Summer Jobs Might be Harder to Find This Summer

Summer Jobs Might be Harder to Find This Summer From lifeguarding at the local pool to mowing lawns, most adults have fond memories of the summer jobs of their youth. But is this generations-old tradition going the way of the dinosaur? A recent report from JPMorgan Chase (JPM) indicates that it may be. Let’s take a closer look at this phenomenon, along with what it means for this year’s crop of employment-seeking teens and young adults. The 411 on Youth EmploymentJPM’s January 2015 report, â€Å"Building Skills Through Summer Jobs: Lessons From the Field,† reveals some unhappy statistics: less than half (46 percent) of young people who sought out summer employment in 2014 ended up landing jobs. This decline was consistent across nearly all industries.But it’s not just lack of jobs that’s the problem. It’s also a decline in youth employment in general. Over the past 12 years, there has been a near 40 percent drop in summer youth employment, with just over a quarter of young adults ho lding paid summer jobs in recent years.The outlook grows even more grim based on findings that economically disadvantaged youth, in particular, are even more impacted by the employment shortage.It’s no surprise that these less-than-optimistic figures led JPM’s Head of Workforce Initiatives Chauncy Lennon to conclude, â€Å"Young people are facing an employment crisis.†More Than a Loss Of JobsWhile the loss of jobs in itself is concerning, another factor is equally unsettling: the loss of skills which would otherwise be acquired on the job. After all, the expression goes that the â€Å"best way to get a job is to have a job.† And with the American workforce already facing a shortage of qualified workers, this decline in opportunities will only further slow the pipeline of trained employees into the workforce.Unfortunately, the situation is something of a vicious cycle. While some of the job cuts may pertain to the replacement of workers by technology and t he hiring of older works, a report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, â€Å"Uncertain Futures: Youth Attachment to the Labor Market in the United States and New England,† yields another reason: a shift toward job openings which require more experience and skill than the typical high schooler brings to the table. But how can they be expected to develop these experiences and skills without a job market willing to take a chance on them?Searching for SolutionsWhile in the past the government has funded skills training programs, growth of these initiatives has stagnated in recent years. According to JPM, the solution is for employers to begin designing summer jobs focused on helping American teens and young adults gain the skills they need to succeed. To that end, JPM is in the process of investing $5 million over the next two years in summer youth programs within several American cities to support the growth of youth talent.But in the meantime what should teens do who are l ooking for work? Lennon recommends the importance of networking - from friends and family members to online job boards. And while finding these jobs may not be as simple a matter as opening up the â€Å"Help Wanted† section of the newspaper, perseverance offers significant payoffs - both for young adults and the economy their talent and experience will fuel.

Careers for a Communications Major

Careers for a Communications Major Youve probably heard that being a communications major means a lot of job opportunities will be available for you after graduation. But what exactly are those opportunities? What are some of the best communications major jobs?   In contrast to, say, having a degree in molecular bioengineering, having a degree in communications allows you to take a variety of positions in a variety of fields. Your problem as a communications major, then, is not necessarily what to do with your degree but what industry youd like to work in. Communications Degree Jobs Do public relations (PR) for a large company. Working in the PR office of a large regional, national, or even international company can be an exciting experience simply because of the size of the PR team and the messaging.Do PR for a small company. A huge  company not your thing? Focus a little closer to home and see if any local, small companies are hiring in their PR departments. Youll get more experience in more areas while helping a smaller company grow.Do PR for a nonprofit. Nonprofits focus on their missions the environment, helping kids, etc. but they also need help running the business side of things. Doing PR for a nonprofit can be an interesting job youll always feel good about at the end of the day.Do marketing for a company with interests that parallel your own. PR not quite your thing? Consider using your communications major in a marketing position at a place that has a mission and/or values you are also interested in. If you love acting, for example, consider work ing at a theater; if you love photography, consider doing marketing for a photography company. Apply for a social media position. Social media is new to lots of folks but many college students are very familiar with it. Use your age to your advantage and work as a social media expert for a company of your choosing.Write content for an online company/website. Communicating online requires a very specific skill set. If you think you have what it takes, consider applying for a writing/marketing/PR position for an online company or website.Work in the government. Uncle Sam can offer an interesting gig with reasonable pay and good benefits. See how you can put your communications major to use while helping your country.Work in fundraising. If youre good at communicating, consider going into fundraising. You can meet lots of interesting folks while doing important work in a challenging job.Work at a college or university. Colleges and universities require a lot of communication jobs: admissions materials, community relations, marketing, PR. Find a place you think youd like to work possibly even your alma mater and see where you can help out. Work at a hospital. People receiving care in a hospital are often going through a difficult time. Helping to make sure that the hospitals communication plans, materials, and strategies are as clear and effective as possible is noble and rewarding work.Try going freelance. If you have a bit of experience and a good network to rely on, try going freelance. You can do a variety of interesting projects while being your own boss.Work at a start-up. Start-ups can be a fun place to work because everything is starting from scratch. Consequently, working there will provide you with a great opportunity to learn and grow with a new company.Work as a journalist at a paper or magazine. True, a traditional print press is going through a rough period. But there can still be some interesting jobs out there where you can put your communications skills and training to use.Work on the radio. Working for a radio station either a music-based local station or something different, like National Public Rad io can be a unique job that youll end up addicted to for life. Work for a sports team. Love sports? Consider working for a local sports team or stadium. Youll get to learn the ins-and-outs of a cool organization while helping with their communications needs.Work for a crisis PR company. Nobody needs good PR help like a company (or person) in crisis. While working for this kind of company can be a bit stressful, it can also be an exciting job where you learn something new every day.