Talk Bronx New York

Bronx teen gets his wish: a summer job

After looking for a job for a year, Anthony Hunt landed a summer job with Ramon Falu’s employment firm.

There was something about Anthony Hunt that grabbed Ramon Falu’s attention.

Falu, the president of Bronx employment firm Pink Diamond Staffing Services, read a Your Money cover story this month about Anthony, a 17-year-old junior at Frederick Douglass Academy III Secondary School, who had spent a year looking for a job without getting an offer. But after reading about Anthony’s dedication, Falu, 69, tracked him down and offered him a summer job at his office in the Hub section of the Bronx. Anthony will work Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for $8 an hour.

His first day of filing, computer work and office maintenance is Tuesday.

“I felt welcome, I like the environment,” Anthony said of his employer. He added that the Your Money story on the tough job market for students prompted calls from several employers. “It’s kind of funny, ain’t it?” he said.

Falu said he was impressed by Anthony’s story and his determination. Experts recommend kids show the same kind of drive as they search for work.

“I saw the picture of this young man, it touched my heart. He was wearing a tie. He looked so despondent,” said Falu, who described being in a gang as a teen growing up in the Bronx.

“I have young kids myself. Suppose that was one of my kids? The streets would eat them up,” he said. Anthony’s photo stood out even more, Falu said, because of the picture next to it - of a teen who managed to land an offer.

That student, Ricardo Martinez, a 16-year-old junior at the Brooklyn School for Collaborative Studies, scored a paid position at a Manhattan ad agency, due in part to strong grades and help from the Opportunity Network, a nonprofit that introduces students to the business world. After calling Anthony’s school and setting up an interview, Falu learned more about him, such as his volunteer gig as assistant coach of a girls’ middle school basketball team.

“He’s a mentor,” said Falu, who was a job developer at Goodwill Industries working with people on government assistance before co-founding Pink Diamond four months ago. “His future is blessed.”

Working in an office will give Anthony valuable career experience, Falu noted.

“Let him get used to the corporate environment,” he said. “Everyone who works here has been though trials and tribulations.”

The teen opened a bank account to stow his paychecks. “The money will be saved,” Anthony pledged. But he plans to celebrate on Wednesday, when he’ll turn 18. “I will be going out with my lady,” he said.

SOURCE

Related posts

• No related posts.

(No Ratings Yet)
 Loading ...
 Email This Post