Sunday, February 28, 2010

Key West High School sophomore Anton Marek started looking for a part-time job three months ago.

He thought he'd find something right away, but the 16-year-old is beginning to wonder if he'll find something even by the end of the school year.

"I've been trying to pay to get my license and be able to maintain a car," he said. "I seriously thought it would take me a week or two [to find a job], but it's not happening."

Marek is just one of many local high school students having difficulty finding part-time work in the current economy. There aren't many jobs to be had, and the teens find themselves competing with people their parents' age for entry-level jobs that traditionally were filled by high school students.

"I go into a lot of places and ask if they're hiring, and they immediately shake their head no. Every store I've been to on Duval Street said it's too slow to hire anyone," said Marek, who also hopes to earn extra money to pay for things like clothes, music and fixing his skateboard.

"So it's been hard, but I'm still not giving up ... . At this point I'd walk into a restaurant and mop the floors at midnight if they'd pay me."

Key West High School Principal John Welsh said he's seen an increasing trend of students scouring downtown businesses and small shops looking for alternative places to work in addition to the more obvious choices such as grocery stores, ice cream parlors and restaurants.

"Five years ago, they could be choosy. They could pick and choose the job that they wanted. That doesn't exist now. If they find a job, they are lucky and grateful that they found it," Welsh said.

Key West senior Fyrland Sanon estimates he's applied for at least 16 jobs in recent months.

"They don't take you seriously," he said of many of the prospective employers he's met.

Sanon said it took him three years to land his current job at Grim's Grill, where he earns $8.50 an hour. He wants to find another job to supplement his income so he can save more money for college.

"I don't want to spend 15 years at Grim's Grill. I want to go to college," he said. "I am trying to be somebody."

Dakota Messier, 17, said employers have told him and his friends that they don't have the right experience. With so many adults out of work, businesses are less likely to hire high school students if they can find someone with more work experience and qualifications.

"I've even applied at the airport to see if any of the private companies need help washing planes," Messier said.

No one has called him back.

Welsh said he's suggested to seniors who are at least 18 years old to contact the U.S. Census Bureau, which is looking for workers to help conduct the 2010 Census.

With many employers unwilling to hire people under 16, it's even more difficult for freshmen and sophomores to find jobs, Welsh said.

Key West sophomore Erica Kerr, 15, has been looking for her first part-time job for several months.

"I didn't think it would take this long," she said. "They make it sound like they're going to call you and you're going to get the job, and then they don't call."

Kerr said a lot of kids her age go to the same places to apply for jobs, so she is competing with many of her peers. She's hoping that more doors will be open once she turns 16 in May.

But if she's lucky, she may not have to wait that long. One of her prospects, Miami Subs, called her back about her application this week. She's keeping her fingers crossed that her job search has finally come to an end.

Helping out at home

For some of the teens, finding jobs isn't just a matter of independence; they need to help out at home with the bills.

"The last time we did a survey, which was two years ago, we had 50 percent of the student body held part-time jobs, and I can't help but think because of the economy that that has increased," Welsh said.

Denzel Eleby, a senior at Key West High School, works two jobs to help pay the electric bill and water bill at his home on Big Pine Key. He spends most of the weekend gathering carts at Winn-Dixie before heading to a pizza eatery for a few hours at night.

It's difficult to balance the jobs with his school workload in addition to his commute to and from school each day, Eleby said.

Heather Bennett, 17, also works to help with the household bills.

"I just don't want to have to ask for money. I feel bad," said Bennett, who is a hostess on a party boat for Sunset Watersports.

The high school senior also is trying to save money for after graduation. She's planning to take a year off before deciding on college, and said her dad plans to start charging a minimal rent for her to live at home after high school.

Job fair canceled

The Key West Chamber of Commerce used to have an annual job fair for high school students in the spring, but canceled the event this year and last because of a lack of participation from employers.

As in past years, the chamber surveyed its members to see how many jobs were available, but out of 33 respondents, only two or three had openings, said chamber Executive Vice President Virginia Panico.

"They weren't the type of after-school jobs that students usually take," she said. "We usually get so many students applying, that [this year] it would be very disappointing to have the event."

In previous years, as many as 50 businesses have participated, including vocational industries such as plumbing and electrical work.

Welsh said the job fair was a great learning tool for students.

"It was a very good experience for them," he said. "Some students have never applied for a job before. Some have never even seen an application before."

By attending the job fair, the students learned how to dress, prepare for an interview, properly fill out an application and acquire references.

The school has a job counselor who also works with students and acts as a liaison between businesses and the school.

"And I encourage any business owner in the community to give the school a call if they are looking for stable, part-time helpers," Welsh said.

amswary@keysnews.com