How on earth do I persuade my DS aged 21 that this is a terrible idea ?

[Wordsfailmeeverytime]

He’s just graduated from Uni with a first class degree. Applied for 30 odd jobs, mainly NMW as there’s nothing going in the field his degree is in. Has had a couple of interviews with no success.
‘A friend’ from uni has told him about an opening working as a cycle delivery person. Essentially delivering parcels around our local city on an electric bike. Pay is apparently £13ph. It will take him 1hr 20 to get to the job to start with. He doesn’t know the city at all. He’s not ridden a bike for 10 years and certainly not on busy city roads. He can’t drive yet (has just started lessons). He’s not the most confident, in fact I suspect there may be some undiagnosed autism going on but he’s resistant to take it further. I think it’s mad.
Appreciate I may be overreacting, what do others think ? There’s no pressure on him to start paying rent, we appreciate how hard it is to find employment but this just seems so foolish.

I can't see the issue myself. Getting a non-grad job while continuing to look for more suitable roles is fairly normal. If the commute is too much, he will discover that for himself.

I'd be grateful he has a work ethic and back off a bit. He needs to find his way.

He'll be fine on an electric bike although the commute seems long. Wish my 21 year old ds would have a bit more of a work ethic. Currently still at Uni but not managed to find any work in the holidays for the past 3 years. Things do seem pretty dire for young people at the moment sadly.

Also cycling will help him with his driving efforts.

I have (adult and younger) DC with ASC. They will surprise you by making leaps, pushing their capabilities. OTOH sometimes they will find something doesn't work for them and regroup. It's good for them. You're in the background if he needs you. I'm sure he'll be fine.

No help for you I'm afraid op, because I think it's a good idea.

Yabu
Be proud he's being independent & taking initiative.

He's landed a job! This is good news. The commute might be a pain but having a job will boost his confidence and get him up and out. He'll still apply for graduate jobs. Fingers crossed that he gets one soon but it could be many months.

Least it's a start isn't it ? he can figure it out for himself if it isn't suitable or not saying that get him to check there isn't a fee for the bike, if not let him crack on.

At 21 I don't think you can tell them anything as you are "wrong" or interfering.

I'd make him a packed lunch like you did when he was at school and wave him goodbye!

What is it you're worried about? Either it'll work out or it won't - and he'll learn something whichever way it goes, no?

You don't. You let him work it out for himself.

I think it's a terrible idea, can't he get a job stacking supermarket shelves or a factory job if he wants something to tide him over. I did various shop/factory jobs before, during and after uni until I got a career type job. An electric bike round a strange city under pressure to deliver the required number of parcels (they get very little time per parcel) recipe for disaster.

The more you push, the more he will pull

Id smile and nod and say ' well gods it a go and see how you get on with it' and then let him come to his own conclusions

If it's his home city, that's one thing, but given the schedules for these kind of deliveries it will be really challenging for someone from outside the area I suspect. Does he have a history of overestimating his own abilities? Is that why you're concerned? I think a lot of recent graduates are delaying by doing Masters etc at the moment in the hope things will improve in a couple of years. Is that an option?

I don't think you're overreacting at all.

The amount of cyclists I've heard about that have been hit by a car etc.

I'm not sure how you can persuade him not to do it, but I'd perhaps mention your worries to him. I wouldn't normally say that as it might hold him back in life, but in this situation I think I would. Seems ridiculous that it would take him 1hr20 to even get to the job as well.

Doesn't sound like a brill idea. Hopefully something else will come up.

I'm not sure that it will necessarily boost his confidence. It's not a job with prospects and its not in the field he wants.
It's also very easy to get stuck in a role. I think he should continue looking for something that would give him experience in the type of job he wants even if that means voluntary work or temporary work.

I think the worry is mainly potential accidents not whether it will be a good job. The electric bikes around here are all over the road crossing on zebras giving drivers no warning they go so fast, Emerging from side streets ignoring the traffic and being under pressure to get through the deliveries may force him into foolish manoeuvres. He doesn't ride a bike much and doesn't know the city well either.

Good for him, at least he's trying to do something instead of being content to sit around in his pants all day playing Fortnite like so many twenty something's!

If it's awful he'll stop. He's grown, let him make mistakes if he will, it's a good way to learn!

I don't think it's a bad idea. It will get him outside, fit, earning a bit of money which will be good for his independence and self esteem. If it turns out to be horrible he can always leave again.

Let him make his own mistakes, OP. I appreciate the worry, but take a breath and let him off. If it turns out, as you suspect, to be a terrible idea, then he just quits and tries something else.

If it turns out to be a bad idea he can quit.

He’s not delivering packages in Kabul, it’s an ordinary British city. Delivery companies will have the route planned out he’ll just need to follow what his phone tells him.

I don't think it's a terrible idea. Better than doing nothing and will look better when applying for better jobs. A supermarket/bar type job nearer home would be better but he could keep looking for this kind of job while he does the delivering

If he doesn't know the city then he will learn, same as any young person moving to a new place. If he is out of practise cycling then he will improve. If he has never cycled in the city then he will learn that too, same as any person cycling in a city for the first time. I'd see your concerns if he was 9 but he is 21!!

I’m with you @Wordsfailmeeverytime i think it’s a terrible idea, firstly just from a safety perspective. BUT he is an adult. I’d express your concerns and is there anyway you can help him find work? Asking friends etc would re better he does some unpaid experience in something with more relecebt.

I am with you OP, my student DS talked about it: I said any job but that one or no more money from us.
Over my dead body my son will be exploited and risk being maimed, all for the glory of delivering rank food to dodgy parts of town.