The process of job hunting in this age has changed drastically, making it harder for high schoolers to find a place of work. Technology and the stress of working while being in school plays a significant role when it comes to the job application process.
One of the most significant shifts in the application process is the way technology has advanced and is integrated into the process. In this day and age, simply applying for a job isn’t necessarily difficult due to how easy technology makes it. The steps require going online, finding a job to apply to and talking to an artificial intelligence (AI) bot. In previous decades, it wasn’t that easy. In order to apply, people would have to go inside the establishment and simply fill out a physical application.
Margaret Trost, art teacher at Judson High School, said her first job was as an art director at a day camp. Her process of applying was physical rather than online.
“I found out through an advertisement posting at my school,” stated Trost.
Nowadays, advertisements for jobs usually aren’t posted at school. To find a job, people have to go online, search for job listings and start applying.
“I had to go there to apply, fill out papers and sign up for the lifeguarding course,” shared Trost.
The process of signing up for something like a lifeguarding course can now be done online, in the comfort of your home. Technology has transformed the way we accomplish tasks, especially in the professional world.
For the previous generation, showing up and filling out an application allowed people the opportunity to stand out among a sea of applicants, leading to a higher chance of securing an interview. Having to apply for a job behind a screen, however, makes it harder to stand out and be acknowledged.
According to Forbes, AI uses algorithmic candidate assessment and ranking when going through applications to filter and rank candidates without being humanly biased. As a result, students must compete with other applicants, but also must try to make an application that meets AI’s standards.
Job experience is another factor that plays to the struggle of obtaining a job. Using a resume to highlight the many skills and experiences a person has can make or break applying for a job. With the lack of experience it tends to be more difficult to find a job.
While students may be eager to find a job, some might find it a challenge to start job hunting. With the lack of knowledge on the subject this can discourage teens and make it more difficult for competition in the workforce.
“I have applied to many stores and restaurants to get a job, and they only seem to want people who have had jobs and experiences. But how am I supposed to have experience and get a job if no one will give us a chance?” asked senior Masline Simmons.
This concern of young teens having to deal with the cycles of not being able to get the experience needed creates frustration for students, needing a job to gain experience yet jobs overlooking employers to gain it.
AI is influencing this heavily with AI now being a factor in the hiring process. The process of looking at resumes has also changed over time, from once being hand picked, to now being picked up and in search of keywords to be able to be in line for a job interview. AI, according to Forbes, scans millions of resumes and applicants profiles in real time. This can intensify for applicants when seeking a job.
“Older people say that teenagers only want to be on their phones and not work for anything, but they (hiring managers) won’t even hire us to start a financial life,” states Simmons.
Today’s teenagers grew up with technology and navigate it in a way that previous generations may not understand. The challenge is how technology is being balanced today with traditional work ethics and skills.
In addition, high school students also face a serious commitment to extracurricular activities, which make it harder to have a part-time job. The responsibility of making sure you’re passing to go to an extracurricular event while also balancing saving energy to go to work is a heavy burden for highschoolers. On top of that, juggling all these commitments can lead to stress, challenges of time management and negatively impact both academic and extracurricular activities, which can lead to burnout.
According to the U.S. Department Of Labor, 85% of U.S. workers have work related stress. Having a job in high school, the stress can be even more overwhelming. While it’s good to try to obtain a higher level of responsibility, the difficulty of getting a job that works with your school schedule can be very exhausting, leading to unemployment.
In the end, while previous generations may have had their own challenges when applying for jobs, today’s teens have to learn to navigate in a generation where technology keeps advancing every day, learning to balance work and school life.