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.

I guess that's an option if someone is a good swimmer. My two most definitely are not.

I meant to add, getting a life saving qualification is great

This is extremely true, not just for casual jobs at pools and camps but on a professional resume down the track it is often perceived that you would have valuable ‘attributes’ associated with that as opposed to the skill itself and that’s the type of thing that can put someone a neck in front.

Ds2 got job from facebook as was advertised in there.
Ds1 still looking but has applied to odd one via indeed and name with an agency in case some summer work comes up but still waiting .
Lots of his friends have jobs via people they know.

@JanuaryJonez yes I was surprised too, but I have an online business too so maybe it's rubbed off....
maybe encourage him to he more entrepreneurial that's a great Avenue now 😀

Dc1 saw a sign outside a pub looking for staff and applied.

Dc2 applied online to lots of jobs, and repeatedly to some companies. I used to work in a shop. We used to get cvs handed in on a daily basis. They were usually thrown away.

I have noticed on our local Facebook page that local pubs, restaurants, , farms etc advertising for part-time staff.

Unfortunately, the job market is quite tough at the moment, especially as students are finishing school/college so will be looking as well.

Experience is always useful, so could he work in a local charity shop, or focus on jobs related to hobbies. Ie. If he likes sport, go to gyms and sport shops. For example, for shop selling outdoor clothing and camping, the people who will get interviews are scouts/guides, army cadets, DoE etc

Ds did work experience and the shop he went to told him to contact him once he had finished year 11. But due to Covid they are still only open reduced hours and have permanent staff on furlough

There are so many really useful tips on here, thank you!

I'm going to make a bullet list for DS!

Both my DC worked during their A levels at different well known high street stores.

One applies directly via the shop website, the other via indeed.

They both made lots of applications (a number to the same shop) before they were successful.

I do think my Ds will struggle as his poor GCSEs might put employers off.

Have you got a tesco nearby? They are great to work for, they pay 16 year olds the full adult minimum wage and are flexible with hours. They let DS have a month off leading up to his exams, no issue at all.

Ds1 did the lifeguarding ASAP after he turned 16, and applied to the sports centre attached to his school which was always advertising. He worked there from Dec 2018 until Mar 2020, when covid stopped play. He didn't go back last summer when they reopened because they imposed unreasonable employment conditions (in his view).
He hasn't renewed his qualification, needs doing every 2 years, but will have it to fall back on at uni.

Dd did a babysitter course, and started babysitting kids of family friends, ds went through a temp agency at first, so got a few random jobs setting up event halls, working at a recycling depot, printing flyers etc

16yo DD started hers a couple of weeks ago .

Exactly the same process as your DS but she got lucky at the second takeaway she walked into and is now answering the phones 5-8pm three nights a week in a kebab and pizza place.

It's not glam but it's flexible, a fiver an hour and walking distance from home with a bunch of people who sound like an absolute riot.

She's very happy with herself and already talking like she's worked for years!

My DS got a job in a cafe (from an advert on facebook). He then worked as a lifeguard at the local pool. When the pool closed due to covid and he deferred his uni place he got a job at Sainsburys - which has been the best paid. He works full time but most of the supermarkets employ people to make up online orders - 4 hours a shift/4shifts a week. My son is very quiet but we have encouraged him to get out and ask about jobs e.g he took his cv to Sainsbury who put him on a list and then interviewed him. I think you have to be proactive and employers often respond to a bit of initiative.

Does he play football. Junior refs get paid and can qualify from 14. The course has a cost but some clubs will fund this.

DS is 18 and got his first job at the local football club when he was 16. Just saw an advert online. Saturday match days in the cafe. I think it was luck as he sent his CV the same day it was advertised.

He worked their until Covid and obviously no go after that. He then applied to McDonald’s. Been there for a year. Saw it online. He’s also some some temp Xmas work for Game and Sports Direct. Again, all saw the advert and applied online.

I keep telling him how lucky he is to have so much experience.

DD found it easier to get hospitality work than DS. He had to go down the supermarket route. He used to grumble about that! Waitressing was more fun than supermarket work

Watersports coaching locally and children’s summer camps in Switzerland having volunteered there and been a camper previously.

Internship offered through university.

Babysitting and tutoring.

Village shop where most local children cut their teeth.

@Seafog

Dd did a babysitter course, and started babysitting kids of family friends, ds went through a temp agency at first, so got a few random jobs setting up event halls, working at a recycling depot, printing flyers etc

@Seafog can I ask where your DD did the babysitting course? Sounds very useful as a route in.

DS has really struggled to find anything, he's applied for I reckon 50+ jobs online, sent his CV via email to loads of places. Had one interview (offered job then let down) and I think a handful have responded with a no.

I'm starting to think there's something wrong with his CV. He's a bright lad (mainly 7-9's GCSE's) but apart from work experience he's never worked so no really experience. He's applied for so many jobs that he then knows the person who got it, and I wonder what made them get the job over him? Pull names out of the hat? Or something else? He's really starting to get disheartened, but can't give up as he needs to earn to be able to drive once he's passed his test

@mozerella it was offered through St. John's Ambulance

I believe Red Cross offers one as well

One came from work experience
One answered a FB post
One from seasonal Christmas work

The bigger companies tend to employ in house and don’t advertise, he needs to look at the big retailer sites, M&S, boots, Superdrug, supermarkets, and keep looking until something comes up.

Job train sometimes advertise pastime work

Both did Lifeguard courses. Advantages are that this is well paid for their age and demand is high for their services when they were off school. They always found work - DD for 4 years and DS for 2 years (until Covid hit).

One found the ad online for National retailer and went through their process.
The other heard that a cafe was changing ownership so sent a speculative enquiry and had an interview/trial the next day.