Can't find entry level job

[JustPloddingOnBy]

My 18yr old is really struggling to find an entry level part time job. They have applied for around 40 different jobs but the majority never respond which is so disheartening. I have helped them tweak CV but still nothing. Some of the applications would have you think they were applying for a senior role, 60 question psychometric assessment just for an 8hr contract at a service station Burger King, argh! They just want a job to earn a bit of money.

Anyone else's teenagers in the same situation?

This - if they keep hitting a brick wall. Although I agree that parents can check for obvious flaws in a CV, sometimes if parents have not had a job interview for years or the job is not in a field they know, then an outside specialist might have more insight on what the employer is looking for.
Once your child knows the weak areas on their CV, then they might be able to get some relevant training or find a voluntary role which will plug those gaps.
Taking this approach will also seem more mature to potential employers as it evidences self reflection and a willingness to seek opportunities for self improvement.

It’s brutal out there. DC 16 applied 10s of jobs. Eventually got one. Now seems to have been ghosted following all the checks 🤷🏻‍♀️

Same. DC has applied for must be getting on for 100. Finally got one at a major entertainment venue, but then ghosted and heard nothing since.

There was an interesting article about (some of the) possible reasons in the Guardian last week. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/feb/20/first-crappy-job-youth-minimum-wage

If he doesn't have any volunteering or work experience he could try parkrun or the library. My DC started with parkrun then did a summer helping with the summer reading challenge which gave them regular "shifts" and a nice boost to their cv.

Fingers crossed here too

Great news, hope it goes well.

If they have just started looking now it’s possible there may not be much because companies have kept Xmas staff. My dd works at a high street retailer and essentially they recruit twice a year within a space of about 2 months. July / August which I think covers the Y13 going to uni and then September for Xmas staff - some of those Xmas staff then get kept on.

She’s been there 2.5 years now and that’s been the pattern the whole time. That said they seem to be quite a good employer and pay well for teens so I don’t think many people
leave.

worth googling the company for interview tips - we did that and there was a specific question that came up that she wouldn’t have known the answer to otherwise, it was about the specific type of retailer they are.

My DS (18) has had a couple of jobs since leaving school. I find that they don’t have the patience to even give the young ones adequate training or generally just a ‘good enough go’ before they’re shoving them out the door.

He has recently just secured a job in a care home. He attended an open day and I think from them meeting him in person rather than reading about him on his CV that’s what’s helped him. I have told him to carry on applying though as care isn’t for everyone, just incase it isn’t for him.

He has had spells of being in real lows when without work and constant knock backs.

Same here

Been applying for six months and still nothing

Yep 18yo has applied for a handful of part time jobs recently with no joy. He doesn't hear back. Updated his CV now he's passed his driving test but still nothing. Not sure what the answer is.

At least they're trying. Better than doing nothing.

Mine works in a charity shop 3 days a week to get some experience but still nothing

Good luck with her interviews at the weekend, the job market is brutal so it’s great she’s got those.

Only thing I can add is that garden centres/nursery’s near where I live always recruit extra people before Easter and the bank holidays so look out for that. Also as others have said any temporary work which they can put on their CV. If they know any family friends or people with small businesses where they could do a weeks work experience to put on their CV that would probably help too.

They’re too expensive to employ - the changes to NI and minimum wage in the budget, at first glance a good thing for youngsters, has scuttled the jobs market for teens. It’s really hard out there!

Mine had applied to loads of places for their gap year, it was only when one rang a their former PT employer to check their references that the previous job asked them to come back, not offering many hours though!

This is so concerning. It’s not good for anyone’s MH.

Their best advert is their smiling face and confident, friendly manner. I think taking CVs in to local businesses is probably the best bet, or going in to ask and following up with an emailed CV if there are likely to be roles coming up.
Think particularly about new businesses (scout high streets and instagram for new ventures being launched), or ones which hire for the summer (eg tourist attractions, farms / garden centres, the pub with the biggest beer garden locally).
Ask friends who already have jobs to put their name forward if anything else comes up at the same business.

Some good advice on here.

Also, take heart, it feels harder right now because it is harder. People's experiences from 2,3,7,8 years ago are far less relevant right now.

Fewer employers are hiring, particularly at entry level and the rising use of AI in recruitment means having a real conversation with a real person is for those that get through to round 4...

There are very few truly young people staffing the cafes, shops, pubs on our local London high street, even at weekends. They look to be permanent older staff.

Of those I know who have combined studying with a bit of work, its mostly been during school/college holidays rather than weekends and has been temp (zero hours) roles with agencies for shifts like waitressing at events etc. So no guaranteed income and little notice of shifts. Unless you're in an area where people really do put cards in windows or welcome a personal visit and a chat, agencies might be your best bet.

And rural areas can be particularly hard, relying on cars/drivers. I know one tourist area where the temp staff are mostly non local students from affluent families - and are paying rent to stay the Summer and work in the remote coastal location. Many locals can neither afford/justify that rent or manage the daily practicalities/cost of another car/driver in an area with little public transport.

DS1 worked at JD Sports for four years, he found that on Indeed but I think they’re very sought after.
DS2 literally walked into the local Papa Johns and they took him on then and there, over four years ago now. There’s an extremely high turnover of staff in those places, it isn’t glamorous but has done the trick, loads of questions about it during his recent successful interview for a years internship for his masters.

Are they applying to national chains? My son physically went to local independent restaurants and shops to ask for afterschool and weekend work and was successful. No psychometrics etc. just honest conversations e.g. no previous employment but has volunteered at coffee mornings for school and sports clubs etc doing x and y.

You can blame Rached from Accounts with her unrealistic policies of putting up the NMW and employer insurance. From the point of view of an employer they are going to prefer an older person with work and life skills and the right attitude. Young people are too expensive and too much of a risk.

Can they do any training to improve opportunities? DD did her lifeguarding qualification at 16, got a job within one week has been doing it 3yrs on the weekend and last year did a swim teaching course and now takes adhoc cover lessons plus has a housekeeping job in the week now she’s on a gap year. She had to really push for the housekeeping role as they were desperate in the kitchen team instead & probably wanted an older person in HK, but she hated it in the kitchen and asked to trial in housekeeping and after a week they gave her a 20hr contract as she was good efficient & turns up on time. It’s really been good for her learning to advocate for herself as she’s a quiet introvert.

Thanks all, some great advice. They have finally secured a role. Ended up being a bit of a numbers game, applied to anything and everthing on line, also emailed out CVs to anywhere else we could think of. Had several interviews last week and one offered a job on Monday so my teen has taken it. Had induction today and first shift is at the weekend.

That’s great.

Such brilliant news @JustPloddingOnBy. Well done to them.