Local graduates are feeling the economic pinch this summer, as a lack of available jobs narrows opportunities for them, especially those who haven't worked before.

Texas Workforce Solutions reported that roughly 13,800 people between the ages of 18 and 24 are currently registered through WorkIn Texas as actively looking for jobs in Cameron County.

Nathalie Lumang, 18, just graduated from Hanna High School and is concerned about how she will pay for college. She needs a summer job to put her one step ahead in her savings because scholarships won't cover all of her tuition.

Lumang said she applied at several retail stores, and even at a local medical clinic, but employers just are not hiring.

"If you are inexperienced, they don't really want you," she said. "And they won't hire you if they know you are leaving for college."

At almost every place Lumang applied, she heard the same thing, and she isn't feeling terribly optimistic about finding employment anytime soon.

Gaylen Lange, interim executive director at Cameron County Workforce Solutions, recalls the similar frustration of looking for a job after she graduated from college without prior work experience.

"It's always hard to get the first job and, right now with the economic conditions, it is a lot harder," she said.

Like many job hunters, Nalleli Treviño, a Los Fresnos graduate, was waiting for a call back.

She was relieved when she finally got a response from Schlitterbahn and scheduled an interview to be a family photographer.

Treviño has had a summer job before and recalls it being much harder in the past to be considered for a job, mainly because most employers do not want to hire someone without experience.

"Now I'm 18 and I've had experience, so I've actually found it easier to find a job," she said.

Even though Treviño wants a summer job to pay for leisure expenses, a lot of her friends are not in the same situation.

"I know most people are looking because they need a job," Treviño added.

Lange advises young people not to give up and to continue their job search. Some employers have a tendency to hire people who have the most experience, but she encourages young job seekers to network within the community to make it known they're looking for work. Volunteering, too, is a great way to gain experience, she said. The most important thing is to "always find out what will make you stand out among the other applicants," Lange said.

Managers of two local businesses said experience is not always a must.

Richard Marmolejo, at American Eagle Outfitters, said he first looks at the applicant's attitude and then factors in his or her retail experience.

He also said a resume doesn't always reveal what kind of worker the individual is; he is more concerned with the first impression he gets from applicants and their determination to get the job.

"Persistence pays off," and keeping in contact with managers about an application status is important, Marmolejo said.

Jenilin LeBaron, service manager at Texas Roadhouse, agrees that experience doesn't necessarily give her applicants a greater advantage. She hires young people who "fit the image of the restaurant" and show enthusiasm for working there.

DON'T GIVE UP

Hanna graduate David Gonzalez, 18, has been fortunate enough to hold a secure job, even in a tight economic situation. He has been working at Chick-Fil-A for the past three years and wants to continue working for the company while in college.

"I don't think it's necessarily hard to find a job," he said. "I just think it's hard to look better than the other person."

Jobs are out there, but what makes it difficult to get them is the number of people who are competing for them, Gonzalez said.

In May, Cameron County received $1.2 million for the new JOBS4YOUTH program, giving individuals between the ages of 14 and 24 an opportunity to be placed in the workplace with no cost to the employer. This has given young adults an opportunity to gain experience, which will be beneficial for them in the future. However, not everyone meets the household income requirement to be a part of the program.

According to Cameron County Workforce Solutions reports, of the 575 JOBS4YOUTH applicants, 500 had qualified as of Wednesday. In order to find out who qualifies, individuals must log on to the Web site -www.getyourjobonnow.com - to check if their family income is below the poverty level based on the size of their family.

The outlook on finding a job is not an entirely bleak one, Lange assured, and the best way to get ahead is with continuous preparation and research.

"Finding a job is a full-time job," Lange quipped.