To expect my 16 yr old to get full time work for the summer?

[whatthewhatthewhat]

At least 8 weeks until they go back to school for A-Levels. I worked full time at that age. AIBU to think they should get a job for the summer?

My DD is almost at the end of her first year of A levels. She does not work as I don't want her grades to be affected, she has put a lot of pressure on herself and I don't want to add anything onto that. She spent the last summer of her GCSEs doing NCS and studying. (Her school gave them work during the holidays) . This summer she is trying to get a unpaid work experience placement for a few weeks. She also volunteers as a peer mentor. A small amount of her friends do have part time jobs and they tend to be in cafes. She doesn't ask for money very often so I don't mind given her it when she does ask.

Can't believe how many people on here don't expect their teens to get a bit of a job . I was Sat working from 14 , worked all holidays since then through Uni etc .No wonder we are getting so many snowflakes in this country now.

I can't believe you think what you did when you were a teenager has any relevance to the discussion, even after several posts explaining the way things have changed.

I didn't work until I was 18 and didn't struggle with the concept, just for those who think that 2 years can make that difference.

It's not that easy to find work, my 18 year old has been pounding the streets looking for jobs (she's already tried formal ads and online) nobody is hiring here

My dd just finished GCSEs. I have supported her to apply for numerous jobs and none of them respond, let alone offer an interview.

I remember my DS at the same time got a Saturday job at the end of the summer which he has continued through A levels. He replaced a DC going to uni.

The issue is all uni students are back over the summer and all competing for the same jobs. Older DC have the advantage with experience etc.

She will continue to apply but not expecting her to find work straight away. Also want her to enjoy some time with friends and we are going on holiday.

Yes it would be lovely for her to earn some money. Yes I will encourage her to look for work and help where I can. But the reality is it's not that easy.

Just to add I think we applied for around 150 jobs for my DS he heard back from two and got the second one!!

Awww bless! Thinking that you can get easy temp work as a 16 year old!
I tried that and failed - that and a summer birthday being a kiss of death when you are actually still 15 at the time of application. Spent my post GCSE summer hanging out with my mates!

But seriously I struggled to get temp work when at university - worked about 4 weeks out of a 12 week summer vacation until I got lucky and got a part-time casual year-round job in my uni town.

A part time job is a good idea, especially if it continues throughout their college life.But I also think they need time to unwind, have fun etc.

In my area I have seen shops advertising for part time help. And fast food places and cafes often have vacancies.

Also I was doing a STEM degree and it would have snowed in hell before I looked for jobs in the exam season.

Thing is my parents thought I was a lazy moron but they both did English degrees and still thought it was 1972....

Jobs for teens come about purely through connections.
Every teen I know with a job has been as a result of their parents connections, yes the kid has to apply and turn up and work, but the initial introduction is the parents.

My son is starting work at 15 for my husbands business this summer, unfortunately it means for the lad who worked last holidays and did a great job needs to look elsewhere.

As with most things in life it isn't what you know but who you know, so @whatthewhatthewhat what are you doing to help your child get their first job?

Gosh, I’m no longer surprised by the vast numbers of Mumsnetters’ adult children lazing around at home in their mid-20s being infantilised by their parents.

Connections - I do remember some of my contemporaries at University being surprised that I couldn't just get a job from my parents or relative - them both being teachers that was a non-starter

My 16 year old has just finished GCSE's and shows no inclination to find a job ! Money is not important to him , he doesn't ask us for any so I guess it's up to him

Same here! However, he is doing a lifeguard course next week which will help him find part-time work in future.

I had a Saturday job when I was 16 so I got a few more hours over the summer but I think it's unrealistic to think that it's easy for 16 year olds to find work, part-time or otherwise. I only once had a proper "full time" job in the summer holidays and that was between my degree and my post-grad course, when I was 22 and had a bit more to offer employers than I had when I was 16.

My DS15 (y10) has a sort of job. More casual work. He walks a dog for a lady down the road mon-fri after school (£1 a walk, cheap!) cuts grass for the neighbours on each side (£7 each).

My niece for a jobal at 16 with no connections, why would that be the "only way" a teen can get a job??

Full time is unreasonable, GCSEs are a hard slog and they deserve time to recover before starting A levels. Part time work or volunteering relating to a potential career is a great idea, but as per most PPs, might be tricky to arrange at this point.

Jobs for teens come about purely through connections

This isn't always true. Me, my sister and my brother all worked at the weekend from when we were 15. We just went into shops, bars, hairdressers and asked 🤨

I did catering temp work at that age
Washing dishes
Tea lady
Canteen work

Get her to register with an agency ? As it’s temp
Worn and minimum wage there are usually vacancies and if she does a good job the agency will like and use her

Gosh, I’m no longer surprised by the vast numbers of Mumsnetters’ adult children lazing around at home in their mid-20s being infantilised by their parents.

Have you actually bothered to read the thread?

Thing is my parents thought I was a lazy moron but they both did English degrees and still thought it was 1972....

Yes, there seem to be a few posters here who are massively out of touch with the realities of the job market.

Gosh, I’m no longer surprised by the vast numbers of Mumsnetters’ adult children lazing around at home in their mid-20s being infantilised by their parents

Why? Do you find thinking tricky?

This isn't always true. Me, my sister and my brother all worked at the weekend from when we were 15. We just went into shops, bars, hairdressers and asked

And when was this? Unless in recent years, your experience is irrelevant.

I have read the thread, @Sakura. Someone up the thread clucked ‘they’re only little for such a short time’. The definition of ‘little’ seems strangely elastic on here.

And any teenager of average intelligence should be able to take GCSEs in their stride without requiring a summer to recover. No one is being done any favours by treating school exams as if they’re Finals.

I’m not expecting that from my dcs.
They are showing their work ethics and their willingness for a career through their work at school already.
And they are knackered and need a few weeks off to recover too.

They are demanding re ‘things’. If they were, then it would have been their. Choice to work to get xxx. Not mine

My 16 year old told me he wants a job for the summer. I'd never given it any thought. We live next to a big retail centre so sure he can find something, but I won't stress if he doesn't find anything.

That said, he didn't have any work experience when school wanted them to last year as no-one was able to give him anything he tried to go for or was interested in, so he may be up against other kids whose Mummies and Daddies knew someone or ran their own businesses and have something on their CVs to impress universities as you can no longer rely on being academic any more.

I had a part time job in a restaurant when I was 16, usually doing 1 or 2 evenings on the weekend. That was ok, liked the money.

Then both summers (16/17) my Dad got me a full time office temp job at his company - no way I would have got this on my own, everyone in the temp team was a child of someone who worked there. I worked office hours then restaurant at the weekend.

I was utterly miserable, had no friends because I was always working, and missed out on a load of being a teenager. My parents pushed me into it and I've resented them for it (and many other things) my whole life.

Mine is home from university now and found it very hard to find a summer holiday job now. We have no connections. She’s got a job working in a pub, along with some babysitting. She handed out loads of CVs and is shocked how hard it has been - it is very different from just two years ago.