To ask how old your DC were when they got their first job?

DS aged 16 hasn't had a paid one yet but he does volunteer. He wants to be a vet and a lot of universities want to see that he's done some sort of work with animals so he volunteers at a riding stables.

I'm OK with this at the moment as he has just started A levels and will need very good grades to do the degree he wants so lots of studying involved. But I would like him to get a part time paid job in the summer holidays after he finishes exams.

22 (after uni) she did a lot of volunteering though
10 ( entertainment)
16 (also entertainment)

DS1 was 12 when he got a job on a weekday helping to put up a stall before school and take it down after school ( we live in a market town)
DS2 was 16 when he got a part time job at a tyre garage
DD was 16 when she signed on with an events company and had jobs working at local race courses and party nights.

You can work from 13 up but there are specific hours/laws

www.gov.uk/child-employment/restrictions-on-child-employment

15, 12 hours a week clearing tables and running orders out at a restaurant, more in the school hols.

DS1 was 12 (now 18), he's a musician so a bit of an unusual one. DS2 was just turned 15 and worked in a cafe, he is now working full time on an apprenticeship and is 16.

It definitely has changed, there aren't as many places for teens to work as it's so complicated with their limited hours etc. So many places don't adhere to employment laws though so they still employ under 16s on a tiny wage.

15, 15, 17, never as disabled.

Mine only worked during the summer and after A levels. But summers are long, it’s unusual not to work especially that summer before university. Mine all enjoyed the money and social aspect. Even if they didn’t enjoy the jobs!

In Fairness, we cover her major bills and give her an allowance. If we weren’t able to do that, she would probably not be such a dedicated saver.

It not about us. It's about our kids.

Mine is crap socially and got turned down for Screwfix at 16 didn't even get as far as an interview with the supermarket whilst at Uni sadly.
His internship paid him £2k though so all my banging on about the value of mundane minimum wage jobs was proved wrong,

DD was 15 and DS was a 18 ( but it was covid times when he was 15). Both hospitality.

17 - he would have liked to have been a bit younger, but covid/lockdowns made it tricky.

DS2 is hoping for 16, his NI number letter arrived the other day and he was very excited

My 17 yo got his first job at 16. There's nothing round here for younger than that. Waiting until after A levels or even university is older than DC's peers or friend's DC - most seem to have a job at 16 or 17. I was also 16 when I got my first job.

Did your DD and her peers not want to earn money? What was their reason for not getting jobs?

All 3 were 16.

Dc2 is 21 and worked as a barista during the pandemic. We were down south so apart from the initial lockdown, she pretty much worked through it all.

I believe that 16 is often the minimum age for retail and hospitality for insurance reasons. 18 year olds are preferred as they can work after midnight and I think that the rules around breaks are different so it’s tough for the 16 year olds who are against 18 year olds.

Dc1 worked retail and dc3 worked as a car valet.

My eldest was fifteen and started off just doing Sunday lunchtime at a local restaurant. Her sister followed suit a couple of years later but was only 14. It was owned by the same couple for over thirty years, but they retired a couple of years ago. My youngest got another job last year, age 16, at a local Thai restaurant and is now looking to a few hours as a life guard as she qualified this summer. A good work ethic will stand them both in good stead in life.

I’m not sure it really is the norm. Maybe just in your daughter’s group. My son who is 19 worked voluntarily age 16 and then in the summer when he was 17 and again after his Alevels. What do your daughter’s friends do for money? Their parents must be wealthy to be subbing them. Mine are at an independent school and we could sub them but I think it’s important for them to earn their own money (in hospitality and the like) and not just do glamorous internships!

14, 13, and 14 but, tbf, there aren't many paper rounds now so the main job for U16s has probably gone.

They did all work from 16 in other jobs though.

DS was 13, had a paper round, then a second one, so morning and evening,

Then he ended up helping out in the paper shop at weekends alongside the paper rounds. Started at McDonalds when at sixth form, then carried on with McDs, working up to Deputy Manager. Basically he has worked since 13 years old, as did I.

I had an after-school and weekend mornings job in a newsagents, which I loved.

The independent of having your own money was amazing… Even simple little jobs like these teach you how to manage your time, not being late, and a feeling of responsibility. You also learn to budget your money. Most of my friends also had these sorts of jobs at around 13 onwards.

Babysitting for neighbours at 14.

Proper part time job at 16, once their National Insurance numbers came through.

DD 13 Tea room
Dsd 14 same cafe
DS 17 (ADHD) pub kitchen
DD 16 pub kitchen
DSD 15 Tea room (as above)
DSS 17 (ASD special school) cafe .. f/time.. different place.
DSD (global learning delay) 21. Care work.

With the exception of DSD (severe SN) all 6/7 had p/t jobs by at least 17 years old.

2 DC and 1 DSC have now got degrees. My DS also has completed a professional apprenticeship.ine DSD is on her way to a nursing degree.

How are 13 and 14 year old getting jobs? Aren't there employment laws with minimum age requirements?

DD has health issues, and working wasn't compatible with studying for GCSEs and A levels. However, she was a young leader at Brownies from 16, then found work at 18 during her gap year before going to university.

Paper rounds are few and far between.

Mine started just after her GCSEs, so 16. I think and hope she will cut back to concentrate more on her studies through Y13. Loads of her friends started working between GCSEs and end of Y12. Some just don't suit it yet, they've got enough on their plate with their studies and that should be their focus for now.

ETA she was volunteering helping out at a kids' activity from age 12. Not sure how much difference it made to her securing her first job, but it helped her confidence hugely.

My son is itching to turn 13 soon too, so that he can have a two hour a week washing up job at the pub where dd works.