Program helps youth overcome hiring disadvantage

Mark Leigh, coordinator of the Kendall Youth Employment Program, says it is not easy for youth to find a job; employers generally prefer hiring older workers.

Leigh advises youth who are looking for a job to put themselves in the shoes of the employer and then give the employer what the employer wants.

Each of the following paragraphs states a common employer objection to hiring youth and then a way to overcome the objection in a job interview or in the content of a resume.

Young workers have a reputation of being more unreliable than older workers; they miss work more often; and they quit their jobs more often.  Youth can mention instances when they have been reliable.  For example, “I attended school every day during my junior year” or “I am known for always being early to events”.

Young workers are inexperienced in workplace behavior and rules; they often don’t blend into the social situation like older workers; they are unaware of what behaviors are acceptable and what behaviors are frowned upon.  If a youth has above-average people skills, youth should demonstrate those skills by being friendly, enthusiastic, and confident; the resume should prominently mention an out-going personality. 

Young workers are more likely to be inexperienced in technical skills used on a job; they may not have had an opportunity to use tools, devices, and computers in the way that they are used in a job.  If a youth has experience with skills that are used in a job or experience with tools, it should be on the resume and it should be brought up during a interview.  Youth can also describe how quickly a particular skill was mastered at school or at home. 

Young workers are more likely to be unfamiliar with workplace hierarchy; they may not know how to work within a chain of command.  Youth should talk about how they can get along well with others and that they respect their supervisors.  They can demonstrate their regard for workplace hierarchy by being extremely polite and respectful to their interviewer.  They can mention the teams that they participated on.

Young workers are more likely to be impulsive and make unwise decisions than adults; youth may have trouble with accepting criticism, managing anger, and/or compromising with co-workers.  To show that youth are not impulsive, they could talk about past projects that took a lng time to accomplish.  They could also tell stories of how teachers, neighbors, and supervisors complimented them on their performance.

The Kendall Youth Employment Program (KYEP) is a free program that helps youth make excellent resumes, get better at being interviewed, and obtain jobs.  The program also helps youth who need to pass the GED and some funds for subsidized employment.  To be eligible for the program, youth must meet income guidelines.  KYEP is a program of the Grundy-Kendall Regional Office of Education and is funded by the River Valley Workforce Investment Board. For more information on KYEP, call 630-553-4166.