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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

If you have a 16/17 year old at college, do they also have a part time job? What do they do?

85 replies

RJB73 · 22/03/2025 11:32

DD16 (17 early May) is at college 3 days a week. She found a Christmas job at a well known UK chain store but since that has ended she has really struggled to find part time work.

It appears to be so difficult finding work in our area (even though our town received city status a few years ago and has been growing at an alarming rate).

Has your dc found it difficult to get work at this age?

OP posts:
Inlimboin50s · 23/03/2025 10:58

My 17yr old has worked as a kitchen porter since he was 15. I called around all the village pubs and this one took him on.
I have to drive him over there three times a week and then pick up,sometimes midnight at the weekend.
He is at college three days a week so he is busy.
However, in our village he has friends that have dropped out of college and are not working,also experimenting with drugs and although son seems to be on the straight and narrow now,this job gives him structure and purpose so I'll just keep doing the journey's.

Original poster
RJB73 · 23/03/2025 12:39

Seems a lot of young people do well with life guard work, sadly that's not an option for DD.

OP posts:
Original poster
RJB73 · 23/03/2025 12:43

Inlimboin50s · 23/03/2025 10:58

My 17yr old has worked as a kitchen porter since he was 15. I called around all the village pubs and this one took him on.
I have to drive him over there three times a week and then pick up,sometimes midnight at the weekend.
He is at college three days a week so he is busy.
However, in our village he has friends that have dropped out of college and are not working,also experimenting with drugs and although son seems to be on the straight and narrow now,this job gives him structure and purpose so I'll just keep doing the journey's.

I'm happy to do th same tbh. Before he has his own car I'd ferry dd19 to work and college. He too has friends who did nothing all day. I didn't want that for him. I do the same for DD.

OP posts:
SomersetBrie · 23/03/2025 12:49

RJB73 · 23/03/2025 12:39

Seems a lot of young people do well with life guard work, sadly that's not an option for DD.

DS did the course and couldn't get a job. A lot of pools are in private schools and they understandably prioritise their own children. There seem to be an awful lot of young lifeguards here.

AngelsWithSilverWings · 23/03/2025 13:02

DS did a lifeguarding course and worked at a local health club all through sixth form. It's really good pay for a 16 year old .

DD16 was lucky as one of DS's friends got her a trial shift at a large cafe at a local tourist attraction and she was taken on immediately. It's zero hours and really low pay so not perfect but during the summer she can get three shifts a week and even more during school holidays. In winter she can go three months with no shifts so she's trying to get a job with regular hours but it's proving difficult. Now the shifts are increasing again she's thinking she will just put money away each pay day to see her through the winter months.

With many casual weekend/part time jobs around here they seem to recruit friends of existing employees so it's a case of who you know...

OriginalUsername2 · 23/03/2025 13:15

WatchedEverything · 22/03/2025 12:42

My oldest did try to get a part time job at 16 but it seemed impossible. As soon as he hit 18, he got a job easily and that was the case for all his friends too. When he realised that he was unlikely to get a job at 16/17 he did GCSE tutoring. It actually worked out well as he earned more per hour doing tutoring and so did less hours leaving more time for study/free time.

My youngest will be a college from September and we have told her not to even bother applying for a part time job until she’s 18. It’s not worth the time and effort spent to hear nothing back. She’s going to do 4 A levels so I’m even less keen on her working anyway.

I agree with letting them focus on studies but I’m also worried about the summer holidays.. I think they’re 9 weeks long!

girlsyearapart · 23/03/2025 13:23

My other dd does football refereeing

InigoJollifant · 23/03/2025 15:40

Lifeguard course here too. I did worry she would shell out for the course & not get any work, but there seem to be plenty of casual shifts going. She also does occasional waitressing for a local wedding venue, and occasionally cleans holiday lets with a friend’s mum when she wants extra hands.

daffodilandtulip · 23/03/2025 15:48

Nowhere wants to just give you just a Sat or Sun job. They all give you zero hours contracts then bully you into working loads of hours and late nights, despite them knowing you're looking for work around your studies. Daughter got two jobs under this premise, but quit them both as they wanted her doing 30+ hours and up to midnight.

BePinkOrca · 23/03/2025 20:10

My daughter is in first year of 6th form and she has a part time retail role (7.5 hour contract) she was taken on a seasonal worker and this was renewed a couple of times before she was recently made permanent.

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