Young Job Seekers Struggle to Find Employment

When Jennifer Filippelli heads back to work as a teacher in a Queens middle school this September, the Sayville resident will know she is lucky to have a job.  

With a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the C.W. Post campus of Long Island University and a master’s degree in elementary and special education from Touro College, the 32 year-old held several temporary positions as a substitute teacher before landing a full-time position.  

“I definitely considered switching careers because it was so difficult to find a job,” Filippelli said.  

After several years of searching, she spent one day walking around Queens hand delivering her resume schools in an attempt to get a job. Her efforts paid off when she received a call from the principal of one of those schools who offered her a job in August 2010. 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 8.3 percent of the Long Island workforce was unemployed in May 2011, down slightly from 8.7 reported the previous year. Many recent graduates are hoping that number continues to decline as they enter the workforce.   

Standing amongst the bold-patterned clothing in Ohh La La boutique in Sayville, recent Fashion Institute of Technology graduate Lyndsay Kollegger is optimistic about the future but knows a full-time position could be tough to come by. 

“It’s a lot of competition and you really have to be passionate and pushy about the job you want,” said Kollegger, 22, of Sayville.  

Her goal is a job working in visual merchandising and as she starts her job hunt, she’s trying to put out four or five resumes each week in an effort to secure a full-time position in the field of her choice.  

“It’s all internships and freelancing from what I’ve seen,” Kollegger said. “New York City runs on interns.”    

For Ali Feuring, 20, of East Patchogue, finding a part-time job in a local coffee shop took almost two years.  

“People who are more qualified are looking for jobs because the job market is really hard,” said Feuring, who found employment through ads on Craigslist.  

She is currently working between 60 and 70 hours a week at two jobs to afford an apartment, living expenses and saving for college. She has one year left before receiving her associate’s degree.  

“I can’t go to school full-time because I work so much, so it will take me two or three years,” Feuring said. “That’s pretty pathetic.”        

Still, for some, employment in their field is obtainable – even in a downtrodden economy. Eating lunch outside in Sayville recently, Tim Gordon, 24, of Long Beach talks about a job offer he just accepted as a financial advisor, which took two years to find.  

“I’ve had to do a lot of things to tide myself over,” said Gordon referencing jobs in the construction and insurance industries. “It’s been a challenge, definitely not the easiest thing to do.” 

Gordon echoes Filippelli’s tenacity in giving advice for job seekers.  

“You have to be dynamic, companies are doing more with less staff,” he said, urging job seekers to network and be resourceful in finding employment.