Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that DS (16) can still get a part time job

33 replies

outofofficeagain · 29/12/2025 09:58

DS wants a job. He has applied for lots but has no experience.

I sent him the details of seasonal applications opening but he forgot to do it on the day and when he got to it a few days later it was closed. Lots of his friends got jobs and have earned good money over Christmas.

Half of me feels bad for not reminding him about application but the other half of me thinks it’s a good lesson for him to take responsibility.

but he’s now forlorn that ‘all the jobs are gone’ and there won’t be any more vacancies for months.

please cheer me up that a) there’ll be plenty of opportunity and b) missing out is a good lesson in the long run.

OP posts:
Mumsknot · 29/12/2025 10:15

It’s incredibly difficult to get a job at the moment - I would keep encouraging him to apply but I also wouldn’t be surprised if he gets nothing. In dd and ds’s circle of friends (they are mid 20s) about half of them cannot find jobs and it’s not from lack of trying. There are v few jobs around for young people.

sweeneytoddsrazor · 29/12/2025 10:11

I don't know where you are but I am in a big city and the job market is very tough at the moment. It must be even harder for a 16 year old with no experience and limited in what they can do. All the supermarkets cut hours in Jan as people have little spending money after Xmas and the same goes for restaurants, pubs and so on. I would say he needs to keep trying but also expect things to not start picking up until February

herbalteabag · 29/12/2025 10:10

outofofficeagain · 29/12/2025 10:03

He has taken his CV to all the local businesses. They all either have nothing or want experience. He says he’ll go round again.

I don't think taking a CV around works as well as it used to, apart from in independent pubs and restaurants. For supermarkets he needs to check out Indeed every day, because the ad closes after about 5 people have applied, so it's mainly a case of being the first, not being the best.

Edited to add, for supermarkets he needs to be in Year 12, not Year 11.

Rockchick01 · 29/12/2025 10:09

You’ve nothing to feel bad about. You gave him the information and he didn’t do anything with it. Let it be learning curve for him. Having said that I do hope he finds something soon.

sittingonabeach · 29/12/2025 10:06

Some of the ones who got jobs will drop out for one reason or another.

I often see on the local community Facebook group people asking whether there are any jobs going for teenagers

herbalteabag · 29/12/2025 10:06

Friends of my son's either have jobs as kitchen porters, at McDonalds, or supermarkets. I would imagine that at this stage in the year, McDonalds would be the most likely. Supermarkets pay the best, but already have loads of Christmas temps to either keep on or let go due to not being as busy now. Pubs and restaurants are entering their quiet period for at least a month or two.

Original poster
outofofficeagain · 29/12/2025 10:03

He has taken his CV to all the local businesses. They all either have nothing or want experience. He says he’ll go round again.

OP posts:
Anewuser · 29/12/2025 10:01

He’s 16. He probably deliberately forgot. He wants the money but doesn’t want to do anything for it. There’s no saying he would have got the job even if he applied.

However, if he really wants a part time job, he can still contact local businesses. Sweeping up in the barbers, washing up in the pub kitchen etc.