FINDING A JOB

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 25, 31 January 1933, Page 9

FINDING A JOB

WHAT BOYS ARE DOING

AN INTERESTING SURVEY

What is happening to-day to the boys that have recently left the Technical College? The answer is contained in a valuable and interesting survey carried out by Mr. A.'A. Kirk, vocational officer of the college, which was presented to the college board of governors-last night, j With a view to finding out1 how expupils of the college were progressing in tHeir various positions, Mr. Kirk entered upon a "follow-up" plan. Factories, offices, warehouses, and publicity departments were visited and on all occasions he found employers most helpful. Candid criticism of the college product was invited but very little was offered. One motor firm made the suggestion that better writing and more accuracy in spelling and in calculating mensuration problems on the part of their apprentices would bo .most desirable. Twenty-two apprentices were being employed in that particular business and seven of that number were expupils of the college. ■ . Altogether 39 boys were traced (10 art; 5 commercial,'l2 building, and 12 engineering) and the reports on these were:— . . Diligence and Co-operation: Thirtynine were classified "very good to excellent." Efficiency: Thirty-eight ranged from '' very good to excellent,'' while o.ne was classed as "moderate." This report, although embracing only n, limited number of boys, was particularly gratifying as it gave some indication of the acceptability of the college pupils to the business world. ' During the year 221 boys from the college had been successful in obtaining positions, while 103 were placed during the final term. Ten of these boys had beeu placed through the T.3VI.C.A. Boy^ Kmployment Bureau, whilo the remainder had obtained positions either on their own account, or through the college. It was also of interest to note that seven boys had taken positions on, farms during the term. Another noteworthy feature was that of the positions offering in the last term 40 at least had demanded specialised training, and those positions had been filled with apparent satisfaction. CHANCE TOR ART. Mr. Kirk was considerably impressed by the constant demand for boys who had artistic ability combined with commercial qualifications. Many firms seemed Anxious to do a little publicity work of their own, and they were desirous of employing boys who are capable of working in their advertising.departments and 'at the same time receiving training in all branches of business. There was one interesting case .of a boy of 16 years of age—a product of | the college—who was doing s'ignwritj ing, ticket-writing, and general advertising work for a. city firm, and found himself unable to cope with tho work offering. Assuring himself of a ■ good connection, he resigned from his position and had now set up in business on his1 own account. Later reports indicate that he was making, a good living and his business was growing. BOYS REFUSE FARM WORK. It would be noted, that 22 boys had signified, their willingness „to accept farm work, but it was only fair to state that when farm positions had been offered to these boys, many of them had declined. In some cases this had been due to parental influence, but in other cases the positions had.been refused in the hope that "something better might turn up." This timidity and apatlry r toward work on the land was a regrettable feature of the boy employment problem. EFFECTS OF DEPRESSION. His work in connection with the placing and following-up of the various boys, revealed to Mr. Kirk very vividly the effects of the present depression, but it was interesting to note that while somci manufacturing firms were working well below their normal, others were working fully, with the result that the placing of engineering boya had not been the difficult task that was anticipated. A regrettable feature of the present boy employment problem . was - the phenomenal number of first-year boys who had left to take up employment. This had, to a large extent, been due to a certain amount of panic on the part of the parents. Unfortunately, many employers had supported tho parents in taking up this altitude and and had showed decided preference for younger boys. Their reasons were:— (1) That older boys did not undertake menial tasks with the same grace as younger boys. (2) That the present .depression prevented them ■■ from giving rapid promotion. (3) That older boys were not wil- - ling to start under the same conditions or at the same wages as'their juniors. (4) That where a 17 or 18-year-old boy was contemplating an apprenticeship, he was not satisfied . with apprenticeship wages at the ago of 22 or 23. ' .(5) That the labour legislation regulations for certain positions made it impossible for older boys to be considered. ' ■ "To Teasons.l, 3, and i," stated Mr. Kirk, "I am able to, state emphatically that, so far as the Technical College boys are concerned, such would not be the case. The older boys aro willing to accept the wages given to juniors, they«are most certainly not above accepting menial duties, and they are not afraid of apprenticeship wages even at the age of 23. These boya have their futures before them, and although a little old are willing to make a beginning now, if employers will only consider them. ■ It seems iniquitous that this readiness to give loyal and faithful service should be so callously overlooked."