Want A Summer Job? Better Act Fast

MAMARONECK, N.Y. (CBS 2) -- Spring just started and employers are already thinking about summer. A recent survey indicates 55 percent of business managers plan to hire some kind of seasonal help this year.

"We have hundreds and hundreds of applicants," Steve Schainman of Mohawk Day Camp told CBS 2's Lou Young.

Schainman was referring to stacks of applications he's received by mail and countless more online. A run up to summer at Mohawk in White Plains is providing a window on the economy.

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Summer jobs are being filled as we speak and if you want one the people hiring say you better get moving.

"Probably in a week or two we'll be full. I've got most of my staff right now," said John Collins of the Badger Swim Club.

When Mohawk Day Cap emerges from its winter slumber there will be roughly 375 people working here. About 75 will be new faces and competition for those jobs is intense.

"We find the retention of our leadership people here is about 95 percent, about 70 percent of our regular college-age counselors staff," Barbara Schainman said.

Behind the grill at Walter's Hot Dogs in Mamaroneck, they have a dozen summer jobs this year.  The owner is reminding minors they need work permits under state labor law.

"They need to get working papers from the school. They're good for a year," Peter Bellows said.

Back at Badger Swim Club in Larchmont the summer job outlook seems to suggest a recovering economy.

"When the recession hit we cut our salaries by about 10 percent. We're now back to where we were. (The jobs) are available and we're paying more," Collins said.

But the clock is ticking. Here's a couple of quick tips for the last-minute job hunter:

"Get yourself known, speak to the person. Be dressed nicely; ask nicely; pay attention; be aware of what's going on. All these things impress.  Sometimes people are chosen just from the way they act. No interview needed," Bellows said.

Hot dog! It looks like the economic weather is improving.

The national average pay for a summer job is currently a little less than $11 an hour. That's an increase of 7 percent over last year.

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