After-school jobs a challenge on both ends

By ALEX STRICKLAND — Bigfork Eagle

When the bell rings at Bigfork High School to signal the end of the day some students head to the practice field or the gymnasium. Some head home to hit the books. But some - either too many or two few, depending on who you ask - head to work.

The after school job is a staple in the childhood of most, something to reflect back on and appreciate that flipping burgers is no longer part of a job description. But in a hyper extra-curricular culture where high schoolers might go from class to practice to volunteer commitments, sometimes there just isn't time for a job.

"It's been slow this year for high school applicants," said Bigfork Dairy Queen owner Sheila Thompson. "But I don't think it's just Bigfork, the same thing seems to happen in Kalispell."

Unlike some Bigfork businesses, Thompson keeps DQ open all winter "for the kids" to have someplace to stop by after school or hang out with friends on the weekends.

"We're able to stay open all winter because of the younger employees," she said.

Though Thompson has a bevy of teens working for her now, she said that DQ is still accepting applications and could use more help.

The same can't be said for Nan Strawn at Nan's Cafe downtown.

Strawn said she doesn't have much need for high school help, but when she does she can usually approach one of the more well-behaved kids that hang out there after school and ask them if they're interested in work.

"We've never had trouble finding help," she said. "We've had good luck in the past."

Down the street at the Wild Mile Deli owner Cathi Beaubien said this year applications from the teenage sect were lacking too. Though she acknowledged that for most of the year not much help is needed, teenagers are hired to wash dishes and occasionally help in the kitchen.

At the Montana Athletic Club teenagers are hired to do minor cleaning right after school and then for a short shift beginning at 9 p.m. Owner Doug Mahlum said that in his experience applications are few and far between during the summer months when options are aplenty, but come fall he is flooded with prospective employees.

"In the fall the gates open up," he said. "I think, 'Where were you three months ago?'"

Talk of some of this employer/employee disconnect reached Bruce Solberg at the Bigfork Chamber of Commerce last year and along with two then-high school students set up a program called LINK — Learning Is New Knowledge.

Solberg, the Chamber's executive director, said the program was designed with Liz Tegoli and Cassie Keller, students assigned to the chamber through United Way's Leaders of Tomorrow Program.

"I'd been made aware of employment issues in the community," Solberg said. "We decided to do a student job referral program."

Designing the program, complete with a logo, a business plan and a marketing scheme, started an academic exercise, but as it began to look feasible, Solberg, the girls and Bigfork School District Superintendent Russ Kinzer began meeting on a regular basis and then put the program into action.

Now the Chamber Web site has a special page for LINK Job Listings that are geared specifically for teenagers. Any business, members or non-members of the chamber, can contact Solberg and post a job free of charge.

The program went live just before summer so response has been a bit low, Solberg said, but the opportunity for job seekers and employers abound.

"It could be a great resource for kids who don't want a steady position," he said. "They could get a one-time or temporary position on here."

Right after the program began last spring, Tegoli and Keller graduated and Solberg lost his marketing duo, who had spoken before the school board, the Rotary Club and at the Chamber's spring luncheon about the program. The girls were also instrumental in spreading the word around the high school.

Solberg envisions not only job posting for part time work at area restaurants and retail outlets, but postings for yard maintenance, help moving boxes or a typing job. Those types of short term positions would allow kids to make some money without having a big time commitment and provide a way for people in the community with a need to get in touch with those looking for work.

For some teens, though, work begins at age 14 as a way to earn some pocket money and make friends outside of class.

Sierra Fischer, 14, has worked at Dairy Queen for five months and said it's common among her friends to have a job.

Her co-worker Devon Haigler, 16, said the trick is finding a job that pays well enough.

"It's hard to find something in the amount you want," she said.

For these girls and co-workers Marcy Franklin, 16, and Cecily Whistler, 17, it's not only about having a source of income, it's about having fun.

"We're all friends here," Franklin said. "And it's pretty much just chicks who work here so we don't have to deal with guys."

To view job listings visit the Bigfork Chamber of Commerce's Web site at www.bigfork.org and click on the LINK Job Listings link in the upper right-hand corner. To post a job e-mail information to Solberg at chamber@bigfork.org.