Start somewhere to go somewhere — might be summer job

The unemployment rate for recent college graduates is 50 percent higher than the national average, The Wall Street Journal reported this June. How can a high school or college student begin to get a jump start to beat this alarming trend?

You still have time to get a summer job to learn personal and team accountability, financial management and build your resume and LinkedIn.

Your first job can begin building work skills and social interactions. In fact, Hannaford on Dorset Street is conducting interviews on the spot for open positions. Hannaford requires a minimum age of 16 to work in the front-end and produce departments or 18 to work in the bakery, deli and meat departments.

Although some students might wonder, how can being a supermarket cashier or stacking fresh fruits and vegetables help my future career? Gaining work skills in one role can morph into experiences that are appliable to a variety of industries.

Here’s a true story about how working at a supermarket can start a career trajectory. This June, The Wall Street Journal profiled the Albertson’s CEO, Susan Morris, who made a $24.6 billion bid to purchase Kroger’s. The largest grocery operator in the U.S., Morris rose to the top job after working 40 years at Albertson’s.

Morris began working at Albertson’s while in high school at the customer service desk selling lottery tickets and calling customers about bounced checks. In college, she continued working as a store sales manager and was promoted to run the Denver locations.

To start, having a first job is the first step to gaining accountability for yourself, the team and the company’s mission. Developing important workforce skills such as interacting with peers, managers and customers builds useful character traits.

A work ethic is formed in listening to others, communicating clearly and solving problems. Work builds the skills to respond to others in a timely manner with helpful and accurate information.

Working within a variety of job roles and managerial styles, the student can learn helpful lessons about the work dynamic and their personal interests. They are gaining hands-on experience in approaching problems and working with others, while being responsible and respectful within a range of situations.

Second, learning financial management for one’s self and within a team is an essential skill. For example, Hannaford pays around $15 an hour as a starting wage. For lunch, you can go to Burlington Bagel Bakery across the street where sandwiches range from $8 to $12.

Thus, the student begins the budgeting process when considering the amount of work it takes to earn a specific sandwich when evaluating their menu items: the cheaper sandwich is around a half-hour of work, or the more expensive choice is nearly an hour’s worth of work.

Living within a budget is difficult with inflation. This May, NBC News reported that 50 percent of parents are financially supporting their adult children with a monthly average of $1,474.

Surprisingly, 18 percent of parents believe they will be indefinitely supporting their children financially.

In fact, U.S. Census Bureau data reports that nearly one in three adults ages 18 to 34 live in their parents’ home.

This June, CNBC explained that 59 percent of young adults (ages 18 to 25) say it is a priority to have a well-funded savings account. However, only 15 percent put a portion of their paycheck into a savings account, according to a 2024 Bank of America survey.

Finally, work experience is essential in creating a LinkedIn profile, resume and cover letter. Start by reviewing a range of job postings. Then, identify words describing the work requirements and match those qualifications with prior job responsibilities. Be sure to include the number of people on your team, management structure and personal accomplishments.

Job applications are typically scanned with artificial intelligence for key words, work duration and quantifiable results. Highlighting a variety of responsibilities within past jobs can show flexibility, group contribution and time management.

Last April, LinkedIn highlighted the importance for high school students to develop their professional profile. The summary portion shares career goals, personality traits and work skills. In addition, the recommendation section includes quotations from work supervisors, mentors and teachers.

Summer work experiences can extend into the school year. Although many first jobs may not result in a long-term career, you have to start somewhere to go somewhere.

(Margo Bartsch founded College Essay Coach, a full-service college admission business, and has been an adjunct professor in business at Champlain College and at Middlebury College.)