to think a work experience should make the tea?

[LouiseD29]

I work in a large-ish agency in central London. It's fairly competitive and as a result we have a steady stream of youngsters all keen for a work experience placement. Some good, some not so good, but I am increasingly noticing that most of them NEVER offer to do a tea round for the team!

It's not like I'm expecting them to be churning out six rounds a day for 25 people, but AIBU to think that it shouldn't be beyond them to spot that 1. People here like tea; 2. If you do a nice thing for people it shows manners and team spirit and they're more likely to remember you and bear you in mind for future vacancies and 3. Everyone else has made a round today so GO AND PUT THE KETTLE ON!

When I was starting out I was constantly looking for opportunities to impress and wouldn't have dreamt of letting someone more senior make me a cup of tea.

AIBU and hopelessly old-fashioned, or do these youngsters have no clue?

I think part of the op's point was that, if everyone else has made the tea, then a work experience person might/should/ought to think to ask if she/he should/could do one?
ie, to be observant and show a little initiative.

particularly a graduate who is 20 years old.

Sometimes a kid could use some guidance though. Surely it's not too much to ask? A bit of guidance for the work experience kid?

Nah, Apocalypse. You see, you're either born to do the job or not. Nobody should have to tell you what to do. You should guess it - that's how the "good one's" (who've never been in a workplace where you're not meant to take any kind of initiative, because that would mean that you're not going through the boss) do it.

Yabu depending on how old they are. Are we talking school age work experiences? They might not be tea or coffee drinkers themselves at that age and it might not occur to them to ask. Ive always drunk tea but cant stand coffee, and feel uncomfortable making it for other people because i know it would probably turn out a really shit cup of coffee.
You want tea? Make it yourself?

They do say that lawyers are born, not made alright. Makes you wonder why they bother with all that book learnin' really.

I don't actually drink tea or coffee so it really pisses me off that people expect me to make it for them.

Unless you work in Starbucks how is making tea and coffee relevant to the work these people are meant to be experiencing anyway?

Yabu.

Everyone should make their own tea tbh.

It is nice if they offer, but I'd never expect it. The average 16 year old person on work experience at least initially is quite daunted by the whole thing, I'd be looking to help them and support them wherever possible, not use them to make me tea.

Even if they were older I still wouldn't expect it. I just want them to be polite and willing to learn really.

YABU and beyond ridiculous,. You keep harping on about "how nice" it would be for someone to bring you a cuppa and "how lovely" it is for someone to make a brew - if its that damn important either make one yourself or work harder and get a job where you get your own actual assistant to delegate such tasks to.

If it's genuinely part of your office culture perhaps take them to one side and explain that. If they are in their early 20's and fresh out of uni they will have little or no concept of working life. Wouldn't kill you to explain it would it. Oh but wait, it will look precious and drama queeny to say so out loud won't it? Ah well.

Though that said,I went on a massive arse missing mission in my previous job and made people tea. They were unfriendly before that. Though sitting with them I wasn't doing the same work as them so they saw no reason to speak to me.

There was the awkward moment I had to reveal I didn't drink tea after cocking up a round though

The BBC make staff pay for everthing

Not in my old department, Easter. We had a free drinks am chine (tea, coffee and chocolate). But no drinks rounds, thank feck.

Am chine? Gah. Machine, obviously.

No, if everyone takes turns and includes the WE people them they should return the favour