Borenstein's boss, Ron Schmelzer, was 17 when US Robotics in Skokie, Ill., recruited him to test one of its computer networking products the summer after he graduated from high school. But after Borenstein requested an interview, Schmelzer decided to give him a try. He hired Borenstein to do a short-term project after the teen passed a logic test that had stumped older candidates. Back at school, Borenstein is being wooed with offers of part-time and weekend jobs. He isn't accepting.
Some observers say the push to hire such young workers poses problems.
They worry that the lure of a steady paycheck may discourage high school students from pursuing college. What concerns me is that now we are seeing companies encouraging kids to go straight into the world of work from high school. More companies around the country are starting to agree. Some were in gangs. Now, some of those same people are doing great.