Summer Jobs

April is prime time for applying for summer jobs. The job market for teenagers is soft right now, so the sooner the better. High school and college students may be facing some of the lowest job availability in years.

Why is this happening? One reason might surprise you. Look around at the people who are currently doing traditional teen summer jobs. Who’s bagging groceries or wiping down the tables at Mickey D’s? You’ll find that, very often, they look more like Bruce Willis than Gaten Matarazzo. In 1987, only 11% of people over 65 had jobs; now the number is 19%. That’s 11,000,000 more seniors in the workforce. Unfortunately, the American Dream has not panned out for them either. Employers are also more likely to hire seniors, because, like it or not, they tend to have a good work ethic.

As high school students, you also face competition from recent college graduates that are facing a tough job market. Broad economic uncertainty is causing employers to hire fewer people. Automation is taking over more and more jobs that used to be done by high school kids.

To hear an analysis about what is happening to the teen workforce from gazillionaire entrepreneur Michael Girdley, click below. (After you skip the ad, you might need to back up the video to the beginning.):

So what can you do? Work at it! Don’t wait around for the perfect job. Apply for everything. The good news is that there are going to be about a million summer jobs available. One of them could be yours. If you watched the video above, you heard that there are also lots fewer kids looking for jobs these days, so you’ve got that on your side. Across the board, experts say these are the four most important steps to take:

1. Start now! This is the single most important thing that you can do. Employers already know what kind of workforce they will need this summer.

2. Apply in person. Even if they have an online presence, most employers are impressed by someone who is willing to show up in person and ask for a job.

3. “Dress for success” doesn’t mean suit and tie. It does mean a neat and clean appearance; no shorts or flip-flops. A respectful attitude, good manners, and polite speech go a long way. Display that you are mature and can communicate. That is often more important to an employer than experience.

4. If you can’t find an employer, market yourself. Think up a service you can offer. Dog-walking, window washing, or car detailing, to name a few. Put an ad on Craig’s List, or distribute flyers with those little tear-off strips with your phone number. Even if you don’t make a lot of money, putting yourself out there looks good on next year’s resume.

Don’t forget our secret weapon. Watch the two videos below, and let Mohika Nagpal show you how it’s done. While these videos are focused more on presenting yourself in college or professional settings, everything is still relevant. You won’t be able to imagine anyone not wanting to hire her! Learn at the feet of the master.

Take her advice and practice in the mirror until it’s second nature.

Upcoming Events

April 17th: Registration deadline for the May 2nd SAT

April 21st: Late deadline for registration for May 2nd SAT

May 1st: College Decision Day

Interested in a Career in the Military?

Spring is the time when U.S. Senators typically schedule events to help students who are interested in attending one of the United States service academies. You can find information on your Senators’ websites. The academies include:

• U.S. Military Academy in West Point, NY

• U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO

• U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD

• U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, CT

• U.S. Merchant Marine in Kings Point, NY

Competition for spots at all of these schools is fierce, and requirements for attendance are intense. If you’re interested, listen to Lieutenant Colonel Marvin Meek, who will tell you what to expect throughout the process.

Juniors

You’re close to completing your junior year. Now is the time to ask your teachers/counselors for letters of recommendation for college. These letters are way more important than you probably think. Look at it this way; if you and Fred have the same qualifications, a good letter can push you first over the finish line. (How many people who apply to Princeton probably have virtually identical grades and accomplishments?) The sooner you ask, and the nicer you are about it, the better letter you’re likely to get. The link below will take you to a killer article about how to get a terrific LOR.

Seniors

Okay, you have several acceptance letters and you now have 18 days to make a decision. How to choose? It can be argued that the best course of action is to “follow the money”. College these days is hideously expensive. Many times over the years in this newsletter, it has been suggested that it would be nice to:

1. Not require your parents to spend themselves into bankruptcy to finance your education

2. Not come out of school so deeply in debt that you put all of your post-college dreams out of reach.

There are many places where you can get an excellent education. Give the relative costs of your potential schools serious consideration. If you were lucky enough to get student aid, there are a number of organizations that have tools that can help you compare offers, College Raptor and National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, just to name a couple.

Hopefully, you used the advice presented in previous newsletters when you chose where to apply. If so, all of the schools that have offered you acceptance are good schools where you think you’ll be comfortable and get a good education at a decent price. In that case, flip a coin! That might sound like a bad way to make a big life decision, but it can be revealing. While the coin is in the air, do you find yourself really hoping for one outcome over the other? You have your answer!

Once you have made your decision, be sure to get your deposit in on time. Notify all of the other schools as well, and register for the freshman open house event at your new home.

April Scholarships

Where to find scholarships with April deadlines

A Yearly Favorite

I can’t help it…I have to promote this every year, because it makes me smile. The lengths that people will go to in order to win this scholarship are amazing. I do have to say, it’s an amazing scholarship with $10,000 to the winner. The deadline to apply for this scholarship is July, 13th, but this one requires more time than most. All you have to do is make the best dress or tux out of Duck-brand duct tape. Who knows? It could be fun. You don’t actually have to wear it to prom, although I would think after all that work, it would be a hoot.