To ask how old your DC were when they got their first job?

[HighlandCow78]

I’m curious as to how how old were your DC when they got their first job - Judging by DD’s peers and friends’ DC kids seem to be waiting until they are far older nowadays to get one, most seem to wait until after A levels meanwhile I was doing a paper round at 14!

DD is 20 and has only just landed her first part time role. Don’t get me wrong, I’m really happy for her - she did well in competitive interviews and now has an exciting role at a lovely local business which she’s really looking toward to, but I definitely expected her to get one far earlier. Granted, she turned 16 during lockdown (so no jobs really about) and went through a tough few years due to ill health but even without these struggles she really isn’t the odd one out amongst her peers. It seems quite common for young adults to graduate these days having never done any paid work - just volunteering and internships.

What has changed so much that this is now the norm?!

Even so it shows incredible maturity to be thinking so far into the future, she definitely deserves to be commended for that. I don’t think that a pension had even entered my mind at 15!

Mine only worked during the summer and after A levels. But summers are long, it’s unusual not to work especially that summer before university. Mine all enjoyed the money and social aspect. Even if they didn’t enjoy the jobs!

15, 15, 17, never as disabled.

DS1 was 12 (now 18), he's a musician so a bit of an unusual one. DS2 was just turned 15 and worked in a cafe, he is now working full time on an apprenticeship and is 16.

It definitely has changed, there aren't as many places for teens to work as it's so complicated with their limited hours etc. So many places don't adhere to employment laws though so they still employ under 16s on a tiny wage.

15, 12 hours a week clearing tables and running orders out at a restaurant, more in the school hols.

You can work from 13 up but there are specific hours/laws

www.gov.uk/child-employment/restrictions-on-child-employment

DS1 was 12 when he got a job on a weekday helping to put up a stall before school and take it down after school ( we live in a market town)
DS2 was 16 when he got a part time job at a tyre garage
DD was 16 when she signed on with an events company and had jobs working at local race courses and party nights.

22 (after uni) she did a lot of volunteering though
10 ( entertainment)
16 (also entertainment)

DS aged 16 hasn't had a paid one yet but he does volunteer. He wants to be a vet and a lot of universities want to see that he's done some sort of work with animals so he volunteers at a riding stables.

I'm OK with this at the moment as he has just started A levels and will need very good grades to do the degree he wants so lots of studying involved. But I would like him to get a part time paid job in the summer holidays after he finishes exams.

All started with paper rounds at 13 but didn't get shop/waitress weekend jobs til 16.

Well....back in the day most people didn't go to university and most peopoe worked in factories or took an apprentice job....thy learned skills in building, carpentry, electrician etc.
I think not many people are going for those jobs now and uni is opened up to everyone and the wide choice of careers.

DD1 washing up in care home she was 15
DS1 worked at B&Q aged 16
DS 2 paper round aged 13
All three are successful in their chosen professions .They were brought up to earn money and not take their parents wealth as a gift!!

None of mine worked until after school and then onli in Uni long holidays

14 paper round

Yes my youngest worked at Office in our hometown and then worked at Uni in that town.

16 I think, doing tiling and construction labouring. He is 19 now, just started university and has 2 part time jobs. He works in the front at a Chinese takeaway one night a week and manages the social media/ takes photos/ general dogsbody and runaround for a family construction business.

@FiletMignon

My son had a paper round 3 years ago. The post office where he worked still has deliveries, primarily to the 'posher ' part of the area where there are no corner shops

Ages 14 and 16

My daughter started summer volunteering at 14 and is hoping to do an internship next summer at 16.
No other time for work as she spends about 13 hours per week on extracurriculars.

Wow! Fantastic opportunity and well done to her for the financial maturity.

I think one factor might be that a lot of working families nowadays need universal credit top ups to manage and if a child is working their income is taken off the benefit top ups, so they don't get to keep any of their earnings? (I might be wrong as the rules might have changed, but if it's the case, it's disheartening for teenagers and makes more sense financially for them to focus more on their GCSEs, as they can't keep anything they earn anyway.)

Dc1 was volunteering at 14 to get experience so that they could earn a place on a vetmed course. They are kept busy for 5 years through the degree, all holidays spent on placements. They were 23 when they got their first job when they qualified.

Dc2 was 17 when they joined the army, it would have been 16, except for delays.

Dc3 is at university, they haven't had a job yet, but as an athlete trains and coaches others. It's full on, but unpaid and doesn't leave much time for work.

My children were 16. They both tried to find paid work before before but weren't able to get one without a NI number - everywhere they applied to told them this

They both volunteered in charity shops from 14/15 to build their CVs.

My daughter had her first job within three weeks of turning 16 and has worked pt ever since and ft after her A levels. She's just starting university and has a job to return to in the holidays and intends to find a job and work whilst away.

My son did similar. And also worked throughout his degree.

Both have been in constant paid employment since they were 16.

I'm surprised at the number of before school jobs listed. DD had to get the bus to school at 7.50 for an 8.20 start.

Both my DC at 14 in local cafes. We live in quite a touristy area though so there are loads of opportunities for teens round here in cafes, ice cream shops, holiday parks etc.