18 Year Old Son Desperate For Work, Can't Seem To Get Anything. Can Anyone Give Me Any Ideas On How To Help Him?

[ClearFruit]

My Son is 18. He doesn't have much in the way of qualifications. He is being absolutely ignored on Indeed. I am so worried about his MH. All of his friends have work, and he is just at home all day, getting depressed. Where can I find him something permanent? He will do ANYTHING. Has anyone got any ideas?

TIA.

At that age any job gives you experience so look at nearest big employers and check their recruitment page on their website. Including service and retail for sure, might not be his ideal long term job but getting something on the cv helps to then build upon. Indeed is handy but I do find those third party ones dont show all jobs too, it costs companies to use so the smaller ones are less likely to put jobs on and instead advertise locally. Hope he finds something soon, also with Christmas coming up there's tons of seasonal work that could lead to permanent role or again be something on his cv to flex into another job after.

Loads of places will be taking on temp Christmas staff so that might be a good place to start. Once he has a job on his CV it will be easier to find permanent work. Also look at individual sites like M and S, Tesco, mcdonalds. Also he could go around local pubs, cafes etc to see if they need anyone.

Can he get some qualifications, like studying a course to gain a CSCS Card (for example)? Apprenticeship? If not those, and he just wants a job, then get him to get his CV together and physically go out looking. Lots of local businesses and shops will advertise on their premises that they're looking for people. Or join your local Facebook and ask on there - there will be people who know people who are looking but might not have advertised.

He will feel better going out the house looking for work than sitting around on-line. A lot of shops and businesses put signs in the windows still, he can even drop his CV in at places he wants to work, which looks pro-active.

Is there anything he particularly likes doing, even if he was coaching kids football as a volunteer, for example, that can lead on to jobs and opportunities.

Can he ask his friends if there’s anything going where they work? My dd got her first job through her friend. She’d seen a job advertised and applied and got rejected straight away even though she is very well qualified. Her friend offered to take her CV in and she got an interview that week and got the job.

Maybe work on improving his CV, even of it's just an afternoon a week volunteering somewhere, it'll give him something to expand on both on his applications and at interviews.

Drive home the importance of working hard once in the role, that often leads to more flexibility.

I used to manage retail warehouses, we'd always recruit for 16/24 hour contracts because it's easier to cover the shittier shifts that way. I had a few superstar young men working for us who I genuinely would (and did) anything for ~ including upping contracts/changing shifts etc when there wasn't necessarily a business need in order to retain great talent. Often in retail/service it's physical hard work combined with a pinch of common sense that leads you to succeed. Nice because you don't have to be smarter or better educated to do well.

Don't go on indeed, or anywhere that hires via internet.

Go around independents, bars, cafes, markets, take aways, non chain pubs.

He needs to go in person, and be willing to take anything, much easier to get another job when you already have one.

Totally agree with taking ANY job rather than thinking it's not what he wants long term. And Christmas Temps - Royal Mail will be hiring again for that soon, sometimes those jobs can last a few months too. Also, can he drive? Is there opportunity to learn if not, as that will open up opportunities too.

As well as local FB groups it's worth a post on your local NextDoor and he can get really local work mowing lawns, washing cars, pressure washing drives, paths and patios

I git my job through learn direct......despite being in my 40s with zero work history (( I'd been a carer for years ))

I did courses in retail etc with them, they set up interviews with local businesses and I got the first one I went for. I'm still working there 4 years on. Honestly the best thing I ever did. Think it took 8 weeks from start to finish. I work with a few people who took the same route, one is a 22 year old who just needed that push through the door to get going.

Go back to college.
Look for an apprenticeship/get a trade.

There will be people with years or experience jumping ahead of him. Indeed doesn’t cut it when job hunting - he needs to look directly on companies websites too.

Now is a good time to look because some of the young people who had summer jobs will be going back to school / uni. It's about volume of applications - if you keep applying you will eventually get something! My DS got loads of rejections at this age but ended up with a good job. I assume he's tried McDonald's, supermarkets, pizza chains etc?

Look at volunteering opportunities that also offer training.

A boy of about 18 lives around the corner from me and started his own car valeting business on his front drive. He works full time during the week but seems to clean a couple of cars a day on Saturdays and Sundays earning £50 - £75 a car. I would imagine he watched a bunch of Youtube videos to work out how to do it properly. He does a good job.

Don't know where you are but we are quite rural and there is lots of work available both in the villages and our local town.

He needs to work.... any work looks better on a CV as well as installing a worth ethic and providing an income.

Agree with PP that for shop work (Tesco, Sainsbury, Waitrose etc) you should go to the shop websites and check out their local recruitment requirements.
Warehouse work is usually plentyfull and always in demand, as are unskilled production operatives.
At the end of the day there is always the classic options of McD, BK, pubs etc.

If he can get a driving licence it will open up his options.
Does he have a long-term career in mind?

Is he claiming UC? This will give him access to the job centre, help with any training or mentoring he needs. Does your town/city have an employment Hub? Mine does, run by the Council and the source of information and help. Can he drive? This will open up so many more opportunities (especially at unsocial hours). If you are able, prioritise this. Claiming UC may help with funding lessons. Ruthlessly use any contacts you or family/friends have even if it’s just to do a week shadowing or basic labour: anything to get some stuff on his CV. I agree with volunteering, it can provide skills - charity shops, churches etc might be useful port of call. It would get him used to a routine as well.

At 18 realistically he's not going to find much looking on Indeed, or sitting on his backside expecting someone to find his CV on Indeed.

1. Getting a job is a job and should be treated as such. With time allocated to searching websites, researching and preparing applications, and getting out the door and looking for work.
2. He needs to someone to critically check over his CV and make sure it's working for him. Standard templates are generally useless.
3. He needs to wear out some shoe leather checking out local businesses for hiring notices. Retail and hospitality generally hire from notices in the window, factories will often have vacancy boards at the gate.
4. At this point any job will boost his employment prospects for a better job later. Shop work, trolley pushing, car wash. He doesn't need to find his forever job, or even a permanent job, right away.
5. Sitting at home being depressed only makes him less employable the longer he does it.
6. Not everything he should be doing needs to be directly related to finding work. Spending a couple of hours a week at the local Mens Shed (for example) will benefit his mental health and also demonstrate that he can work alongside others - so it's not entirely without employability benefits.

Look for fun live on jobs aimed at young employees. Instructor at somewhere like Kingswood or PGL.

Pay for some work skills courses First Aid at Work, Food Hygiene, Health and Safety, bar skills / silver service. So he stands out that despite not having academic qualifications he has others.

Does he have any qualifications at all? Is he handy? Is there anything he enjoys doing? Is he sociable?

An 18-year-old really shouldn't have any problems getting a job of some kind, whether it's in a coffee shop, supermarket or warehouse.

• Warehouse jobs, they get especially busy around this time. Evri are especially busy, and have sites all over the UK
• Hospitality, I started off my work journey as a kitchen porter which essentially does the washing up and then moved up to a chef, then a junior sous chef at 18, I was 17 with no experience when I started
• Retail, very busy at Christmas
• Apply for a CSCS card, he will be able to get a job as a labourer on a construction site, which will open doors for him to progress.
• A-Level/ Degree apprenticeships, depending on his qualifications he already has. They pay him, give him experience and also educate him to gain qualifications.

I work in recruitment for construction and warehouse roles and honestly for warehouse vacancies if your willing to work hard and turn up then that's all we want. If he applies for roles, call the hiring company as well to sell yourself, it looks good as they think you are very proactive and want to work.

Have you looked at his CV? Make sure he is selling himself as much as possible.

Otherwise it's a numbers game, just keep applying for absolutely everything and eventually he'll get something.

My dd had to start working at The Range which was terrible money and crap work but gave her some experience to get something better.

He may not have qualifications as such but if he can demonstrate a willingness to learn on the job, reliability, getting on with workmates, good communication skills etc he should find something to get him started. It might not be his ideal job or pay but it's a stepping stone to something better. Has he ever talked about what he'd like to do or have you gauged where his strengths lie and what might suit him longer term? Pls don't be put off by the lack of qualifications: plenty have those and little else.

He needs to go out to local shops, bars, cafes with his CV. DS did this (aged 17, no work experience or qualifications ) and got a job in the local shop.

Does he have any qualifications?

At 18 he will have had two years after GCSEs. Did he go to college and study a vocational course? If so, what in?

If he's got a qualification in (for example) plumbing then he should look for work in that industry,

Without giving his qualifications and interests you will get generic advice.

I noticed a local young man put on a 'community' Facebook page he was looking for work and was met with lots of helpful people impressed with his willingness to find work. Could he do something similar?