to think DD needs to try harder to get a job...

[postitgirl]

for those of you with teens, how did they get their first job? DD has tried - she walked round the town asking in shops and cafes. She got the app indeed.co.uk and applied for some jobs on there, but she's kinda given up now. I think she needs to try harder, but am I missing something here -what else could she be doing. She's 17 and has zero experience except a little bit of work experience from school :)

Care homes where I live won't take an under 18. They need vaccinated staff and don't think that's available to under 18's regardless of job role. But it's an amazing role to have on her cv for future, if she wants to work with people?

I second the PP who pointed out that it's actually tough to find vacancies in cafes etc at the mo. My daughters searched for months and they both had restaurant experience.They're both over 18 and doing care / bank teaching assistant work (along with uni) and there are huge amounts of hours. It gets easier over 18.

This is why I think it's really important that kids do clubs, play in sport teams and take opportunities like DofE etc

The library is always good for getting experience too. They always need kids age 14+ to volunteer in the summer holidays for the reading challenge. If they do any sports they can usually help out the younger teams with training, same with guides/scouts and even dance & drama clubs always younger classes that may need some help.

None are particularly important later in life but it does mean that at 15/16 they have things to put on their CV . They had help at school to do their CV at the start of year 11.

My DD16 who is in Year 12 has just started a job in a fashion shop. She was fortunate as her eldest brother is manager there but they do take students on over the summer.
She also comes with me in the holidays as I volunteer once a week at a food bank.

It really depends where you live. In London there are lots and lots of students and transient workers. Under 18 year olds can have a tough time getting jobs in shops, cafes, restaurants, pubs etc as there is still (even post Brexit) a steady supply of workers.

Babysitting (especially with school hols coming up) might be worth a try.

She needs to set up a babysitting business, take bookings etc. Lots of parents have no or little holidays left due to covid. She could be earning loads around here. The girl I have seen advertising is £15 for three hours during the day and £20 for three hours at night.

My eldest started volunteering and also worked in a kitchen washing up dishes before she was offered a better paid and rewarding job.

My youngest also volunterred in one event and used this and dedication to a sport to illustrate his communication and leadership skills.

I've been out of work for months and I was a professional prior to losing my job during the pandemic. Trust me, the job market is shite atm. I'm sure your DD is doing her best but she’s also probably feeling really disillusioned and downhearted about the fact she's getting nowhere. I am too. Some days you just can't face another scroll through Indeed or another application form.

There's a shortage of fruit pickers that has been well-publicised. Are there any fruit farms near you?

Check local FB pages, she also needs to sign up to all job sites and keep proactively looking and applying. It’s a real slog but it’s the only thing you can do really. I remember applying for my first job, I think I applied for at least 100 jobs and only heard back from 2 (got one of the jobs).

There's no point going around town asking for jobs if you do not also have a copy of your CV! Some really all she's done is look on indeed.

On the Facebook page for my area everyone wants someone to come around and cut the grass/ do some weeding. 'proper' gardners are too booked up with big jobs, so I think this sort of thing is ideal for teenagers. Similar sorts of things are dog walking and pet sitting.

Can she put flyers through doors?

OP

You need to help her. DD wrote her CV and I tidied it up so it looked professional - I googled CV for a 16 year old and there is a great UK example on the web when you google that.

She had printed CV's and had a folder of them with her. She handed them in to the manager in each shop and restaurant. Then one of the managers asked her to interview there and then and offered her a job.

Good luck - you are right to encourage her.

Now I'm off to the "what to do with a 12 year old boy for the summer" chat - see, even when you solve one, there is always another child to test you

I’d also practice with her exactly what she’s saying when she’s asking if they have any vacancies.

I think your girl is making a great effort and it must be very disheartening to be turned away repeatedly.

Nepotism? Are there any family or friends who can help at all??

Hello OP .. I haven’t read others posts but my DS is 18 .. just. A few months ago when he was still 17 he got a glass collecting/drinks delivery job which seemed to be in demand. He has also found a temporary admin job to apply for. Maybe try local bars and restaurants and an agency for temp work. Or even something voluntary just for some experience. Good luck!

I got office work through Hays the recruitment people. I was given various temp jobs which was excellent experience of different workforces.

Dc1 got a volunteer job (advertised on Facebook) which led to small paid work this then lead on to a job with more hours at a supermarket. He got the job through indeed. He applied for lots, had me write a cv with him. His manager said he employed him because he'd shown commitment /a work ethic doing his volunteering.
Dcs friends have jobs at local cafes, shops like b and m, home bargains, KFC, local chip shop. He put in a lot of effort to get a job and was the first of his friendship group to get a job even though he is the youngest in the group. He also got offered other jobs by asking at his volunteer work. He's also kepwhis volunteer work on as it will look good on his ucas application.

^Dd1 16.5 has just started her first job working at Burger King.

She also has no experience and must have applied for around 50 jobs before she was offered an interview at Burger King. Luckily they offered it to her. I thought she’d hate it, but so far she actually quite likes it. They might be worth a try if you have one locally^ 🤷‍♀️

DS has just started at Burger King too. He is so quiet and lacks confidence I was amazed he got the job (didn't tell him that though.) We just looked at Indeed and got the job on there. He says it's bearable and the only thing he complains about is sore legs, but to be fair he's done mostly 8/9 hour shifts.

Sometimes councils do summer activities where volunteer playworkers can do planned play sessions in the park for children. For us it would come under the Community Sport team. That might be a good volunteer route. Ours would also look for seasonal event or parking marshals for their venues that host weddings, wedding fairs, outdoor markets etc. - look regularly on the Council vacancies pages as they are not left up for long.

Dd is 19 now and has applied to literally hundreds of jobs over the last few years to little or no avail. Ds is 17 and again, nothing apart from a couple of days handing out leaflets for an event.

Everywhere seemed to want over 18 year olds or were offering part time hours but you had to be fully flexible over 7 days which didn;t fit with college. Now dd is 19 and after work for the summer she can sttil find nothing. Everyone is asking for experience. The only young people we know who have jobs are those who got them from parents or relations who already work there.

She's done voluntary work but needs a job to help fund her studies next year.

My daughter who is 16 has a job at mcdonalds. Application was straight forward. They are flexible around college too and pay a decent hourly rate. Majority of people working there are under 20

Ds got rejected after filling in McDonald’s online application form. It wasn’t very autism friendly. It’s a shame because he’s so good in person. He’d be ideal in a customer facing role.

I volunteered at a charity shop then got hired by a family friend at a restaurant. Then a family friend at a pub. Then I got hired by Debenhams.

At 15-17 it's really tough to get a job if you have no experience. Usually it comes down to knowing people.

All of you with teenagers who have found jobs, well done and kudos to them. It's a vg indicator for their future.

All of you whose teenagers are struggling, please hang in there. Job hunting can be so soul destroying but they are to be commended for their efforts and they will make it. Beat of luck to all of them.

At 15-17 it's really tough to get a job if you have no experience. Usually it comes down to knowing people.

True, which are two good reasons to get out and volunteer - it gives you both experience of dealing with people and dealing with situations as well as turning up regularly, even when you don't feel like it, and it also it starts giving you a bigger network of people who might be looking to either employ someone themselves or put a word in with someone else.
All my dc have had people approach them and ask them to come and work for them, without needing to apply or seek out the work.