to think that DS (16) can still get a part time job

[outofofficeagain]

DS wants a job. He has applied for lots but has no experience.

I sent him the details of seasonal applications opening but he forgot to do it on the day and when he got to it a few days later it was closed. Lots of his friends got jobs and have earned good money over Christmas.

Half of me feels bad for not reminding him about application but the other half of me thinks it’s a good lesson for him to take responsibility.

but he’s now forlorn that ‘all the jobs are gone’ and there won’t be any more vacancies for months.

please cheer me up that a) there’ll be plenty of opportunity and b) missing out is a good lesson in the long run.

There aren’t any vacancies, he’s asked. Also, they pay £8 an hour. It’s inside Sainsburys and Sainsburys pay £13 an hour! He’d take it, but it feels a bit off!

He’s 17 in a couple of months so hopefully that will be easier

There really aren't a lot of jobs for that age group. My youngest has been applying for every job within a reasonable distance for the last 8 months and hasn't even got an interview.
My eldest interviewed, and got offered a job, but after 6 weeks of them messing her around and not even giving a start date she told them to stick it.
It is very very different for teenagers nowadays.

At 16, two of mine did their lifeguard qualification and got jobs at the local leisure centre. One of them got it funded by the centre but I paid for the other (about £250-300). They each did one evening shift a week, plus at least one other - sometimes an evening, sometimes a long weekend shift. But it was very flexible. And they both now have some first aid skills including defib training. It was still minimum wage though and didn't pay as well as the supermarkets.

How many jobs is he applying for each week? He just has to keep on at it. No use saying 'all the jobs have gone' and sulking.

If he can't get paid work even volunteering is good for CV and work experience. I know money is great but it's also about him learning responsibility, punctuality, how to interact with colleagues and clients.

How does he think people who actually need a job to feed themselves and put a roof over the children's heads feels? It's not that easy but he just has to keep on at it.

If his friends have jobs then hopefully they can let him know as soon as there's a vacancy which could give him an advantage.

If he's got a bike he could be a food courier? Just as a stop gap. Actually maybe you need to be 18 for that.

Any local trampoline parks, soft play or leisure centres that are very popular for children’s birthdays parties? These often hire teenagers.

If he’s confident to tutor he could do English conversation online

Is there a football or rugby stadium near you? Loads of DD's friends work at those places on match days. Zero hours obviously but still work.
DD herself managed to keep her hours at her supermarket job, probably because someone retired, but obviously she did more work over Christmas and also some people haven't been kept on.
She also has a zero hours contract job at a soft play, may be worth applying to those places on spec?
And I think someone already mentioned about lifeguard training?