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Original poster

How are your student DC doing finding summer work this year - mine are struggling

43 replies

54321nought · 06/08/2021 14:09

A few days in care homes where they have been bank workers for a while, that is about it. There seems to be nothing else. There is the possibility of a bit of bar work, but I am not keen on them applying for that, as once they have paid the taxi home at 3 am they make nothing, or less!

OP posts:
LadyJaye · 06/08/2021 20:58

Unless you literally live in the arsehole of nowhere, how is it a problem?

My 17-year-old niece (who, I will be the first to admit, is a bit of a princess) has been literally overwhelmed with offers of work, including hospitality, retail, childcare and pretty much anything else you can think of, and is a bit overwhelmed by the choice.

I wish I had been in the same position at her age and got to work in a lovely wee chichi bookshop, rather than up to my elbows scrubbing pots in a kitchen.

RaindropsonPiglets · 06/08/2021 21:03

@LadyJaye

Unless you literally live in the arsehole of nowhere, how is it a problem?

My 17-year-old niece (who, I will be the first to admit, is a bit of a princess) has been literally overwhelmed with offers of work, including hospitality, retail, childcare and pretty much anything else you can think of, and is a bit overwhelmed by the choice.

I wish I had been in the same position at her age and got to work in a lovely wee chichi bookshop, rather than up to my elbows scrubbing pots in a kitchen.

I live in pretty big tourist town- no full time jobs at all
Original poster
54321nought · 06/08/2021 21:06

@LadyJaye

Unless you literally live in the arsehole of nowhere, how is it a problem?

My 17-year-old niece (who, I will be the first to admit, is a bit of a princess) has been literally overwhelmed with offers of work, including hospitality, retail, childcare and pretty much anything else you can think of, and is a bit overwhelmed by the choice.

I wish I had been in the same position at her age and got to work in a lovely wee chichi bookshop, rather than up to my elbows scrubbing pots in a kitchen.

Well, I am glad my DC won't see this post, becasue it isn't pleasant or helpful to have people saying they can't see why there would be a problem, when you are explaining there is a problem.

It is interesting to here how different it is in different places, but here, there is no work, and my DC have tried hard, for a long time, to get something. They are not work shy and have made good applications, and have nothing.

That's how it is here.

But today they got an unexpected financial bequest, which means they are fine for money going into the next academic year, as it happens.

However, that doesn't change the fact that they have tried hard to find summer work for many weeks, and there has been nothing available

OP posts:

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Families
KnottyKnitting · 06/08/2021 21:13

My DD contacted a local restaurant just before she came home from uni. Walked in for a quick chat on her first day back and was offered the job on the spot ( has done this type of work before.) there were at least 4 other local bars/ restaurants and pubs looking for staff. It's not far from where we live. If we are around we pick her up ( mix of day and evening shifts) if not she walks during the day or hops in a cab if late. Just got her first pay check and for 5 weeks work ( 4 shifts a week) she got just over £1k including tips.

LadyJaye · 06/08/2021 21:20

But @54321nought, lovely though that it is that your kids have received financial support unexpectedly, you haven't answered the question which is why has it been so hard?

Other posters on this thread have said that their kids or young relations have walked into jobs - it has never been easier to find a job. Hospitality, in particular, is literally offering golden hellos in many instances.

So what's happening or where are you that it's so hard?

RaindropsonPiglets · 06/08/2021 21:22

@LadyJaye

But *@54321nought*, lovely though that it is that your kids have received financial support unexpectedly, you haven't answered the question which is why has it been so hard?

Other posters on this thread have said that their kids or young relations have walked into jobs - it has never been easier to find a job. Hospitality, in particular, is literally offering golden hellos in many instances.

So what's happening or where are you that it's so hard?

I think we have established it is regional
Original poster
54321nought · 06/08/2021 21:24

@LadyJaye

But *@54321nought*, lovely though that it is that your kids have received financial support unexpectedly, you haven't answered the question which is why has it been so hard?

Other posters on this thread have said that their kids or young relations have walked into jobs - it has never been easier to find a job. Hospitality, in particular, is literally offering golden hellos in many instances.

So what's happening or where are you that it's so hard?

I don't know why it is hard, there is just nothing. There is normally something, but now there is absolutely nothing. There has never been nothing before.
OP posts:
Kite22 · 06/08/2021 21:38

Are they or is it zero hours contracts?

Yes, all my dcs' jobs when at school and University are zero hours. It's great, they can pick up loads of shifts when they want them and fewer when they don't. Perfect for students. Well, and lots of other people in all sorts of circumstances.

I live in pretty big tourist town- no full time jobs at all

But most students don't need, or expect, or even want full time jobs.
Doesn't mean there isn't work.
For a lot of people, you are only promised 8 hours a week or one shift, or are told from the start it is zero hours, but that doesn't mean that is the maximum they can work.

Like pps, my dd has turned down work she has been approached to do as she has only so many hours in the week.

However, that doesn't change the fact that they have tried hard to find summer work for many weeks, and there has been nothing available
........yet you said there is bar work, but you don't want them to do it (not that I can see it is your decision).

Goodallsfolly · 06/08/2021 22:08

My 18 year old is looking after an 11 year old boy 3 hrs, 4 days a week, playing with him in English while his mother wfh. Would something similar for your student DC be any good op?

BeenAsFarAsMercyAndGrand · 06/08/2021 22:16

Doing casual work (what's now called a zero hours contract) was absolutely standard for students in the holidays in my day. You got the job, then worked whatever shifts were going that week - I made good income that way, always got plenty of shifts.

I'm not sure why posters are acting like a job needs to be full-time to be suitable for a student in the holidays? Turning down a job because only a few hrs a week are guaranteed is foolish - chances are there will be plenty more shifts on offer.

BeenAsFarAsMercyAndGrand · 06/08/2021 22:19

And I'm still confused at why the OP thinks a taxi ride in a non rural area will wipe out the earnings from a shift (which will be at least £45 ish).

lljkk · 06/08/2021 22:23

My teens are well employed. Rural East Anglia.

13yo DS - paper round(s)
17 yo - paper round & chippy (about 30 yrs/week)
19yo - pub-restaurant & website scraping; was offered FT permanent scraping job but can't do that as back to Uni soon

Pub is 9 miles away so I guess one-way taxi would be £16-£20?

Kid clubs, care homes, home help, cleaners, waitressing -- the recent local(ish) job adverts

last summer DD worked in a carehome, she has utter respect now for anyone in that job, didn't want to do it again. Bartending is funner.

Lemoncurd · 06/08/2021 22:36

In June my 17 yr old felt like she was never going to find work, then suddenly had 3 jobs! Waitressing in a pub at weekends, babysitting and weekday picking and packing. She's complaining that they want her to work more hours than she wanted to.

Cattitudes · 06/08/2021 22:45

Yr11s and yr13s might have finished earlier and have picked up some of the available jobs before yours were even looking.

Original poster
54321nought · 08/08/2021 03:03

@Cattitudes

Yr11s and yr13s might have finished earlier and have picked up some of the available jobs before yours were even looking.
maybe. that might account for some of it. I Hadn't thought of that
OP posts:
ginfixx · 08/08/2021 05:51

I’ve got 2 DS’s at uni , one has found a zero hours job in a trampoline park , which has been great , but the other DS has really struggled to find anything for the holidays , he’s applied for loads of jobs but has not had any luck , so i am feeling for him

He has now applied with a friend to working at festivals for rest of summer, so fingers crossed something will come of that ,,,?

Ritasueandbobtoo9 · 08/08/2021 05:59

I think they left it too late. I had a few jobs before and when I was in Uni but the second year I left it too late and came off placement later than others and only picked up two factory shifts. Early birds!

Oblomov21 · 08/08/2021 07:33

Ds1 has done ok. Was employed by Sainsbury's until last month, now got another fixed contract at a different Sainsbury's until January. Also a permanent job at screwfix since last month. And was offered 2 restaurant jobs this week that he's had to decline.

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