How the heck does my DD get a part time job?

[Teentrauma]

Inspired by another thread where someone's DH was struggling.

My DD18 has been searching for MONTHS for a part time job while she studies. Is flexible what she does - cafes, shops etc. She receives Indeed alerts and has applied for dozens of jobs on there but never gets past the first stage. Similarly, she applies direct when she hears a company is recruiting such as Asda, Next etc. Same thing. Usually, there's some long online assessment which she never gets past. I've sat and done some with her (it's usually a choice of different responses to a work situation and you have to say which you think is most correct). No idea what we're doing wrong. In addition she's trawled the local high streets with her cv, I've done a lot of asking round myself too but drawn a blank.

She's so despondent (and skint!) and just wants a job. She has decent GCSE grades but a very thin CV, due to being 18 and never worked (apart from a week's work experience in my office for which my boss has given her a reference). Fingers crossed she's got some volunteering in a charity shop, so at least she can put retail experience on her cv but even that has involved a long winded on line recruitment/vetting process (which kept crashing 🙈).

Is she doing something wrong or is she just unlucky?

When I was 18 I walked down all the high streets near me, went into pubs, shops and cafes and asked if they were hiring. A pub offered me a trial and I ended up working there 5 years throughout my uni holidays and after.

indeed wire get hundreds of applications for part time job so often applications get lost so going in in person to places may give an advantage.

the supermarkets will soon start employing their holiday staff so that’s a great way to get in. Most supermarkets are always looking for younger staff who can cover holidays as many people will be off during the term time holidays

good luck to her!

The 1980’s 😬. I think all the advice to physically go in is a bit outdated. It’s all online now, well 99% of applications.

If she's free in the holidays, and decent enough with kids, the holiday club providers will very likely give her a go. I know SuperCamps and Kings Camp both take staff from 18 onwards.
After-school clubs and nurseries are often after staff for first thing in the morning and from about 3-6pm. Don't need qualifications, just kind and patient with a bit of sense. Usually listed on the school website.

Don't help her with the online assessments. They are wanting HER responses to these.

Have you tried local nursing homes?

If you're applying to independent shops I'd still go in

My son posted on the local Facebook page...said he was an honest, hard working 20 year old. Got 5 job offers in one night (admittedly he's strong and can do labouring on a building site, but it wasn't all labouring offers).

Employers like kids who actively seek out work. Good luck!

My nearly 20yr old DD did her lifeguarding qualification at 16 and her swim teaching at age 17, she gets paid nearly £22 an hour teaching.
My DS who is 16 has now done his lifeguard qualification, he has also worked as a swim teacher helper since 13.5 and has now got a job at that pool lifeguarding and also another pool as well whilst he doing A levels.

Independent cafes will consider ppl if they go in and ask if they have any shifts, and then have a cv to hand out.
Kids clubs are often desperate for staff.

Can she clean? 😂

A friend of dds works pt as a cleaner along side college

Indeed is terrible.

dd ended up printing a cv and letter that talked about wanting to be part of their team and being conscientious and committed. She then went and handed them to the manager of 2 local businesses, planning to do more the following weekend but her first choice called and invited her for a paid trial. She’s in a garden centre and they treat her well, plus she can walk.

Mine got jobs in local cafe and restaurant by emailing them directly then followed up by popping in at a quiet time

Is she good at maths or English?. She could do some private tutoring for primary school children?
cleaning
ironing

She shouldn’t give up. She will probably end up with lots of offers

Temporary Christmas jobs?

My son is studying A levels and had a seasonal zero hour job up until recently, but left due to the company being extremely exploitive and breaching working time regulations. He has applied for many retail and barista jobs advertised online but hears nothing back. He applied for a four hour Sat job and completed a long online application and they came back and said he was unsuccessful. I’ve told him to try the old school way of going in and asking about vacancies.

Do she/you have a farmers market nearby? They usually use local staff for sat/Sunday mornings.

. I think all the advice to physically go in is a bit outdated. It’s all online now, well 99% of applications

Its not. I helped a friends 17 year old do her CV for a local restaurant last year. She got that job (and another) simply going in in person asking. These aren't chain restaurants.

It does sound like a lot of kids are aiming high expecting to get starbucks or tesco for their first job. You usually have to go for a crappy cornershop, local takeaway, independent etc when you have zero experience.

My dd got. Job in about 10 weeks. No experience but had volunteered in an animal rescue for 14 months - guess maybe cleaning out litter trays showed she wasn't fussy!

It's brutal though - we missed a call from Asda and when we managed to get back to them about 2 hours later it was tough too late all interview spots filled.

My ds is 22 and the same. Has tried so many times. He does have an interview today but it's the first in a long time. He is at Uni.

It's going to get work when NMW increases. Cafes will go for 16-18 year old instead.

We had no luck online either. We got my 16 year old's daughter's job by just speaking to the manager after we finished eating at our local Ember Inns pub.

How about looking online for charity volunteering opportunities. There is often general admin support needed which helps build skillset whilst helping a charity. There are often volunteer opportunities online, check out charity jobs, reach and indeed

Definitely NOT outdated to go in. My dd got both her café jobs by going in. And, if you live in a place with a SMALL tesco/sains etc - it is definitely worth getting the name of the manager of your store and speaking direct.

Tell them all online applications have failed, you just cannot get your foot in the door but have been trying and trying.
A local manager might just take pity!

Depending on where you are, some employers avoid hiring students as they are seen as unreliable and inevitably ask for days off for exams and to go home for Christmas and so on. In addition, the cost of living crisis is so bad, that these employers feel like they should be offering one FT job to a young worker that can’t go to Uni instead of having two PT jobs for students who are relatively privileged.

There are far more young people looking for entry level service jobs than there are jobs. It’s a tough labour market out there for them.

DD is 16, she also has applied to some things online and through Indeed and not had any results. But responding to two ads on FB have resulted in jobs, one as an assistant swim teacher & one as a waitress at a wedding venue.

A friend of mine has a daughter who worked lucratively part time from 16 or so at the local (large city) football club when they held conferences & events (waitressing, bar etc)