At what age did your teen get a weekend/holiday job?

WantToBeSE

I am just wondering what age your teens got their first weekend or school holiday job? My son will be 14 soon, and i am thinking about encouraging him to get a job then, do you think this is too young?
What age is the 'norm'?

LEJC

I have a teen whos slightly older than yours, who is probably too involved in school activities and other bits and bobs to get a job on a regular basis at the moment.

I remember being about 13 when I stared a very flexible school holiday type job...but I didnt get a more permenant type of saturday/holiday job until I started college at 16

Person_one

WantToBeSE wrote: »

I am just wondering what age your teens got their first weekend or school holiday job? My son will be 14 soon, and i am thinking about encouraging him to get a job then, do you think this is too young?
What age is the 'norm'?

14 is younger than most, definitely. I think 16 after GCSEs is probably the average unless there's a family business for them to help out at, or they do a paper round.

At 14, school is their job, isn't it?

System

My older three had paper rounds at the age of 13.

Number 4 tried it once and didnt like it.

Number 5 well he wont get off his backside to do anything other than skate. He's 17 and a half and should be showing signs of wanting to support himself by now.

He gets from us, his bus fare to college and back and a £15 phone top up every month but thats it. He has clothes on his back. Food in his tum and he aint having anything else.

Lagoon

I was 15 when I first started working, and even that was difficult. Most places won't employ you until you have your NI card, usually close to 16.

That was a little more than a decade ago. I imagine it would be even more difficult, now.

BJV

My parents made me get a paper round at 14. It was so they say to help towards stable costs which they could afford.

Instead i think it was more to teach me that if you want something you have to go out an earn it. Things have changed and i know with my two children I would not feel comfortable until 16 ish but i suppose it depends on the child, the job and the circumstances.

CH27

Son started a part time job as soon as he was 16.

Gavin83

If it helps, I started a job at 16.

jackyann

You can find the exact information about under 16s employment on directgov.

However, to answer the principle: I think a lot depends on the type of job, how well your child does at school, and up to a point, how much you need the money.

For instance, I think that helping to muck out at stables in return for cheaper rides can be helpful & sensible; but I remember girls at school neglecting their homework to do an evening job, to their long-term detriment.

My kids began by doing small jobs around the house & garden for neighbours who could afford it. I wasn't completely happy about paper rounds that I thought might affect school work, but I did allow them to take over friends' rounds during the holidays.

At 16 they all trained as lifeguards (very useful skill) and some did coaching qualifications in their chosen sport.

I do think that if at all possible doing a job that will add to their cv is useful. I don't mean anything special, but doing a paper round or working in a shop gives you a lot of insight. One of my sons wrote a piece for his degree about his time as a building site labourer and how organising his work effectively helped the skilled workers be more efficient.
I would also say, for instance, try to do the Red Cross (or similar) baby sitting course before asking for work as a babysitter. It gives the young person more confidence, and helps them see the importance of putting effort into their work.
Also, consider them doing some voluntary work. The skills are useful and look good on a cv, and often lead to paid part-time work.

I suppose, to sum up, treat a young person's work as adding to their life skills, not just earning money.

System

I started at 16 but both my sisters had part time jobs at 15 (one in a hairdressers, the other in a bakery). One is now in her final year of uni, and the other is doing her AS levels (and looks like she will get A's). Oh and my 16 y.o brother works for an hour a day as a dinnerlady (person?) and gets paid for it.

flea72

As already said most places wont employ someone under 16, so his options are limited. Paper round is the most obvious, but my DD put her name down for one when she was 12. Shes 18 now and still waiting for the call lol

If lucky a local pub might employ him as a potwasher, but jobs like that tend to go to mates, so he needs to keep popping in and asking before the job goes public. Or try avenues most youngsters arent interested in, so dirty manual jobs, like egg farms and kennels

The problem is at 14, if you stick to the rules, he can only work a few hours a day. Usually people would suggest car washing but as these are now two a penny and also people arent keen on doorstep sellers nowadays i think hed have trouble building a client list, outside friends/family