April 16, 2008 9:59 AM

Summer jobs seekers face crunch
Posted by Jesse Nunesat 9:59 AM

Officials at job programs in Boston that provide summer employment for city teens are concerned that because of the economy, charities will cut back on donations to the programs, thus cutting the number of summer jobs available. The Globe reports:

"It is difficult even in good times to get private-sector jobs for these kids, and it's going to be even tougher this year," said John J. Drew, executive vice president of Action for Boston Community Development, which, among other services, subsidizes jobs in nonprofit agencies for youths age 14 to 21 from poor families.

"A lot of work sites are telling us, 'We can't take as many,' " because entry-level positions that were in the past filled by high school students are being snapped up by college students, said Aaron Tanimoto, the agency's program director. "You can see how the economy is bumping everybody down."

Boston isn't the only place where the uncertain economy will impact the hiring practices of summer businesses. MSNBC reports that we could be headed for historic lows in teen employment this summer. SnagAJob.com, a website for hourly jobs that helps connect job seekers with hourly employment at many national chains, conducted a survey of 1,100 companies that shows many companies will be scaling back their hiring this summer.

According to the survey, 49 percent of hiring managers at retailers and restaurants did not anticipate adding any additional employees this summer, with a almost a third of them saying they don't have the budget this year. Because the competition for available opening will be fierce, SnagAJob offers tips for teens hoping to land a position this summer:

• Start your job search as soon as possible, if you haven't already. The survey found that 76 percent of hiring managers expect to fill their seasonal jobs by May, so you can’t wait until school lets out to find a job.

• Have a positive attitude, and demonstrate it to hiring managers. While you'll earn valuable work experience at a summer job, having a positive attitude is more important than bringing on-the-job experience. Show your desire to land a job by being enthusiastic in a job interview, learning about the company beforehand, and expressing a willingness to do the required tasks, especially positively interacting with customers and co-workers.

• Be aggressive about your job hunt, applying online and in person. If you apply for an hourly job through a company’s online posting or directly at its website, your application will be routed directly to the hiring manager making a decision. Additionally, select several places where you’d really like to work and follow up with an in-person visit. This shows that you’re extremely interested in the position, and you can confirm that your application is being considered.

• Be able to work the desired schedule. In hourly positions, you must be able to work the shift a company needs, an especially critical need for companies hiring for nights and weekends. Indicate on your application all of the times you are able to work. After all, 28 percent of hiring managers said the most important thing they look for in a summer job applicant is their ability to work the daily schedule the company needs.

However, there may be good news for teens near the Cape who want to earn some money this summer. Many employers on Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Martha's Vineyard are actually scrambling to find employees because of tougher immigration restrictions on foreign workers who usually fill many of the summer positions, the Globe reported last week:

Cape employers, who have relied for years on more than 5,000 seasonal workers from Jamaica, Bulgaria, Poland, and other countries, say they are unlikely to find replacements for all the cooks, waiters, housekeepers, and landscapers they need this summer. Some businesses are delaying openings, cutting back hours, and making plans to get by with fewer employees.

"Right now I'm hearing from employers who are beyond anxious," said Jane Nichols Bishop, a consultant on Cape Cod who assists businesses seeking foreign workers. "Some of my clients are delaying their openings by a month or more, or not booking all their rooms, because they don't have enough staff."

Among those they hope will help fill their vacant jobs are unemployed people from New Bedford and Fall River, foreign laborers winding down the season at Florida resorts, and local students and retirees willing to be coaxed into the labor force.