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Summer Jobs: Following Uncle Sam
Times of India - India
Even as temperature soars, it's time to hit the road for
most teenagers, as they plan to earn some extra bucks this
summer.
The reasons are plenty: doing a good deed, earning enough to
take her out on a date or simply 'checking out the scene'.
But potential employers are not complaining.
Jolly Christian, manager of a leading chain of restaurants
is happy for one. "Yes, we are back with our offers for
summer jobs. There are many enthusiastic youngsters who are
ready to work for us," he says.
Ask him what he looks for in a trainee, and his simple
answer is: "A positive attitude".
And the city's youngsters have loads of it. 19-year-old
Anshuman Garg, is a college student. This summer he will get
a taste of the hospitality industry as he is taking up a
summer job in a restaurant.
"I always wanted to work in a hotel. I hope this will give
me an insider's view. I also want to earn my own money,"
says Garg.
The same view is echoed by Janhavi Thakkar, a student, who
will work as an accountant in a private firm this summer.
"For me, it's the experience that counts. Summer vacations
are the best period to hone up one's skills," says Thakkar.
Usually the average earnings for these summer jobs vary
between Rs 6,000-8,000 per month — by no means a small
amount for a teenager.
Yet, some are not in it for the money. Sanskruti Sinha, a
student of sociology, plans to spend her summer months
teaching slum children. She is busy preparing colourful
charts and modules for her classes. "I want to make a
difference to their lives," is her simple mantra.
Others like her are working as volunteers with different
organisations. An official of a nature-enthusiasts'
organisation confirms this."We have college students working
as volunteers during summer breaks. Apart from organising
trekking activities, they also help us in office
administration," he says.
However, the youth have one complain: Unlike Mumbai, Delhi
or Bangalore, there are not enough opportunities for summer
jobs here. Shreya Gupta of a leading travel agency admits as
much when she says: "We can't afford to have youngsters for
summer jobs. Summer months are the peak season for us. We
need quick and efficient action on the job. It's difficult
to train people on a short-term basis during this period."
Others though, say they have no such problems. "They add a
lot of charm and energy to the environment. So in the end,
everybody feels happy," says Christian. |
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