Martha's Vineyard has always been a summer destination for young people due to its relaxed atmosphere and abundance of seasonal jobs. This year, however, young people may find the search more frustrating.
Evis Muci and Lorena Canshaj, both of Bulgaria, gave the scoop about how they found their jobs at Mad Martha's in Oak Bluffs this summer. Photo by Lauren Folino
In late spring, as the weather grows warmer, it has been customary for college kids to flock to Island restaurants and retail shops looking for work to finance a summer of fun in the sun. But, now, returning staff or older (often overqualified) employees are taking the positions that high school and college kids once filled.
A Times reporter evaluated the number of help wanted ads in the newspaper, comparing job listings in June 2009 to June 2008. This year's help wanted classifieds shrank to nearly half of 2008's, and mainly featured jobs in the service industry.
One way that young people have been able to evaluate the seasonal job landscape and affordable summer housing is by visiting the Martha's Vineyard Chamber of Commerce (MVCC). The Chamber's One Stop Job Shop & Housing program helps many workers find jobs and housing by listing available positions and housing with corresponding contact information for inquiries.
MVCC executive director Nancy Gardella said that the program helps to match renters, employers and employees, and there are still many choices available for summer rentals. "We are finding that there are definitely housing options available, whether they be rooms, apartments, houses, et cetera," she said. But, "What is very short is our jobs list." (As of Monday, there were 19 jobs listings, compared to 58 housing options.)
Ms. Gardella said that the 2009 job pool is considerably smaller than previous summers, but more young people are using the Job Shop to try to find work. She said she suspects employers are being more careful about their hiring practices this season, focusing on affordability and what needs to be done to benefit their businesses.
Such is the case for Jackie Korell, owner of the Katama General Store. This year is the first year that Ms. Korell worked with the Chamber to place a help wanted listing for her business. She said she has never had as many applicants as this year, and most of this season's hopefuls have been college kids.
Ms. Korell said the General Store is a staple for many residents in the Katama area, and she is dedicated to finding staff that shares her passion for hospitality. Though in years past she hired younger kids, this year she tried to find a balance between good service for her customers and a better work ethic from her employees. "In the past, I've had people who were a lot younger, and I'm trying to steer away from that, because I need people who have an understanding of how a business operates," she said.
Emily Mercier, 18, has lived in Edgartown all her life. She began working at Espresso Love in May. "I had a job at a golf course last summer but they didn't have enough money to hire me back. I saw a help wanted sign in the window here, so I applied," she said.
Ms. Mercier said she attained her job early in the season, and is relieved because now there are many applicants, but no new hires. "I'm really glad I got here early on, because now there's a huge stack of resumes," she said. "I think they are hiring less because they already have so many experienced workers."
Each year also brings hopeful workers from abroad, in search of seasonal jobs.
Lorena Canshaj, 20, and Evis Muci, 21, lively young women who hail from Bulgaria, are scooping ice cream this season at Mad Martha's in Oak Bluffs. This is their second summer working on the Vineyard, and they are here through a seasonal work program.
The ladies found their jobs and housing this season by networking with friends who have lived here in summers past. When looking for jobs, they said their search was difficult at first, but their luck changed when they spoke to business owners directly, as opposed to goinging through classifieds or the Chamber. "We found jobs and housing through connections of friends from Bulgaria," Ms. Muci said. "There are a lot of people here from our universe, and they were happy to give us help and point us in the right direction."
Among this season's typical applicants are recent college graduates who have had difficulties landing full-time jobs off-Island, or who have been let go from a position they thought was secure. Many have worked on the Vineyard in summers past, and due to unemployment nationally, chose to return for the 2009 season, a pause before resuming the hunt for work in their respective fields.
Katharine Wolff, 24, of Lincoln, works at Petunia's Shoes in Edgartown this summer and is living just down the street at her family's Main Street home. She decided to spend her summer on the Vineyard after months applying for several positions with no success.
"I worked at Petunia's in 2004 and 2005, but it's been a few years since I've worked on the Vineyard," she said. "I'm trying to get a job in advertising, but the jobs are just not there. I'm still applying for a full-time position, but I figured I might as well have fun this summer while I do it."
Brian Kolb, 23, of Sandwich, graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in May 2008. He lost his job in February as a financial advisor for Merrill Lynch in Boston. Since then, he has been searching for another job in finance, but he decided to caddy on the Vineyard this summer to take his mind off the job hunt.
"I caddied here for the summer of 2007 and had a great time," Mr. Kolb said. "I decided to come out here again this summer to have some fun, make some money, and not worry about the stresses of finding a job right now."
