How long should we support our son before pushing for any job?

[shona1]

18yr old son finished 6th yr in May. Didn't want to go onto further study and only job he could see himself doing was something in car industry - sales, after sales, customer exec etc. Hes a very chatty lad, great communication skills, friendly etc so I think that would suit him. He went to a few car garages with his cv,which took guts, but they just said apply online. Currently he's working part time in a local bar and loving it, it's only 3 nights per week though.
Trouble is he's not looking for jobs, me & his dad are sending them to him, husband helped him write a cover letter and his CV. he's maybe applied to 8 jobs, no success. He doesnt seem motivated, and although he does some housework he's staying out till late and getting update. This week I've cracked up so he has been home by 12, up by 9.30.
How long do you try to get the types of job he's after before telling him he has to get anything.
I'm a worrier, so worried for his future especially when I hear his friends have found apprenticeships.
He has Scottish higher in PE and 4 or 5 Nat 5's including English and maths

We know 2 lassies who have managed to get jobs in Aberdeen doing after sales/customer service in car industry with same level as DS.

Those jobs are basically receptionist positions.

@Darragon gave good advice. If your ds is serious about working in the car industry he should look at college courses. They're more practical based than school work and will give him that bit extra when applying for an apprenticeship.

FWIW, Arnold Clark used to ask for Higher Mathematics for technician apprenticeships more than ten years ago. A friend's son got a job as a Sales Consultant at Arnold Clark. His previous experience was managing an EE shop, so proven customer service, plus he was a car nut.

Your DS needs to book an appointment with Careers Scotland asap, and well done him on having a pt job. Things are tough nowadays.

The job market is pretty bad right now, certainly where we are. You can’t apply for jobs that aren’t there. Like others have said, it’s the summer holidays and things do tend to pick up after the holidays. There will be the run up to Christmas jobs soon and he may be able to pick something up there if he can’t find anything permanent before then. That would add to his cv and his skill set.

You didn't answer who was funding his life because he's not doing it on 3 days a week in a bar. He thinks he's fine now but he's going to have a life of poverty and it won't be fun especially if he wants to get married and have a family later.

But his CV will suffer. That speaks volumes to potential Employers. If he cannot get more hours in his current bar then he needs to get a second job in a different bar. He needs to fill his time, if he cannot get paid work he could do some voluntary work to at least demonstrate some initiative and motivation. In twelve months time a new cohort of school leavers NEETS will also be looking for work.

If he’s working in a bar, it’s gonna be difficult to go from that into car sales. Can he volunteer some time in one of the job roles he wants to go into to get some experience or something? Either that or he needs some sales or even retail experience. Working in a bar won’t cut it to get an interview in the jobs listed.

Oh i dunno my dd went from working in a card shop to the Emergency Services! Teenagers are doomed because they are working PT at 18!

Is that not a bit different though because I’d imagine the ES would provide all training? Other job roles require experience to get ya foot in the door.