Young people rely on Youth Employment Services

By Heather Milo Acorn Staff Writer

LISA ADAMS/The Acorn 'WE'RE HERE TO HELP'-Leslie Notton, left, job counselor for Conejo Youth Employment Service (CYES), assists Moorpark College student Jared Davis in a job search. For more information about the agency's services, please call (805) 496-6868.

Why Conejo Youth Employment Services (CYES) is one of the best-kept secrets in Conejo Valley is a bewildering question since summertime boredom and lack of funds are two situations most young people strive to avoid. CYES provides free job referral and placement, counseling, job search and survival skills training—and income—to local young people, ages 14 to 22. CYES places young job seekers in part-time, full-time temporary or short-term positions with commercial and residential employers.

The private, nonprofit agency has a volunteer board of directors that assists in CYES’s goals of minimizing poverty and unemployment, juvenile crime and dropout rates. CYES also has programs for at-risk youth.

Funding for these services is provided by United Way of Ventura County, the city of Thousand Oaks Social Services Endowment Fund and contributions from businesses, service clubs and individuals. Additionally, the volunteer boardmembers organize fundraising events such as a food booth at the Conejo Valley Days Carnival, the "Longest Day of Golf" tournament in June and the upcoming "Ultimate Gaming Experience" gala this fall, featuring a Las Vegas night.

Job counselor Leslie Notton worked with Jared Davis, 21, a Moorpark College student looking for a way to meet his school expenses. Notton searched the CYES database, following up on Davis’ request for work in either construction or plumbing, and found a match within minutes. "I hope I don’t see you back here again," she said. "That would mean the job didn’t work out."

Bryn Sowa, 16, filled out the CYES registration form looking for a summer source of income. A friend referred her to CYES. Never having looked for a job before, she thought CYES a good place to start.

CYES offers year-round job-placement assistance. Work can be temporary or permanent, anything from a one-day job, cleaning out a garage to a full-time gig, according to job counselor Katie Larkin, a Cal Lutheran University student who wants to make career counseling her profession.

According to CYES director of administration Ursula Barnacle, CYES runs workshops for schools and organizations, such as Girl Scout troops and National Charity League. There are workshops for special-needs students, helping them with interviewing skills and filling out job applications. "It’s all part of the process of getting a job and going into the real world," Barnacle said.

Barnacle said that CYES’s target group is 16 year olds and up, because they can obtain a work permit. Younger kids have to grow into the workforce through providing childcare and work such as stuffing envelopes. Barnacle said that youths 16 and up now have computer skills and want entry level office jobs.

While this generation is comfortable with computers, they still need skills on office equipment such as faxes and photocopiers, understanding filing systems and using professional, courteous phone skills—not to mention knowing how to correctly take a message.

Barnacle and her job counselors ask applicants about relevant hobbies or career goals, and then try to match them up with a position accordingly. For example, a young person interested in becoming a physician might benefit from working in a doctor’s office.

People looking for office experience can even come to CYES and volunteer their time. Barnacle has had a few students come in to learn receptionist skills and data entry, helping out around the office. As CYES is only open until 5 p.m., it can be a short day for someone during the school year, but there are often such volunteer opportunities available.

"It’s a nice starting place," said Barnacle. She added that CYES caters to the entire Conejo Valley community. "We’re not discriminatory here," she said.

CYES also provides assistance with resume writing and offers free workshops, helping an average of 5,000 youths and employers annually.

This is the organization’s 14th anniversary at the current location, 80 E. Hillcrest Drive, Suite 207, Thousand Oaks. For more information, please call (805) 496-6868.