Date: Fri 12-Jul-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDREA

Quick Words:

Job-Bank-coordinator-Jeffe

Full Text:

new job bank coordinator at nys

with photo

B Y A NDREA Z IMMERMANN

What would it be like to have a job coordinating jobs? Kristin Jeffe, the new

Job Bank Coordinator at Newtown Youth Services, thinks it is a lot of fun.

She found out about the position through her best friend, Stacey Baglio, who

has been coordinator for the past two-year term. Kristin is familiar with the

job responsiblities through her association with Stacey, and also because she

has served on the agency's Youth Advisory Board for the past year. The Newtown

High School Junior has been a member of NYCAAP for six months, is a Markette

at NHS, and performed in the recent production of The King And I .

Kristin believes the Job Bank is a valuable resource in the community because,

"It gives you a lot of experience for when you're older and want to apply for

an other job - you can tell them what you've done," she said. "And it's really

fun."

Newtown youth between the ages of 13 and 17 years may participate in the job

bank with parental permission. The purpose of the free service is to offer

kids the opportunity to develop experience dealing with people, following

through, and being responsible while making some money. And the youth who sign

up do not necessarily need to provide their own transportation.

Kristin's duties include taking down information when a patron calls with a

job, and then calling kids from that same sector of town who have signed up

with the Job Bank. On request, Kristin will also mail out a list of

babysitters who are listed with the Job Bank and some of whom have completed

the NYS Super Sitters' Course. Kids can call and have a Job Bank application

mailed to them, or they can stop by Newtown Youth Services and fill one out.

Before interviewing each applicant, Kristin calls the references that are

listed.

During an interview, Kristin said she would ask questions such as, "Why do you

want to be in the Job Bank?" or "If someone paid you less that what you

agreed, what would you do?" If a youth asks for advice on how to handle a

job-related situation, Kristin offers suggestions. And she said she wouldn't

hesitate to ask one of her many adult resources at NYS for help if she didn't

know the answer to something.

Jobs range from yard work to babysitting, to taking care of animals, to

helping out at a credit union. Most positions are short term, but some, like

babysitting, can develop into a steady job. After each job is completed, NYS

asks the patrons to evaluate the youth's performance.

"The job is fun. If you like kids and like helping people out. And like

talking on the phone - there's a lot of calling," said Kristin.

In order to be an effective job bank coordinator someone would need to be

organized, be social and know how to communicate well, and have to be

interested in helping people, she said. You have to be fair-minded and willing

to call anyone on the Job Bank list, otherwise it wouldn't be fair, she said.

"Everyone should have an equal opportunity," said Kristin.

The new Job Bank coordinator learns quickly, loves adults and kids, and is

very mature, said Anita Arnold of NYS. "Kristin is lovely and seems to have

taken the responsibility on quite nicely," she added.

Kristin had used the Job Bank services, herself, and secured some babysitting

jobs before becoming coordinator. Now, she gets "first dibbs" on jobs that

come in, she said. In her free time she enjoys going to the beach, playing the

piano, dancing, singing, playing sports, hanging out with friends, and helping

out her mom around the house.

As an adult, Kristin wants to have a job that is "different," she said. "I

might want to be in business. I told my dad that I wanted to be an FBI agent

and he said, `No way!'" she laughed. "Or I might want to be a doctor."

She may not know exactly what profession she'll enter, but one thing is clear.

"I want to be famous," said Kristen. "That's my goal."

The Job Bank is open Monday through Friday. Summer hours are 3 to 5 pm; in the

fall, hours will be 4 to 6 pm. For information, contact Kristin at 270-4335.

Newtown Youth Services is located at 41-A Main Street on the second floor.