Jobs for teenagers

[floribunda18]

Does your teenager have a paid or voluntary part time job?

It seems much harder for them to find a Saturday job etc these days. Teenagers are so expensive and it would be nice for DD1 (14) to earn a bit of her own money, and she would very much like to herself, or gain some skills that will set her in good stead for the future. Babysitting would be a good start, but I don't really know anyone well with young children now. She is very mature for her age, hard working, clever and capable.

[NuffSaidSam]

I think growing up is so delayed now, we leave school later, start work later, have kids later, retire later and just live longer, that 14 still seems quite young.

I was babysitting at 13 as were loads of my friends. I don't know anyone now who would leave a baby with a 14 year old. I know several people who would have a babysitter for their 14 year old!

I think most Saturday jobs etc. will be looking for someone 16+.

Maybe a mother's help type babysitting job? Could she advertise somewhere local? Or maybe clean cars/cut grass/walk dogs?

[Progress2019]

My friend and I babysat at 12, but my 18 year old now babysits for a 15 year old girl (GCSEs this year). She doesn’t have any additional needs, but has never even been allowed to do the 15 minute walk to secondary school.

I’d love to pay a local teenager to look after small pets while we’re away. Could she do something like that?

[nowshesaturtle]

My son's got a job in a small, family run cafe. He got it when he was only 14 but they offered it to him because they knew him vaguely and thought he'd be good with customers. We were surprised because of his age but they said it was definitely fine for him to work behind the scenes, as long as we were careful about his hours. Even at 13 it was very lucrative when tips were added in and now he's 18, and has learned more skills and can do front of house, they pay more. It's definitely been a good thing to do. He has had his own money, been able to do flexible hours and it's good work experience.

[Leeds2]

Paper round. Not sure many people have newspapers delivered these days, but there is always the free weeklies. (The wage is increased by the number of leaflets they have to put in them).

[eleflump]

Definitely worth trying smaller, more family run businesses - my DS's have both worked as potwashers in the local pub from the age of about 15.

[skippy67]

When Dd was 14 she used to umpire junior netball matches. £12 for a 40 minute match. Usually 2 matches on a Saturday. She now works in Waitrose on Friday and Sunday evenings.

[floribunda18]

Thank you - some food for thought there.

[Kilash]

Cat feeding can be quite lucrative - I pay a teenager £5 per day to look after the cat and water the garden occaionally. when we are on holiday.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

My DD is searching at the moment (nearly 17 so more options but still a lot of jobs are 18+ )

If your DD does consider babysitting, a First Aid Course would be really beneficial. (Especially infant/baby)
Hopefully she'd never need to use it but it would be reassuring for the parents if she had the certificate and could act without panic.

I do Annual mandatory BLS which includes children.

[Papergirl1968]

Paper round.
Dd delivered an evening paper, Monday to Saturday, about 20 paid for copies and a similar number of samples, which earned her £13.50 a week. However the round was quite large so I drove her, folded the papers and held them out of the window to her (but still she complained it was child abuse when it was raining!).
She gave up the regular round a few weeks ago due to mental health problems but now does holiday or sickness cover for the same paper but on various rounds in the local area.
If they can show they've held a paper round down for a few months or a year or two, and get a reference, I think they're more likely to get a job in a shop or cafe at 16.

[Blackandpurple]

My DD is 17 had has her 1st interview on Saturday. She has really struggled for a job, lots of kids wanting them and not enough to go round. Being 17 makes it easier i think.

DD is 15 and has a job but she’s lucky for one 4 hour shift a month. Its shit. Many places don’t take them till they are 16. Its a shame as she wants to work.