Local Teens Talk Summer Employment

Publication Info: Imperial Beach Eagle & Times

Publication Date: June 21, 2019

For some high school students, or recent graduates, finding a summer job can be a difficult task. With such a large competition pool of other students, and only a couple of months before school starts back up, it can be a stressful situation. Don’t get too discouraged. There’s a number of Mar Vista students that have found their way into the workforce, and here’s how they did it.

Clara Dackermann is a recent graduate of Mar Vista. She is working at I.B. Pet before she leaves for Humboldt University in the fall. She began first by going into the store and introducing herself to the employees. After that, she applied online and sent her resume. She said, “Once I received a call back, I went in and did a one-on-one interview. I prepared for it by making sure I looked nice the day I had to go in, and I made sure to bring an extra resume with me in case they asked for one.” She had been looking for employment for about a month before she found her current job, but she didn’t let that get her down. She didn’t have previous work experience, but she made up for that by making sure to make it clear during her interview that she had experience with volunteer work in a professional environment. Her advice is, “Keep your options open because something you may not like doing now could lead to even better opportunities in the future.”

Another recent graduate of Mar Vista is Nia Hammond. She had been looking for work for about two months before she stumbled upon Guahan Grill, a new restaurant in Imperial Beach. She will be attending Southwestern College in the Fall. She didn’t have previous work experience, so in order to prepare for her interview she sought out the help of her teacher, Joshua Hill. Together they prepared by having a mock interview, in order to give Hammond the experience and confidence she needed to ace the interview. She did exactly that; in fact, she was hired on the spot. As for her advice, she said, “Always be open minded to places that are providing positions, stay positive, and be prepared for any opportunities coming your way.”

Alex Lozano is an upcoming senior at Mar Vista, he is working at Jersey Mike’s. He, like Dackermann, went into the store in person to ask for an application and introduce himself. He submitted his application in person, and was scheduled to come in for an interview. He said, “I had no real work experience prior to this job, but I knew how to talk to people and was motivated to improve on that.” He was definitely nervous, but he didn’t let that slow him down. He made sure to maintain a cool and collected demeanor. His advice is, “Have an open mind and be ready to make yourself available and trustworthy. Any job should be taken as a new learning environment, that’s how you really get the best out of it to prepare for your future! Be persistent and try everywhere, connections help but it is ultimately up to you to get out there and get interviewed.”

In the end, the message is that you shouldn’t get discouraged if you can’t find employment as quickly as you imagined, or if you have no prior work experience, because there are opportunities out there for everyone. Whether you’re still in high school, transitioning to college, or just entering the workforce, there is something available for you. If you didn’t end up getting that job you really wanted, keep your eyes open, there may be something waiting for you just around the corner.

So… who’s hiring?