[Rooster Cogburn]

Something is not right.

My 17 year old son, Rooster Jr. Has been looking for a job since about December, not just a summer job, a job. He has applied all over town. He has only had 2 impromptu interview and no other calls or anything. The kid has worked before at LU on TV football and baseball and has great references, but can't even get a call.

There is some funny stuff going on too. I had seen where WSET did a story on Teens trying to get jobs and a lady from Sweet Frog on Ward's road actually said they avoid hiring teens. WHAT? So, I dismissed it and helped him keep applying and looking. We were told by a guy who works at Food Lion that they had openings. Then he saw an ad on line for several cashier openings at 2 different food lion stores and an "open interview" the next day. He and quite a few other people showed up and he got a very quick interview with a manager where he was told there were no openings. No openings? Then why the interviews? They did say there might be an opening for a PT janitor coming up. So then Monday night he saw an ad that Chipolte was beginning to hire. So he filled out the online app, only to be told in an e-mail that he didn't meet the minimum age requirements.

Anyway, did something change? When I was a teen, most of the fast food places (he's applied at most of them) would hire teens in a heartbeat, but not now.

[skywalker5291]

Im only 21 so i had to deal with this not to long ago and the problem i saw was that a lot of adults were taking the jobs normally done by teens in the past. Bc of the bad economy a lot of adults are forced into these jobs and it seems like the employers would rather have them then teens.

[RubberMallet]

right now companies are hiring adults more so than teens because so many are out of work and work harder. you used to hire teens out of necessity because minimum wage was acceptable to them. thats usually how it works. lets be honest, a good majority of teenage workers generally don't have much drive, are lazy, and are overall just a pain in the neck.

[Rooster Cogburn]

And like everything else in our society, let's punish the good ones for the sins of the bad ones. Frustrating.

[jbock13]

I'm 21 and work a job that pays about $8 an hour. But I do get benefits like health insurance and paid vacations. It's enough to pay the bills, so im just grateful for what I have right now. But I'm looking for better things.

[ALUmnus]

When I was a teen, most of the fast food places (he's applied at most of them) would hire teens in a heartbeat, but not now.

McDonald's? I worked there when I was a teen, and they're almost always hiring. For some people it's a stigma to work there, but it's really not a bad job.

Food Lion always says they're hiring, but I don't think they really are.

I saw 'now hiring' signs plastered all over some place the other day, if I can think of where, I'll post it.

But seriously, it's difficult for anyone to get jobs. Last year I was looking for something part time for some supplemental income, and I couldn't even get a call back for retail stuff, even though I have tons of retail experience. It's frustrating and doesn't make a lot of sense, but it's just the way things are right now.

[Purple Haize]

We have several of our teens working at CookOut. Unfortunately there isn't a Coach's discount!

[RubberMallet]

plus you can pull the nuggets early, dunk them in sauce, THEN fry them again.

[jcmanson]

A lot of places will start hiring again for back to school in August-September. Just be sure to be ahead of the college crowd.

[Rooster Cogburn]

When I was a teen, most of the fast food places (he's applied at most of them) would hire teens in a heartbeat, but not now.

McDonald's? I worked there when I was a teen, and they're almost always hiring. For some people it's a stigma to work there, but it's really not a bad job.

Food Lion always says they're hiring, but I don't think they really are.

I saw 'now hiring' signs plastered all over some place the other day, if I can think of where, I'll post it.

But seriously, it's difficult for anyone to get jobs. Last year I was looking for something part time for some supplemental income, and I couldn't even get a call back for retail stuff, even though I have tons of retail experience. It's frustrating and doesn't make a lot of sense, but it's just the way things are right now.

He has no stigma issues right now. Applied at McDs and even spoke to the manager of 2 of them (who I know well) and they said they are not hiring. Sonic told him they may hire him soon, but we shall see.

[Rooster Cogburn]

We have several of our teens working at CookOut. Unfortunately there isn't a Coach's discount!

Applied there, tried to get and interview and showed up to group interviews and was turned away.

[Rooster Cogburn]

A lot of places will start hiring again for back to school in August-September. Just be sure to be ahead of the college crowd.

Yea, 4 or 5 business have told him to check back in right before Liberty comes back when they will have more business.

[BJWilliams]

I think a couple of the guys hit on why Rooster Jr. is having such difficulty and I can see much validity to their points. From the sound of things, he is the exception as opposed to the rule but because of it, businesses are less inclined to hire him. Course from my own observations around town, there are quite a few adults who I think would be better served to take a lesson from him and others like him RC.

[LUconn]

I apply for big boy jobs that I'm completely qualified and perfect for and don't even get so much as an automated "thanks but no" email. I don't get it.

[BJWilliams]

I apply for big boy jobs that I'm completely qualified and perfect for and don't even get so much as an automated "thanks but no" email. I don't get it.

I dont think sarcasm is what RC is looking for at this point...I dont think he's looking for "it's alright Johnnie, have another cookie" either but Im pretty sure he is doing AOK in the life lesson department

[NG33]

Im only 21 so i had to deal with this not to long ago and the problem i saw was that a lot of adults were taking the jobs normally done by teens in the past. Bc of the bad economy a lot of adults are forced into these jobs and it seems like the employers would rather have them then teens.

Same situation here. I finally got an interview for next week after filling out two applications a day for two months. Even then, I only got this interview because I have a cousin working there in another department. The manager I talked too told me they only hire people that had "in-house connections". I'm assuming that might be the case with a few other businesses right now too.

[RubberMallet]

bj with the big fail.

[Humble_Opinion]

I apply for big boy jobs that I'm completely qualified and perfect for and don't even get so much as an automated "thanks but no" email. I don't get it.

I dont think sarcasm is what RC is looking for at this point...I dont think he's looking for "it's alright Johnnie, have another cookie" either but Im pretty sure he is doing AOK in the life lesson department

I don't think there was sarcasm there... it sounded like a real statement to me. I could be wrong though...

RC - Growing up, I did a lot of lifeguarding during the summer's. If you're a decent swimmer and are willing to put in your own money (about $250) to get certified in Lifeguarding and First Aid, you can get a job pretty easily. At least that's the way it used to be... I have heard recently that the unemployment rate for our youth (agest 16-19) is astoundingly high. Something to the tune of 30%+.

[jbock13]

It's Bush's fault.

[Rooster Cogburn]

Yea, I'm well aware that this happens to everyone. I'm just saying that the reaction to his age at menial fast food / grocery jobs has me baffled.

[BJWilliams]

It goes back to what someone said earlier...teenagers are largely seen as only putting in just enough effort to get by at those kind of jobs and that largely soured a lot of hiring managers to the point that they would rather hire older people even if they have the same commensurate level of experience

[jbock13]

Most teens are slouches. They don't know your son do they'll just lump him in with the slouches. That's just the way it is.

[RubberMallet]

when i worked for a landscaping company in lynchburg my last summer there, i quickly within a few weeks became a team leader. which meant i oversaw a team of 2-3 guys. my choices were a team of 16-17 yr old hs kids or 2 illegals who could BAREly speak english. guess who i chose?

[LUconn]

yeah, I was just adding my own anecdote there.

[ALUmnus]

yeah, I was just adding my own anecdote there.

Well you don't have to be such a sarcastic jerk about it. So self-centered.