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Original poster

Do you expect your 16 year old school leavers to get a job??

75 replies

Shootingstar1115 · 09/07/2019 12:27

My 16 year old sibling has just finished school. I casually asked if they would be finding a part time over the summer (as Most of them seem to) but the answer was no she doesn’t want a job.

I was surprised. I don’t live at home anymore but at that age I had to work else I wouldn’t have any money to do things I wanted to do. I really enjoyed my first job, meeting new people, earning my own money, gaining skills etc.

I don’t want to sound mean but personally I would expect my 16 year old to go out and earn some money (even just a few hours here and there if they were able to do so). It teaches them skills for working life imo and be somewhat financially independent.

Maybe I’m just jealous she doesn’t have to work 🤣 When I was that age. My parents weren’t in the best financial situation so to buy clothes, go out with friends, buy school books, pens etc I had to work but they seem more comfortable now so maybe she is happy living off mum and her dad.

My DC are a lot younger so I don’t have to worry about it yet fortunately.

OP posts:
ToffeePennie · 09/07/2019 13:21

Yes! But saying that they should be working by the time they legally can at 16. Even if it’s just weekends. Heck I did my GCSE’s whilst working for a factory, then continued through college and uni, every weekend 6am - 6pm. I think it’s one of the most important things you can do.

MyOpinionIsValid · 09/07/2019 13:22

I had to work but they seem more comfortable now so maybe she is happy living off mum and her dad.

MEOW. You really dont like your sister do you?

Chovihano · 09/07/2019 13:23

Mine started at 16 and kept the jobs until after uni, in one case.
A few grand saved up will help them with driving lessons and car, or maintenance for uni, towards a house deposit etc.
our last one starts next year, so we have started taking bookings already as will be working at weddings. Hopefully there will be enough over the next couple of years to pay for uni costs.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 09/07/2019 13:30

We live in a touristy area with a huge amount of seasonal jobs going for the summer holidays Which are ideal for school leavers

So if there really are opportunities, what's her reason for not wanting a job, and what does she plan to do instead?

More to the point, where is she planning to get the money she needs to do whatever-it-is?

Original poster
Shootingstar1115 · 09/07/2019 13:31

In an ideal world 16 year olds wouldn’t have to work after their GCSE’s but most of them do including myself at that age. I found it really exciting at the time getting my first job though.

I just get annoyed how she wants everything yet isn’t willing to work for it.

There are so many jobs where I live for youngsters (over 16). Cafes, ice cream shops, restaurants, theme parks, chip shops, gift shops, clothes shops, tiny little village shops, even the bigger supermarkets. They all take on extra holiday staff to cope with the influx of people around. Nobody who wants full time work wants a temporary job and very few many already working in these places want an extra work load so tens of places advertise purely for holiday staff and school leavers are ideal as they don’t have to pay them the full minimum wage. There are plenty of jobs for them where I live and it can be really fun too!

My first summer jobs are the best memories I have as a teenager!

OP posts:
Puzzledandpissedoff · 09/07/2019 13:39

I just get annoyed how she wants everything yet isn’t willing to work for it

I was afraid you might say that Sad With all due respect it's an attitude you might want to guide her away from, before she enters the world of full time employment and finds it's not the way things work

Also worth bearing in mind that a bit of summertime initiative is a good thing to have on a CV when it comes to future interviews. It's certainly not the be-all and end-all, but every little helps as they say ...

frugalkitty · 09/07/2019 13:40

My DS has an evening a week in our corner shop but has just sorted a cv to try and find a better paying part time job over the holidays. I think it’s easier if you live in seaside towns sometimes (my DH loves to drone on and on about the jobs he did growing up in a resort town) so my feeling is if he can find a job, great. If not he can do his evening a week and something will turn up. He’s got the rest of his life to work, and might as well enjoy the break before the shock of four A levels and the amount of homework that I don’t think he realises is waiting for him.....

Kenworthington · 09/07/2019 13:46

Ds started a satire day job last year so he’s just continuing with that. If he didn’t have one I wouldn’t be making him apply but only because he starts a full time apprenticeship in September. This is literally his last ever ‘school holidays’ with all his mates

MummytoCSJH · 09/07/2019 13:58

Your parents will still be receiving child benefit and possibly tax credits/universal credit for her as normal, so no. If she finds she needs extra spending money for herself then sure, but that's her business...

adaline · 09/07/2019 13:58

I just get annoyed how she wants everything yet isn’t willing to work for it.

In that case, I would be saying "well, if you want money for driving lessons/cinema/day trips you need to fund it yourself".

Maybe pay for the basics - so maybe phone bill, necessary clothes/toiletries and a token amount of allowance, but otherwise she needs to fund it herself somehow.

Pipandmum · 10/07/2019 00:44

Yes I absolutely would. My son did his GCSEs this year and really wants one as he lives to spend money! He got one but it’s just not giving him the hours promised. There are lots of jobs out there. His problem is he’s still 15 - everyone says he has to be 16 (he even got a job showed up first day and only then did they check his age and was turned away). I don’t get this ‘they need a break after exams’. He got a break and went to Spain for a week. That still leaves nine weeks! He turns 16 end of the month he’s hoping to pick up the other job then.

RainbowMum11 · 10/07/2019 01:01

I had 3 jobs when I was 16 and right through my A-levels (is assed all GCSEs & A-levels) - a chip shop, restaurant and pub. It builds a lot of experience, relationships, maturity and a work ethic.

lyralalala · 10/07/2019 03:57

It’s not always that easy. We live in a tourist area with lots of summer jobs, but they pretty much all want over 18s rather than over 16s. There are so many 18yos who are going to uni after the summer, plus returning uni students that they don’t need to take on 16yos.

Namechangeforthiscancershit · 10/07/2019 04:03

I loved my summer jobs too. I worked from a lot younger age though and I worked all year round- just increased hours to full time in the summer. That was a long time ago!

It is so much harder to find anything now though. So many of the signs you see say 18+

HomeHell · 10/07/2019 04:04

Ideally yes but my 3 have found it pretty impossible to find "summer jobs".

Mind you we aren't local a and it seems to be who you know not what you know it what experience you have that counts for such transient/short term low paid jobs.

Myfoolishboatisleaning · 10/07/2019 04:07

I was the laziest teenager in the world but even I worked since 15. I always liked being self sufficient. My DS is the same, however my DD is fucking lazy and didn’t work at 16. I think they should, it builds a strong work ethic for the future.

SnowsInWater · 10/07/2019 04:39

I do understand why you might feel it's a bit unfair that you had to work and she doesn't but the reality when there are big gaps between kids is that family circumstances change (for better and worse) so comparing is probably only going to upset you.

Our 16yo Dd is openly called "lucky last" in our house. Her older brothers (one still at home) don't resent her, we do/did the best for all our kids according to our means at the time. I would be gutted if one of them posted a jealous thread about her on an Internet forum 😐

Zoflorabore · 10/07/2019 04:48

My ds is 16 and has just left school. He will start at 6th form college in September to do his A levels.

I don't expect him to get a job. He has Aspergers and is very socially awkaward so would be a nightmare.

He's also got a few holidays to go on and has a couple of hobbies and a huge circle of
friends.
Not one of them has a job. We are not in a rich area at all by the way, quite the opposite.

I want him to have a carefree summer to be honest. His exams and the preparation for them were stressful and he deserves a rest.

He's a good kid and doesn't ask for much but knows he's able to go to the cinema/for a meal/day out if he asks me. I receive DLA for him which justifies my decision ( for now ) as we've recently applied for PIP.
He struggles without his routine and really misses school. A job wouldn't be the answer for him just yet.

Maybe next summer we will look into it. His dad has a business that he could work at and be paid quite well but like I said i just want him to relax. He needs it.

catlovingdoctor · 10/07/2019 04:48

It is simply so, so much more difficult for younger people to get casual and holiday work now. The days of being able to wonder down the high street with a CV and come home with a summer job are long gone.

EleanorReally · 10/07/2019 05:11

yes, well i expect them to want a job, all 3 of mine did

Divebar · 10/07/2019 05:58

I love the comment about being nosy.... if no one was nosy there wouldn’t be much to
Discuss on AIBU.

Whatever happened to babysitting as an option? My niece is 16 and babysits for my daughter on occasional evenings... it’s hardly taxing in my case.

cptartapp · 10/07/2019 06:32

DS1 has just finished GCSE's and is starting a job today. Just several hours a week in a local eaterie/pub kitchen. Into week four of his hols and he's getting bored, we work and his friends aren't always around. Planning to carry it on in September when at college but fewer hours.

Binforky · 10/07/2019 06:37

My 14 yr old has a part time job so guessing she will get a summer job at 16 as shes very driven to have her own money. Maybe part of that drive is me not having much to get them things or give them more than a five week pocket money. Sad

Binforky · 10/07/2019 06:37

Fiver not five

GreekOddess · 10/07/2019 06:39

I would like my children to get a part time job in the 6th form and enjoy their summer of freedom after GCSEs.

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