It’s summer: Welcome to the working world

For many young workers, their first job is a summer job. As schools let out, students begin to enter the work force. This first taste of working life often takes the form of a part-time job working in food service or at a local pool.

A specific need for more income is the main motivation behind finding summer jobs. Brian Noble, who works at Price Chopper in Canton, and also works throwing hay, said that it is good to help him to pay for his phone and other expenses. Sarah Sieminski, who is going into her freshman year at high school and works at Morgan’s Ice House said, “It’s nice to have a little money.”

Bridger Royce is a junior in high school and this summer he is working as a lifeguard at Taylor Park in Canton. In the past summers, he has worked odd jobs, but this year he found a part-time job for the entire summer. While the job has inconsistent hours (Royce is a sub and high school seniors typically get the full-time positions) he said it is a good way to earn some cash and start saving for college. Many young workers mentioned saving for college as a key factor in seeking summer jobs. Brian Noble said summer is when he is able to work more hours, “The summer is when I save because that’s when I have extra money.”

Larry Fetcie is a Sr. Employment and Training Counselor for the One Stop Career Center in Canton, NY. The center runs a summer youth employment program each year that helps to employ youth at local work sites. The program attempts to instill basic work skills such as punctuality, reliability, following workplace rules, taking directions and communication in its participants, Fetcie said. The jobs can range from outdoor labor positions, clerical aids, assisting in nursing homes, to a variety of jobs in the private sector. The program also teaches financial literacy among other topics.

However, child labor laws can limit the jobs that are available for younger students. Hot Tamale, a burrito restaurant with locations in Potsdam and Canton only hires staff over the age of 18. Ashley Donovan, the assistant manager at the Hot Tamale location in Canton, said that they need staff to be able to work with a hot surface, something that minors can’t do. All a minor can really do there is work the register, so they made the decision to not hire them. Hot Tamale does hire college students however, and sees some flux when school lets out. “We hire college students, so some of them leave and come back when school’s in.” Donovan said.

Child labor laws also affect the youth employment program, said Fetcie, as younger 15-17 year old participants are limited in what they are allowed to do.

Entering the work force can be a revelation. When Brian Noble started working at Price Chopper he was surprised by how rude some people could be, “I wish I knew just to be able to smile and say ‘Have a nice day’ when someone is being really rotten,” Noble said. But Royce said that not much took him by surprise. “In order to be a lifeguard we had to go through a lot of certifications,” said Royce. This training has prepared him for what he would encounter while working, he said. Sieminski was surprised by how much there was that she didn’t know that went into the job. But, in the end, she said, “It’s kind of simple. I just go to work and serve people ice cream and then when I’m done I go home.”