Is your older teen working this summer? If so what?

Trumporange · 2023-07-13T20:39:48+00:00

I'm curious - most of the dc we know who have just finished sixth form are not working this summer and I cannot get my head around this. I worked from 16 onwards every school and then university holiday. They have about three months off before heading to university. The majority seem to be travelling for a few weeks with friends and going on a family holiday and pottering about in between. Is this the norm now? Note most of these kids are from comfortable middle class families - not staggeringly rich but well off enough.

ShanghaiDiva · 13/07/2023 21:43

Dd has just finished lower 6 and is working as a lifeguard. She is also spending time with friends, doing some university research and coming on holiday with us.

Original poster

Trumporange · 13/07/2023 21:45

That sounds eminently sensible. Not suggesting they 'should' be working full time all three months, but doing nothing and spending a lot on interailing or whatever seems strange and wasteful to me.

OP posts:

BlueskyBluesea · 14/07/2023 17:59

Mine has been away with friends, will be away with family end of summer and working in-between earning as much as possible for uni

Parisj · 14/07/2023 18:18

My two are working in between holidays, in hospitality. To fund uni and travel.

orangeleavesinautumn · 14/07/2023 18:22

child care - bank staff at a local nursery- which will be full time, it always is in the summer

If anyone's child is looking for work, nurseries always seem to be understaffed.

mizu · 14/07/2023 18:25

I have one in year 12 and one just finished year 13. Both have worked in cafes for a while and are working more hours during the summer to save up for various things. Both got jobs straight after GCSEs and work one day a week usually.

megletthesecond · 14/07/2023 18:27

16yo DS is volunteering at the library helping with the children's summer reading challenge.
I did want to get him trained as a lifeguard but there's nowhere near here that does it.

GMH1974 · 14/07/2023 18:32

My 17 year old is working in a Gail's Bakery before going back to school and my 18 year old who has just done his A levels is working in a pub before going to university. The 17 year old is also going to do a week's work experience.

missmoffatt2705 · 14/07/2023 18:32

My 19 year old DS has applied unsuccessfully for over 20 jobs over past few weeks. He has an interview on Monday at local bowling alley so fingers crossed. I think unless its a temporary job, employers don't want to train someone who will return to uni town in September. I was genuinely surprised at his lack of success as he has two fast food jobs on his CV.

dancemom · 14/07/2023 18:34

Dd is 17, attending a pre Uni summer school and working as a lifeguard every day too

orangeleavesinautumn · 14/07/2023 18:35

GMH1974 · 14/07/2023 18:32

My 17 year old is working in a Gail's Bakery before going back to school and my 18 year old who has just done his A levels is working in a pub before going to university. The 17 year old is also going to do a week's work experience.

I hated my teens working in pubs, drunks, drug dealers, aggravation, and a 3 am taxi that would have wiped out their profits if I hadn't always ended up paying for it. 😰Its a life experience, but one I couldn't wait for them to move on from

GMH1974 · 14/07/2023 18:35

I think teens who haven't worked up to this point and aren't planning to go to university are going to be in for a bit of a shock when they start trying to find jobs. I think they may have to lower their expectations.

cptartapp · 14/07/2023 18:36

DS1 is back from uni and working at JD after having two holidays. And will be doing through until September.
DS2 had a job at a pizzeria for 18 months but is taking a summer break after A levels for six weeks, as going travelling round Italy. Hopes to do a few weeks when back before he too goes off to uni.

orangeleavesinautumn · 14/07/2023 18:37

missmoffatt2705 · 14/07/2023 18:32

My 19 year old DS has applied unsuccessfully for over 20 jobs over past few weeks. He has an interview on Monday at local bowling alley so fingers crossed. I think unless its a temporary job, employers don't want to train someone who will return to uni town in September. I was genuinely surprised at his lack of success as he has two fast food jobs on his CV.

He could just post his CV through the door of every local business, that is what mine always did. Head it student looking for holiday work for the next 3 years, or similar. Mine got work like this, although not through applying for actual advertised jobs. Mind you they posted hundreds, and heard back from very few - it was a scatter gun approach

cptartapp · 14/07/2023 18:37

And all holidays and travelling paid for by themselves.

GMH1974 · 14/07/2023 18:38

@orangeleavesinautumn He's actually working in the kitchen at the pub as a pretty junior chef and it's more of a gastro pub.

ineedatreat · 14/07/2023 18:39

My DS never had a job in his teens. Was busy gaming.... failed all his a-levels due to lack of effort. Has fallen on his feet with a £35k a year tech job! He is only 20 now. I didn't think he would get a job but have been proved wrong!

cuckyplunt · 14/07/2023 18:41

I’ve got one with two jobs, totalling 30 hours per week and one who needs a stick of dynamite up her arse just to get out of bed. To be fair to her, she has been focussed on art and music for two years and it is not easy to get a job when you have no experience.

Lordofmyflies · 14/07/2023 18:42

DS, 17 has been working picking veggies on a farm - £11phr. He's worked for 21 days continuously, earnt £1K, is now off travelling until results day, and then plans to do another 21 days prior to Uni.
I was surprised about the lack of jobs out there- seems to be a lot of 0 hour contracts.

Watermelon444 · 14/07/2023 18:43

missmoffatt2705 · 14/07/2023 18:32

My 19 year old DS has applied unsuccessfully for over 20 jobs over past few weeks. He has an interview on Monday at local bowling alley so fingers crossed. I think unless its a temporary job, employers don't want to train someone who will return to uni town in September. I was genuinely surprised at his lack of success as he has two fast food jobs on his CV.

My dd 18 has applied for around 30 jobs, plus visited places with her cv but so far unsuccessful despite experience of working for 18 months in a cafe. I am surprised too and frustrated for her as she wanted to earn some money for uni, but it’s looking like she won’t be able to. She hasn’t heard back from loads. I don’t know what else to suggest.

Guinefort · 14/07/2023 18:47

Mine have all worked since 16, both older ones started off in local pub and younger one lining up to start there the second she turns 16 in September. All desperate to start earning their own money, plus there seems to be a great social life built around work friends who are mainly all older teens/young adults. Oldest DD is at Uni now but has worked her way up to supervisor in a nightclub in our nearest city and works there every holidays and comes back from Uni some weekends to work too if she needs extra cash. Not for everyone, but she has always been a night owl and enjoys the job. I can't imagine them not working!

User6424678852 · 14/07/2023 18:53

My 15 and 16 year olds haven’t been able to find work, but are both now looking at volunteering to get something on the CV to increase chances of finding holiday/weekend work later in the year.

KevinDeBrioche · 14/07/2023 18:55

Of course. Both of mine have worked from 13 - babysitting, car washing, gardening, washing up in local cafes etc

orangeleavesinautumn · 14/07/2023 19:03

GMH1974 · 14/07/2023 18:38

@orangeleavesinautumn He's actually working in the kitchen at the pub as a pretty junior chef and it's more of a gastro pub.

o that sounds better than what mine did.

lljkk · 14/07/2023 21:57

19yo: paper-round, News Agent, pot-washing. He hates the pot-washing !

15yo has daily paper round & I am trying to encourage him to do some pot-washing ("kitchen porter")