
DATE: Friday, November 28, 1997             TAG: 9711270056

SECTION: DAILY BREAK             PAGE: E1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY NICK SAVIDES, HIGH SCHOOOL CORRESPONDENT 

                                            LENGTH:  156 lines

STUDENTS OFTEN HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING STARTED DOWN CAREER PATH

IF YOU ARE A college, high school or even junior high school student, you might be wondering how you're going to earn a living. Would it surprise you to know the jobs you end up with may not exist yet?

It's hard to plan for something that's unknown and seemingly far away.

Take heart: Many of the lessons you learn in finding part-time jobs during school can help prepare you for the future.

In Virginia, there are more than 307,000 teen-agers. About 130,000 have jobs.

Although some adolescents choose not to work, 30 percent are unemployed and are seeking available jobs, according to the Virginia Employment Commission. The adult unemployment rate in Virginia is 4.9 percent. Many employers only hire people over 18. Those that do hire adolescents often have few positions available. Then there are some teen-agers that don't know what they need to do to get themselves a job.

Here are ways to make that task easier - for now and for the future.

START EARLY

Whatever your age, now is a good time to think about jobs you'd like to do. You don't have to pick a career or commit to a training program yet. Just pay attention to the people around you. Who does something you

might enjoy?

Try this: Keep a notebook with you for an entire day. Every time you see someone working, write it down. Put a star next to the jobs you can imagine doing, even for a little while. In a typical day, you're likely to see at least 20 people at work, and probably closer to 50.

Remember to count bus drivers, teachers, principals, maintenance people, store clerks, etc.

Try the same activity when you watch television. For an entire week, list the jobs of people you see on TV and put a star by the jobs you can imagine doing.

GET A JOB NOW

Typical jobs for students include positions in food service, lawn work and retail. At this stage, it doesn't really matter what you do, as long as you do something.

A good place to start is your school counselor. Most guidance departments have a career center that posts employment opportunities that are close to the school.

Gladys Deaton, a career counselor in Chesapeake, says this program is particularly helpful because ``students don't have time to drive two hours away. They need to find something close by and checking the career center is a good way to do that.''

Deaton also suggested trying the Virginia Employment Commission. The commission can describe any available positions in your area for a teen-ager. Classified ads often have a variety of jobs, but you'll need to check closely because most don't specify a minimum age limit.

And then there's always shoe leather: Walk around and check with businesses in your neighborhood. When you notice a job opening, fill out an application. Even if there's no ``help wanted'' sign, check anyway.

Check out a business that you would visit as a customer - not only will you have to work there on a daily basis but many employers give discounts to their employees. Make sure the job offers a flexible schedule to fit around school.

TRY SEVERAL JOBS

You need to learn about the world of work, and the only good way is by being part of that world. Volunteer positions also will give you a flavor of employment, as long as they require a commitment.

Keep a short log of the jobs you do, and what you learn in each position. Consider taking several short-term jobs during the course of the year. For example, you could help in a store during the holidays, help a landscaping company in the spring and do child care for neighbors on an as-needed basis. The idea isn't to be a job-hopper, but to try different jobs and learn something from each one.

IDENTIFY YOUR STRENGTHS

What positive things have others told you about yourself? Employers appreciate workers who are friendly, flexible, energetic, thorough and reliable. If you have any of these qualities, you have something important to offer.

Other things to ``sell'' an employer include your volunteer and work experiences, your interests and your willingness to learn. Start a list of these strengths; it will come in handy when you make a resume and start contacting employers.

LEARN HOW TO INTERVIEW

How you go about the interview will create a lasting impression of who you are and will play a significant role in determining whether you get the job.

Organize a traditional outfit to wear at the interview. According to Paul Tucker, store manager for Sears in Chesapeake Square Mall, the clothes worn to an interview do not necessarily have to consist of a suit and tie but should be somewhat formal. Although expressing yourself can be a good thing, the interview may not be the best time to make an extreme fashion statement.

An applicant's communication abilities and character are the two things that employers care most about, Tucker said. Employers like to see people who make eye contact and smile. Don't spend too much time trying to prepare for the questions. A typical question might be ``What would you consider poor customer service?'' or ``If you noticed someone stealing something would you report them?'' If you are an honest person, Tucker said, you should have no problem with any of the questions the interviewer asks.

CONSIDER THE LONG-TERM

What dreams do you have for your future? What will you need to know to make those dreams possible? If you don't have one already, you might enjoy keeping a ``possibilities journal,'' where you put pictures and notes related to your dreams. This is fun to page through later when you're looking for inspiration.

Get a taste for future jobs now. If entrepreneurship is in your future, you will benefit from working for a small company now. If you have a yen for travel, you might want to work in a company that does business overseas, or in a store that serves travelers.

THINK ABOUT TRAINING

Internships and job shadowing are more formal ways to merge training and work interests.

When you serve as an intern, you agree to learn a job while doing it, under close supervision. Sometimes you get paid for your work, sometimes not. If you're a college student, do at least one internship in your first two years of school, to give you the most time to apply what you've learned to your school plans.

Job shadowing is less formal and shorter in length than an internship. When you shadow someone at work, you simply follow them through his or her day and observe. You can learn more about internships and job shadowing by talking with your career services department at school.

GET A MENTOR

Perhaps the best thing you can do to ease your transition from school to work is to find someone to be your guide. A mentor has been in your shoes and can now offer you advice. The best mentors will introduce you to people you need to meet, and discuss your plans without trying to decide for you. You will have many mentors in your lifetime, so don't worry that you have to pick exactly the right person. Just consider the adults you know and choose one or two to confide in.

As long as you do something to prepare for work, you'll be OK. The more you do, the better prepared you'll be. But watch out: You don't want to miss out on classes and school activities. Look for a balance. MEMO: Knight-Ridder News Service contributed to this report ILLUSTRATION: Graphic

JOB SMARTS

What's the best way for parents to help offspring to spring off?

According to Bradley Richardson, author of ``JobSmarts for

Twentysomethings,'' the best approach is a combination of tough love

and practical guidance. Some of his favorites:

Give your kids options by exposing them to as many people,

companies and industries as possible.

Be a cheerleader, not a supervisor.

Introduce your children to your network of friends and business

associates.

Don't just ask, ``What have you done?'' Help your kids prepare a

search strategy.