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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

My friend's teen has started a job that her mother disapproves of

39 replies

paulkal · 08/09/2014 08:50

A friend of mine has a daughter who had just finished her A levels and has decided to get a job. As it happens this job is just a temporary job before she gets a proper job, but my friend is worried that her daughter might get stuck in a rut and not be regarded by future employers as having planned her career well and doesn't know how to say this to her daughter in a way that will make her listen. Has anyone got any advice I could give her?

OP posts:
smokeandglitter · 08/09/2014 08:54

I seriously doubt an employer would mind, if she's managed to get any job in this climate then she's done well, better than me - I am still unpaid and have a degree. Her mum is being ridiculous. Anyway, plenty of people do a not career type job before deciding, this girl is what 18?

squaretoes · 08/09/2014 08:58

Totally agree a future employer will not mind, all jobs have transferable skills (timekeeping, working in a team) employers will look favourably on any job. I worked at currys before I got a career type job, (now a university lecturer) and it taught me masses about communication. I loved it!!

Mrsjayy · 08/09/2014 09:22

She is 18 and earning a bit of money I cant see why that is a problem I just cant avjob at 18 isnt going to mean she will be there forever. My dd is a uni final year work s in a shop she isn't going to be there forever she has no plans. Surely an employer wants to see past working experience than a young adult who did nothing

Mrsjayy · 08/09/2014 09:23

Your friend sounds a bit snooty tbh her dd is the sensible one imo

JeanSeberg · 08/09/2014 09:24

What's the job?

I'd look much more favourably on someone who'd taken any temporary position than not worked at all. Her daughter is to be commended. Who walks into their 'career job' at the age of 18?

SirChenjin · 08/09/2014 09:25

She is 18 and she is working. I would be delighted if a CV came across my desk which showed that.

What the 18 year old needs to consider is how the skills that she's building now can be transferred to her future career - so leadership, resilience, customer care, team working, budgeting, project planning and manangement, that type of thing.

Unless, of course, the 18 year old has taken a job as a lap dancer - in which case I would be less impressed with her CV and would share her Mum's concerns Grin

marne2 · 08/09/2014 09:26

She does sound a bit snooty, a job is a job, she will get a reference and it's better than saying 'I have never had a job' when she applies for her first full time job. I think it's wrong to set your hopes so high that your not willing to do a 'not so good job', any experience in work is better than none.

CMOTDibbler · 08/09/2014 09:31

One of my nephews decided to work from 16-18, then go into the degree course he dreamed of. In those two years, he worked at McDonalds, and he has got so many skills from that, as well as dealing politely with abusive customers, turning up for shifts of all hours of the day/night. In addition, they encourage employees to get numeracy/literacy qualifications, so he upped his maths which had always been a challenge for him. Has done him the world of good, and his tutors have commented on his work ethic very positively - he's doing stage management so they are at college in the day, working in theatres at night as well as persuing their own projects with drama groups, and others find it hard to balance all three

Mrsjayy · 08/09/2014 09:34

maybe a lap dancer is a career choice.
Where dd works its full of students doing part time hours there is nothing wrong with grown ups working and earning and studying.

Mrsjayy · 08/09/2014 09:35

Isnt a career choice obviously

superbagpuss · 08/09/2014 09:40

ummmm

I've worked since the age of 13

I now have a very sensible career, worlds away from the ironing/ babysitting/ shop work I started off with

I have only met one person whose first job was after uni and he had never had to work before - he was a bit of a dick

SirChenjin · 08/09/2014 09:43

Me too super. Started off delivering papers 6 mornings a week when I was 13 and had a range of p/t jobs - shop girl, waitress, chambermaid, postie, worked in kitchens etc - until I graduated and went into my career.

Krakken · 08/09/2014 09:43

When I graduated, I turned down a job that I interviewed for. I was sent there by the job centre and it turned out being a data analyst (which is what I wanted to do) for a pervy chat line. I'd have to have gone through the porn mags and checked out their adverts too.
I don't think that would've gone down too well with future employers!
Hopefully it's not a job in a seedy industry otherwise it should be fine.

mumeeee · 08/09/2014 15:02

Agree with other posters OP your friend is being ridiculous and a bit snooty. Her 18 year old daughter is being sensible showing that she has got her self a temporary job will look good on her CV and show that she is willing to turn her hand to anything.

youbethemummylion · 08/09/2014 15:05

A job is a job and I would far rather employ someone who has got of their backside and got a job than someone who won't do anything other than their ideal job.

AlpacaMyBags · 08/09/2014 15:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AMumInScotland · 08/09/2014 15:45

What does the mother suggest the daughter do instead? Is there another, 'career' job lined up and waiting for her that she has turned down to do this temporary job? Or does she think her daughter would be better off staying unemployed until something 'career' happens to come along and fall into her lap?

If an adult thinks a teen would be better signing on than working in any job at all, in the current climate, I think she's the one who needs to adjust her viewpoint. No employer is going to prefer a candidate who thinks jobs are 'beneath her' just because they don't form part of a 'career plan', they just don't want that kind of diva!

Original poster
paulkal · 09/09/2014 08:25

No, it's not a job in a seedy industry. It's a job in a call centre that her mother doesn't think will lead to anything.

OP posts:
ThinkIveBeenHacked · 09/09/2014 08:27

Temping in any job is much more preferrable than turning down all work that isnt The Career Path.

Original poster
paulkal · 09/09/2014 08:27

I guess her mother thinks that she could do better than work in a call centre and is trying to encourage her to keep her options open.

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Original poster
paulkal · 09/09/2014 08:30

I have tried to get my friend to consider that working in a call centre could help her daughter to develop useful transferable skills.

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Original poster
paulkal · 09/09/2014 08:32

I have said words to that effect to my friend but she finds it hard to accept.

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Original poster
paulkal · 09/09/2014 08:34

Yes, I have said that to her which she finds hard to accept, perhaps because she is seeing this job in isolation, not part of the bigger picture.

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Original poster
paulkal · 09/09/2014 08:36

Point taken. I will pass your advice on.

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Original poster
paulkal · 09/09/2014 08:38

Sounds like very useful experience. I will relay that info to my friend.

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