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Schools

Bored With Job Prospects? Turn To East Ridge's Job Board

Student hopes project will help peers get hired.

For high school students, finding part-time jobs or summer employment can sometimes be tough, but students at might have a leg up in the hunt for employment due to a new job board that was recently posted at the high school.

The board—in a high-traffic area of the school where numerous students can stop by and read the postings—was the idea of business education teacher Lynn O’Driscoll and East Ridge senior Nikki Soler.

Soler said O’Driscoll came up with the idea because numerous students were asking her if she’d heard of any job openings they could apply for.

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The two then brainstormed and decided Soler could set up a job board for her independent study project, which would be a good way to address the students’ job-hunt issues.

Organizational Experience

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Soler said through the process of setting up and advertising the job board, she’s learned integral aspects about the job-search and hiring process.

“I have learned that there are actually many jobs available, you just have to apply and you could be hired,” she said. “By organizing the job board and working on other assignments for my independent study, I have learned that getting hired is not so hard as long as you have the technical qualifications—but more importantly the personal qualities that allow you to stand out from the rest.”

At only about a month old, the board is still in its early stages, but Soler and O’Driscoll said they see it growing in size and scope over time.

“I think the job board will expand and I certainly hope it will,” Soler said. “I think it is a great resource for students in high school because it is very challenging for teens to find jobs. I think if the job board (were) in effect all year, it would be a success.”

Currently, O’Driscoll said most of the jobs posted on the board are within the school district, such as postings for school sports referees, but she hopes as the word about the board gets out, employers looking for workers will contact the school and inquire about how to make a posting.

O’Driscoll added that the job board doesn’t have an online component, but that’s something that could be added in the future if the board proves to be a popular job-hunting tool for students.

Effectiveness

Due to the recent advent of the job board, Soler and O’Driscoll said they’re not sure if it’s been effective in helping students find work, but they’re confident it will become a go-to place for students at East Ridge to find employment opportunities.

"We cannot determine exactly how it is working because we have not been in contact with the people who are hiring for the jobs,” Soler said. "However, I believe the project is going well. Many students stop to look at the board, and we hope to continue a job board throughout the many years to come here at East Ridge High School. I do not personally know anyone who has been hired for a job on the board, but I'd like to believe there are a few people who have.”

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