The Lakewood Youth Center held a Job Fair on April 25 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. that invited a variety of employers such as Vans, Aeropostale, and Skechers to accept applications from teens on the prowl for employment opportunities. The event brought resources to help young people between the ages of 16 and 20 find full-time and part-time employment.
“My goal today is to run down what exactly you need in order to land the job you want,” guest speaker Carlos Sanchez, employment officer, said.
His presentation was held during the beginning of the fair, offering tips in regard to resumes, applications, and interviews. He, various application assistants, and resume builder Selena Tenorio were available to assist applicants who were unsure of the process.
“I want to be able to make someone’s resume be as clear and professional as possible,” Tenorio said. “Yeah, you may just be a teenager, but in the workplace you are considered a responsible adult for the tasks you’re assigned to do.”
Students from Downey High School moved from station to station, making themselves known to potential employers. Lizbeth Garcia, 12, had applied to multiple locations within the past year and was determined to finally get a paycheck.
“I applied through a lot of websites, but haven’t heard back from any stores yet,” Garcia said. “I seriously want a job to pay for college and a car, especially.”
Obviously, Garcia was not the only senior student planning to put her finances toward some form of education or means of transportation; however, some like Crystal Fernandez, 12, and David Garcia, 11, had other ideas in mind.
“I really love makeup,” Fernandez said,” and I applied to Mac before, but it hasn’t happened yet, so hopefully someone here can hire me and see how hard I can work.”
This ideology was present amongst applicants, and Garcia was lucky enough to be presented with an opportunity to show his skills to a potential employer.
“[A representative] from Vans told me I had an interview this week,” Garcia said. “It was really cool considering I’m only a junior and some people here are like twenty [years old].”
With the economy in a rough patch, teens are finding it harder to start an independent future through work. Job Fairs like Lakewood’s pose a hope for their struggles, bringing together all the help they need to one place. The next fair will occur again on May 24 at 3:00 p.m.
