Is it worth kids doing a levels getting a part time job, or would you prefer your schedule to concentrate on their studies ?

[GingerKittenTail]

? The balance of a teen wanting to earn some money
but also having a lot to do work wise

what are your thoughts ?

Why wouldn't people working full time get a part time weekend job?

A levels are not 37.5 hours a week, even if you combine classes are revision. Also, I'm already earning all the money I need in my job, so why would I work extra at the weekend as well? Whereas my child doing A levels wouldn't be earning any pocket money by only studying and not working a few hours on a weekend.

What a strange question to back up your side of the argument.

I'll repeat my question to those who have full time jobs- why don't you also get a part time job in the evenings? After all, it would be great for your CV, show an amazing work ethic to future employers and bring in more cash for the family. Win win surely??

That is such a strange take on things, as a PP has said A Levels are not a FT job. Unfortunately some people have to do that in order to bring more cash in, nothing to do with CVs or work ethic.

Not to mention that if your full time job is a well paid professional one, then a part time job in retail/hospitality in the evening doesn't look great on your CV. Actually you probably wouldn't even put it on your CV.

If you're a sixth former with no work experience however ...

Yes I don't think when going for professional roles, sticking on your CV that you are a barmaid at the Red Lion 5 evenings a week is going to sway those potential employers in your favour somehow.

My son at school 7.45am for rugby practise 2x a week.
then 8am 2x a week for sixth form prefect duty.

He finishes school at 6pm 2x a week post basketball practise and swimming. 1x a week he does prefect duty (french practise with year 7s struggling).

His A levels take up most of the other time at school or revision.

so on the 2 days he’s back at 4.45, he chills, , go for a run, walks the dog, cooks one night a week or the family, watches mindless films, games, spends an inordinate amount of time on the phone to his girl friends.

weekends…. Rugby Saturday and Sunday. Afternoons a looooong bath, and homework , and then over to girlfriends on sat night and she over here on Sunday.

it’s full on

does he have time for a job? Theoretically hell yes. But would mean dropping something from the above - and he sure as heck would miss anything from the above and… well in view of fact I can afford to support him (he’s very cheap!!), then happy for him to continue with this life

If my DS wasn’t so in to sport, a prefect and wasn’t such a social bee… then I would encourage a job definitely as would have so much time twiddling thumbs

Just do this then. It’s not compulsory.

Others are finding it beneficial and are posting about it.

Yes but the undertone of some posts is clearly that not doing is setting your child up for failure 😂

You sound a somewhat defensive. No need, just do what you and he want.

Yes but the undertone of some posts is clearly that not doing is setting your child up for failure

That's what you are personally reading into some posts by the sound of it.

Have a nephew who is very smart and worked, he got all A grades at A level. My son is in his first year of A levels and will be starting a part-time job at McDonald’s soon. Thus will mean he’s juggling football, his girlfriend and a placement at a GP surgery. If it becomes too much then he will give up the job.

oh come on! 😂

Some have. Certainly not all

I’ll bow out (my son is still in the bath - having been in there listening to music and topping it up with scorching water for the last… 90minutes. I’m just a little jealous!)

You sound a somewhat defensive. No need, just do what you and he want.

I agree. I hate the expression 'you do you' but this applies here i think.

TMI.

My DD is McDonald’s and has found it very good so far. They put their timetable on, hobbies and can blank out days unavailable eg she’s going on a school trip. She seems to get one 5 or 6 hour shift at weekend. She can pick up more in Holiday. They have a decent shift manager who deals with under 18s and lots of staff so she isn’t being pressured to work more.

My ds has part time job whilst doing extended btech but he only does about 8-10 hrs some of his friends did a lot more and many have given up 2nd year started working more instead
The 8-10 hrs works for him as he still has downtime and time to do assignments etc and gives him some of his own money

Lots of 16-17 would like paid part time work in our area (London) but have found it difficult to compete with over 18 yr olds with more experience who can commit to more hours, zero hours contracts, short notice shifts etc.

We hired a 17 yr old college student as an after school babysitter and it was an eye opener hearing her experience of p/t retail and hospitality work - eg min 2x12 hour weekend shifts etc, no flex round exam time etc. The 8 hours or so we offered her was ideal in comparison.

There are a LOT of adults looking for part time and temp work in London for a variety of reasons. There are also lots of employers who want more than a couple of 4 hour shifts a week from an inexperienced 16 yr old.

Also we took in to account what our DS wanted as its hid life, we don't pressure ours to be earning 50k by 25etc or getting all A's
We just encourage they do their best and try and do something they enjoy , money is not the be all and end all , it doesn't make everyone happy and we teach them a bin man is just as valuable as a high flying banker , its all about what they want to do and enjoy

@dameofdilemma not London but dS works in macdonalds and they are great with shifts , he gets 1 or 2 a week and puts in when he can't , ask extra some holidays
At 16 £8 an hr as well which is better than a lot of shops
We have found them a pretty good employer for his age group

@Razzle5 my son also plays rugby and goes out with mates and he has a job but im sure if we fully could afford to buy all his stuff and help him run his car he would choose not too but we can't but his employer is good and no pressure to work more than needed

It's interesting how quite a few posters on the thread have said that they don't want their DC to get jobs as it will detract from their studies.

And yet, as this post shows, some DC already spend hours and hours on extra-curricular activities - in this poster's case it's sport, for others DCs it will be music or drama. Why is there not a worry that doing these will similarly detract from study?

(I do agree that if your child is already doing loads of extra curricular, then a job on top may well be too much).

Mine worked in the holidays but not in term time. They were lucky enough to have something they could drop in term time but would still be available to them every holiday.

Same at university, though DD2 had to stop part-time work for her Masters, the course was just too intense and required her to study in the evenings and at weekends.

That’s sounds great. I’m hoping the McDonald’s he is starting at will do something similar.

And yet, as this post shows, some DC already spend hours and hours on extra-curricular activities - in this poster's case it's sport, for others DCs it will be music or drama. Why is there not a worry that doing these will similarly detract from study?

It's doing those things (and/or long journey time to school) plus a job which could be problematic.
For some kids a job might for all sorts of reasons be more beneficial than extracurriculars - and for others the opposite may apply.