The Scoop - employment opportunities for young adults

Big Business Is Watching You

Although the labor market shows signs of slowing down, many employers are still struggling to fill positions. Corporate recruiters are looking for hot talent not just in colleges but in high schools as well. To tempt future hires, companies are throwing career fairs in cafeterias, bringing students in for daylong visits, and tracking high achievers before they enter college.

Naturally, companies want the top students, so they're carefully assessing academic performance. IBM and Lockheed Martin are both initiating programs to check on high school transcripts of job candidates.

If you have the talent, a firm may try to snatch you up before you even start college. Many techno-savvy teens are turning their backs on college and accepting starting salaries averaging between $30,000-$40,000. This could account for a Bureau of Labor Statistics report showing a dip in the number of grads heading to college in 1999 compared to 1997.

Firms that are actively courting high school students include Fujitsu Network Communications and the accounting firm Ernst & Young.

"In certain disciplines, such as engineering, companies try to interest students as early as middle school," says Mimi Collins a spokesperson at the National Association of Colleges and Employers. "Companies want to build name recognition to become an employer of choice."

Anthropologists Wanted?

Corporate America is always looking for computer gurus and business whizzes, but they also want experts on human nature. Firms want to know why humans act the way they do, and anthropologists are dedicated to answering questions related to that, such as "What type of person doesn't pay a credit card bill?" or "What do women want in a razor?" Bill Young, managing editor of Anthropology News says, "We see more anthropologists finding work in marketing and advertising, and linguists especially are landing jobs in information technology as companies strive to make computer language more accessible."

Odd job #1 Alligator Wrestler

Twenty-two year old Mike Bailey has a job that is in desperate need of applicants--strong, quick applicants. Bailey gets paid $12 an hour to wrestle alligators (each with 80 razor sharp teeth) at Seminole Okalee Indian Village and Museum in Hollywood, Florida. Although gator-wrestling is an old Seminole tradition, a growing number of tribespeople are pursuing alternatives, such as college. (Go figure.) The Seminoles have taken out ads and are offering health insurance, but still there are few takers. Bailey says the gators will kill you in a second, or "if you're lucky, they'll just tear your fingers off."

A HOT Market for the Liberal Arts

A survey of Class of 2000 graduates from Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pennsylvania shows that liberal arts majors are in demand in the workforce. Sixty-six percent of those polled have found positions in major corporations such as MBNA, Merck, Vanguard, and Andersen Consulting. Carla Mollins Rinde, director of career services at Ursinus, says that hiring liberal arts grads is part of a national trend. "Employers have always told us our graduates have the skills they are seeking--the ability to write, speak, and think clearly, to reason and analyze, to work well with a team, and to lead. Liberal arts graduates are flexible because they have a broad base of knowledge."

odd job#2 Funmaster

Sure a fat paycheck and stock options are nice benefits for a new hire, but today's young employees want more in return for their long hours at work-they want a bit of fun. That's why high-tech companies and other growing industries are searching for folks who not only have computer or financial skills but also a knack for frivolity. As "director of fun" at New South Communications in Greenville, South Carolina, Ashley Creech treats her team to mid-afternoon ice-cream excursions. Kevin Tye is the official "master of culture" at Viathan, a software start-up in Seattle. When the office hits late-day doldrums, he springs into action, challenging workmates to Ping-Pong or some other stimulating activity. Whoopee! H Other titles include "minister of comedy," and "funologist"

Drive-Through Job Fairs

Could I have a career to go--hold the fries? In their never-ending quest to find new hires, some employers are banding together to hold "drive-through" job fairs. Applicants typically drive up to a window, grab a bag of applications, and then have the option for an on-the-spot interview. Drive-throughs have been held in Stockton, California; Portland, Maine; and Des Moines, Iowa. Applicants can be in and out in five minutes and they don't even have to wear a suit.

Odd job #3

Stadium Turf Manager

Want a perfect lawn? Talk to Dan Cunningham, the 35-year-old head groundskeeper at Yankee Stadium in New York City. Turf management is a niche career that has grown with the construction of more golf courses, football stadiums, and ballparks Cunningham studied turf-grass management at the University of Rhode Island and developed a specialty for creating turf that withstands high traffic. The hardest part, according to Cunningham, is maintaining the right consistency of the dirt in the infield. Infielders want it soft but firm, base stealers want it harder for quick starts.

What's Hot.What's Not

Here's a list of the largest growing job categories in America compared to the occupations suffering the biggest decline. Figures are from the Bureaus of Labor Statistics, projected 1998-2008.

ON THE RISE

* Computer systems analysts

* Registered nurses

* Computer support specialists

* Computer engineers

* Secondary school teachers

* Social workers

* College and university faculty

* Computer programmers

* Engineering, science, and computer systems managers

* Police patrol officers

ON THE DECLINE

* Farmers, farm workers

* Sewing machine operators (garment)

* Child care workers (private household)

* Word processors

* Bookkeeping, auditing, and accounting clerks

* Cleaners and servants (private household)

* Computer operators

* Textile draw-out and winding machine operators

* Bank tellers

MANNERS MATTER

A future assignment in college may not involve a trip to the library, but one to the dining hall. Increasingly, colleges are holding etiquette classes to help students prepare for the business world. Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland, hosts semi-annual "etiquette dinners" for students to learn the art of business dining.

"Business dining requires us to be a bit more conscious, to eat and interact with style, grace, and long-accepted rules that our fast food society doesn't teach," says Linda Cades, director of career development at the school.

Students learn everything from how to properly shake hands to how to break the "conversation ice" at a cocktail party to which fork to use for the salad at the business lunch.

Cades says some common manners mistakes include:

* drinking with your mouth filled with food

* waving your fork, especially with food on it, during a conversation

* leaving a spoon in a coffee cup where it might accidentally flip out

* buttering your entire bread roll (you should tear off a piece and butter it)

Been There, Done That

We asked our College and Teen Board members what their first job was and what they learned from it. Here's what afew had to say:

Make the Customer Happy

I worked at a video store and was considered a customer service representative.

I learned to be very patient when it comes to customer service. When I worked at the video store, thousands of people decided to complain about late fees. I would be very patient and explain the situation and agree with the customer. That always worked.

Kevin Frederick, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

DREAM JOB: I am pre-journalism, so I want a career in either marketing or journalism.

Not Going Overboard

My first job was at a supermarket. I was in the health and beauty aids department, and my job was to stock the shelves. I thought it was the coolest job.

The most important thing I learned was to stop what I'm doing and go out of the way to help these people so that they are happy, yet at the same time express my own opinions without going overboard and getting in trouble. People can't expect everyone to know where everything is in a supermarket; it just won't happen!

Jaime Heddinger, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ

DREAM JOB: I plan to chase tornadoes when I get out of school, and my biggest dream is to work for NASA.

The Power of Postive Energy

My first job was as a service clerk at a local grocery store. A service clerk is a really technical name for a person who bags groceries. So to start out, I made a little over minimum wage, and I did all the yucky jobs that no one likes to do.

I learned people skills, how a major business is run, and the rules of the [customer service] game. For example, every day you deal with people, so after a while you learn how to change their attitudes. People shopping at a grocery store don't want to be there, so it's your job to change their attitude and make them smile and laugh.

Dana Sanzeri, University of Iowa, Iowa City

DREAM JOB: Real estate attorney is my first career choice, because I love the city of Chicago, which is where I am from, and the business of real estate never dies in that city.

Teamwork Works

I was in the fast food industry at Dairy Queen. After awhile I was considered a cashier, cook, and customer service leader. I had to help customers, take their orders and money, prepare all sorts of food, and make sure everything was running okay.

The most important thing I learned was teamwork, like the time everyone wanted to leave, but a few of us weren't done with our duties so everyone stayed and helped. Or the time Dairy Queen was packed, and everyone needed to work together to ensure quickness and customer satisfaction.

Nicole Sauve, East Valley High School, Spokane, WA

DREAM JOB: I want to major in accounting and minor in business administration or marketing. I plan on working my way up into a CPA position at a large firm.

How to Juggle It All

My first job was as a secretarial assistant for a small construction firm. Specifically, I was responsible for filing, answering the phones, sorting the mail, setting up files for new jobs, preparing manuals that have warranties, operating instructions, etc.

I suppose the most important thing I learned from my first job is the ability to multi-task. On bid days, things in the office would get crazy! All the phone lines would light up at once. It was hectic, and I learned very quickly the ability to stop what I was doing in the middle of a task and return to it later.

Kail Robert, American University, Washington, DC

DREAM JOB: I hope to be a writer for a newspaper, or perhaps a political correspondent for a major news source.

The Art of Money Management

I worked at a pizza place. I started as a crew member and worked my way up to assistant manager. My duties included making pizzas (of course), cleaning, answering phones, dealing with customers, working the cash register, and paperwork.

I actually learned how to manage my money. My first paycheck was a lot more than I expected and I spent the whole thing in about two days. Later, I ended up owing my mom some money and I had to take it out of savings to pay her back. Now I split my check in half--I put half in checking, for my bills and such, and the other half in savings to build up my account.

Julie Hinojos, University of California, Riverside

DREAM JOB: To become a weather forecaster.

Keep America Flying

In recent years, airlines have been facing a growing shortage of mechanics as they leave to go to other opportunities with more pay and better hours--often in technology. To counteract the decline, airlines are now providing signing bonuses and starting salaries as high as $60,000 (before overtime), according to the U.S. Labor Department. (For more information, check the Professional Aviation Maintenance Association at i.) Also, as airlines have grown, so has the need for more flight attendants. "We haven't seen hiring like this since the 60's and 70's," says Tim Kirkwood, author of "The Flight Attendant Job Finder and Career Guide" (Planning Communication, $16.95). For more details, contact the Aviation Employee Placement Service at www.aeps.com.

NEW PERK: SLEEPING ON THE JOB

although most companies aren't building cots underneath employee desks (as George Costanza did in an episode of Seinfeld), a small number of firms, including Union Pacific, Deloitte Consulting, and British Airways, are encouraging workers to snooze on the job. Some have even constructed nap rooms. "Lack of sleep impacts productivity, quality of work, and concentration," says Marcia Stein a spokesperson for the National Sleep Foundation. "Napping restores your energy."

Futurama

Not too log ago there was no such thing as a Webmaster, online content provider, or Flash animator. As technology develops and changes the way we work and live, new jobs and careers emerge. Here's a look at some jobs of the future you might encounter, according to a special report by CareerPath.com, a career management Web site.

E-COMMERCE ACCOUNTANT: Will advise clients on e-business practices. Annual salary: $28,5000 to $54,250

VIRTUAL SET DESIGNER: Will help television production companies save money by using computers to create different sets for the same studio where multiple shows will tape. Annual salary: $60,000 to $150,000

TECHNOLOGY RECYCLER: Will dismantle, recycle, and dispose of old computer parts, which may contain toxic chemicals and pollutants. Annual salary: $20,000 for dismantling work, more for engineers and entrepreneurs

SMART-HOME TECHNICIAN: Will service at-home remote control theaters, computer networks, climate control, and lighting systems. Annual salary: $20,000 to $100,000

GERIATRIC FOOD DESIGNER: Will develop special food for seniors that will address diet needs, vitamin deficiencies, or loss of taste. Annual salary: $45,000 to $55,000

DATA MAPPER: Will locate patterns on maps--such as crime rates and traffic--to help city planners and companies that want to expand. Annual salary: $30,000 to $40,000

WEB PROMOTIONS PRODUCER: Will develop online promotions, giveaways, and contests to attract traffic and business. Annual salary: $30,000 to over $80,000

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