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Original poster

To expect A level son to have weekend job

153 replies

Gomango · 09/04/2017 17:39

My argument us that he does nothing college work wise over the weekend. Hanging out, being hungover, on gadgets. Refuses to get job til exams done. I eouldn't mind if he was revising or handing assignments in on time.

OP posts:
NerrSnerr · 09/04/2017 17:58

I think it all depends on family finances. When growing up mine and my friend's parents just didn't have the money to be funding social lives and saving for university so we all worked. Work varied from restaurant stuff, picking fruit and veggies, shop work, and anything seasonal we could get our hands on. Loads of people worked in shopping centre food courts too.

DixieNormas · 09/04/2017 17:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

flibflob · 09/04/2017 17:59

Is he 18 yet? I found it infinitely easier to get even a temporary job once I was 18.

Floisme · 09/04/2017 18:00

This was the report. I don't particularly like the way it points the finger at young people rather than at employers who, as far as I can see, prefer to take someone on a zero hours contract so that they can call them in any day of the week.

Lots of schools don't even offer work experience any more.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-death-of-the-saturday-job-the-decline-in-earning-and-learning-amongst-young-people-in-the-uk

stonecircle · 09/04/2017 18:05

I haven't expected my dcs to get a job when doing A levels to be honest. My youngest (year 13) has tried and has done a few bits and bobs but I'd rather he focused on school work. His brother played a lot of sport and would have had to cut back on that to fit in part time work.

I know it's the done thing to expect older teens to get a job, but I wouldn't want to work all day at school and then have to go out to work in the evening. Or work Saturday and Sunday and never have a day off.

So shoot me now.

Sparklingbrook · 09/04/2017 18:05

My nearly 18 year old Yr 13 has been working part time since the week after his 16th birthday. I think it looks good on the CV and it's done wonders for his confidence.
He has saved up some money and treated himself to loads of stuff he wouldn't have had otherwise.

BestIsWest · 09/04/2017 18:06

Mine has had a few jobs but the problem he's found is that they always expect him to do more than just a Saturday. He's just given up a job washing up in a pub because they had him working a 28 hour week on top of 6th form college. He was knackered.

stonecircle · 09/04/2017 18:07

28 hours! Blimey. Our school ask students not to work more than 10 hours a week.

BestIsWest · 09/04/2017 18:09

Yep, it started at two 5 hour shifts and just snowballed. He didn't like to say no so we had to step in.

BestIsWest · 09/04/2017 18:10

It's not just them either, he had a job with a well known high street store who kept doing the same thing.

Sparklingbrook · 09/04/2017 18:10

My DS does Saturday and Sunday afternoons but nothing in the week. This holiday he will be doing a couple more afternoons, and once the exams are over every shift he can to get more ££ for University.

bruffin · 09/04/2017 18:16

Depends where you live , my dc and all friends dc worked from 16., plenty of jobs around here.
Dd 19 volunteered from 12 at a sn club and was employed from 16 helping some of the parents , then employed by club at weekend and holidays
Ds lifeguard from 16
Friends dc worked in asda, resteraunts and jd sports. Another one cleans cars in dealership garage when they are needed.

Ragwort · 09/04/2017 18:16

I used to do interviews for graduate trainees and we always asked about part time work - employers do look favourably on young people who have at least done a paper round or a voluntary job.

My teenager does a paper round and lots of his mates have jobs in cafes or clearing tables in pubs/babysitting etc. I think it is good discipline and I've yet to meet a youngster who studies all weekend and every evening Grin.

Violetcharlotte · 09/04/2017 18:17

DS1 is first yet 6th form and doesn't have a job either. It annoys me as I think he should, but at the end of the day I can't force him, and I'm not going to stress myself out over it. I've told him I'm not paying for driving lessons or taking him out in my car driving unless he's working and I don't give him any money except for lunch. I do buy him clothes. I figure once he decides he needs the money he'll get a job. Tbf he is v busy at college.

Original poster
Gomango · 09/04/2017 18:21

Thanks for all the replies, disscusing them with my 2 teens as we eat. Apparently life is shit and what's the point if all you do is work and pay bills!!!!! Fun and games!

OP posts:
Tinseleverywhere · 09/04/2017 18:23

I'd rather he studied in his spare time.

Out2pasture · 09/04/2017 18:24

In the community I live in, "student" jobs are mainly filled by middle aged women and post retirement men.

PietariKontio · 09/04/2017 18:25

One of mine worked; the other didn't. I didn't give the latter any more financial help than the former. Therefore their not working only affected them, and it was completely their decision.

My priority was did they do well in their A levels, which they did, and I also saw it as the first of many, albeit small, life lessons to learn - don't work and you can't buy stuff ;)

DevelopingDetritus · 09/04/2017 18:27

So shoot me now. And me.

what's the point if all you do is work and pay bills!!!!! The lads got a point!

Sparklingbrook · 09/04/2017 18:38

DS1 used some of his money for driving lessons and he has now passed his test, plus when his friends are going out he never has to say he can't afford it.
He has also treated us to things with his staff discount. Grin

Floisme · 09/04/2017 18:43

Yes employers like young people with work experience but ... I've seen an interesting statistic somewhere that compares the number of employers who say that work experience is 'crucial' with the number who actually offer it. I'll see if I can find it.

Thisisanotherusername · 09/04/2017 18:52

At this point you should be more concerned about him handing assignments in on time and working hard at his exams than getting a job.
There's plenty of time to get a job once he's finished education.

BackforGood · 09/04/2017 18:52

Well if he's getting £30 a week, then he hasn't really got any motivation to work, has he?

AlecTrevelyan006 · 09/04/2017 18:54

Yes, most employers want 'other employers' to offer work experience or training so that they can benefit from the efforts of those 'other employers'.

Generally speaking I think it's good for sixth-formers to get a p/t job - for a whole host of reasons - but it is true that many jobs traditionally done by kids that age have either a) all but disappeared or b) are increasingly carried out by older people.

Areyoufree · 09/04/2017 18:57

I'm really surprised that the majority of posts on this thread think full time students should have part time jobs. When I was doing my a levels, kids with jobs were the exception, rather than the rule. I think school is more than enough to deal with - if he doesn't want a job, then I don't see why he should have to have one.