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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

Grapeyes · 10/07/2019 06:48

Totally agree about the ‘they need to recover after exams’ being ridiculous. My dd worked really hard for her GCSEs. She now has a Sunday job at a local shop. It’s hardly curtailing her carefree summer. Every other day she’s out and about seeing friends. Yesterday she didn’t wake up until 11am. Hardly a tough life!

Basically we aren’t willing (and that’s the key, we’re perfectly able to but not willing to!) to fund everything she wants so she needs to earn some of her own money. I’m really glad she has her first job now and is earning some cash to spend on having fun with her friends.

likeridingabike · 10/07/2019 07:53

I'm assuming she isn't asking you for money?

SweetLathyrus · 10/07/2019 09:09

How do you figure that? Once you get to your mid twenties, employers don't give one shiny shit what temp job you did or didn't have when you were 14!

Really @adaline? you know that? Actually, previous experience is highly valued by graduate employers (unless we are talking about Eton boys with connections), I know, I'm an academic with a specialism in the area.

My DD has had a couple of job since she turned 16, some temp, and now permanent whilst she does A Levels. I could afford for her not to work, but I don't think that's good for her. Since getting her own monthly paycheck, her attitude to money - and saving for her university goal - has been brilliant.

OP, getting a job at 16 is not impossible, and it's not 'evil parenting'. It's a learning exerience - I still have friends from my first saturday job (I know these are less common now).

StVincent · 10/07/2019 09:19

Are you in Cornwall by any chance? Sounds so like my work options as a teenager!

Bollocks that future employers don’t care. 1. They def do if you want casual/part time work at uni. 2. I used to organise talks from employers to young people, and several specifically told the audience to remember to include their actual paid work, even if they’ve now graduated etc. On the grounds that it shows they can get up/timekeep/be polite and reasonable/ do what they’re told!!

Puzzledandpissedoff · 10/07/2019 09:30

*Once you get to your mid twenties, employers don't give one shiny shit what temp job you did or didn't have when you were 14!
*

I agree up to a point, but it can also depend on what's been done from 18, then from 21 and so on

Nobody's talking about sending them down the mines, but "I don't want to work" at 16 sometimes becomes into "I want a year off before Uni" and then "I want to go travelling after my degree". Of course there's nothing wrong with wanting these things in principle, but it can so easily turn into a 25 year old who's never done a day's paid work in their lives - and that's not always an appealing prospect to employers

StVincent · 10/07/2019 09:33

Sorry - my post didn’t make sense. Employers were telling young people to include paid work of the “worked in the Shell garage” or “housekeeping in a hotel” type on their CVs when applying for early professional work, because it showed work skills I mentioned before.

Also, i think people find it a good way to filter out the kind of person who will turn up to their first day at a job and simultaneously resent being given instructions, and expect to start running the place from day 1.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 10/07/2019 09:35

i think people find it a good way to filter out the kind of person who will turn up to their first day at a job and simultaneously resent being given instructions, and expect to start running the place from day 1

I totally agree

adaline · 10/07/2019 10:23

Really @adaline? you know that?

I'm saying that once you're out of your first job, whether you worked in a cafe, gift shop or didn't work at all as a teenager is largely irrelevant.

Bollocks that future employers don’t care.

They might care when you're 18/21/23, but they're not going to care what you did at 14 when you're in your thirties. I'm not saying that working at 16 is a bad thing, but for most people it has no real impact on their future careers. I didn't get my first job until I graduated university and I was never asked why I didn't work in my teens.

bigKiteFlying · 10/07/2019 10:30

I'd be encouraging them to look or try volunteering in hope when they are older it will help them get something.

DH job means he comes into contact with recruiters hiring post-graduation and they've said they like them to have some work on their CV - anything. 16 is probably a bit young these days but looking now means they'll have some idea what's out there for when they are older.

nancy75 · 10/07/2019 10:30

sure many employers would be willing to adapt hours to fit with sixth form or college come September.

Ha ha to this statement - the way the job world is now you fit to what the employer wants, not the other way around

Comefromaway · 10/07/2019 10:38

I have lost count of the number of Saturday/Sunday jobs advertised that dd was going to apply to until she saw the line - must also have the flexibility to cover weekday hours as and when required.

bigKiteFlying · 10/07/2019 10:44

I'm saying that once you're out of your first job, whether you worked in a cafe, gift shop or didn't work at all as a teenager is largely irrelevant.

I'm probably unusual but I was let go in first pg and I worked in a very technical role - but I'd worked in a variety of summer jobs and that seemed to help with the agency who got me work last months of pg and with the employer who took me on. The pg and fact I’d done other jobs some very menial ones meant they got past the she over qualified for role thing.

But generally, I do think it’s mainly the first job it helps with.

DH didn't work till FIL got fed up at end of his PhD and arranged a job – it’s had no bearing on his carer jobs at all.

Wasrelaxing · 10/07/2019 10:49

Yes. He is 16 and he either had to get a paid job or volunteer.

StVincent · 10/07/2019 11:54

Yeah I agree it’s probably first jobs it mainly helps with. But those are the hardest to get!

Plus, I’m keenly aware that if you’re someone without a cushion of family money, things can go wrong with your life and your professional career can go up in smoke. Whether that’s because of the economy, illness, having to move to a remote location to care for relatives etc. Having experience of the bloody hard work that most teenage jobs involve is a really important life experience.

OP - where does she get her money from at the moment?

Dec2019mumtobe · 10/07/2019 12:08

I had a Saturday job at 16 and I worked extra shifts in school holidays. I LOVED having lots of spare money. The job was really well paid for our age too. I paid for my own phone contract, clothes, a holiday away with friends, Christmas/birthday gifts for friends and family and I saved a little bit for uni too.

Dec2019mumtobe · 10/07/2019 12:09

Yeah pretty much every friend I had also worked at this place (I got them all jobs!) and most of us worked part time through uni too.

PinkGlitter123 · 10/07/2019 12:41

It's not all that easy to find paid work through the summer so I wouldn't be so quick to judge.
I was lucky enough to babysit for a neighbour, do a paper round and summer playschemes but I liked kids and so I was fortunate in that sense.
I know a 18 year old who wants to go to Oxford uni but has no intention of getting a job to cover the Summer. I think if you want to get into a uni like that you absolutely have to work or volunteer as you have no chance of getting in, hes very clever and thinks that alone will be enough to get him in. 😐

user27495824 · 10/07/2019 12:47

16-18 year olds absolutely can get jobs. They are often preferred by employers because they cost less money. They can't do late shifts until 18. I think 10pm is the cut off where I work.

I think a job is a good idea even just to widen their social circle and gain some responsibility and cofidence.

optimisticpessimist01 · 10/07/2019 12:47

I don't know why people think it is so easy for school leavers just to get a Summer job. They have absolutely no experience and I'd imagine there are dozens of applications for most temp jobs. It's not as easy as just "getting a job". I am 24 and I had to apply for around 50 jobs before I got my first part time one during Sixth Form. It's not as easy or simple anymore

I8toys · 10/07/2019 12:54

DS1 is already bored - he has been a steward and helping a tutor with exams for a few sessions per week since he finished. I also have got him down for a few weeks work experience at work at the shared services centre which deals with customer service, hr, finance etc - for the experience and CV. We have 3 holidays in between all this so he has plenty of time to decompress.

PettyContractor · 10/07/2019 13:05

I meant a summer job BertieBotts

I think you've confused the issue, because a "school-leaver" is generally someone who is finished with school, so presumably embarking on adult life, and needs a full-time job to support themself.

(Some might be going on to higher education, but I think of that as the exception rather than norm, in the context of that term.)

StVincent · 10/07/2019 13:07

The OP has said she lives in an area with lots of summer work. It’s seasonal and badly paid but there is quite a lot of it.

If Oxbridge only let in kids who had worked, it would be a very different place! Loads of people I knew there had never worked in their lives. Lots of others had volunteered/interned. Only some had worked in McDonald’s and so on.

SolsticeBabyMaybe · 10/07/2019 13:10

Doesn't being a school leaver sort of imply she's not going right back to school in Sept? Which is different to if she wasn't...

I think it's a good idea to try and find some casual work as a young person, get a bit of cash and independence. I always did. Although my parents stopped buying me clothes etc at about 13 so I would have looked pretty shabby and tragic if I didn't!

I do also think it will be easier to find work when you have a bit of experience.

However, it sounds a bit like your main motivation is that you don't want your little sister to have it easier than you. It's not really a moral issue...

sar302 · 10/07/2019 13:22

We weren't expected to. We finished GCSEs, did two weeks of work experience and then had a glorious summer. It was amazing. Long. Hot. I was old enough to hang out with my friends the whole time. Really relaxed.

Went back into 6th form and got a Saturday job. Got a proper summer job between school and uni.

But, my parents were happy to support me financially and give me spending money. If they hadn't been able to afford that, I would probably have got a job.

pointythings · 10/07/2019 13:26

I live in an area with little summer work and very poor transport, so I'd have to fit my full time job around ferrying my DDs to their summer jobs, if they wanted them. I'm very glad that I'm financially able to fund leisure time for them after the hard work of GCSEs and A levels, plus losing their father a year ago and their grandmother 2 months ago, plus the youngest having a diagnosis of a life changing condition. So no, I won't be pushing them to work - they've got a lifetime of work ahead.

Neither my Dsis nor I had summer jobs and we've managed to remain employed and employable.

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