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 ?

@WombatChocolate Agreed with your whole post.

My DD is doing art, looking at an A *, she also plays sax in three orchestras, is studying for her theory driving test and her grade 8 clarinet, along with two other A levels..
She doesn’t have a job

@AnnapurnaSanctuary
Both my son's had church organist positions. Both learnt the organ 'on the job' having got up to grade 6 or so on the piano. Very good sight reading was a key skill.

Other possibilities are, accompanying choirs, busking - which is great in the run up to Christmas, or (depending on instruments) set up a group and offer themselves for weddings etc.

As an aside DS2 has just gone to Oxford with an organ scholarship so our church doesn't have an organist at present.
If anyone lives in the Windsor area and has s child who might be interested in the role (or might like the job themselves) feel free to PM me for details and a job spec.

When mine were small I always thought well of friends teens doing their jobs. Obviously it’s a balance but generally a good thing.

Dd did have a pt job. However, she doesn’t at uni.

But all those things listed are things she is having to learn while doing her Uni course due to the extra things she is doing. The Mooting competitions have helped everything on that list, except money management. And the legal clinic they have at the university also covers all those things except money management.

We do finance her. But she gets money at the beginning of the month and has to manage it. any spare goes into her ISA or premium bonds which are totting up nicely. She has always managed her own money. Like ds (11) does now.

I think those things are important. I don’t think working a part time job is the only way to get those skills.

Surely it depends on individual circumstances? DH was at boarding school, school days were six days a week, longer hours than most adults work let alone study. I did a vocational course that was basically a full time job in terms of hours, and then had a delightful juggle of trying to please two separated parents on weekends with visits. Neither of us had part time jobs alongside that, it would have been too much. Summer holiday jobs are fair enough and can surely give similar life experience to a few hours on a Saturday. I don't intend to make my children get part time jobs while studying full time.

I think my dd part time job actually got her her place at a prestigious uni. It was related to the subject tho she got it as it was local and then loved it.

as a grad employer I tend to favour those who have worked in some capacity - they can have more skills than pure academic

It is a bit harder to get a part time job whilst at uni (which will most likely be necessary unless you’re loaded) if you’ve never had a job before - there will be loads of students applying who have had a job before and they will be further up the pile.

DD worked 4 hours a week on a Sunday in a shop when she was 16 until she was 18 whilst doing A Levels. So only a few hours a week but it was something to put onto her CV to show she’d had an additional responsibility.

If the spare time is being used to play instruments to a high level well that’s amazing! Sadly that was not to be in our house! So mid level hockey and a weekly shift in a cafe will have to do!

Thanks for the ideas @Grumpyoldpersonwithcats. Although all the churches I know have organists who do it for free!

Dcs didn’t have a PT job.
They learnt a lot of the stuff listed by @alwayslearning789 through studying, training (sport) and volunteering.

Both dcs had opportunities to ‘work’ (very short term during school hols) and neither of them have had any issues ‘fitting in’ or ‘handling audit responsibilities’, quite the opposite really.

FFS no idea where the illiterate apostrophe in sons came from in my last post. Apologie.

DC1 had a job from 15 and it's been great for them, but DC2 turned 15 when Covid arrived and never did.
DC2 is now doing A-levels in practical subjects, so needs weekends for research / project work - and has a much longer commute to school meaning they don't get home until 5.30 most days - so has put off plans to work until after A-levels. I agree that it will bring confidence and useful skills.

I guess it all depends on the child.
DD is now in Yr 13, she hasn't chosen the easiest of A levels. She studies hard but always has and she is the only girl in 2 of her subjects.
Shes done an extra course at 6th form ,plus she volunteers and is active in Scouts.When she was looking at uni's that offer the course she wants to do they were all saying any work experience on personal statements is preferable over those that have none.
In Sept she got an 8 hr Contract at a local shopping village she does more depending on her own study schedule I leave it up to her. Her manager loves her and knows full well she's not a keeper as soon as its uni time.
I have seen her come out of her shell so much these past few mths.Shes much more confident, has started socialising more and is taking everything in her stride.The transformation has been remarkable She has secured work experience in her chosen field for Feb half term which will require her to go down south for a full week Alone which she would never have done previously.
She has had offers from 3 of her 5 uni choices already so I guess it hasn't hurt.
All the above has been her choice with our full support it depends on how resilient they are but her 2 older brothers are another thread entirely 😀

My DD didn't have a job while at school. She had quite a long bus ride, a fairly heavy timetable plus outside activities at the weekend, and we lived in a village with no work opportunities.

She had no problems whatever getting internships in the summer vacs while at uni and then a proper job after. She's very sensible with money and has a good work ethic,

That's interesting. Round here there a lot of organist vacancies and both my sons are regularly asked to cover elsewhere. I don't know any organist who would play for free.

It's possible to work part time at A levels and also get straight As. I did it! I'd also rather my children have a good work ethic and understand a good balance.

If working a just few hours a week would crush your child's dreams of good grades, I'd be seriously worried about the amount you're having them study and their capabilities.

My philosophy?

They we’re will work decades. Probably a decade longer than me and the posters on this thread.

So if I can give them a few years of study and friends and no work responsibilities…. Then I will.

My parents did. And didn’t do me a jot of harm in terms of my financial expertise now as a single parent who is a dentist professional

It’s not for everyone and I wouldn’t sell the need to anyone else - it’s up to them and their dc.

But I don’t agree you can’t do four A levels get too grades and do some paid work. Ds responds positively to it overall so that’s key for us.

Top grades..

It’s been good for dd in y12. She’s very studious but spent a lot of time at the weekend looking at her phone. Her cafe job has pushed her out of her comfort zone and gives her practice speaking to strangers- and gives her something to do and some money (plus left over cakes!)
she was the one who wanted to get a job but I helped her write a little cv and had to really push her with going in to cafes to hand it in. That bit was the hardest.

ds y12 is a lunchtime supervisor at his own school and he’s enjoyed it and it obviously doesn’t impinge in his studies at all.

Depends on their natural abilities and self discipline, subjects too.

Personally I would always opt for them to focus 100% on studies. It really will pay off and there’ll be plenty of time for menial jobs when they’re at university.

Both mine worked but it was zero contract so during busy periods with exams they didn't have to work at all but during holidays they upped their hours
Both got to chosen unis and got top grades. They also did their gold D of E.

It's possible to work part time at A levels and also get straight As. I did it!

But not everyone is you @cc1997, otherwise all 18 year olds would get straight As, wouldn't they? You are clearly brighter than many students.

Comments like this are rather pointless.

It's like me saying if I can bake a cake without a recipe then so can someone else, or if I can pass my driving test first time then why doesn't everyone else?

Summer holiday jobs are a good idea but work in the week will take time away from study, with negative reaults for their grades.

If they’re aiming for good grades and a prestigious uni, high earning power etc then don’t let them get a job in term time.

If they aren’t aiming for uni, and grades aren’t so important for their intended career path (eg sctir, olumber, builder etc) then a job may be a good idea.