To ask how did your DCs get their first job

[JanuaryJonez]

I mean very first earning job.

My DS17 is currently doing his A Levels and would like a part-time job. He created a (very good) CV last week and then spent an afternoon wandering into cafes in our city asking if they had vacancies and leaving his CV. None had adverts in the window but only one said a flat 'No, we're not looking' without taking his CV, which I guess is encouraging.

He's now going to leave it a couple of weeks and if he hasn't heard back from any, pop in to them again, but he's having a bit of a 'Now what?' moment and feels he could be doing more. I searched on similar local jobs but they were all full-time and asking for a minimum amount of experience.

Quite a few of his friends and peers have had part-time jobs for a while, but they're all with either an independent retailer or cafe run by a friend of their parents. We don't really know anyone who runs a business that could give our DS a job, so he needs to find one through more formal channels.

So it would be helpful to hear how your DCs, if they're old enough, secured their first job, what was it doing and how long did it take them to get it etc. More recent examples would be the most helpful.

Mine got it because I have a friend with her own business but most I know apply online to supermarkets or other chains.

Obviously a local cafe would probably be nicer! I suggest he does as he says...and goes back...but also start applying online.

DS1 did a scattergun email approach but no CV. One local shop happened to be hiring and called him in for an interview. Ended up working there for 2 years.

Most jobs will be online, he could sign up for job alerts.

What did he put on his CV OP? My DS is almost 16 and going to be looking for work but a CV for him would be empty!

Thanks for your replies so far!

@UhtredRagnarson my DS used a guide that had CV templates (cost about £3). I've linked to a similar guide.

zety.com/uk/blog/cv-for-16-year-old-example

He listed (in this order I think) Experience, Skills, Education and Interests, with an Opening Statement at the top summarising everything.

For experience he listed a handyman business that he'd run the previous summer (he put flyers up on our street); unpaid help he'd given to his DF's business that summer too and sports achievements which gave him some good transferable skills etc. He would like to work with other people now though rather than the handyman work.

DS1 got his first one because there was an advert on the door of the shop. Most teens turned their nose up at it because it wasn’t a trendy shop and he had to wear their clothes as uniform. He didn’t give a shit, he just wanted the money. He ended up working there right up until the day before he left for the army.

DS2 got his because his best friend’s brother was leaving the bakery to go to university and put his name forward. It was a hard, horrible job but again he wanted the money and getting in at 6am on a Sunday didn’t bother him. It stood him in good stead because they gave him a glowing reference which helped him get a part time job when he was at university.

DD1 approached a local fast food chain and worked there for 2 years.
DD2 noted a new fruit and veg shop opening up and approached them.

@JanuaryJonez

Thanks for your replies so far!

@UhtredRagnarson my DS used a guide that had CV templates (cost about £3). I've linked to a similar guide.

zety.com/uk/blog/cv-for-16-year-old-example

He listed (in this order I think) Experience, Skills, Education and Interests, with an Opening Statement at the top summarising everything.

For experience he listed a handyman business that he'd run the previous summer (he put flyers up on our street); unpaid help he'd given to his DF's business that summer too and sports achievements which gave him some good transferable skills etc. He would like to work with other people now though rather than the handyman work.

Thank you! Very helpful.

My dd18 does lots of jobs. She sat an A level in the autumn last year after the teacher given mark was not what she wanted.
That was her lucky day...

She spoke with the invigilator afterwards, they spoke to the school exams officer and now she has a job at her old school exam invigilating, from that came another job covering reprographics for a shielding person, and looking after a child with additional needs over lunchtime - the child's dad runs a warehouse and offered her a Saturday job running the office there... more work than she can shake a stick at..

My other Dd20, at 18 got a call centre job at the start of covid for her "gap year" to earn money for uni. Crap work, but as many hours as she can do.

Really, through hobbies in my family’s case

So dancer who’d been dancing from 3 ended up helping with baby ballet and drama etc on Saturday morning and working on the reception desk of the dance school in the evenings - a mix of teaching and admin.

Swimmer ended up as an assistant at swimming classes for little ones and a lifeguard.

Musician got jobs playing and singing in hotels, restaurants, cafes etc and doing weddings, birthdays.

We’ve also got some baby sitters/mother’s help in the family who get regular work especially in school holidays.

These are all really helpful and interesting so far thank you!

Ignore me, I’m being dim. Most of those jobs were fairly part time!

Apprenticeship route for others in a more full time role, care work etc.

It depends on the field as well. I know a few that got training jobs in local accounting firms, solicitors (working up to paralegal), bank schemes for school leavers.

What field are they interested in?

@Sandgrown1970 no that's great advice - he's doing his A Levels so is looking for part time!

Having a CV and ready to fill in firms for online job adverts will help.

There's lots of PT/Saturday jobs advertised on places like Indeed, Caterer.com, etc. It's a lot lessmanual labour than physically going out looking. He just has to be savvy with a search engine.

I got my first job as a Christmas temp in a big shop, got kept on one shift a week after Christmas then got a few friends jobs there by referring them in so get him to ask friends what they know of going?

Most of my friends worked in the local supermarkets, it was often show up and make a good impression with the manager that got them the job but now I think most of it is online. Similar situation re referring.

I also had a few friends who worked as swim tutors or stacking shelves at the library. McDonalds or KFC were always looking for part timers for odd hours.

My son and his friend have had success advertising themselves as casual labour, they have been willing to do digging, weeding, shifting concrete etc so not exactly easy work, but they've earned decent money £8-10 an hour and have had some lovely reviews. They advertise on local Facebook groups and the Nextdoor app. They're both doing A levels and it fits in well as they say they are available in the holidays and weekends.

It's a good time because lots of catering places are reopening and advertising. I suggest he sets up a Facebook profile and follows as many local businesses as possible - respond ASAP when you see them say 'we need a pot washer / waiting staff'. There is Facebook job pages too. My dd responded quickly to about 5, first three didn't get back, then she missed a call, then she was offered two at the same time through Facebook messenger. Went for a trial.

Got mine years ago working for the local major supermarket. I think they relied on the local 6th form for their part time roles! Last year, I ended up working for the same chain but in one of their regional hubs, order picking for home delivery. Going by a lot of the other staff around me, they still rely on 6th formers for a lot of their staff!
Application is online, so check out Tesco, Sainsbury, etc. websites. From memory, there's a link on the bottom of the shopping pages to vacancies. Good luck to you DS, OP.

She waitresses at a country pub all day Sunday and one midweek evening. Sometimes she gets kitchen shifts too.

I’m early 20s so my own experience is somewhat recent.

Got my first job by handing my CV out at Westfield - I secured 3 roles this way. I also had A LOT of interviews by applying online, but after I was hired at my dream company I didn’t continue with these applications.

I handed out CVs 2 weekends in a row and was quickly hired from both outings. If I didn’t get hired, I would have kept going out and handing them out in different locations until I secured something vs just waiting around to be contacted.

If he’s still in education his establishment might have roles for him (eg librarian, cashier) or they may collate job listings with local employers for students online

@mozerella that's interesting - did your DS already have his own Facebook page or did he have to set one up?

My DS being 17 doesn't do Facebook but if it helps him find work he could set one up, particularly as another poster said it's good for following local businesses.

@mooonstone great advice - just to be clear, did you just walk into various shops in Westfield and gave your CV in and then they called you back a short time later?

How many years ago was this, as I was told last year in River Island that most retail jobs now are online? You apparently create a profile on their jobs section with photo, location and preferred hours etc and if and when a match comes up they will contact you.

Dd got hers because a friend of mine was looking for waiting staff, so that fell into her lap. She didn't even want the job but I chivvied her into it, she stayed about six months then applied for her first retail job of her own accord (she went on to have a couple of retail jobs whilst at uni etc)

DS just happened to be the right age when a big supermarket was opening down the road, so he applied online (I admit I helped with the application as he hadn't done one before)

From talking to friends with businesses it seems they appreciate young people having the get up and go to drop in and ask, so with things starting to open up it's probably the right sort of time to have a walk round local cafes/pubs etc and ask. I know a couple who've put a post on the local fb page saying they're looking for p/t work, and got something from that.

I used to work at a bowling alley and employed lots of part time workers that age. We used to collect CVs all the time and then when we needed staff go through them then - always had plenty so never advertised.
I would reccomend trying retail parks and for bigger companies check their website as many applications are online. Places like cinemas, restaurants and shops. If there is no info online just give them a call to save his legs - plenty of people called us it wasn't an issue.

Volunteering at the local sports centre and doing unpaid shifts. Then got offered a permanent contract for Sunday's, paid.