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Local students go job shopping at NOVA
Youths seek summer employment at fair
By Gretchen Knaup
Droves of students paraded to the mall after school on May 16, not to shop for clothes, but, rather, to shop for jobs. Students were able to search for summer job opportunities at the NOVA youth job fair in the Town Center Mall at the NOVA youth employment office.
Among companies at the fair recruiting young potential employere were Target, UPS, Great America, Le Boulanger Bakery and Café, Landmark Protection Inc. and Hobees Restaurant. Most were looking for summer part- or full-time employees to start now and, possibly, continue into the school year.
"Business picks up in the summer, all the way to Christmas," said Landra Bickley, executive team relations leader for Target. Target was promoting its weekly paychecks and flexible schedules, both of which are highly appealing to students trying to juggle other activities.
Landmark and Great America conducted on-site interviews for students immediately following the completion of their application. Great America offered positions in food, merchandise and rides. One main attraction they were promoting was higher entry-level pay for high school graduates.
Other organizations there included the YMCA of Santa Clara County and various groups from the city of Sunnyvale. According to YMCA association recruiter Jennifer Quihuis, the YMCA of Santa Clara is currently offering positions as lifeguards, swim instructors, day-camp counselors, as well as resident-camp counselors. "College students like the resident camps because they get free room and board, while still having fun," Quihuis said, adding, "We are also offering positions that do not involve kids, such as administrative jobs in our offices."
Sunnyvale's Parks and Recreation Department, and Environmental Outreach programs distributed information about working for the city. Environmental Outreach offers youth experience in public relations and education in water and sewer systems. They say they are looking for students, or recent grads, preferably with some environmental experience, or experience with children. "We offer education for many different organizations that serve an environmental cause." Environmental Outreach assistant Amber Hamilton said.
According to Hamilton, there are a variety of organizations in the Bay Area. She added, "Whatever you have an interest in, we'll train you."
The parks and recreation department is currently offering a wide variety of positions, as well, including that of preschool-teacher assistant, recreation specialist, pool maintenance worker, swim and gymnastics instructor and adult sports scorekeeper.
A big participant in the job fair was the Employment Development Department of California. The department is a California government resource that job hunters can access free of charge. At the fair, representatives were promoting the website, at www.caljobs.ca.gov, which they say has a database of over 10,000 positions to choose from, in the Silicon Valley alone.
"We've have a lot of students interested in part-time positions during school and also full time during the summer. We've had a really great turn out and we are proud to be here," said Robert Marrs, Caljobs consultant.
According to Marrs, many college students go to the website to find their first job. "We also work with the high school students," he said. "Just yesterday we were at Fremont High School registering students on the database."
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Sunnyvale, California Since 1994
