Please help!

tomawa · 13 January 2009 at 6:00PM

First post! :j

Anyway, I just turned 16 and have been job hunting. Trouble is, some places I've tried (notably McDonalds) have said that I can only be employed once my GCSEs are complete...

Are there are any companies that let me work before July 1st?

Thanks in advance.

Tom

NASA_2 · 13 January 2009 at 6:51PM

I doubt there will be many employers out there that will want to take you on in your GCSE year. Maybe some smaller local employers will take you on.

Is there any reason why you are so desperate to get into work before July?

tomawa · 13 January 2009 at 7:02PM

Moped fund :rotfl:

Only a few hundred more and I'm there...

msflowerfairy · 13 January 2009 at 7:08PM

Why don't you offer to work a couple of shifts for free, so they can see if you will fit in with the team, and also you will get an idea of the kind of work you could be doing.
Write them a letter offering your time for free for say 4 shifts, and see what happens, what is the worse thing they can say to you?
You will gain some valuable skills, like customer service, food hygiene, and general team building skills.
The employer will also be quite chuffed that someone actually wants to work for them, also offer to work the Saturday and Sunday morning shifts when their staff usually work with mega hangovers, and always be on time.
This will also start your C.V off, and you will be able to save up for your moped.
Good Luck!

hanny83_2 · 13 January 2009 at 7:11PM

Free work experience really does work!! And when you go for a job later on when you decide on a career you can highlight in your competencies that you were prepared to work for free and all the skills you gained- even then it will work in your favour, shows that you are willing to "put yourself out there"!! Good luck!

notverytechie_2 · 13 January 2009 at 7:25PM

I am pretty sure you cant 'legally' leave school and be employed until the end of the school term following your 16th birthday (had the same problem with my step-daughter a few years ago where she left school and refused to go back following her 16th birthday). Anyway I found the following on the CAB website which is why Im pretty sure employers wont employ you full time. HTH.

General rules on employment

Young people over school leaving age and under 18 are known as young workers. Young people can leave school on the last Friday of June of the school year in which they are 16.

There are special laws to protect the employment rights of young workers. These concern your health and safety, what jobs you can do, when you can work, and how many hours you can work. These laws are very strict and an employer can be prosecuted for breaking them.