(COON RAPIDS) – During a meeting of members of MetroNorth Chamber of Commerce committee members a little more than a year ago, the topic of jobs for teenagers came up. Chamber President Lori Higgins said the notion that more kids could find out about available part-time jobs in different ways.
“They’re not on LinkedIn. They don’t have resumes,” said Higgins in regards to most teenagers. “So employers can’t find them. Really the only way they find their jobs, or a main way, is through their networks.”
The idea that high school students have some sway over where their friends find jobs was something shared by many on that committee, so they decided to see if a local high school would be interested in developing a program that allowed students to recruit their peers for available jobs.
“They’re not on LinkedIn. They don’t have resumes,” said Higgins in regards to most teenagers. “So employers can’t find them. Really the only way they find their jobs, or a main way, is through their networks.”
The idea that high school students have some sway over where their friends find jobs was something shared by many on that committee, so they decided to see if a local high school would be interested in developing a program that allowed students to recruit their peers for available jobs.
“We try to bridge the gap between employers and potential employees,” said Nguyen. “We try to reach out to jobs that are looking for high school-aged students and then we promote those jobs to the students at Coon Rapids High School as well as we try to give them background on how you do resumes, applications, things like that.”
Nguyen is joined this year by her fellow DECA member, sophomore Salam Hijazi.
“The jobs need workers, and the students need jobs, so they work hand-in-hand and they both benefit from Cardinal Connections equally,” said Hijazi.
“I’m scared to apply for jobs because I don’t feel I’m qualified enough or I don’t the skills to actually work there,” she said. “But, seeing the requirements these jobs have for the potential employees, it’s not as hard as people think. Really anyone is capable to work anywhere they hope to work.”
Last spring the active recruitment efforts began in earnest, and so far the program has helped place six students in jobs at a variety of businesses, including Pizza Ranch in Andover.
“I’m learning more and more, (with) every single student I work with and each employer I work with,” said Nguyen.
Now, Higgins said conversations and planning are underway to bring similar programs to Spring Lake Park High School and Blaine High School. But she also hopes there’s a more residual impact on the students who recruit and those they help place into jobs.
“We have some amazing businesses (in the North Metro), and maybe (the students) don’t qualify today, but because of your exposure, you’ll learn of these other great industries that are here for careers,” said Higgins.
