Hundreds of teens crowd Elmhurst job fair

There's this look in their eyes.

You can see it. You can sense it. You can almost feel it.

You bring several hundred kids in sixth through 12th grades together for a Teen Job & Volunteer Fair in the Commons at Elmhurst's York High School, and there's going to be more than a little trepidation in the room.

A few of the teens are old hands, but for many, this is the first time they've come face-to-face with adults at nearly 40 booths who may be interested in giving them a job or the chance to help others in their community.

And the kids are nervous.

Here, though, is the good news: the uneasiness usually doesn't last long.

"The companies and agencies understand some of these kids are walking in for the very first time," said Jackie Tamer, chairwoman of the Elmhurst Commission on Youth that sponsored the third annual fair on Thursday.

With that in mind, just about everybody involved recognizes that intimidating feeling "and takes it down a little bit."

It seems to work, Tamer said, because by the end of the three-hour fair it's pretty common for kids to tell organizers how thankful they were for the chance to meet with representatives from agencies such as the library and park district and businesses that range from the York Theatre to, for the first time this year, a national chain - Chick-fil-A.

"My favorite part is kids feeling like they're getting a reward from the fair," Tamer said.

That's exactly what organizers had in mind three years ago when they created the event and what Mayor Steven Morley was thinking about when he was first elected four years ago and revived the city's Commission on Youth.

Tamer says the commission was created in the early 1990s but largely had faded from sight by the time Morley took office.

The mayor pumped new life into it and gave the group - which partners with Unit District 205, the park district, the library, the YMCA, the Elmhurst Junior Women's Club and the Kiwanis of Elmhurst - three main goals.

First, he wanted to create Exemplary Youth Services awards to honor the city's exceptional young people. That happened and the next award ceremony is scheduled for April.

Second, he wanted the commission to focus on drug prevention and awareness of social issues.

Finally, he wanted to create a job and volunteer fair.

Tamer, a licensed counselor who specializes in addiction issues, was named commission chairwoman two years ago and has watched the job fair continue to grow in popularity.

Teens who attended Thursday's event were given programs and maps when they walked in so they could head to the booths offering positions - from lifeguarding to office jobs - that most appealed to them.

They also were encouraged to bop into York's career center, where experts presented programs every 15 minutes offering tips on resume building and interviewing techniques. Folks also were on hand to help the students fill out job applications and address their other questions.

Ella Pittman, 14, of Elmhurst, was one of those applying for a job at Main Street Candy and Toys.

"I'm looking for a job that's a fun experience and a fun work environment to fill up my open days and weekends," she said, "but also where I can continue to do my volunteer work."

Angela Ferrentina, meanwhile, was one of the adults staffing the booths in her role as director of parks and facilities for Elmhurst Park District.

"The job fair is awesome," she said. "We are one of the largest employers of teens in the Elmhurst community, so this helps us fill those vacant positions."

By midway through the long afternoon, Tamer said, there was a different look in the kids' eyes. You could see it and you could feel it.

"You can just see the enthusiasm," she said, "from both the companies and the kids."

• Daily Herald photographer Daniel White contributed to this report.