Ohio school receives 700 applications for janitor's job
By Benjamin Duer
Posted Mar 06, 2009 @ 10:12 PM
Barry Mason, business director at Perry Local schools with a stack of over 500 applications for a janitorial position with the schools.
How hungry are people for work in todays sinking economy?
Nearly 700 people have applied for a single job as a school custodian.
Perry Local Schools have an open position full time with benefits at Edison Junior High School after its afternoon janitor retired. It pays $15 to $16 an hour.
The job opened last Saturday, and district officials say the stack of applications continues to expand daily.
So much so, the deadline to apply for the position was moved from yesterday to 3:30 p.m. Monday to give potential hires more time.
Many of those who have applied say they lost their previous job due to budget cutbacks by their former employer.
A lot of people have their stories when they come in. Its heart-wrenching, said Superintendent John Richard.
HOPE?
Dane Steed, 51, forged blades at Heinemann Saw Co. in Canton for nearly four years until last month.
He and several co-workers were let go because of a lack of work available. He put his name in the mix for Perry custodian post.
Times are bad, the Plain Township man said.
Steed said he has previous custodial experience at a school district and hopes he can retire at Edison.
I dont want to be doing this again, Steed said.
Donna Croston, 49, of Plain Township, spent nine years on the assembly line at the Hoover Co. in North Canton before it closed last winter.
Prior to Hoover, she lost another factory job because the plant shut down.
For her, the custodial position at Edison represents more than a paycheck.
Theres a lot of people out there like me that are looking for stability, Croston said Friday.
Her two brothers are custodians for North Canton schools.
They all love their jobs. Theyve never been laid off, Croston said.
ONLY ONE
The growing pile of applications will be narrowed.
This is like a needle in the haystack, but I might get lucky, Croston said.
Barry Mason, business manager for Perry Local schools, said he will narrow the field to 30 to 50 applicants for an interview.
Among the qualities that hell consider for the next custodian, he said, include:
Enjoys student interaction, even if the position is for after-school hours. So if you dont like children, your chances are slim.
Plans to stay in the position for long time. An applicant who sees this position as a short-term solution until the economy improves could be out.
We are looking for someone who will make a career of it and be with us for a long time, Mason said.
http://www.cantonrep.com/news/x1569321039/Stark-s-hottest-job-Janitor
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/...ceives-700-applications-for-janitors-job.html
This is
not the Onion.