NYS Job Bank: Getting The Job Done!
NYS Job Bank:
Getting The Job Done!
By Larissa Lytwyn
 Newtown Youth Services (NYS) is encouraging local residents and businesses to fill employment positions through NYSâ 188-member strong Job Bank, many of who are Newtown High School students age 16 or older.
  âIâve worked here for about two years,â said Erin Hayes, Job Bank coordinator. âOver the past month we have only received about 11 requests and we usually get between 25 and 30.â
She isnât sure why there has been such a severe drop-off from years past.
âAll I know is that right now there are a lot of students who can work and want to,â she said.
The Job Bank serves students ages 13 through 18. Many 13-year-olds complete a babysitterâs course through NYS before joining.
âEveryone who is in our job bank has a preliminary interview,â Erin noted. âWe make sure they have good references and get an idea of what kind of employment they are seeking.â
Positions range from business retail to baby-sitting, snow removal, computer repair and even party running.
âSometimes we have people call in wanting workers who can take coats or park cars for them during a party,â explained Erin.
Pay is based on both the duration of employment and the nature of the task.
âAnyone who wants a babysitter should expect to pay between 8 and 10 dollars an hour,â Erin said. People seeking babysitters, she continued, should give NYS at least one weekâs notice for the Job Bank to locate an appropriate candidate.
âWe try to discourage people from calling on Tuesday and wanting a babysitter for the next night,â she said.
Once an appropriate applicant is identified, Erin gives them their prospective employerâs contact information.
âFrom then on it is between the employer and the student,â she said. âThere is no sub-charge or contract for us.â The role of the Job Bank, she continued, is simply to link the two parties together.
If youâre interested in having your driveway shoveled, have a sales position open at your store, or are seeking a babysitter, contact Erin at NYS at 270-4335.