This Youth Generation

The last thing this youth generation needed was yet another obstacle to obtaining and maintaining employment. Well, that’s just what Covid-19 has created for those new job seekers.

Getting that first job has always been a challenge but in the current novel coronavirus pandemic, restrictions and concerns have made it an even taller order for those who are new or returning to the workforce.

The first challenge is to identify an industry that is still hiring. There are a few industries that have been devastated by Covid-19 and may not recover any time soon.

The go-to industry for young or new job seekers prior to Covid-19 was the fast food industry or the retail industry. These same industries post-Covid-19 have reduced staffing tremendously and are not hiring as much. Industries that are still thriving during these challenging times are grocery outlets, warehouse work, delivery drivers, security and if you have the credentials already, the tech industry.

There is an added benefit with non-direct service work such as online customer service, help desk, digital research and marketing. Companies are now offering full-time positions for employees to work remotely. Wait! What? No commute, with benefits? That’s right.

Due to social distancing and Covid-19 restrictions, companies are reducing in-house staffing, canceling their commercial property leases and allowing entire departments to work from home. This has created additional opportunities for job seekers who live in areas like Solano County to apply for higher-paying jobs in the Bay Area when they would normally pass on those due to the long commute.

I am genuinely concerned about the current dwindling job market, particularly for youth seeking their first gig. I have a 15-year-old who’s now thinking about obtaining a work permit and applying for his first real paying job. Although his current position as head of domestic disposal (garbage duty) provides housing, food, clothing and entertainment, he feels that he’s ready for the real world of employment.

Landing that first job is something you will always remember. It will forever be an icon on your life’s Home Page. It goes right up there with your high school graduation, wedding day or your first child as one of the most significant moments and events in your life.

Good or bad, you will tell that story to your kids with pride about how you were the neighborhood’s best, yet underpaid, pooper scooper. See, it doesn’t matter how demeaning or legitimate the job may or may not have been. What matters is how important it is to a growing individual to have landed his or her first paid gig.

If those low-barrier, entry-level positions such as a team member at McDonald’s or a cashier at Target are no longer available, then how will young job seekers find the experience to develop their employable skills?

Many young job seekers frown at the idea of working at fast-food chains. These positions – if maintained for a reasonable period of time – show a would-be employer that you are accountable and dependable. These front-line positions also improve your customer service and communication skills, which are both essential for future and more gainful employment.

Thanks to community service organizations such as the Workforce Investment Board, Success Centers and the Larkin Street Youth Services, young people can receive assistance on how to obtain and maintain that elusive first job. The above-mentioned organizations also provide resume writing and job readiness classes.

From an employer’s perspective, experience is experience whether it’s a paid position or not. Volunteering is also a great way to obtain job experience while looking for employment during the current pandemic.

Deon D. Price is an author and youth life skills coach who lives in Northern California. He can be reached at [email protected] or www.deondprice.com.