Government is great teen job source

High school and college students who think the only way to make money this summer is by painting houses or flipping burgers are over-looking a wealth of exciting opportunities with some of the nation's largest employers: Federal, state, and local governments. A student can earn as much as $2,000 per month as a clerk at one of the most beautiful offices in the country--the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Or, how does making $2,500 a month sound for assisting with recreation programs in Florida?

For students, working for the government gives them the chance to visit a part of the country they may not have seen otherwise. Many of the positions offer hands-on training that they will not receive in their studies or with traditional employers. And, in many cases, the pay is comparable to what they would earn as inexperienced summer workers in the private sector.

The Federal government maintains a special recruiting site (www.studentjobs.gov) specifically for high school and college students. Regardless of an individual's interests or areas of study, there probably are slots that fit his or her goals.

Federal, state, and local governments should be prime targets for job seekers of any age, maintains John Challenger, chief executive officer of the international outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. Government data show that, in any given month, there are an average of 380,000 openings among all government employers. The Federal government, on average, accounts for 11%, and the rest are with state and local agencies.

The summer months particularly are ripe with opportunities due to the surge in seasonal positions. In 2003, the average number increased by 11% during that time period. Moreover, there are plenty of government jobs available for lower-skilled workers with little or no practical experience that pay wages competitive with the private sector. These are ideal for students and new graduates.

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