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Original poster

what jobs do you teens do?

13 replies

MinaPaws · 14/05/2018 10:15

My teen boys don't have jobs and I think it would be a good idea for them to get one. But how and when? We live in a village and they travel to school in a nearby town, so up at 6.30am anyway - no time for a paper round. If they do clubs etc after school they'r enot back until 6pm/6.30 and both of them have clubs throughout the day on saturday which are very important to them, so I wouldn't want them to give thos eup just to work in a shop.

What jobs do teens have? They could apply to work in local cafes or shops over summer but we'll be away on and off. Would that hack off employers? What sorts of regular jobs (not random babysitting) do teens do?

OP posts:
celtiethree · 14/05/2018 10:19

Lots of teens here work in restaurants. The teens with the best jobs are those that have swimming and/or life guarding qualifications and get paid well above minimum wage.

TeeBee · 14/05/2018 10:22

Paper round
Building and maintaining websites
Buying low cost items online and selling them (phone cases, etc)
Pet sitting/walking/checking

Original poster
MinaPaws · 14/05/2018 10:28

@TeeBee - DS2 does buy and sell stuff online, and has made some pretty good money from it at times. But can that go on your CV? He thinks not. He;s worried because he's been told he absolutely has to have paid work experience to be taken seriously if he wants to go into business in any form late rin life. He's only 15 (summer born). I'm hoping once GCSEs are over he'll have a bit more time and be able to get a more regular job.

OP posts:
BeyondThePage · 14/05/2018 10:32

You have to decide priorities.

You can't "be away on and off" in the summer when they are starting a job.

Are the clubs after school AND at weekends more important than having a part time job?

Why do you think they should have a job? Do they think they should? Is it just because it seems to be the done thing?

Everyone leads a different life - DD17 does not have a job - she is doing A levels, grade 8 piano and is an air cadet - enough time is taken up with all of that. We are very happy with that and give her an allowance.

Dd15 does precisely NO extra curricular activities, so has time for work, she is a babysitter - it is turning into a lucrative little business - she has 6 clients and is busy most Friday and Saturday nights. We are happy with that too.

Original poster
MinaPaws · 14/05/2018 10:32

celtie - I think restaurant work would suit both DSs. Will look around for them.

OP posts:
TeeBee · 14/05/2018 10:42

I don't see why it couldn't go on your CV at all. Its running an online business. It shows initiative and an entrepreneurial mindset. Yes, mine is 15 too, he's been doing most of these things since he's been 14 (13 for the website stuff).

Babyroobs · 14/05/2018 10:51

My 2 teen sons have both done cleaning jobs at their school, so a couple of hours after school. It works well because it doesn't interfere with their weekends. My eldest son had to clean the changing rooms / toilets etc so not so great ( considering what disgusting creatures some kids are !! ) , but my younger one does the classrooms/ science labs wiping desks down and mopping floors etc. It pays well £8 an hour for a 17 year old isn't bad. there is also deep cleaning work available in the holidays too. many of my kids friends work in pubs/ restaurants, some work refereeing football matches ( £25 a match ), lifeguarding at local pools / leisure centres working in MacDonalds etc.

Original poster
MinaPaws · 14/05/2018 11:01

@TeeBee I said the same to him, but he didn't believe me. I said it was entrepreneurial - a good sign. Maybe if he hears that other people think it's fine on a CV, then he'll add it.

OP posts:
Original poster
MinaPaws · 14/05/2018 11:01

Babyroobs those are brilliant ideas. Thank you.

OP posts:
TeeBee · 14/05/2018 14:58

Basically on a CV they want to get a feel for the person's skills and mind set. Anything that shows you are a self-starter is a bonus, especially in a person so young. Do we take handouts from mummy and daddy or are we the kind of person who gets up off our arse and starts an online business at the age of 15? I know which one I'd employ. In fact, even at my age (cough...45), if I had started something like this at that age, I would this on my CV to demonstrate that I had been an entrepreneur from a young age. He would be crazy not to include something like this.

Original poster
MinaPaws · 14/05/2018 16:11

@TeeBee - that is SO helpful. He buys his own clothes now - when I offer to buy something for him, except uniform, he just says: No, I can afford my own stuff. From Ebay buying and reselling. He's just been asked to contribute ot some blog regularly too. I think they pay about £3 a blog, but still.

I'm glad you think it's a positive. I'll definitely tell him what you said.

OP posts:
TeeBee · 14/05/2018 16:21

Your son sounds like mine. :-)
I always tell him to remember his mother when he's rich :-D
Good on him. He really needs to market himself well to get himself on whatever ladders he wants to get on. Nothing wrong with a bit of self-promotion when it comes to achieving what you want. Nobody else is going to sell him, so he needs to do that.

19lottie82 · 14/05/2018 19:33

DSD started working in Sports Direct when she was 16. She has just turned 18 and now has a PT job in a busy petrol station that also has a mini supermarket and an ice cream / slushy counter.

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