SIFE Helps Teenagers Prepare for Employment

NMU’s Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) is presenting a series of workshops to teenagers from the residential program at Great Lakes Recovery Center designed to prepare them to enter the workforce. According to SIFE adviser Ray Amtmann (Business), the GLRC participants have a history of substance abuse or behavioral health issues for which they are receiving treatment, but typically have no shortage of creativity and energy—major requirements for successful entrepreneurs.

“Access to the skills they learn in these workshops will help give them confidence to apply their resources in a constructive way, which will increase their odds of achieving a successful recovery,” Amtmann said.

Topics covered include dressing for success, building a resume, interviewing skills and basic accounting/finance. SIFE received a $2,088 grant from Michigan Campus Compact to support the project. Pictured leading a recent session are NMU students (standing from left) Parker Foss, John VanEizenga, Jessica Parker, Maria Syreini and Adriano Da Costa.

“We’re trying to show them that, even though they’ve experienced adversity, they should keep looking forward because they’re young and can still have a bright future,” said SIFE member Matt Croschere, pictured at left. “We’re giving some helpful advice for when they do start looking for a job. They’re not going to have a lot of experience to include, but they need to build a good resume with what they have.”

Writing resumes and cover letters was the focus of the most recent workshop. NMU students distributed sample job applications from area employers and helped the attendees fill them out.

A female GLRC participant said the session was “really helpful. Most of the teenagers here don’t know how to fill out an application. I took a class on it once, but can build from that. It’s a good refresher. You can never learn enough about getting a job and it’s nice to have it presented by people close to the same age.”

Paul Trdan, a teacher assigned to GLRC, agreed that it is beneficial for the teens to interact with college students. “It’s good for them to see what the next level of education looks like, in addition to the skills they will need to secure future employment. This project reinforces what we do in class, but applies it in a different environment. It’s nice for our students to get a different perspective outside of the classroom.”

SIFE at NMU plans to present four additional sessions next semester. The international organization brings together a diverse network of students from various disciplines, academic professionals and industry leaders around the shared mission of “creating a better, more sustainable world through the positive power of business.”