Ducking from aisle to aisle of Wayland’s new Stop & Shop, paper grocery bag in hand, junior Aidan Falvey works to finish shelving returned items before his Saturday afternoon shift ends. For many, stacking groceries is not an ideal weekend activity, but Falvey is one of many Wayland High School students who have added a part-time job to their schedules.
Stop & Shop opened its doors on November 16, marking the first store opening in Wayland’s new Town Center. In the time since, many WHS students have taken on part-time jobs at Stop & Shop and the other Wayland Town Center companies. With other venues opening or coming soon, there are many job opportunities for students at the Wayland Town Center.
“It’s nice being able to start new in comparison to an old store,” Falvey said. “It’s easier to get a job somewhere that is opening rather than a job somewhere that has been hiring and hiring with only one or two spots open.”
Students had a variety of reasons for getting jobs. From saving up for a car to using their free time more productively, these students decided working would benefit them.
Unfortunately, between school, homework, sports, music, drama and many other extracurricular activities, many WHS students find their schedules packed. For many students, the negative aspects of adding a part-time job include balancing school, work and time with friends.
“The only thing I would warn [other students who want a job] is that you really need to be able to have the responsibility of having a job and doing schoolwork,” Falvey said.
“I can only work on the weekends, which leaves little time to hang out with friends,” Theo Grey, a sophomore at WHS and cashier at Stop & Shop, said.
But more and more WHS students are taking on part-time jobs at the new Town Center and are already seeing the benefits.
Among the benefits of working part-time at a Wayland venue are the opportunities to work with friends and make spending money.
“It’s really fun. There are a ton of us from Wayland,” junior Samantha Hayward said. Hayward also works at the Wayland Stop & Shop.
“It’s really nice. The pay is good. All the people are super nice. I enjoy it,” Grey said.
To get a job somewhere like Stop& Shop, students should first check out the company’s website to see if they have an online application. The application process usually consists of filling out a form online and a short interview.
“An ideal high school student applying would be friendly, experienced and someone with a positive attitude,” Glaucia Afonso, a member of the Stop & Shop management team, said.
Afonso is also especially looking for high school students who have more free time in their schedules as many students who work at Stop & Shop have after-school activities. In particular, Afonso is looking for workers to fill the 3:00 shifts when many students are busy.
Afonso advises high schoolers to remember to follow up on their application after they apply for a job.
The following companies in the Wayland Town Center are currently hiring:
Bertucci’s
Stop & Shop
Orange Leaf
Panera Bread
Subway