Job application for 14yr old. Please can I ask for some advice?

HappyCamperTent · 2023-12-03T09:16:26+00:00

Hello, My son has just written a letter to send around local businesses to find a job. However a lot of the businesses such as shops, cafes, pubs don’t seem to have an email address! So we’re wondering whether it’s okay nowadays to pop in with letters? The follow up with a phone call. What did your teenager do when asking for a job that wasn’t advertised?

Whatapickle23 · 03/12/2023 09:22

Crikey, that sounds a bit old fashioned! At that age, he's probably better off going to a local market early in the morning and asking at each stall if they need any help. Or maybe at a hand car wash place.

14 is considered quite young to be working nowadays. Cafes and shops have to be careful because they aren't usually insured to employ children.

Hbh17 · 03/12/2023 09:23

Surely cafes and shops won't be taking anyone under 16?

Cascais · 03/12/2023 09:27

Sounds perfect

autumn666 · 03/12/2023 09:30

My DC both got their jobs by making a list of all the shops, pubs and restaurants that were local enough and ringing around. My DS got a job on his 7th phone call and my DD (14) now works at one of the first places he called who rang him back a few weeks later saying they now needed someone.

Doggymummar · 03/12/2023 09:32

https://childlawadvice.org.uk/information-pages/child-employment/#:~:text=The%20general%20rule%20is%20that,or%20interfere%20with%20their%20education.

Perfectly legal. I worked in a shoe shop from that age on a Saturday. Handing them in is a great idea. So long as he does it. I used to have a lot of Saturday kids when I ran a Woolworths store but never looked at a CV a parent delivered as it looks like the kid wasn't interested but the parent said you need to get a job.

Child employment - childlawadvice.org.uk

This page explains the law on children and young people working including how old a child or young person must be to work, what type of work they can do and the maximum amount of hours they can work.

https://childlawadvice.org.uk/information-pages/child-employment#:~:text=The%20general%20rule%20is%20that,or%20interfere%20with%20their%20education.

RaininSummer · 03/12/2023 09:32

He sounds enterprising but as above, at 14, he will probably only find casual, cash, work as there are a lot of rules and regulations about what work under 16s can do. Could he set himself up to offer a car wash service locally or something like that

Original poster

HappyCamperTent · 03/12/2023 14:33

Whatapickle23 · 03/12/2023 09:22

Crikey, that sounds a bit old fashioned! At that age, he's probably better off going to a local market early in the morning and asking at each stall if they need any help. Or maybe at a hand car wash place.

14 is considered quite young to be working nowadays. Cafes and shops have to be careful because they aren't usually insured to employ children.

He’s my 1st teenager, so I understand I’m out of touch.

We live in a small village, with a cluster of other smaller villages so cafes, pubs, etc are the norm.

No markets or carwashes around here

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Original poster

HappyCamperTent · 03/12/2023 14:34

Hbh17 · 03/12/2023 09:23

Surely cafes and shops won't be taking anyone under 16?

A lot of his friends have jobs, their are the same age.

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Original poster

HappyCamperTent · 03/12/2023 14:35

Cascais · 03/12/2023 09:27

Sounds perfect

Thank you. Has emailed a couple of places and I asked about whilst out on a walk this morning. I’m conscious that he needs to do it himself really though

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Original poster

HappyCamperTent · 03/12/2023 14:35

autumn666 · 03/12/2023 09:30

My DC both got their jobs by making a list of all the shops, pubs and restaurants that were local enough and ringing around. My DS got a job on his 7th phone call and my DD (14) now works at one of the first places he called who rang him back a few weeks later saying they now needed someone.

Great! We’ll do that this afternoon. Thank you

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Original poster

HappyCamperTent · 03/12/2023 14:36

Doggymummar · 03/12/2023 09:32

https://childlawadvice.org.uk/information-pages/child-employment/#:~:text=The%20general%20rule%20is%20that,or%20interfere%20with%20their%20education.

Perfectly legal. I worked in a shoe shop from that age on a Saturday. Handing them in is a great idea. So long as he does it. I used to have a lot of Saturday kids when I ran a Woolworths store but never looked at a CV a parent delivered as it looks like the kid wasn't interested but the parent said you need to get a job.

Absolutely! I don’t think it comes across very well!

My first job was in woolies at 16 😀

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Original poster

HappyCamperTent · 03/12/2023 14:37

RaininSummer · 03/12/2023 09:32

He sounds enterprising but as above, at 14, he will probably only find casual, cash, work as there are a lot of rules and regulations about what work under 16s can do. Could he set himself up to offer a car wash service locally or something like that

That’s all he’s after. My pocket money of £20 a week isn’t enough apparently 🙄

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RJnomore1 · 03/12/2023 14:37

Handing in in person gives them a chance to see he is friendly, polite, approachable and well presented so I’d suggest it over emails for the type of work he is looking for anyway.

There are tight regulations o er how many hours etc he can do but no reason at all he can’t have a job.