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COMMUNITIES BUILDING ASSETS - 2006 Teen Job & Opportunity Fair

(Howard County Connections)

By Jacqueline E. Burrell

With a color poster of The Black Eyed Peas upcoming concert on its table, Merriweather Post Pavilion’s booth at the 2006 Teen Job & Opportunity Fair was swamped with teens grabbing job application forms.

Howard County Public Library’s booth ran out of both job and volunteer application forms.
The Volunteer Center Serving Howard County needed help just explaining its program to all the teens and parents gathered round non-stop throughout the day.

Maryland Search and Rescue had pages of people, teen and adult alike, interested in volunteering, as did Howard County Connections.

Put on by HC DrugFree, more than 500 teens from across Howard County streamed through Long Reach High School’s halls and rooms to attend this free event, in search of a summer job, either paid or volunteer.

“This is great,” beamed Alisha Stephens, a senior at Atholton High School. Stephens, a member of Howard County Connections, manned the entrance table to the fair. She handed packets of information to the throngs of entering teens.

Many teens echoed Wilde Lake freshman Tiffany Walker’s thoughts. They weren’t quite sure what to expect but were definitely surprised at the size and scope of the event.

Excited about interviewing with potential employers, the teens also found themselves inundated with volunteer opportunities. Workshops were held on writing killer resumes, improving job interviewing techniques and how to dress when going on a job interview. In fact, teens participated in two fashion shows, one showing appropriate attire and the other highlighting what not to wear.

Lively music with a definite beat provided the backdrop to the fair. Kids of all ages (that include adults) danced to versions of the Electric Slide.

“We were going to hold our own job fair at Merriweather,” explained Brian Tittle. “But when we learned about this event we thought this might be better, so we jumped on it.”

Amazed at the size of potential workforce, smiling, Tittle could only shake his head, saying: “I’m glad we’re here. We’re always looking for good kids.”

Within the first half- hour Merriweather had 20 applications filled and returned, complete with resumes.
Deirdre Rouse, a freshman at Howard High School, came specifically for resume help. Her mother, Sophia Rouse, said, “She got some great pointers. Her resume is smokin’ now.”

One Mount Hebron junior thought more employers would have improved the fair.

Amanda Gardner, who coordinates teen programs at the Elkridge Public Library, said “Its good to see kids who tell me they come to Elkridge (library) all the time. This is a great venue, because these same teens wouldn’t necessarily have asked me (about job opportunities) at the library.”

Midway through the fair, Gardner and Glenwood branch manager Susan Stonesifer were handing pens out to potential applicants, which had the library’s website address imprinted on them. That’s because they ran out of printed forms.

“I never stopped talking the whole time,” exclaimed Stonesifer. “That’s a very good thing.”

With 43 exhibitors signed up for the fair and over 800 attendees, including teens and parents, Laura Smit, who heads HC DrugFree, described the fair as a “fantastic event for teens.”