Temps are Getting Cooler But Hire Learning is Heating Up!

Things are happening at the Hire Learning offices! As we gear up for the Fall school year, we are also gearing up new ways to promote work readiness and career planning for young people. First, our BuildingSkills Pre-Apprenticeship Program will be beginning another construction trades program. Any young people interested in the building trades unions are encouraged to apply.

This year, Hire Learning is offering Information Technology classes. These IT classes lead to nationally recognized certifications and the opportunity to be enrolled in paid internships with our corporate partners. Google, here we come!

Our Young Executives Academy (YEA!) is our entrepreneurship program. This program will teach high school students valuable business building skills with the opportunity to develop and execute a real business!

In our Media Arts Program young people will learn the video editing and production technology that will enable them to learn about careers and job opportunities and document their findings, through video and print on and in Insphire Magazine - our online magazine.

Last but not least - we are moving to a new location! You can now find us at 1010 Dixie Highway Unit 103; Chicago Heights, IL. Our new phone number is 708-856-0632.

For more information on our program offerings, see our web page or give us a call! Hire Learning Career Development Academy

But There Are No Jobs! What Teens Can Do in a Tough Job Climate

The summer job climate is tough for job searching teens this year. Northeastern University's Center for Labor Market Studies estimates that 27 percent of teens nationwide will get a summer job between June and August. That's an improvement on the dismal 25.6 percent from last year - the lowest employment numbers for teens since the 1940s.


The reality of this fact was evident when more than 200 Southland teens showed up at a job fair in May held by the Illinois Department of Employment Security and the Village of Richton Park. In addition to Hire Learning, Chase Bank, Best Buy Pace Suburban Bus Service and the Illinois Institute of Art were all in attendance and collected several resumes from attendees.


With many teens getting bumped out of positions by older adults who are also dealing with this tough economic climate and high levels of unemployment, what are their options? While many employers might not have the capital to bring on new hires, they are willing to bring in young people in an internship capacity. Not only does this provide vital job experience to teens, but it also provides the employer an opportunity to receive much needed labor that they may not be able to afford. 


The National African American Insurance Association (NAAIA) took a lead on this practice this summer. After being advised in a professional development workshop that they needed to begin to tap the talents of young people for social media marketing tasks, NAAIA decided to do just that. They implemented a summer internship for Marketing Assistants who will be placed with local participating insurance offices. Not only will this be an opportunity for teens to get valuable work experience, but it will help insurance agencies create a 21st Century mode of communicating with their customer base. 


As well, internships allow young people the opportunity to explore new industries and career opportunities that they may have known little about and create a network of adults who will be able to assist with their future career goals. According to Margaret Redd, President of NAAIA, "by working with young people in internships, we hope to introduce the insurance field to a new group of potential insurance professionals."


Although paid summer job positions may be scarce, internship opportunities abound and are beneficial to everyone involved.


For more information on the May 2011 Teen Job fair, visit: http://southtownstar.suntimes.com/news/5339394-418/toil-trouble-for-teens-job-outlook-is-grim.html

Summer Internship Programs are Kicking Into High Gear!

As summer approaches, young people all over the country will begin to look for summer jobs. If you are a high school or college student, it is important that you begin to think about work experiences that can lead to careers. There are many internship programs that are geared toward high school students and offer great networking and professional support for young employees.

Although there are some paid positions - at the time of this writing, Hire Learning is looking for soon to be high school juniors for paid Marketing Assistant Internships - many internships are not. This should not be a reason not to consider summer internships. The experience and contacts that you develop from being in professional settings with decision makers earn you more in the long run than many summer job experiences. Now, I am NOT suggesting that young people not look for paid employment - after all, I am a mom of a college aged son - but I am saying that consideration should be given to real career experiences that can pay off big for your future goals. After all, most summer jobs often do not schedule employees 5 days a week. On those days that you aren't working, consider interning and get a jump on your career options!

If you don't want to listen to me, here's more information on the importance of internships even when they are unpaid!

http://chronicle.com/article/Internships-Have-Value/127231/