Vacation time well-spent

How far would you go to find a great summer job? On April 21, 12 college students from Georgia, Arizona, South Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee and Iowa met at Manning, Selvage & Lee to compete in the Atlanta public relations firm's sixth annual Internship Challenge Day. Think "The Apprentice," without the insults and outlandish assignments.

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Victoria Howard, a student at West Georgia College, helps Carlos Traylor select a hat at the Feria Latina (Latin Festival) at Stone Mountain Park. "The park is a nice place to work, and I know I can take my skills anywhere," she said.

"Senior account executive Megan McGovern came up with the idea six years ago to increase the pipeline of talent into the firm and to encourage young people interested in the field," said Rob Baskin, managing director. "We still believe that the best place to learn about our profession is by working with a PR firm."

The interns get a chance to bring their fresh ideas to a real work environment, and eight have been hired for full-time jobs since the program began.

The mostly communications and marketing majors are chosen based on applications and writing samples. On Internship Challenge Day, they're asked to introduce themselves using favorite objects that symbolize them, ask questions of employees, interview, rewrite bad headlines and, in a fast scramble, come up with a marketing plan for a new product.

The two internship winners will spend the summer at MS&L, earning $15 an hour.

"They'll be treated like any other member of the staff and asked to contribute ideas, brainstorm and help with presentations," Baskin said.

While not all internship programs are as well-developed as the one at Manning, Selvage & Lee, more companies are hiring interns these days, and more colleges are helping their students get placed. Even nonpaying internships will help students make better career decisions, add impressive credentials to their resumes and provide potential references for the first job search.

College students should begin looking at summer work to fit their areas of interest and future careers, said Lida Griest, an Atlanta educational consultant, but high school students should consider a summer job as an adventure and a learning experience.

"Any job, at any level, can teach a young person about themselves -- what kind of work they like, whether a flexible or structured environment fits their personality ... what they like or hate to do," Griest said. "It helps young people develop some independence and teaches them about money management, responsibility, organization skills and how to interact with others in the working world."

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Few companies have summer internships as well-planned as those at public relations firm Manning, Selvage & Lee. Each year the company brings in college students for a one-day tryout, after which two are selected to serve as summer interns. This year's group of 12 internship hopefuls on Internship Challenge Day included Benjamin Crockett (at right, from left), a student at the University of Georgia; Torise Battle, also a UGA student; John Reyna from the University of South Carolina; and Sasha Vonderbosch from the University of Iowa.

"My first summer job changed my life," said Michael L. Thurmond, Georgia Department of Labor commissioner. "I was an underprivileged youth and fortunate to be in a summer program that placed me in a UGA laboratory. I developed a mentoring relationship with my boss, and we're friends to this day. And I still have my first pay stub.

"The one thing about getting a paycheck is that it makes you want another one, and a larger one."

The forecast for summer teen employment is better than in previous years, Thurmond said. "More jobs should be available, especially in the suburbs and fast-growing areas."

SnagAJob.com's first summer job survey of 2006 polled hiring managers of national chains and found that 84 percent intended to hire as many youths as last year -- or more -- this summer. Of course, not everyone lives close to a mall or theme park, so the Georgia Labor Department is sweetening the pot in urban and rural areas where work is less plentiful.

Thurmond has allocated more than $1 million a year for the last three years to the state's 20 local Workforce Investment Boards to provide job opportunities for young people, ages 14 to 21. Local areas will use Workforce Investment Act eligibility guidelines to identify "low-income" youths and give them priority for placement, but up to 10 percent of the teens won't have to be WIA-eligible.

Local governments and community-based organizations are creating about 1,200 jobs, so that youths can work 32 to 40 hours per week for six to eight weeks in jobs such as administrative aides, medical technician aides, and parks and recreation aides. The average wage is $5.30 per hour.

Although the application deadline has passed this year, the Labor Department also creates 72 summer internships for college students each year, allowing them to make as much as $1,225 and earn college credit.

"From a practical standpoint, a summer job helps young people pay for clothes, college tuition or spending money, but it also helps them develop basic skills and work ethics that will serve them well throughout their careers," Thurmond said.

Something for everyone

Theme parks, fast food and other restaurants, malls, parks and recreation departments, hospitals, small businesses, grocery stores, construction companies, moving companies, landscapers, day care facilities, temp agencies and movie theaters offer teens a wide choice of employment opportunities. The Internet, libraries and bookstores have a wealth of information about summer jobs and internships, and those 18 or older can get help from Labor Department career centers.

Experts say that teens who know themselves find the most satisfying summer jobs. Someone who loves working with children and the great outdoors has the personality to enjoy being a camp counselor.

Special skills, such as life-guarding, driving or keyboarding, can give teens an edge in the job market. Thinking about skills, accomplishments and goals ahead of time leads to a better job search.

Choosing the right employer also can be a springboard to advancement and larger paychecks in future summers.

Lithonia native Victoria Howard started working at Stone Mountain Park in June 2004 and has continued the job while attending West Georgia College.

"I gained a lot of retail experience working and met people from all over the world in The General Store in Crossroads," she said. "The park is a nice place to work, and I know I can take my skills anywhere."

Her longevity has brought her pay increases, additional opportunities to work at special events throughout the year and a chance to apply for a lead manager position this summer.

Early bird gets worm

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Richard Williams, 16, said his ROTC training helped him develop the interviewing skills he needed to land a job at Colonel Adair's chicken restaurant at the Railroad Depot in Stone Mountain Park.

Stone Mountain Park expects to employ about 800 people this summer and has filled about 76 percent of its positions. (To apply, call 770-498-5674 or visit www.stonemountainpark.com.)

Richard Williams, a 16-year-old from Redan High School, is glad to be a new hire. His ROTC training helped him prepare for the interview. He knew to dress well, make eye contact, and know his reasons for wanting to work there and when he could start.

"I told them I had been coming to the park since I was little and loved it a lot and that I could start working weekends right away," he said.

"We look for people with a hospitable personality, someone who wants to interact with our guests and make sure they have fun," said Audra Leeper, human resources manager for Stone Mountain Park.

Misty Berry, employment manager at Lake Lanier Islands, started work at the recreation park as a 16-year-old lifeguard and worked her way through high school and Gwinnett Technical College's hotel management and hospitality program.

"Hospitality is in my blood, and I can't get it out," she said with a laugh.

Lake Lanier Islands hires teens and adults for summer jobs as cashiers, landscaping assistants, food servers, cooks, lifeguards, golf cart attendants and maintenance workers.

"We look for a friendly personality and motivation, applicants who really want to work with people," Berry said.

Lake Lanier Islands has abo

Theme parks traditionally have been one of the largest summer employers of teens, but, because of shorter school vacations, they've adjusted their seasons and begun hiring more senior citizens and adults.

Six Flags is recruiting its expected 1,945 summer workers. White Water will hire 530 teens, including lifeguards and other workers; American Adventures will hire 157 people.

"We've already been recruiting heavily, so it's best to apply early," said Jim Taylor, public relations manager for Six Flags area parks.

"Working in a theme park isn't about the roller coaster or the funnel cake; it's about guest service," he said. "We try to match up people's skills and interests with the right job, but everybody's a team player when it comes to helping people have fun. This is a cool place to work for teens because of the atmosphere, employee events and perks."

(See www.sixflagsjobs.com or come in person to the applicant office, open Tuesdays through Saturdays, 2 to 6 p.m.)