What do your 18/19/20 yr olds do for work?

[gangan87]

What do your 18/19/20 yr olds who aren't at uni or on a degree apprenticeship do for work?

I have 2 teens one is keen for uni and the other has no plans after A levels and seems in no rush to get a job. She doesn't really go out or spend no money so in her eyes she has no real reason to get a job - her friends all seem the same.

We are telling her that she needs to do something but she wants a couple of years off to chill!!!!!!!!

I hope that she may get bored but she is quite lazy and is quite happy lying in bed all day on her phone to her mates and I worry as none of them apart from the two that are going to uni seem to have any inclination to work either.

You HOPE she gets bored - WTF

I am sorry but it should not be an option just to do A levels and then ‘chill’ for a couple of years. She gets a job, pays her way and acts like the adult she wants to be.

Mine got a job in nhs as a support worker (was definitely a baptism of fire). Has a good work ethic (had been working since age 14 paper rounds, shop assistant, local gym). Then got asked to apply for nurse associate training. Eventually thinks will go on to do degree but all paid through work.

Two years sitting at home without a job isn’t great, even for her CV. Does she at least want to do some volunteering?

My DD has had 3 part-times since she turned 16, along with most of her friends. So far it’s been hospitality and supermarkets. She tried getting a “better” job but hasn’t had any luck so she (finally) accepted defeat and is going back to hospitality. She thought just being enrolled in uni would be enough to get assistant jobs in her area of study.

Nothing unfortunately. He does apply for jobs, in hospitality , retail, restaurant kitchens but no offers so far.

My son (22) is now in a graduate job but started part time work when he was 17-firstly in a chippy then Greggs.
It helped him pay for his phone, social life, weekends away and petrol/car insurance and has given him a really good work ethic.
We made it very clear from the outset that we’d help him with his car/holiday expenses but there was no way we were paying for everything. It’s really helped him grow in confidence too and enhanced his CV for when he was applying for graduate jobs.

One works as a sparky and the other started his own business. He works about 20 hours a week as he can't be bothered to work any more (!)

Err you don't give them the option. She needs money to pay rent or at lest contribute to house hold expenses. How does she think she would live if she had no parents to support her.

I tell you what my parents did they took me down the job centre to sign on, my dad said it was important not to have any gaps in my NI contributions as it effects your pension. I wasn't even given the option of not looking for a job.

I told mine he either studies or gets a job. He did a year in college and now works in kfc until he can get a carpentry apprenticeship. He wasn’t given the choice to chill

Oldest daughter worked multiple jobs whilst doing A levels and after, managed to save and spent 2 years in NZ then uni. Oldest son bar work from 16 including uni. Youngest daughter before and after school clubs alongside uni (with placements) and bar work. Youngest son washed up in bar till 16 then KFC whist doing A levels and uni. All got decent jobs after uni, I never had to give them any money they were very I independent luck for me as a single parent working full time too.
Young ppl need some structure and routine in my opinion to appreciate down time and to avoid low mood. Like the rest of us.

She has always worked part time from 16 first in a kitchen then in a shop until January when unfortunately her branch closed down and she transferred to another branch but hated it and quit. she doesn't spend much money so has decided she doesn't need to work..... there actually seems to be sooo many young people her age that don't work she seems to think this is ok.

We have told her she needs to get a job (not now after A levels) and she needs to pay us rent - she has no idea what she wants to do so wants to do!!!

Just need some ideas of job ideas I can suggest to her.

My 19yo is working at B & Q. He finished A levels in the summer, got B, D, D. I gave him a couple of months after exams as he was very stressed, and then was encouraging him to job hunt. He was being pretty half hearted so I got him to sign on and then the regular meetings at the job centre and getting hassled helped him buck up his ideas and helped him grow up a bit. It took quite a while (3 months) to get a job and he has a long commute (2hrs plus in the morning, 1.5 in the evening, 20 mins in the car!). Dh and I charge him £100 per month for 5 lifts per week. He also sometimes stays with my parents who live closer to work.

He's been working since Christmas eve and saved 2.5K! He is similar to your DD in that he doesn't go out, spends spare time on xbox and doesn't really need money but he's quite happy accumulating it now. He's even considering uni 'one day' because he wants to save enough for the fees and live at home. He just hated the idea of having so much student debt. He's a lot happier working than sitting at home on his bum, and will start paying for driving lessons soon too and maybe also but a car. It's nice to see him having some goals he can achieve and gradually become more independent.

My other 2 DC are completely different. They want uni. They don't care about debt!

Sorry I’ve just re-read your post. She’s not planning to work or study for 2 years???
I get that she’s in the thick of it with A level revision at the moment and the thought of chilling for an extended period seems very appealing! However, the novelty of it will soon wear off and she’ll want money to spend and do things. As will her friends.
A big gap of unemployment will look rubbish on her CV too.

Mine is an assistant in a pharmacy

My daughter got herself a job in our local shop at 16 whilst going to school then at 17 she got herself a job at Primark in her uni town. She opted to go to uni a couple of hours away. Brand new place we had never been to, she applied and funded it all by herself and she got a job within days of moving into her dorms. Her dad and I merely bought her bedding and kitchen equipment and dropped her off! I wouldn’t stand for a kid lounging about the house never mind an adult!

Plenty of shops are always hiring. You do not get “a couple of years to chill”. I’d be cutting off the phone and the internet asap. Netflix/Disney plus/Sky tv can go too. Do NOT let your daughter get used to slacking off at home funded by other people. For now it’s you and next it’s the taxpayers or a bloke. It’s no way to live.

Ask your daughter how she plans to pay for her keep, OP.

In terms of ideas, if she already has experience then go after those types of jobs.

To be fair, Y13 is so horrible you have to take everything with a pinch of salt. They just want a breather I think. Let her have a couple of months off after A levels and then start applying.

What are her A levels in? What are her predicted grades.

I sounds like seeing a careers advisor at her school/college before she leaves is the next step. They have a wealth of experience of what is available in your area.

does she want to do further study? If not, then does she want a job with training opportunities?

Perhaps looking at what she is good at, or could be good at would help. Want to work indoors or outdoors? Want to work in an office based job, with a computer or more with with people?

perhaps post A Levels look at a hypothetical situation of her leaving home.
look at renting a room in a shared house, what that means practical and financially.
then look at renting a 1 bed flat. What finances does she need?

once she knows what her income post tax needs to be for the cheapest accommodation, she knows the minimum she needs to earn!! And what her budget would be for heating, phone, electricity, water, council tax etc. essentials. She may not spend much - but there are things you have to pay.

Insolvency apprenticeship, doing AAT - starting with level 3.
Will do professional level exams after completing AAT level 3 & 4, which take around a year per level.

Due to finish A levels in June & has a non degree apprenticeship starting in September. He works Sunday's serving food in a pub & has been there since he was 16. He's not motivated by money at all BUT his dad & I are very clear that he HAS to be doing something. I'm gobsmacked by how many of his friends have no part time job & no plans once college is over!

If she takes 2 years off to "chill" how does she plan to pay for her personal expenses (phone, clotheds, going out)? How will she contribute to household costs? How will she pay to learn to drive and run a car? How will she ensure there are no gaps in her NI contributions? How will she explain employment/education gaps on her CV in future?

I would sit her down and explain she needs to work for all of the above reaons and starting with any job is a step in the right direction.

What A levels is she doing? What's she interested in, does she have hobbies? Has she looked at career ideas online?

Sounds like her head is in the clouds!

After A levels my DS spent 18 months travelling plus working part time in retail and hospitality. Had good grades but didn't want uni. Lucky enough to get an apprenticeship start of this year but already not sure he will stick it as hates working full time and early starts! His dream would be part time forever. Also not motivated by money despite me charging basic rent. I see no real work ethic and am worried. Don't think he realises how tough job market is

All the local kids who worked in stop gap jobs worked in supermarkets, shops, restaurants, garden centres etc. until they went into uni, college or career-jobs.

Also, how is she going to afford to pay you rent, new clothes, socialising etc?

Both mine were told before they finished school that hey had to either find a job or study. There was no option for sitting about at home with nothing to do.

both went to uni, however my nephew didn’t know if he wanted to go to uni (and is one of the youngest in his year) so he has taken a year out and is working in McDs. Dds friend took a gap year, worked for 9months as a KP in a local hotel and then travelled for 3 months.

My 19 year old is an aircraft dispatcher. He loves it, he’s really blossomed. He left school with not very many qualifications and no idea what to do. Faffed about for a year, worked in Tesco warehouse and applied to be a baggage handler and was offered dispatcher.
am v proud of him. My 23 year old did 2 years at college doing welding then got an apprenticeship with a big company, both doing well and enjoying their jobs.

Both mine were told uni (or another type of education), apprenticeship or work. If they wanted to travel they had to work to make it happen. My DD (18yo) is an appreciate in finance. My son (21yo) works in logistics in the health & safety team - it’s not his ideal job but he has been working to save - so he can travel. He goes in 4 weeks!

This was not optional- they want to live in my house then they are in education or work.