Working the Odds: Competition Yields Determined Young Employees

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Elexus White, 17, rings up Food Lion customer Marvin Thompson last week in Charlotte. White is working three jobs to pay tuition at Ohio State University. Black teen unemployment in the U.S. is 31.8 percent. PHOTO/CALVIN FERGUSON
Elexus White, 17, rings up Food Lion customer Marvin Thompson last week in Charlotte. White is working three jobs to pay tuition at Ohio State University. Black teen unemployment in the U.S. is 31.8 percent. PHOTO/CALVIN FERGUSON

By Flare Brown Special to the NNPA from The Charlotte Post

Elexus White would rather work than chill.

The Garinger High School senior is spending most of her summer working three lines of work: part-time sales associate at Food Lion, sandwich artist at Subway and crew member at Moes Southwest Grill.

Im doing it because I feel like I can handle it. Not everyone can handle it, said White, 17.

The minimum work age in North Carolina is 14 with a state-issued permit, 16 without. But in an economy where even minimum-wage jobs are hard to find and Now Hiring signs are almost non-existent, young workers have to compete with older, more experienced rivals. Teenagers with multiple jobs, however, are skillful at turning opportunity into employment.

An April study by the Economic Policy Institute reported the overall national jobless rate for high school graduates ages 16-24 is 22.5 percent, compared to 31.8 percent for black youth.

White works 19 hours a day, and the summer gives her an opportunity to make each hour count, literally. Shes motivated to save money to pay tuition at Ohio State University next year.

Working these types of jobs at my age drives me because I know this is the last thing I want to do when Im older, she said.

Zack Baraquony, 16, also a senior at Garinger, has two jobs. Hes lucky that one is as a cashier at the SavWay supermarket directly across from his home. His other job at a custom furniture company isnt too far, either. With minimum free time, work keeps Baraquony from being bored and lazy. At this young age no car, (and) no license, you really cant do much, he said.

Randi Grant, 17, a senior at Vance High, had two jobs but quit one because her hours started to overlap. Grant, who works at a supermarket, saved enough money from a fast-food job to buy a car.

A willingness to learn, flexible scheduling and even internship experience are assets for young people looking for work, career counselors say.

The most important factor is willingness to be flexible, use of multiple strategies to look for employment and willingness to follow up and follow through with potential employers, said Rebecca Cody, senior assistant director for outreach and education at UNC Charlottes Career Center for Work, Service and Internships.

Even students who have never worked before can be employable. At Queens University of Charlotte, students are required to take two internship courses, said Sarah Sipperly, Queens manager of internship programs.

The feedback that we get from students is that when they first start the process theyre doing it because its a part of their requirement and then they realize how helpful it is and how important it is once they get into the process, Sipperly said. People end up finishing with good relevant job experience and a better idea of what they want to pursue in terms of career tracks.

Brianca Bravo, 18, who has worked two jobs since she was 16, prefers the independence of controlling her money.

The main thing I wanted to focus on was to not having to ask for anything anymore, said Bravo, who works in retail and event planning. Thats why I started so early. I wouldnt say get a job (that) you really dont want to work because that really defeats the purpose.

Bravo, who graduated Northwest School of the Arts in June, is spending her summer promoting parties when shes not working at DTLR, a fashion retailer. As a result, she has a flexible work schedule.

My job at DTLR is really only on the weekends, she said. With the party promotions, I have to go at night and I can even go with my friends, so it really works in my favor, I think.

When it comes to job searches, Baraquony and White advise persistence and research potential employers and dress and act professional.

Actually look for a job, Baraquony said. People who tell me theyve looked for jobs are usually still sitting at home.

Both Baraquony and White have used connections and networking to find work. It never hurts to know the right people in the right places, they insist. I got my job at Food Lion back in March of 2010, I think because my mother knew the manager, White said. My job at Subway I got because one of my customers at Food Lion worked at Subway and Moes Southwest Grill because they were opening a new restaurant.

I got a little bit of help from my mother knowing certain people but other than that I just did what normal people do and apply, Baraquony said.

Bravo, who plans to enroll in Central Piedmont Community Colleges nursing program in the fall, said she dropped the party job, but the experience has been valuable.

Just be positive and optimistic because if you speak negative, then its probably not going to turn out in your favor, she said. So I stay with an open mind.

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