2018 School Spending Survey Report
Helping Teens Get a Job - MyFirstPaycheck.com
So your sister looks to you for advice on getting a job, and you end up creating a Web site. How did that happen? I quickly realized that Celeste and many of her friends didn't know the first thing about getting a job - where to look, how to do a resume, how to present themselves at an interview… As we talked, it seemed that there was a market for a one-stop teen employment online resource, and it just evolved. When designing the site, we first concentrated on local job listings which employers could post for free. Because most teens have very limited transportation options, we felt it was important to have regional listings. We then noticed national franchises posting jobs, and in summer 2009, we went nationwide with the MyFirstPaycheck.com job board. Now we have an option for employers to upgrade their job listings for a small charge ($9.95) if they need help fast, or specialized skills, for example. How did you generate your first job postings? I did a lot of 'smiling and dialing,' contacted industry associations, and posted notices in area newsletters. I'm a huge advocate of word of mouth marketing and have invested a good deal of energy into that. There are a huge variety of jobs posted on the site, from nanny to barista to photographer, both full and part-time. What's the advantage to employers in seeking out teens to fill jobs? Teen employees are incredible brand ambassadors, and the original social networkers. When working in a particular retail segment or in promoting a service, young adults can energize other staff as well as create new enthusiastic consumers. Many employers see teen employees as valuable assets in maintaining a hip image, and as part of a potential management pool. How do you manage all of this? When the job board at MyFirstPaycheck.com went national in June, I realized that we needed some technical help. We brought in nineteen year old Brandon Ryall, who became our chief technical officer. Beside making sure our servers were up and running all the time, he helped us flesh out our online offerings including a blogging platform, RSS feed capabilities, and a MyFirstPaycheck.com widget. One of the strengths of MyFirstPaycheck.com is that it is designed and managed by young people who are familiar with what is going on in teen circles. At 24, I'm almost too old. What are some of the other tools available on the site for teens looking for that first job? Our resume builder is really popular, and a snap to use. Teens just plug in the facts and can create a well-structured and complete resume in minutes. The list of resources for jobseekers is quite useful too. It includes everything from what you need to know about child labor laws to what the Department of Labor says about working for your parents. And we are continuing to add resources all the time. Right now I'm working on getting content that will offer teens advice on handling their finances and studying for and taking their SATs. What's next for MyFirstPaycheck.com? We want to get the word out to teachers, guidance counselors, librarians, and parents that this resource exists. It is a safe, well-vetted resource that puts valuable employment information right at the fingertips of teens. With the ever-tightening job market, employers can afford to be more selective in who they hire, and we'd like applicants from MyFirstPaycheck.com be at the top of their interview lists. Did Celeste ever get that summer job? MyFirstPaycheck.com became her summer job, and a full-time job for me. She's a freshman at Smith College now, but still keeps a close eye on the business. 
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