Finding a job these days is tough work, but it’s even harder if you’re a kid.
To make it easier for some area teens, Goodwill Industries and the city of Denver have teamed to offer summer job and skills training for 400 at-risk youths.
The city’s youth summer employment program partners with metro- area businesses that have summer jobs to offer. Some summer gigs may lead to permanent positions.
“A lot of times businesses are looking to give youths an opportunity because a lot them know this may be their first job or first time in a workplace,” said Goodwill Industries’ spokeswoman Jeni Anderson.
Joyce Schlose, vice president of workforce development, said Goodwill has offered workforce preparation curricula in area high schools for 17 years.
“All kids are going to work someday,” Schlose said. “We teach them how to find a job, get a job, keep a job and leave a job gracefully.”
Lori Mack, director of the city’s Youth Services Division, said the program’s goals are long-term rather than short-term.
“We are not just giving young people basic summer jobs,” Mack said. “The program teaches financial literacy, time management, leadership training and communication skills.”
Participating businesses must submit a training plan, and the program tries to place youths in jobs that match their interests in fields that include health care and hospitals, small retail, banking and veterinary clinics.
Youths go through an intensive week of job and skills training, followed by a week of financial literacy training. The final test for the kids is a July 7 job fair, where they will test their new skills with real potential employers.
Kiley Alarid, a 16-year-old West High School student, applied for the program after being unable to land a job on her own.
“I just wanted to get better at interviewing,” Alarid said. “I would always talk about my weaknesses, but now I know to say a little about one and talk about how I’m trying to get better.”
Alarid said she was involved with Future Business Leaders of America, the Goodwill curriculum at her high school.
“I want to find a job here, and hopefully they’ll hire me after part time,” she said. “I’ve tried during summer and during school, and no one was hiring part-time. It’s hard, but I won’t give up.”
Kenyon Fisher, an Overland High School student, said the program is teaching him to prepare for the future with job training now. Fisher, 15, said he is learning that little things make a difference, such as how people can hear a positive attitude in your voice if you speak with a smile.
“After I graduate from high school, a job will be fine,” Fisher said, “but I want to focus on my education so I can have a career.”
Bianca Davis: 303-954-1698 or bsmith-davis@denverpost.com
