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 ?

I have never had a part time job in hospitality or retail

You've missed out on quite an experience. It’s not compulsory though- doesn’t mean you’ve failed. I find the people that have are always very nice to shop assistants and waiters etc as they understand.

I find the people that have are always very nice to shop assistants and waiters etc as they understand.

I agree. I had a Saturday job in a couple of shops between the ages of 15 and 18, and I remember how tiring it was to be on my feet all day. I'm always nice to retail wokers. Actually I like to think that I'm nice to everyone.

I haven’t worked in a shop, but did do waitressing at university. It felt good to have own money.

Ds is doing a waiter type job, it’s better than doing stuff in the kitchen as he works with public.

I do see that times have changed, none of us worked back then but nearly all Ds friends do - it is a state school though maybe private has a different feel, not sure. Other Ds is in private but I’d still encourage work even if friends don’t (I think, hard to say for sure what he can take, he’s got a while to go)

@WombatChocolate speaks a lot of sense.

Most people I know really enjoyed their part time jobs as a teen. I had the time of my life in a restaurant, working with people my own age.

There are enough hours in the day for A levels and a part time job.

There’s also generally a good social life to be found with these part time jobs. New friends to be made that aren’t school friends, people of different ages etc.
DS is still in touch with the people he worked with after GCSEs and sees them when he’s back.

Yes, DD is still in touch with one of her workmates from her gap year which was over three years ago now.

if the dc is generally pretty focussed and self motivated I’d say yes get a job

I worked in McDonald’s when I was at sixth form and although I didn’t love it at the time it was a very useful learning experience and almost certainly helped me get other jobs further down the line. I was also very focussed academically though.

My DS17 works as a lifeguard doing 14 hours each weekend while doing 4 a levels.

He has agreed that if his grades start to slip he will reduce his hours. He was recruited to do 12 hours each weekend but was doing 16 ( because they were short of lifeguards ) before deciding for himself to reduce to 14.

It has been amazing for his personal development and he has matured so much since taking the job.

Razzle, yes I think lots of parents maybe think that too.
Personally I think 6th Form life can still be pretty carefree even when working a shift of paid work. These jobs don’t bring the pressure and hours of grad careers, just some benefits of being exposed to the real world and draping confidence, without huge burdens.

But yes, it’s another reason parents might have for discouraging it...and maybe a sense of hanging onto childhood and ‘saving’ their kids from seemingly onerous responsibilities for longer. Some would like to save their kids from those responsibilities for much longer still and want to keep them as children well into their 20s.

"These jobs don’t bring the pressure and hours of grad careers, just some benefits of being exposed to the real world and draping confidence, without huge burdens."

Oh if I could turn back time:)...

@WombatChocolate Agreed 100%. One of the many important points you bring out in your insightful posts.

Yes it’s a bit of a test run, be on time, be able to get along, work, but not really counting, meeting other young people doing the same. If it needs to be scaled back so be it.

I get why others don’t want to though, which is fine

DS is not the most sociable teenager, having a job in hospitality where he has to interact with a team and sometimes members of the public has been invaluable for him. If he wasn’t working he would be holed up in his room.

It pays for his driving lessons

There's only so many hours you can study during the week and still take it in. And there's 168 hours in the week. Doing 10-20 hours of work, maybe less in the run-up to exams, is more than doable for most students

Presumably you're happy for your child to sleep at some point??? And to eat, relax, have hobbies etc???
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??

Yes it’s a bit of a test run, be on time, be able to get along, work, but not really counting

Do you not think full time education requires young people to be on time, get along with others and work?

Doing A levels isn’t the equivalent of a full time job though? Just dropped year 12 Dd and a car load of pals who stayed over last night into town for their jobs so here most kids have jobs.

To an extent. Ds is sociable, has many friends, does the work to get the grades, but he’s very relaxed about things. He doesn’t stress about stuff, everything is fine.

Getting a job was going outside his comfort zone, it’s quite well known London restaurant (not posh more trendy) and I think he’s gained confidence from being there and experiencing a different environment.

His recent report was good, we might discuss stepping away when exams come round, we’ll see. It’s individual but for him it’s been good so far.

Or, like me, they really do want them to have a couple of years of being fancy free with limited responsibility beside studying hard (which both do, manically so actually) and then playing a shit tonne of sport at the weekend and being with friends or simply chilling at home

@shortandpaleandoldandugly are you okay with students having hobbies, social lives? Your first post said A-levels are full-time and students shouldn’t have time to do anything else.

They aren’t working same hours in 6th form as a full time job though. It’s 4/5 hours a week classes per A level then a recommendation to do similar study private on top. My DC finishes at lunch on a Wednesday. They have study periods free in day too.
Obviously if they are commuting hours then that eats into time, mine goes to school locally. Work is 2 mins walk away.
She’s only been working August but it’s definitely taught new her skills and been eye opening for her. Totally different to interacting with people at school.

My DS works weekend evenings. He is not a social butterfly so wouldn’t be out socialising. I wouldn’t be expecting him to be studying on a Saturday night, so he gets to go out be sociable and earn some money and be home in time to watch Match of the Day, whilst having done some studying in the morning. Seems a good balance to me

I don’t think a PT job of say 9-10 hours a week is a massive responsibility or getting in the way of being ‘fancy free’ whatever that actually means. Mine did that, studied, socialised and played football for 2 teams and it was absolutely fine.

Depends totally on the child. DS wanted to do it and I was happy for him to do it. Some DC may not be so committed or organised. But I felt it was his choice and Im pleased he did it.

Balance is key. If they are competing at county level sport 4 times a week, commuting 90 mins each way to school etc then yes a job probably isn’t going to fit.
This weekend my yr 12 DC has done her dance hobby 2 hours and is working 5 hours this evening leaving plenty of time to study and socialise (and be on her phone)
I

Age old thing on mumsnet.
Some posters - unless you do what they are doing, it’s wrong

That’s not true. People are sharing their experiences and being asked for opinions as per the thread title.
Everyone can get as defensive as they like it doesn’t matter, they’ll make their own choices after reading the thread.

Or, like me, they really do want them to have a couple of years of being fancy free with limited responsibility beside studying hard

A point, somewhat ignored on this thread, is that young people might actually be enjoying their jobs. Both my DC have made new friends through their jobs, and in the case of my DD especially, really enjoys it. She would probably do it even if she wasn't being paid :)

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?

A full time job is not remotely the same as doing A Levels. It's generally around 40 hours a week, plus commute time if you don't work from home. Whereas A Levels have about 4 timetabled hours per week per subject and the expectation of about 4 hours self study i.e. 24 hours a week if you're taking the standard 3 and still only 32 if you're taking 4 or 3+EPQ. Plus sixth formers in general will do far less housework/childcare/life admin than their parents with full time jobs have to fit in. I'd happily do an evening job at Tesco if it got me out of cooking, cleaning, laundry and other miscellaneous tasks :)