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Noelle Spelman, left, Mick Gallagher, Sean Farrelly and Ashling McCabe came from Ireland to work at Gus O'Connor's.Students scramble for rare summer jobs
High jobless rate and lack of positions make it harder to find the perfect fit.
Ten resumes and several rejections later, MSU junior Ebony Tuggle is still hoping for that perfect summer job.
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Michigan State University junior Ebony Tuggle has spent the past two years fine tuning her major and volunteering as a middle school tutor in pursuit of one thing -- a coveted summer internship.
Ten resumes and several rejections later, she's still hoping for that perfect summer job. The former pre-law student would like a position in advertising, public relations or event planning. Tuggle has her fingers crossed, but knows time is running out.
"A couple of places told me they have already filled their positions, but they'll keep my resume on file," Tuggle said. "I'm still in the process of looking."
Tuggle is one of thousands of Metro Detroit high school and college students who will brave Michigan's stressed job market this summer. Their goal is universal: to find summer employment that pays well, holds their interest or gives them the experience that leads to a full-time career.
But Michigan's high unemployment rate and decreased number of part-time and other job opportunities will make it harder for students to find the work they want, local economists say. In addition, teens will have to compete with older job seekers who look at these summer openings as a way to supplement their income during the state's lean times.
Metro Detroit employers such as Gus O'Connor's, Compuware Corp. and Kelly Service Inc. filled their slots for summer jobs and internships months ago. As a result, job-seeking students are likely to find more opportunities for hourly or minimum wage jobs rather than the hot-shot, career-making professional office gigs.
"There are jobs available for people who are willing to work hard, be prompt and effective. But they might not match up with the expectations of high school students and recent college grads," said Patrick Anderson, founder and principal of consulting firm Anderson Economic Group LLC in East Lansing.
Michigan's 6.9 percent unemployment rate in March is the second highest in the nation. Mississippi is first at 7 percent. Michigan's March rate was the state's lowest seasonally adjusted figure reported in nearly a year. Yet it continues to stumble behind the nation's rate of 5.2 percent.
Michigan's tourism, retail and service industries should have the greatest number of available positions, Anderson said. That is because Michigan is likely to benefit from Americans staying closer to home for their vacations because of higher household expenses like gas prices.
High school students are likely to find jobs at the local mall, restaurant, grocery store or YMCA. Web sites such as www.Teens4Hire.org are predicting those over age 18 will have the easier time, while those between 14 and 17 will have to compete for what hourly or minimum wage jobs are available.
Boston Market and TJ Maxx are advertising locally for sales help. Then there are the summer classics -- driving an ice cream truck, working as a life guard or washing dishes at a place like Woody's Diner in Royal Oak. But even Woody's general manager Darrel Krause says those jobs are only for those 18 and older and they get filled fast.
Patti Ann Moskwa of the Yankee Rebel Tavern on Mackinac Island said she would love to have more college-age applicants, but many of these students have to be back in school before Labor Day, when tourism on the island still is in full swing. As a result, many businesses rely on foreign workers to pick up the slack.
However, the Department of Labor limits the number of H-2B visas such workers need to work in the United States. The nationwide annual limit was reached during the winter months, leaving many Michigan resorts, restaurants and landscaping companies out in the cold this summer, Moskwa said.
Mark Smith, co-owner of Gus O'Connor's in Novi and Rochester, went overseas for another reason. He and brother Ed Smith hired servers and bartenders from Ireland to add an air of authenticity to their Irish pubs.
Plus, it gives employees Sean Farrelly, Noelle Spelman, Ashling McCabe and Mick Gallagher an opportunity to experience American culture.
"Do it while you're young," advised 24-year-old Gallagher, who joined O'Connor's in 2004 and plans to stay another year. "You can be all the time talking about going abroad, but you've just got to get up and do it."
Waiting too long can lead to disappointment. For example, Detroit-based Compuware Corp. filled its 50 internships by February, said Tom Costello, senior vice president of human resources for the software and computer services company.
"Of our core 30 interns, we've probably had double that number in terms of resumes," Costello said. "We've had to turn people away. You can't expect to send a resume in April and start in May."
Costello said the internship program is a way for Compuware to find future leaders. Its goal is to hire as many of its interns as possible to recoup the cost of training them and keep them from competitors.
Kelly Services Inc. also hires from among its interns, said Michele Hanson, director of talent management for the Troy-based staffing firm. It hires interns at its headquarters and places interns with its clients.
"Our goal is to work with the best and brightest," Hanson said, especially through a program known as InRoads, which places minority youths into salaried corporate internships.
An example is JaMar Rush, a Lathrup High School and University of Michigan graduate who interned at Kelly during college. He joined the company full time four years ago.
Rush, 25, said he thought he wanted to work in international business, but changed his focus and now works in the staffing company's e-commerce implementation department, a far cry from his original plans.
"Working a job at the local corner pharmacy is great, but it's probably not the best way to be spending your summer," Rush said.
Aleene Hang would agree. Hang, a 22-year-old Michigan State University senior, got her dream internship this summer with public relations firm John Bailey and Associates through grit and determination.
Hang lost a similar internship at JBA last year, so she offered to come in three days a week in exchange for school credit. As a result of her hard work, the office offered Hang its summer internship.
"I've learned more in the past six months than I would have in any class," Hang said. "Everything that I've done will hopefully help me in the long run."
You can reach Karen Dybis at (313) 222-2319 or kdybis@detnews.com.
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