Teenagers applying for weekend jobs

[SleepQuest33]

Can anyone advice? My teenage son, 16 and in year 12, want to get a weekend job. He’s a great student very responsible and good all rounder.

We live in a town with various restaurants and shops and he needs a local job. His a-level subjects are tough so studying will obviously take priority.

He’s put together a CV. The question is how does he go about asking for work?
for example, he’d like to work in waitrose but they appear to only accept online CVS and nothing is available in our local branch, should he just take his cv and give it to the manager in charge see what happens?

He’d also be interested in working at some of our local restaurants (eg we’ve got a wagamama, iguanas, giggling squid), shoukd he turn up with a printed cv, see what happens? We don’t have any pubs in walking distance.

Apoligies if question seems naive! No experience of this i our household! Would really appreciate advice so that we can help him.
thanks

Yes he should just go in and ask are you hiring ? If so he says can I give you my cv ? Smiles as he hands it over and walks out

I suggest he go in person to local businesses and offer his CV, or contact business owners if he knows any. I think small businesses might be more interested, but that’s not a given.

I run a charity that employs 1-3 teens at any time, and I also happily hire separate high school students to mind my six year old. To me the main thing is the person themselves (not mum!) getting in touch to introduce themselves and ask if work is available. Or they can post on a local Facebook group maybe? Again depends on the area. If you as the parent want to help, getting info out via WhatsApp groups you are on might work.

You have to apply online for most chains now. I think he’d have more luck going into independent places with his CV.

Indeed is the best website, check daily. In my very recent experience of two teens of similar age looking for work, he is far more likely to be successful in retail than in hospitality - there are restrictions over how early/late under 18s can work, they need extra breaks and can't serve alcohol so many chains just won't hire 16-18 year olds.

DD had her first job at just turned 16 at Next who were very good to work for in her experience, other friends work places like Primark and local cafes which are not licensed for alcohol and only open 8-6 rather than late into the evening.

The chains advertise online on places like Indeed.

Some businesses have posters in their windows or other eye catching places.

Yes he should definitely be proactive and take some cvs round. As a store manager I love it when youngsters do this. It shows that they have something about them. If I have time I like to have a little chat with them too.

What would always be an instant no for me is when the parents do all the talking and the person wanting the job is just standing silently behind him.

My daughter is 17 and just started at Waitrose. Half her sixth form seem to work there. I’d just keep looking at the John Lewis partnership website, our local store seems to have fairly regular adverts.

My husband was talking to his local coffee shop and they said they didn’t like to hire under 18s as they aren’t allowed to use the coffee machines….

My husband was talking to his local coffee shop and they said they didn’t like to hire under 18s as they aren’t allowed to use the coffee machines….

This was a "thing" back in the day when I had a student job in a supermarket deli. In order to use the admittedly scary meat slicing machine, strip it down and wash it, you have to be 21.

DD got her job as a pot washer in the pub by just turning up with her CV but she did also chase them up a few times, then her dad and I went in a few times and chatted up the bar staff a bit to remind them about her. That’s the beauty of pubs rather than big chain places I suppose - it’s a pity there’s none near you. What about an independent type cafe or something?

Yes, I remember that from when I was on the Deli. Still seems odd that the 17 year old would be allowed to carry the coffee to the table though……..

My daughter is working on the meat and fish counter so presumably will at some point be using the very sharp knives!

My DS got his job by calling all the local, independent places and asking if they had any vacancies, got a job by the time he was half way down the list. The chains and supermarkets weren't interested and lots seemed to want only over 18's.

My 16 year old got a job through indeed . Pot washing .

Thank you very much! Some great advice, I will pass it on to DS.
I hope he will be successful in finding something, will do a world of good for his confidence.

DD took her Cv to every coffee shop in town and she got Starbucks. Once she had experience on her CV she then used Indeed.

What about your local McDonald's? They are always looking for staff and ours are full of 16-20 year olds

I always think it looks like quite a hard job to be honest, not sure I’d d
fancy it!

either fill out an online application, chains often have details on website, or give the a call/email and ask if they’re hiring.

mcdonnalds and primark are always taking on loads of staff. Primark will be looking to take on extra staff now ready for the Christmas period. My daughter worked for them in y12 and thought it was ok. They also pay 16 year olds better than a lot of places.

What do you put in the search in Indeed.?