Dd feeling really despondent that she cant get a part time job.

[bullinchina]

Looking for some advice. Over A Level summer my DD has really ramped up the job search and has found it extremely difficult.She initially applied to high-street retailers but only got two interviews and both were unsuccessful.

She’s also tried agencies, but most vacancies are full-time and don’t fit around university. Shes tried the uni student union and their jobs page, but many of those are suitable for second and third year students rather than first year or are a one off role. We’ve asked family and friends as well, but many are in the same position and struggling to find work.

Recently,she had a trial shift at a kumon place where she was pleased as they were acting as if she already had the job, and were teaching her tge method they use. She however then messaged for confirmation if she does have the job, and has been ghosted.
Shes feeling really down about this as she does need the money.

Ds 17 wrote the names and numbers of every restaurant within a 5 mile radius. He rang them all asking if they needed staff.

Ds has asd and is frankly a fucking nightmare dc..
He has been a waiter for about 5 months now and absolutely loves it.

We have eaten there and he has been well accepted by the staff.

She has cold called many restaurants. Chains say apply online, independents often look for experience or hire friends/family

A lot of university towns are saturated with students. Ones who have previous experience in retail or hospitality will be top of their lists. Also she needs to be fully flexible (not great if you have a busy uni schedule) and be prepared to work through holidays. Tell her to apply for everything she sees and consider taking a job that isn't quite what she wants just to add work experience to her CV.

If she was interested in Kumon, would she consider becoming a tutor? Quite a few students do that.

It's a nightmare for them. My daughter has so many 'trial shifts- I.e where you wash up for free and then never hear from them. I paid her to do jobs for me and eventually she got a pt pub job but blimey it was hard work! Tell dd not to give up it's tough right now.x

Would she work as a support worker or as a carer?

It’s really hard for young people to find any job. It’s not her.
Can you help her financially? It’s kind of a mistake to assume a part time job for uni students in today’s climate.

Would she consider care work? Care homes are always looking for staff.

Otherwise it’s a numbers game, keep applying. My nephew applied to macdonalds 3 times and went through the interview process twice before getting a job.

She always puts that she is completely flexible and is applying to any jobs she sees eg childcare

Shes already a young carer at home, technically she could but understandably she wants to work to have a break

I cant really. I wish i could but i cant afford it. Shes also worried that she wont get any experience

Has she tried hotels. Ds worked in one through uni as event staff (weddings/funerals/charity or business events etc).

Shifts are shit, last minute sometimes, sometimes split shifts and usually unsociable. He had to work most weekends in December and Christmas/New years day, no holidays allowed as peak time. Then it would be quiet in January/February. There are 4 of them who get a bit over minimum wage as they have been there and reliable for a while now.

His hotel is always looking for staff, especially this time of year leading up to Christmas parties as many younger folk are unreliable, but it will give her some experience on her CV to help get a different job later.

In the meantime, she could claim carers credit to get NIC credits towards her state pension for being a carer.
https://www.gov.uk/carers-credit

McDonald's is good for students and always looking for staff.
My son did it as a student and thought they were a really good company to work for.

Does the uni have a jobs agency?
I worked loads of events as a student, horse races, parties etc, either waitressing or bar staff.
Once you were seen to be flexible and someone who would work weekends you got first refusal of anything which came up.

What about doing some admin in an estate agents? They may appreciate the help. I used to do this as a second job. Appreciate she may want more hours but that may come after some experience

A lad I know walked in to the local pub and asked if they needed any help. They hired him on the spot. Since left for another pub with better hours to fit around his studies. Walked in there and asked too.

Physically go in with a CV.

The big chains are definitely used to taking on people with no experience. I do think (though I know it’s mentally very hard) that they apply apply apply and she’ll get something. It’s hard not to see and feel ‘rejected’ when they don’t get the job but it’s not personal most of the time. As you say… if someone comes along with experience then yes they will go with that person as a safer bet. As someone else has said, it’s annoyingly a numbers game and it’s an important but tough lesson to have to go through. A friend’s daughter applied to John Lewis in the summer before she started her course so she wasn’t competing with everyone once she started and got a job. I appreciate that doesn’t help you for this year however.

Depending on where she is, tell her to go onto the ‘Host’ app.

I'm in my late 50s. I am looking for a part-time job. I have applied for 3 - rejected for all 3. I am seriously overqualified for the jobs I'm applying for-I need something to supplement my pension. I feel your daughter's pain.

I agree with a pp that physically going into places like pubs, restaurants, cafes and shops with a CV is better than phoning. DD got two jobs that way and also worked as a Kumon assistant for a while, so I think your DD has just been unlucky. Try agencies which have ad hoc catering work depending on where she is - Stint is one but can't remember other names off the top of my head. Other than that she just has to be very persistent, try not to take it personally and keep trying. It's not easy.

I don’t know if this is geographically helpful or not, but could she consider applying now and then going to a very touristy area such as Devon or Cornwall next summer. Some of the large hotels will have live-in jobs and there is quite a young ‘scene’ around surfing etc. She wouldn’t necessarily need to drive as some hotels are set close to villages with a shop, pub etc and everything centres around the beach anyway.

Au pair / mother’s help? Some families employ students to help with post school rush and babysitting.

My friend had a good gig in student days doing school pick up twice a week and helping with homework/ getting to clubs etc for harassed mother of five.

DS2 worked at Papa Johns for almost five years. They kept his job open for holidays when he went to uni. Staff came and went all the time. Weekly. These places are always needing people. He just walked in and asked at 16.
Not the most glamorous, but had lots of questioning about it during his internship interviews this year (which he got).

My eldest applied to a few places but eventually got a job at Costa and later vodka revs (once 18) youngest worked at McDonald’s and a soft play.
Has she tried fast food outlets?