Summer is a time when young people can not only enjoy their holidays but also take their first steps into the job market, learning valuable skills and gaining experience that will be useful later in life when building a career. This summer, the retail chain top! is actively promoting youth employment by offering pupils job opportunities during the summer break. In cooperation with the State Employment Agency (NVA), 232 jobs are being provided, and top! stores are independently offering jobs to over 80 more young people across Latvia.
“Youth interest is remarkably high - applications start arriving as early as January, and in some locations, people queue up from the previous summer. We are especially pleased to see the children of our employees and young people who have worked with us before and want to return. This shows that the experience was positive and that there is trust in the company,” says Ilze Priedīte, Member of the Board of top! stores.
Benefits for both - youth and the company
Young people who eagerly take the opportunity to work in the summer help the company operate smoothly during the vacation time of permanent employees. At the same time, it is a valuable opportunity for young people - to gain their first work experience, learn a sense of responsibility, work discipline, and customer service skills.
“Summer is the perfect time to introduce students to the work environment, teach them how to communicate with colleagues and customers, and help them understand the value of money earned through their own efforts. Often, this experience leads them to appreciate their parents’ work more and to think more carefully about their future plans,” Priedīte adds.
During the summer months, young people perform a variety of tasks—from stocking shelves and cleaning to assisting in the bakery or at display counters. Before starting, they receive training and are introduced to their responsibilities. In some stores, they are also assigned a mentor—a “work mom”—who helps them settle in, become part of the team, and learn their duties.
Experience that lasts
Overall, the company’s experience with youth has been mostly positive. “There are young people who return the following year after working with us in the summer, and some are even hired permanently later. These are wonderful stories that highlight the importance of this initiative,” emphasizes I.Priedīte.
This initiative also helps raise the prestige of the profession - being a salesperson or working in retail is not just a job - it is a cornerstone of service and human interaction culture.
A valuable school for the future
Young people entering the workplace for the first time gain real insight into employment relationships and responsibilities. Often, this experience helps them understand what they want - or don’t want to do in the future. Many young people admit that after such an experience, they have a much greater appreciation for both the money they earn and the work of store employees in general.
The retail stores top! encourages young people to make use of the summer holidays not only to enjoy the sun and relax but also to gain experience that will be a valuable foundation for the future. Working at top! stores are not only an opportunity to earn money but also to learn something new, meet interesting people, and become part of a friendly team—because stable work is right here!
More information about available vacancies:
https://www.nva.gov.lv/lv/skolenu-vasaras-nodarbinatiba-skoleniem
About the retail store chain top!
Retail store chain top! is the largest grocery store chain in Latvia owned by local entrepreneurs. Currently, there are 212 top! stores operating across Latvia under 12 different local companies. In total, the chain provides more than 4,000 jobs, supporting local producers and suppliers throughout Latvia.
Prepared by:
Ilze Priedīte
Retail store chain top! Member of the board and marketing director
pr@toppartika.lv