding it more difficult to work in the summer is not the real issue. I know a worker who is 60 and has been out of work (not for performance reasons) for about 1.5 years. They have tried very hard to become re-employed - however, due to the current market and their age (yes, their age, whether or not you think employers don't discriminate), they have been unable to re-engage. Like many others, their retirement plans have been decimated and delayed. Entering health care in areas you suggest would be an allied move for them (pharmaceutical development) - but by the time they have trained for the work you suggest, well.............I have doubts they would be engaged at that point as a newbie to the system.
The real issue is enabling people to retire appropriately, allowing the next generation to fill their working shoes. Solutions for that is what we will need in the next 5-10 years.

[randomlybanned]

"rich republicans and HOA towns will only hire illegals to do yard work.
Pretty sad when this used to be a teens job.
Now even teens have to compete with illegals." by inachu1

Uhh, I have had teens mow my lawn and it looked awful. How about some good old dads actually teach their kids HOW to mow lawns and then maybe someone will think about hiring them. All they want to do is sit around playing their video games.

[mutnauq4842]

P.S. You will need income for many years beyond that of your parents. You are in serious danger of living to be 100.
Posted by DoubleHappiness88 at 6:52 AM : Jun 6, 2009

You are also in serious danger of glowing in the dark due to world politics.

[number1GI]

To bothr2blame 31 I like your headline ,but you didn't carry it far enough, you should have gone on with "All the illegals were immediately thrown into jail untill they could pay exorbinate "fines".." Da Vigorish"

[mutnauq4842]

Suggestion: Do not become dependent on employers. Employers have no loyalty to employees, no matter how good. Find a niche and turn it into you own business. When you are 50, 60 or older, no one will employ you and the government does not care that it is "age discrimination".
Posted by DoubleHappiness88 at 6:48 AM : Jun 6, 2009

88,

No one will employ you at age 60? Try Pharmacy or Nursing. I am 60 y/o, retired, and am still getting pressured to work. Health care is still in demand.

[mrbrill]

I love how people like to blame other countries (whether moving jobs overseas or illegal immigrants) for our **** economy we have now... Sort of like the same people who voted Bush into office... twice.

[DoubleHappiness88]

P.S. You will need income for many years beyond that of your parents. You are in serious danger of living to be 100.