Helping 16 year old DS find a summer job

[Ruminating2020]

DS has finished his GCSEs and it would be good for him to look for something constructive to do with his time before he starts 6th form. So far, he has made an online application for Subway and a couple of others but that is it and he hasn't heard back yet. It will be very competitive at this time of the year of course but I don't want him to give up.

Is there anything else we can encourage him to do? We have already suggested that he goes round the shops armed with copies of his CV.

TIA.

He just needs to give his CV in absolutely everywhere. Go round town and pop into every single shop, cafe, fast food outlet, supermarket and leisure centre etc. Ask on local facebook groups. Look up children's summer camps and send enquiries to every single one. Ask at the newsgent for paper rounds. If he has no luck try and get some volunteer work (even a charity shop one morning a week) so they he can get some experience for his CV.

He can also knock on doors and offer to wash cars, mow lawns etc. I had a teenager do my car well and now throw him some work whenever he asks as he is polite and hard working.

Also if he becomes the go to lawn mower he can actually get a decent, regular wage.

@BackBeatTheWordisOnTheStreet disagree with handing out of CVs. A lot of places don’t take them and those that to do have hundreds and hundreds. Dd has tried this and phoned up to chase up, she just gets told they are going through the pile.

She’s had a few interviews and was told she presents well. But a lot of places are looking for permanent staff, it’s not worth their while training uo summer staff. Dd is off to uni in September and is upfront about it.

And supermarkets definitely don’t take CVs. You’re out of touch @BackBeatTheWordisOnTheStreet!

What sort of experience are kids of 16 putting on their cvs? My DC will be in this position next year and not sure what experience they can claim they have. No work experience through school (cancelled due to covid), done a bit of DofE volunteering with kids plus hobbies, but that's it.

Our local Nextdoor site has had a few16 year old asking about work.
There was a chap asking for someone to paint a fence, a young lad did it, chap posted praising his work, and the lad seems to have a little business going now. His mum seems to organise the booking

My DS did a food hygiene course organised by the Council and had 4 requests for his cv and a job interview organised that evening. The course leader asked everyone where they worked and I think his doing the course to make him more employable worked in his favour

That’s great @78percentLindt was the food hygiene course free?

No, I think it was £50.
You can do on line version more cheaply, but you don't get the opportunity to meet potential employers.
OP charity shop is a good idea too. Other DS got till experience and stock control which was good on cv and showed reliability etc.

@Dahlia444

What sort of experience are kids of 16 putting on their cvs? My DC will be in this position next year and not sure what experience they can claim they have. No work experience through school (cancelled due to covid), done a bit of DofE volunteering with kids plus hobbies, but that's it.

A fortnight's work experience (required by school, but she organised it). Paper round. Babysitting and dogwalking. Volunteering as a 'young leader' with a group she'd outgrown. Stuff in school - reading with younger ones, helping at events, organising charity things, proofreading newsletters.

There's usually something if you think hard enough.

Thanks again folks.
We also put out job requests in our church weekly newsletter and DS is going to do some gardening tomorrow which he is looking forward to.