DD really struggling to find part time work in London

[Newmeagain]

My 18 year old DD is having a gap year. She is currently trying to find a job - ideally something she can continue when she starts uni but really, she is happy to take anything on offer. As we are in London, I thought finding a job would be really easy - but it turns out I was very wrong. Her CV looks good - she has lots of customer facing volunteering experience and also a short stint of paid work abroad.

she has so far applied for around 15 jobs and so far not even an interview. The jobs she has applied for are all basic entry level jobs in retail and hospitality. She is not fussy. There are also not that many jobs to apply for - even all the main supermarkets don’t seem to have any vacancies except for more senior jobs or things she can’t do (e.g.delivery drivers etc).

I am starting to wonder if the problem is that so many young people in their 20s with lots of experience are applying for the same jobs. Any thoughts?

I am really surprised that it is so difficult in Central London. DD had so many job offers in the summer but she had some experience in hospitality already. Could she volunteer in a charity shop to get some experience? My DC also did some age compliance mystery shopping. Very poorly paid but you get travel expenses and to keep what you buy (paid for by the company). They would do a couple of local jobs during term time on their way back from lectures, which kept their house in free drinks 😂 Again, it might be worth it just to get some work experience. I think Koru Kids was the agency that trains students/young people for after school nanny work. There are probably other similar agencies. HCA work is also a good idea and the best paid but it might take a while to get through the recruitment process.

She should try some theatre bars they’re good for actually part time work.

15 isn’t enough. 100 more reasonable unfortunately

Just a thought, do you know anyone in your network who works in hospitality/retail and could give her cv a once over? Just a fresh pair of eyes to make sure the right info jumps out.

We used to get a weekly email through school called “Pinboard” where people would advertise for/offering tutoring, after-school nannying, babysitting amongst other things. Does her old school or someone in your network have a school that does this that she could get onto?

Tutoring is a great thing to get into if she’s going to uni after her gap year as she can continue to do the odd hour here and there and most of it is done virtually now. Pays £25+/hr.

There are lots of bar jobs about. It’s good as she can carry it in when she goes to uni. I did the same and it saved my finances!!

DS is on a gap year and has got a job as a maths tutor which seems to be working quite well. He does about 3-4 hours 3 times a week. He found it through Indeed. He's going to do maths at uni so his A levels probably worked in his favour.

What A levels did she study? What uni course? Join nextdoor and advertise tutor roles in English, Maths etc. Cafes etc in local area, go in and say hi and can help. What area of London?

Good luck to your DD on her job search and gap year OP. Many of the suggestions already received are great. Lifeguarding can actually pay better than one thinks, so long as the YP person keeps the mandatory training up (was once every two months when DD was one).

Tutoring is a really good shout if she passes the criteria for the major players, mine has been one for nearly 3 years, keeps between 5 and 8 students teaching a language at GCSE and A level and the tutor company takes care of the platform/payments etc. Really handy if they take a year abroad too, DD has been able to continue with a 3 hour time difference this year.

Events companies also require a range of students for black tie/back office type roles, most will pay for the Uber back if it's a late event.

Final suggestion as I think the application window is now from memory are the local major events, like Wimbledon/Queens etc. 2 - 4 weeks paid well and good leverage for the CV...

Dd never had any problems getting a part-time job. Lifeguarding still in demand and pays well. Also looked after some kids, picking them up from school. No idea how she found them....
Worked in restaurant last summer after seeing a job advert on the door (free pizza for lunch).

Retail and hospitality have been affected by the Budget.
Companies aren’t taking on people, if anything they are getting rid of people

I work in hospitality for a range of venues that do company events and after the budget most of the January and February bookings were cancelled. One huge venue was left with only 3 days of bookings
They are really worried it won’t survive

I worked 4 days in January. February and March aren’t looking much different and been told from April to next April, I will only earn £5000

Compare that to last year where it was at the lowest 15 days per month in July and August because of school holidays, but usually around 21 -24 days per month and sometimes 28 days per month

If she wants to earn money then self employed is the only way to do it atm
or work for something to do with the government

If she gets herself DBS checked she could look at agencies that provide maternity or emergency cover for Teaching Assistants.
Dd has done this (it is pretty badly paid) but it is something to put on her CV

Her CV looks good - she has lots of customer facing volunteering experience and also a short stint of paid work abroad.

Her CV does not look good ..... she is 18 - rising 19 and has zero paid work experience to date. What has she being doing with her time? Assuming she sat exams in June 2024 what has she been doing for the past 8 months?

How does she come across? Is she smart, confident etc? Living where you do I think (fancy) hotels might be a good idea to target as there are so many jobs in them and staff turnover is often high.

I have 4 kids youngest also 18 on a gap year. They have all have had to have 2-3 jobs running simulatneously in order to build the hours due to zero hours - shifts cancelled and shorted at last minute. Currently my 18 year old works in a school as a TA Mon-Fri, cleans a tennis court Sat am, babysits and/or waitresses for events at weekends then is holiday play leader in school holidays.

She worked full time Mon-Fri on a farm in the summer holidays after her GCSEs at 16 alongside having a paper round. She also did pot washing in a restaurant 2 evenings a week through 6th form. Pot washing jobs are easy to get and not as grim as they sound - lots of fun and banter in the kitchens behind the scenes.

@Newmeagain Is she a decent swimmer? I paid around £250 for my boys to do a 5 day NPLQ course, after which they could work as lifeguards. They both quickly earned it back doing casual shifts in a local sports centre for around £13.50 an hour. There often seems to be lifeguarding jobs advertised and the need for the NPLQ cuts down the competition for the roles.

Life guarding or swim instructor? There are big shortages apparently. Dog walking?

How did you organise the course if you don’t mind me asking?

Also, does she have a good relationship with her former school? Schools are struggling to recruit teaching assistants, exam invigilators, and other support roles, so might be glad to find a role for her if she got in touch.
My own son's school hires former students to help in the canteen, to mentor younger students, and to help supervise sports hall lettings.

Many swimming pools run them, usually in school holidays. You can search for courses near you on this website: https://www.rlss.org.uk/find-a-course

Select 'National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ 10)' from the dropdown list.

Thanks. DS is hoping leisure centre will find it, but not sure if realistic. He’ll have to see

My 86 year old friend had a lovely young carer who came to her home for some days per week, I think about 2-3 hours each time. She was a uni undergraduate from our local university.There was no personal care needed, just heating up food and perhaps helping her into bed…I know they became close and the girl said she loved chatting to my friend who had been a teacher then social worker before retiring. The girl had to stop attending when her uni work was too much. She sent my friend a lovely card. Might be something to consider.

Love this.

There's a lot young ones can learn from older people.

The country I live in older ones go into schools to teach about WW2 and the dangers of fascism.

More needed than ever

The care sector has vacancies. Always does but she should commit to them whilst at uni.

Easiest way is hoofing round local high streets, looking for signs in shop/ bar / restaurant/ café windows, or just walk in, ask if they're looking for anyone and have a cv to hand over in her bag. She's much more likely to get work that way than by applying for advertised jobs.

Maccies, Aldi and Lidl are always recruiting.

I made loads of money as an informal nanny/ babysitter when I was in my early 20s in London. Also tutoring and temping.

When I came to the UK 20 years ago I went ti all the shops in Oxford Circus and Regent Street to ask and hand my CV. I was lucky to get a job in Levis part time.

DC looked after children on summer play schemes and look a first aid and lifeguarding course, so progressed to lifeguarding. Possibly try local authorities for library assistants, basic admin assistant, e.g. City of London advertising for lifeguards and people to work at the Epping Forest Visitor Centre.A friend’s DS currently earning £120 ph as a tutor - he is 3rd year at uni. Civil Service Jobs also worth a look, e.g. today they have four 12-week engineering summer placements in Glasgow - closing date today.