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?!

Well this depends on the job, doesn't it?

As a student, I did library shifts during term time which was basically sitting there doing my own work and occasionally checking out a book for someone.

I then did 2-3 weeks of full time work in my very long summer holiday

As a teen, I did babysitting which involved 1-2 hours of active childcare, then sitting and doing my homework while they slept

None of these interfered at all with my studies

My daughter left for school at 7am, returned at 5pm. Was working from 15 on a weekend in a cafe and in the holidays and still did her A-levels. She is 20 now, at Uni, juggling work with placements and works paid work the holidays.

paper round for ds
waitering, events, all of my 3 from 15
pub work, kitchen, bar tendering

@AnneElliott I think that's a really good point. Those teenagers who have had some work experience either paid or not will have an advantage when they start looking for a long term job whether it is an apprenticeship or a graduate job.

The graduate job market is extremely competitive now unlike 30+ years ago when we used to have the 'Milk round' and employers had to sell themselves to graduates. A graduate with a variety of work experience and weekend jobs is much more attractive as they have already learnt some 'work environment' skills.

My oldest did GCSE tutoring from age 17 whilst he did his A levels. He did that for 2 years as it paid double what anything else did at age.

Once at uni, he did a few hours A level tutoring in term time and has worked over the summer in a role somewhat related to his course. He's not planning to work this academic year until summer.

Youngest is 15 and not working. None of her friends do either. It seems difficult here to get a job before you're 18 in places like supermarkets, coffee shops etc.

DS was 18, his first job was working at Buckingham palace for the summer opening! He worked there for 3 months full time in first year of uni. DD is 16.5, in sixth form but prefer them not to work until 18 as she spends a lot of time studying (so did DS).

DS was 14, DD was 16.

He will be up against other students who have a lot more actual work experience. Employers want to see evidence of this. My son didnt need to work for money in summer of year 1, but did it for his CV, and he did his paid internship for the same reason, and was fortunate to get a graduate job offer. Yes he could have sat back and enjoyed the holidays as financially he was ok, but he wouldn’t be sitting on a graduate job offer if he did

I think that's a really good point. Those teenagers who have had some work experience either paid or not will have an advantage when they start looking for a long term job whether it is an apprenticeship or a graduate job.

The graduate job market is extremely competitive now unlike 30+ years ago when we used to have the 'Milk round' and employers had to sell themselves to graduates. A graduate with a variety of work experience and weekend jobs is much more attractive as they have already learnt some 'work environment' skills.

I've been part of assessment days for graduates and we don't look much at their work experience. Obviously their initial application has to be good but it very much is based how they do on the day of the interview and assessment centre. Many of those who have been offered a job in previous years have had no or little work experience but they've performed exceptionally well in our assessment centres.

i think teenage working is very helpful for when and if they go to university, do cafe/bar work and have experience already

I feel like less and less is expected of teens and young adults and paradoxically they are becoming less and less capable. I think it's because they get less and less confidence and resilience because of those lower expectations.

I also think internships are very important. I don't think many graduate employers care whether or not you did a paper round but they do care about relevant work experience and internships. It's also a great way to try out careers and help you figure out what you want. I did 2 paid internships and hated both but at least that helped me figure out what I didn't like!

DS16 got his first job after finishing his GCSEs. It's easier when they are school leaving age (even if staying on for 6th form or going to college).

It depends. Mine were lucky in that they had specific things they could do to get paid for from about 14. But I think for most kids nowadays it's very hard to find work. And frankly, IF I could afford it, I wouldn't want them taking minimum wage unskilled work that could go to someone we really needs it.

We're in London and it's very tricky for under 18s to find work. There are so many adults with more flexibility and capacity for hours also looking for work that it's hard for teens.

DC1 is 15 and has picked up a bit of pocket money by doing the odd couple of hours of babysitting or gardening for people on our street. But it's very ad hoc.

My boyfriend's son got a part-time job in a chain restaurant at 17 through a friend. He'd been turned down for quite a few things before that. He probably didn't interview well - social skills have improved immeasurably through working! But I think the biggest issue was actual adults with experience also wanting work. I'm hoping he might be able to get DC1 a job with the same chain eventually, too.

I grew up in a rural tourist destination and had my first job at 13/14. There was loads of work for teens if you were willing to clean holiday cottages, wait on tables, or work in kitchens. London is a completely different kettle of fish. Loads of competition.

I don't think that's true at all. When I was a teenager in the 80s-90s no work experience was expected at all. (I did babysitting, paid reviews for a magazine and had a Saturday morning job in a shop, because my parents had no money for my clothes etc., but many of my friends had no jobs as teens.)

My university didn't allow part time jobs while studying (Oxbridge), although I had to, illicitly, as my grant didn't cover living costs.

Nowadays young people tend to have to work to save for university or training and work extra while studying to survive. On top of that, they're often expected to have quite high level work experience or internships, not just shop or waitering experience, for many courses or graduate jobs.

Children nowadays have much more pressure to do well at school, also, which is difficult if you're working as well as having hours of homework on evenings and weekends.

If I were responsible for recruitment of early 20 somethings, someone would have to hugely impress me otherwise to get over the fact they had never had a job if that were the case. Rightly or wrongy I would assume that they were spoilt and/or had no work ethic or spirit of independence. It's a character thing. Not to mention the actual skills needed to adapt to and fit into a working environment which can only be learned by doing.

I didn't get my first job until I was 18.
As an aside if anyone's children are struggling to find anywhere to employ them, b&m take from 16 years old. And are usually delighted if said 16 year old can do evenings and weekends

I went to Oxbridge too and jobs in college like library or bar were fine. Also jobs during the vacations.

Almost all of my friends had jobs alongside school/university.

The sort of thing I was referring to is things like -

Lack of chores - loads of posters don't expect anything from their teens or even adult children

Lack of independence - parents now asking about what to pack for their child going to university, there was a post on here recently from someone asking about what meals to batch cook for their daughter to take to university (!), posters being unwilling to leave their children at home alone until mid teens, it's all every different

Summer and Christmas jobs from 16 onwards, albeit I understand those can be harder to come by now. I wouldn't want them to work at a younger age - research is a little mixed but some studies show a significant negative impact on GCSE results. Some studies show negative effects on grades beyond that age but, as others have pointed out, at uni in particular there is such a wide range of expectations as between different courses, so it's definitely not one size fits all.

It is still allowed to work from 13

I think 16 onwards is okay but I imagine Job are hard to come by these days.

DD1 - 14, cleaning an Air BnB for an hour (v small!), 15 at a local gardens in the cafe and babysitting and has just picked up a dog walking job at weekends for an hour a day. She now at 17 does all 4 jobs (c.8 hours pw with babysitting on top but she uses this time to study)

DD2 - 15, working in a boutique dress shop. Then moved on to KP at the golf club. She's now turned 16 and is moving to FOH

Rightly or wrongy I would assume that they were spoilt and/or had no work ethic or spirit of independence

Wrongly

My oldest didn't have a job until she got her first one after uni. My other two have worked on and off since young teens.
My oldest has by far and away the best work ethic.

I genuinely think working has done my DC the world of good. Just in terms of building resilience, understanding a bit more about the value of money, developing people skills and confidence. DD said the other day there was a top she wanted but she didn’t buy it as she realised the amount it cost was 4 hours worth of work!