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Teenagers

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

Original poster

What jobs do your teens do and how far away/hours etc?

49 replies

Pollyanna9 · 11/02/2017 15:07

Hi

Thinking of telling DS he needs to get a job - I can't bear the thought of him sitting in his room for the entire summer holidays.

I'm considering what is it NCA? But he didn't engage at all with DofE (which REALLY pissed me off) and I'm not moved to spend more money on him (albeit a lot less than DofE cost).

Where do your teens work, what places have they found to get jobs, how many days are they working and what types of hours/shifts do they do?

I'll need some ideas on how to talk to him - I think he needs to get out there. He's a thinker, a room lurker, a gamer, he doesn't go out with any friends at all and I'm just thinking for if/when he goes to Uni, he needs a bit more experience of life. He's 17 and will be 18 in July.

What ideas have you got and what do your teens do???

OP posts:
dietstartsmonday · 11/02/2017 15:13

One of mine works in macdonalds.calcot. He sounds very similar to yours but has been working since 13. Started with a paper round

dietstartsmonday · 11/02/2017 18:27

Sorry should have added it's about minitem from our house end tends to do two evening shifts occasional wknds

dietstartsmonday · 11/02/2017 18:28

5 minutes even

Original poster
Pollyanna9 · 11/02/2017 18:48

Cheers diet.

He's got one whole day and a half day or two each week that he could work. He only has every other weekend at home though but I think there's plenty of scope for him to pick up quite a few shifts.

OP posts:
dietstartsmonday · 11/02/2017 19:00

Yes I agree.

I think it is good for them. I know they like earning their money
My middle one has an apprenticeship so earns anyway and my youngest will turn 16 in April. She will be looking for a job then too

Freddorika · 11/02/2017 19:02

Dd
17
Has very good babysitting nannying job for lovely family with four children

Most of her friends work in the local supermarkets which is quite well paid I believe

madmoon · 11/02/2017 19:32

My 16 year works half hour away in a local holiday home/pub/soft play she has worked there since may 2016 , her own choice but sadly her dad has to take and collect as there no bus and it rural , she works 9-5 sat and Sundays and four days during the week in half terms holidays she can have when ever she wants off( 1 weeks notice ) but rarely does.

Cocolepew · 11/02/2017 19:38

My 19 yo works fri and sat night in an off licence, 4 hours each night.
She only started after Christmas.
She's very quiet and a bit anxiuos but is enjoying it. She can pick up more shifts when its the holidays.
It's her first paid job, but she does volunteers for the NT in the summer.

Original poster
Pollyanna9 · 11/02/2017 19:45

I guess my DS wouldn't be able to do an off licence would he (ditto waiting tables, bar work etc - licensed premises etc)?

This boy is going to have to set foot on a bus (currently something he seems to finds a step too far for his delicate sensibilities!). Seriously, don't ask.

How did you approach it - he has made comments (not to me) but that his DS has heard where he reckons he's not going to be looking for a job for another year!

Did you tell, ask, cajole, threaten?!!?

OP posts:
MakeItStopNeville · 11/02/2017 19:48

DC (16) works at Taco Bell a few hours a week. I think it's important they learn what a minimum wage job is and how to manage their own money.

MakeItStopNeville · 11/02/2017 19:49

Oh and it's about 15 minutes away. We're in US and he can drive himself.

HollySykes · 11/02/2017 19:53

17 is hard because there are lots of places that won't take them until their 18, my 17 year old works on Saturdays for a independent fast food takeaway place, get £5 per hour we give her a lift if it suits us otherwise it's 15 mins on the bus. I told her she wouldn't get any money from us if she didn't find something as she was procrastinating.

justdontevenfuckingstart · 11/02/2017 19:58

DD1 worked at a local bar/cafe whilst studying catering at college. Then got DD2 a job there. DD1 then moved to another restaurant (she's a chef now) got DD2 working at both places now when she's home from uni. Has now moved to another place. If you've got quite a few food places and can do the transport then there's quite a few possibilities. Pot wash, larder, front of house.

justdontevenfuckingstart · 11/02/2017 20:00

Sorry x posted op but my girls were both working in these places under 18, could just take on more responsibilities after.

bruffin · 11/02/2017 20:03

ds lifeguard
dd works saturday morning and holidays at an sn club. she volunteered until she was 18. but had respite work from some of the families before that

Original poster
Pollyanna9 · 11/02/2017 20:05

Useful to know justdonteven.

I think the production of a basic CV with these are the things I can do:
Fast food service
Washing up
Deliveries
Merchandising

And these are the days/hours I could work".

That should do it?

Sadly, we are so skint that I don't even give pocket money. I give them money when they need it but we are living by the penny at the moment (not assisted by XH currently not paying child support) and we live month to month with no spare. I simply can't afford to give them pocket money to fritter away on fizzy drinks and junk food.

I think saying that I will no longer pay for his Xbox Live membership would be a starting point.

OP posts:
justdontevenfuckingstart · 11/02/2017 20:11

Polly I live in a village with a lot of older people, could it be an option to look on something like Vista Print and get some cheap cards and do a leaflet drop for lawn mowing or car washing?

flissfloss65 · 11/02/2017 20:19

My ds is 16 and in year 12. He did washing up for a cafe over the summer. Hated it but kept going as temp job. Now has Saturday job, 9-5 working as white goods delivery helper for small local shop. Enjoys it and thinks of it as a work out!

swingofthings · 11/02/2017 21:09

DD turned 17 last month and works Saturdays in a nursing home, helps in a cafe during the holidays and does baby sitting when she's free to do so. It all happened at the same time after being desperate to work since she was 14!

Scotlass · 11/02/2017 21:20

My DD is same age as your DS and has been working for past 7months, 15 mins drive away in a trendy type shop. She has an 8hr contract but tends to do 4hrs Sat, 4hrs Sunday. mostly gets extra at holiday times. It's been great for her confidence and bank balance.
We wrote a CV and covering letter and handed it in to loads and loads of shops. She also kept an eye on vacancies advertised in windows / internet and applied. One shop phoned her, interview (for an hour so needed to know her stuff about company etc) and she got a start.
She's managing to juggle it with school, homework and hobby. I personally think it's good for teens to work, makes her realise every fiver counts and how hard you have to work for it.

MadisonAvenue · 11/02/2017 21:23

My oldest just turned 20 but he's worked at McDonalds since he was 17. He's on a zero hours contract but it's always worked well for him, he can state the hours he can do and when he does them. He worked through sixth form and he's now at a local university but comes home at weekends and works two shifts. He's earning around £80 a week. When he was back from uni over the Summer he was able to change his availability and worked full time.

My younger son wants a job but is adamant that he doesn't want to work in the food industry which narrows down his options. He applied for many part time retail positions and dropped his CV in just about everywhere but he hasn't even had as much as a letter saying thanks but no thanks.

nibblingfingernails · 11/02/2017 21:25

DD16 works at a Chinese takeaway 8hrs over 2 evenings. It takes about 5 mins in the car. She doesn't enjoy it but loves the pay. As I have explained to her, the people who she works for are very nice and she is lucky - there are a lot worse jobs she could have!

swingofthings · 12/02/2017 09:31

My experience is that in my area, most first jobs come down to word to mouth.

ginorwine · 12/02/2017 14:59

Dd works 2 days or nights depending on day off week at a restraunt
She is now 18 but was 17 when she started
Also lots of local baby sitting .

AnnieWithanee · 12/02/2017 15:15

Here's how I'm approaching my soon to be 17 year old son getting a job. Every time he says 'I would really like a...' or 'Mum, I need a...', I say 'You want to get a job mate, then you wouldn't have to ask'.

So far we have moved from a resolute no because the big world is too scary to him volunteering for 4 hours a week at a cat sanctuary. TBH, I don't mind how long he works or whether he gets paid as he is putting lots of effort into his sixth form studies, but I did feel it was time for him to discover how many hours he needed to work for a fancy pair of jeans!