To think Alan Sugar is right

[Grag]

Reading this article I think Lord Sugar has it pretty much spot on regards kids being brought up with their heads in the clouds expecting to get jobs earning millions of pounds and not being prepared to work in order to become successful. I have worked with young people that have reached the age of 21-22 without ever working, due to their parents funding them through university, and while they might have their book smarts, their common sense, not to mention work ethic, is seriously lacking. I worked pretty much from secondary school onwards and I think earning my own money made me appreciate the value of it a lot more.

Is there a link?

I sort of agree with you, although I disagree with you over regional wages in the public sector (different thread altogether).

I will certainly be encouraging my DDs to be taking on small part-time jobs when they are of an age to do so - whilst all the time ensuring that they pay attention to their school work to. Children should learn that you don't get something for nothing - mine have to f/t working parents, they see the lesson every day.

I worked during my uni days to fund my expensive international fencing habit - did free-lance translation and admin work, it certainly did me no harm.

He's just jealous that some people are able to do difficult academic stuff like reading books.

There's nothing wrong with aspiring to something way above where you currently are, but I agree with you that a good dose of reality doesn't go amiss sometimes.

that's me than as ds (18) hasn't ever had a job and expects to earn £££ in the future

i blame shitty programmes like the apprentice for making our kids think that the business world is so easy to get into

I totally agree OP, I had the same conversation a few days ago.

Sorry here is the link:

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2116161/Lord-Alan-Sugar-slams-parents-bringing-generation-fit-claim-benefits.html

I hold the mantra that honestly earned money is good money - I spat my coffee across the office when one little delight told me "I wouldnt demean my self to do something like cleaning - thats what blacks are for"

I agree, to a certain extent. There quite a few young people at work who call their job a stop gap, until they become 'a writer like Carrie Bradshaw' or a 'top business man'. However none of them are actually doing anything outside work to achieve this. The top saying is 'it will work itself out'.

troisgarcons that's disgusting. Aside from the racist side of the comment I absolutely detest people who demean the role of cleaning or think that a particular job is below them.

I worked from about that age. Brilliant grounding. I earn well now, in large part because I graft. It seems like utter common sense to me.

WTF? I don't want to believe anyone would say that out loud. What is wrong with people?

when i was 12 started work in a corner shop saturdays and few hrs after school,then from 14 was a chambermaid weekends and holidays then barwork when 16,i know was illegal but thats what happened (thouhgt i was rich) but some of the problem nowadays is the law on kids working when young compared to years ago they cant do much

my friend wanted to take his son on a building site on work experience,wasnt allowed to the law on this

so this does have some impact on the problem mentioned

i think you're lucky if you know from such a young age the path you want to take, ime most people do end up with jobs that have taken years to find a passion for

i think kids who know at 16 are probably relying on mummy and daddy's opinion on what they need to do

Certainly the laws have an impact on teenagers working these days. That and the recession which has had the effect of weekend jobs (and even paper rounds) having applicants from all walks of life and not just people starting out.

I have worked constantly apart from a 3month break because of redundancy (two years ago), since I was 12. Paper round, saturday jobs in supermarkets and chemists, bar jobs and summer chamber maiding whilst a student. Then offices, more bar jobs, a market research taste tester (!), more office work and yet more office work - the office work got more interesting over the years. I'm 42, but I cannot see my teens having the same experience.

It all looks very bleak out there for young people at the moment. Not helped by pensions being delayed having the knock on effect of not freeing up jobs for the very people the government are berating for not finding work.

but on the other hand, some bosses might be a little more human

But you would think employers would be keen to take on young people since the NMW is younger for them than for adults.

I work with a lot of graduate/student engineers in the oil/gas industry and have not noticed this, in fact most seem to be more mature than the managers here and take things a bit too seriously.

I would imagine doing an engineering degree would screen off a lot of the dreamers in the first place. You're only going to get hard-working dedicated people doing something like that.

Even if Saturday jobs, paper round etc may be hard to come by right now, there's no reason why they shouldn't get involved in voluntary work.

everyone will be voluntary working soon if cameron has his way

My Ds is 16, he has had 2 jobs, the first a Saturday job with comet and worked everyday over Christmas and new year when his contract ended, now works in the local sports centre as a life guard and cleans the changing rooms etc. He loves it and is funding his duke of Edinburgh with his wages.
Inspired by working in comet he wants to be an acoustic engineer.

I worked from thirteen, I am not even sure of the current laws regarding children working.

I think you can still work from 13, but most places won't take you until 16.
Ds is still yr 11 and the leisure centre said they didn't really like employing yr 11s but took Ds on anyway.
Comet were shocked when Ds arrived in his school uniform for a shift after school, obviously he changed when he got there.