Teens Get Job Shadow Day At Old Navy Store

Peter Azzo, age 11, smiled politely as he greeted a checkout customer at the Old Navy store in Niles' Four Flaggs Shopping Center Tuesday.

"Would you like to pay for that with your Old Navy card?" he asked, explaining it came with a 10 percent discount on Tuesdays.

Azzo isn't actually an employee at the store; he's too young to work. He and other Niles Teen Center members were taking part in a job shadow day at the store Tuesday, and catching on fast.

About 10 teens took part in the job shadow day, said Mark Williams, director of the Niles Teen Center.

Old Navy employees, who were volunteering their time, showed them how to scan prices, fold and hang clothing, run the cash register, stock the sales floor and return fitting room items back to the sales floor. 

"We did an abbreviated version of the new hire orientation," said Athanaios Zacharopulos, the store's service and training manager.

The kids learned how to assess a table of clothing, figure out which sizes were missing, and replenish it with stock, he said. They also had to figure out how to return fitting room go-backs using the least number of steps.

Williams, of the Niles Teen Center, said Old Navy approached him several months ago. The company does outreach to youth groups as part of its giving-back mission, he said.

The kids who participated ranged from ages 11 to 14, and Williams said they enjoyed it. He thought it was a positive experience for them. 

"This was just great," he said. 

Old Navy also gave each teen a snack and a pair of flip flops.