Jobs for teenagers

[FrancisSeaton]

Both my kids have finished school now (one starts sixth form one starts uni September) they have both applied for jobs several times the usual places restaurants fast food etc. both of them have had constant rejections even though friends have got jobs. Is there anywhere young people can go now for help with cvs/job applications etc? Thanks

Not an answer to your question, but when my son was 15 he emailed local businesses that weren't advertising any job, just to ask about keeping him in mind if anything came up. He ended up getting a job washing up in the kitchen of an old people's home. He worded his email that while he doesn't have any work experience, he does help out in the kitchen at home.

My son got his first job at 16 (KP in a café) by going in and asking. They said to drop in his CV. I think he actually asked when he was still 15 (summer born), and they said he had to be 16. Anyway he went in regularly to remind them he was interested after he turned 16. One day they said to go on downstairs and start! He'd been 16 for less than a month.
Second job same thing - he went in to an independent men's boutique and asked. He was 17 the (he was made redundant from café due to covid lockdowns).

Print out their cv and go door to door where you live - cafes, shops, etc.

Mine both got jobs at Kumon maths 3 hours a week. Not worth it for the money it cost a fortune to travel, but useful experience and good for the cv.
Most big shops don't take under 18s but DS got work at Tesco once he was 18.
Also look at Serve Legal. They recruit under 18s to test licensing laws.

Are they applying online? I think they need to print out their CVs and actually go into cafés etc to ask.

Another one who sent CV to local businesses then followed it up by popping in.
Mine got 2 jobs that way

I helped my kids with their resumes, I'm not sure if it helped or not but they already had a good work/volunteer history e.g. helping out a tradesperson in school holidays, coaching a sporting team etc so they had good references.

They've had a multitude of jobs along the way, about half through the online application process (e.g. fast food chains) and the other through word of mouth - usually small business where friends are already working.

They'd done some basic courses too, which might have given the edge? Food safety, first aid etc.

My DC has also been looking for a job
and no joy so far. Started out going into local cafes with CV then followed up the same places by email. Got nowhere so has been applying via recruitment websites now. Has no catering experience but lots of volunteering and a CV that I thought looked well put together. There is a cafe locally that is staffed by volunteers so Plan B may be to volunteer there for catering experience and put off getting a paying job for now.

First PT job ds got was at dominos and he went in and asked. Worked there for 18 months.

Second PT was when a friend said their place was looking for bar/waiting staff. He now works behind the bar with his two friends and they love it.

I think maybe the timing is off too, most hospitality places would be inundated with students right now and would have likely got their summer 'surge' hiring done a few weeks ago. I'd suggest they persist as there will always be a high drop out rate with kids this age, especially when the holidays are over.