How to help my son after job loss

[thekitchensinkdouble]

Apologies, this may be long.

My son is 17 and has spent the last year working on a building site. The business owner let him go indicating he needs a trainee good at all aspects of joinery, not just timber framing of houses which DS started as and wanted to do. DS was really upset as he thought he was doing well. Feed back certainly confirmed that as he received a pay rise and a small bonus. The next day his site boss basically told him there are cash flow problems and that’s been the reason. He said his work had been fine and not to take things personally as it’s how the building trade works. He has got a reference available from both the owner and the site boss.

In the last few weeks DS has applied for and hand delivered cvs to various sites but getting nothing back. He has been looking at other options and wants to try for the police. He is also going to apply to be a special constable which is voluntary.

We have said he is going to have to get a job as applying for the police is fierce and a lengthy process. We have said he needs to look at something at least part time, even for a year while he goes through this process. He has started to look which is good. He will adjust his cv but he is worried about explaining his job loss. I have said never to mention the financial difficulties of a business to anyone. Also how does he explain going from full time on a building site to possibly part time or even full time in a completely different environment. He’s 18 in 2 weeks which I think will make things a bit easier. I am not sure applying for something full time is the right thing to do if going through the application process for the police.

I have been in my job for 15 years so completely out of the recruitment process.

DS knows I am writing this. Thanks for any help you can give.

I feel for you and your son having experienced similar for my own 17 year old with an electrical company. The construction industry is notorious for laying people off so there won't be any long-term negative consequences for his CV or career.

My son spent a year working part time jobs in customer service before returning to full-time work in a completely different area to his qualifications.

Employers want to see candidates with life and work experience not someone who sat at home waiting for the perfect job.

Good luck to your son.

I’m fairly good at getting jobs. Most employers don’t need a reason for leaving, but if asked on an application form, “contract ended” covers most situations. I disagree with him not mentioning the financial difficulties though if needed. He doesn’t owe his ex employer anything and certainly shouldn’t prejudice his own chances at a new job over it. However most employers don’t want his life story so unless absolutely necessary to explain further, I’d still advise him to just go with “contract ended”.

Firstly, it sounds like you have raised an ambitious and hard working young man, so well done you. Sorry he is going through this set back, but on the bright side it sounds like it may be the spur he needs to more actively pursue his ambition to join the police, a very worthwhile career with challenges but also lots of prospects for a committed and hard working young person.

I may be missing something, but I am not sure why you advised him not to mention the building firm's financial difficulties? It has the benefit of being true, and explains why he was dismissed through no fault of his own. I have been involved in recruiting, admittedly in a different sector (teaching and other roles in school like TA, librarian etc ) and when anyone had been dismissed from a previous role we always looked more favourably on them if they offered an explanation for this that didn't reflect badly on them, either in interview or even in their letter of application.

In terms of what type of role to look for right now, I wonder if something public facing would make sense, in order to boost his people skills, as police work will obviously rely a lot on these. Would be have any interest in care work for example? Or hospital pottering? I believe these sectors are relatively easy to find employment in, and he could easily explain how a move like this would give him more relevant experience for the police.

I also don’t understand why you said to him not the mention the financial difficulties? If that’s the reason he was given, then why not?

My son was in the same position of yours a few years back, he is now in the police force and has been for some time.

He had very little work experience and we realised he had to gain more confidence to stand a chance. He found a zero hours contract job as a waiter in a busy restaurant, he hated it but it meant he had to get used to speaking politely to customers however rude they were and also learnt to work with others. After about 6 months he found an office position in a call centre dealing with stressed out people claiming on their travel insurance. I think both these positions taught him to respond calmly under provocation!

He applied for a position as a PCSO and I’m sure his work experience helped - he passed the interview first time. After a few years successfully working in this role he was encouraged to apply to become a police constable and he had the support of the station officer which I’m sure must have helped as again he passed all the assessments first time.

Hope this helps or at least gives your son food for thought re the PCSO role which is paid of course. There are often recruitment fairs for the police too if you keep an eye open.

Hello. Thanks for responding. Re the financial difficulties, we live in a commuter town. The building company owner is very well known. His name is known everywhere because he and his family have multiple local businesses in town. While his site boss told him about the finances, the company owner didn’t and I thought it best to respect the owner, not the site manager who is a manager, not an owner.

Thank you. This is helpful.

What county? Surrey are currently recruiting paid PCSOs. Check what your local police force needs - some require degrees, or offer degree apprenticeships. I don’t think there’s that many that don’t treat it as a degree occupation. Only saying that as I assume he doesn’t have level 3 qualifications?

Did he look at carpentry apprenticeships? Has he had any career advice - chippie to copper is quite a leap!

My friend's son went from working in a shop to a police officer. Lots of police officers have a completely different employment history.

He will go far and this is just a blip so tell him that from me

if he fancies the police, might he consider the control room? So 999 class / radio. It’s a way in and a lot shorter process than joining as an officer

Also, what about a civil service apprenticeship? Have a look there

he’s very young so more doors will open up over the coming years.

keep applications going in, don’t be too hard on him and I’m sure he will be just fine

Re the job … just say it was a fixed term contract. Easy as that and it won’t be questioned

Thank you all for helping. He has looked at apprenticeships and there is nothing. Even the local careers officer said the same. That’s why he ended up working on site the way he was. There are several mechanic apprenticeships locally but he has no interest in that. Ditto painting and decoration. We are in rural ish Scotland.

He’s 17 and applying for various roles and has put himself forward for SC. I think he’s being very proactive and I’d be proud of him.

He should just say the old company didn’t have the capacity to fund his role at the time so they released him.