SummerWorks Job Fair Connects Teens with Employers

Teenagers looking for work recently connected with potential employers on the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) campus.

UNO's Academic & Career Development Center (ACDC) coordinated a part-time job fair for high school students who are participating, or have previously participated, in UNO's SummerWorks Omaha Employment Academy.

Businesses set up tables in the Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center (CEC). Teens introduced themselves, learned about job responsibilities and could even fill out applications for jobs on the spot.

SummerWorks Curriculum Coordinator Phil Smith says the event is a natural fit for a program that's all about helping teens gain employment experience.

"We're putting our money where our mouth is," Smith says. "We're bringing the jobs to them."

Employers included grocery stores, restaurants, retailers and more.

Robert Sons, with Twin Creek Cinema, says many teens were attracted to the prospects of free movies, free popcorn, and flexible scheduling.

"We have an employee Facebook page where they can find someone to cover a shift," he says.

Other business representatives said the teenagers wanted to know how old they had to be to work there, whether they would receive an employee discount, and how long the representative had worked at the business.

SummerWorks not only allows teens to earn a summer income, but also explore post-secondary education and career opportunities. Each Friday of the program, partcipants take part in a community engagement activity, and learn more about higher education or employment opportunities in the metro.

Participating businesses included Arby's, Baker's, Hawkins Construction, Hy-Vee, J.C. Penney, Lowes, Michael Kors, Pizza Hut, Pump It Up, Raising Cane's, RGIS, Target, Toppers, Twin Creek Cinema and Walgreen's.

For more information about the SummerWorks program, click here.