Post GCSEs Job

[WinterCarlisle]

Hi

My 16 year old DS is about to start his GCSEs. He’s desperate to get a job following these and would consider pretty much anything. He’s got his NI number (he was 16 last September) and is physically fit, strong and has got good social skills.

The trouble is, most places seem to want 18 year olds or uni students. As he’s our eldest we’re new to all this and although he’s done a lot of looking himself, I’d rather he concentrated on revision at the mo, hence doing some research myself.

He’s considering a career as a primary school teacher so we thought one of those summer camps would be ideal, there’s several near us, but they want uni students rather than 16 year olds.

Any suggestions? Like I said, it’s all new to us and v different to when I was 16 which feels about a million years ago.

Thanks!

Does he play football? My son did a refereeing course and is in great demand to referee matches in lots of age groups and is paid well.

Apparently Greenhalgh, s the bakery were taking on 16'year olds last year?
it's hard though my son is also 16 and due to sit his GCSE,s it's a funny age ,it was so much easier when I was that age!

Or lots of his friends work in McDonald's or restaurants local to us

Is he after money or experience?

He could contact his old primary school and get some volunteering under his belt. My children's old primary takes year 12 students for work experience for 2 weeks. They are supervised as no DBS. Your son should finish mid June exams wise, he could then be in his old primary for 4 weeks or more. The reason I say his old primary is hopefully they remember him. He could also do any of the after school stuff like sports etc that they usually offer. Would look great for his personal statement later on.

For money, Ds's mates did a variety of things, car park person directing traffic for parking for summer events where it is a field rather than an actual car park, factory work of folding flat pack boxes, local football club, retail etc.

Thank you!

These are all really helpful.

@iloveredwine (same) this is something DH was saying but round our way football tails right off during the holidays. It’s definitely something to consider though as he plays high level football. We have a MacD’s near us but they’re not recruiting at the mo. I’ve heard vg things about them as an employer

@MeDoDoDo He did work experience at his old primary. His younger sisters are still there so we have plenty of contact. I have said that if he’s unable to get a paid job then he should seriously consider some volunteering both for experience and his CV / personal statement. He wants to earn some money though as he’d like to be able to save for a car eventually

@x2boys it’s such a funny age! He doesn’t do well just mooching about: he defo needs purpose and structure

Life guarding at a swimming pool?

Start by helping him produce a CV if he hasn't got one already. Obviously it won't have much on it, but he can put on predicted grades, what he hopes to go on to study, interests, awards (DofE? maybe), and any volunteering he has already done. Put a line at the top explaining that "I am a 16 year old student, recently finished GCSE's, looking for my first role to gain some experience in the workplace, prior to going on to study A levels. I would be available to work full-time over the summer and on a part-time basis once I start my A levels."

Then send it or take copies to prospective work places. Do you have a garden centre near you, local cafe's, shopping centres?

If he wants to be a primary teacher, then perhaps contact local holiday clubs, after-school clubs, and playschemes. Our local ones are more than happy to employ 16 year olds as play leaders.

As an aside, some volunteering with children would also be useful - Young Leader in Cubs for example.

My nephew, also age 16 and in first year of sixth form, works as a glass collector at a local pub. His dad found him the job by going round a few busy pubs and asking if they needed help. He works mainly on a Sunday from mid day and maybe one or two nights a week.

Following bc we're in a similar situation. Problem for us is that he's moving away for college from the end of August so it really is only 2 months.

McDonalds always seem to be looking for reliable staff and are happy to take on 16 year olds. Pay well too.

We live near Paultons Park (Peppa Pig land) and they take 16 year olds on zero hours Summer contracts. They can do a variety of jobs; ticket collectors, waiting tables, ride operators etc.
I don’t know if any of the other attractions do similar.