DD struggling with CV.

[HarmonyIsNot]

She is 17 in November. She was unable to take GCSE's this year (Recovering from MH issues) and is starting a resit course in November. She would like a part time job but we are struggling with her CV. She has had a really bad time of it the past few years and therefore doesn't have any achievements, hobbies or skills to put on.

I think for her to have a cat in hell's chance of getting something then she needs to do some charity shop volunteering. There's one a few minutes walk away wanting teenagers to volunteer over the Summer but she rolls her eyes when I suggest she goes down and asks. I've managed to convince her to go on NCS so at least that will start her off but other than that we're stuck. I'm hoping eventually she'll come to her senses and look at charity shop volunteering, I know she won't be earning and it's not "cool" but right now she's looking less than desirable for employers. No GCSE's, skills, been out of school 2 years etc. I dread to think what faces have been pulled by employers reading her applications. I know she'll be in a much better position this time in a year when she's got GCSE's and has started her BTEC but that's a long way off.

Does anybody have any advice? She ideally wants cafe or retail work.

Put together a basic CV.
Put a short paragraph of the effect "Due to illness I have had to drop a year at school and have been unable to participate in extra curricular activities."
Then go round with copies of the CV with her best smile and manners, and ask managers.

Can you 'pay' her to volunteer?

A lot of work can come through personal connections, rather than simply going round with a CV - which many people find hard even if they're not had health problems.

It might be also be worth looking further back - has your daughter done any babysitting/looking after a smaller sibling? Did they do any sports or other leisure activities before the ill health began.

If there's an Oxfam shop near you they can be quite supportive with people of all ages who have had problems with health? Also the pace is less pressured - cafe/retail work can be quite stressful with difficult/rude customers so good to build up resilience first

Tell her you will give her x amount if she goes and volunteers in charity shop.
It will really help with her confidence to be able to get work by herself and it would look really good on a cv that she did voluntary work and kn September loads off retail shops will be looking for staff and she will have a better chance with having experience.
My dd was 16 yesterday and starts her first job on Sunday in a local cinema. She will start with cleaning and work up to serving but it will be great for her to get experience. Hope your dd gets on good.