Summer jobs for a 15 year old

Author
Discussion

montecristo

Original Poster:

1,057 posts

184 months

Monday 16th May 2022
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What are some options for a 15 year old who wants to get a job in London for a couple of weeks in the summer? Maybe in retail/hospitality, office work, events.

I imagine it's common but then I don't recall ever seeing someone that age, working.

RC1807

12,986 posts

175 months

Wednesday 18th May 2022
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I would have thought 15 is the age to get a part time job. Summer coverage in many sectors is short staffed, so a good opportunity to get a role in retail, hospitality, etc., to cover others' holidays.

Supermarkets, cafés, restaurants / pubs, hotels ...I worked in all those kind of places when I was at school.

Scrump

22,943 posts

165 months

Wednesday 18th May 2022
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My daughters found it difficult to get jobs when aged 15. Most employers wanted age 16 even for summer jobs.

HTP99

23,307 posts

147 months

Wednesday 18th May 2022
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Scrump said:
My daughters found it difficult to get jobs when aged 15. Most employers wanted age 16 even for summer jobs.
Yep my daughter also, she had to wait till she was 16.

Different times for me, I had a student job at Sainsbury's from the age of 15 years and 1 month.

he will probably have to find a cash in hand job somewhere OP.

vaud

52,405 posts

162 months

The jiffle king

7,061 posts

265 months

Wednesday 18th May 2022
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A lot of years ago, but I did fruit picking on a piece rate. Did not earn a lot but brought in some cash. I also washed local cars and did odd jobs for local pensioners until I was 16 and could get a wage

Not sure on how legal all that is nowadays

RC1807

12,986 posts

175 months

Thursday 19th May 2022
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vaud said:
Bloody hell.
No wonder the yoot of today are bored!


I suspect there are still some options open - hotel / pub / resto pot cleaning, etc.?? Cash in hand.


In the mid 80s at the same age I had evening paper rounds, worked in the newsagents behind the counter on Sat morning, worked at the petrol station Sun afternoon.
When I started F/T work at 16 I had less cash in my pocket and felt robbed. frown

Bathroom_Security

3,470 posts

124 months

Thursday 19th May 2022
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Might have to be cash in hand at 15

When I were a lad, I had to wait until I was 16 to get a job in retail (part time). Started out on a Golf course during the summer holidays before going to college and getting a job behind the fish counter in Morrisons

When they interviewed me and asked me if I would be ok working behind the fish counter I didn't think they would actually put me on the fish counter. Still remember on my first day being handed the uniform for the fish counter while every other new starter went on the shop floor to stack shelves even 17 years on

vaud

52,405 posts

162 months

Thursday 19th May 2022
quotequote all
RC1807 said:
Bloody hell.
No wonder the yoot of today are bored!

I suspect there are still some options open - hotel / pub / resto pot cleaning, etc.?? Cash in hand.

In the mid 80s at the same age I had evening paper rounds, worked in the newsagents behind the counter on Sat morning, worked at the petrol station Sun afternoon.
When I started F/T work at 16 I had less cash in my pocket and felt robbed. frown
"During school holidays 15 to 16-year-olds can only work a maximum of 35 hours a week"

Thats not so bad...

...oh and the law is Children and Young Persons Act (1933)...

RC1807

12,986 posts

175 months

Thursday 19th May 2022
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Ah, my mistake ... the teen can crack on then!

Cyberprog

2,232 posts

190 months

Thursday 19th May 2022
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I used to crack on during the summers mowing lawns and washing cars. Plenty of that about if you advertise - I used to spend an afternoon or two at the start of summer sticking flyers through doors, and got my mate who had a paper round in another local area to do the same for me.

Plenty of that sort of work around for someone motivated!

Silvanus

6,059 posts

30 months

Thursday 19th May 2022
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Gardening work, get on FB market place and contact a few local gardeners

21TonyK

11,920 posts

216 months

Thursday 19th May 2022
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Waitressing in a local daytime cafe is both quick to learn at a basic level and if she's alllowed to keep her own tips potentially quick rewarding. 8+ years ago I had several waiting staff aged 15-18 all on £7+ an hour plus thier own tips when working alone. One of them would easily be making £15-20 an hour on a Saturday morning. Barista trained staff are more valuable as are those who can upsell.

djc206

12,756 posts

132 months

Friday 20th May 2022
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I was going to say kitchen porter but having read those child employment rules I’m not sure that’s a good suggestion any more. It was 20 years ago that I did it but it was character building, no 1 hour breaks or finishing by 7pm for me though….

vaud

52,405 posts

162 months

Friday 20th May 2022
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Retail is always good experience and will be a life affirming experience that whatever career they want in the future, it won't be dealing with the general public as they are tts.

lorenzo458

36 posts

126 months

Friday 20th May 2022
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When I was 15 I used to work part time at a Ford dealership, washing all the cars on the forecourt two days per week, taking photos of cars for the website, price checking all the cars, putting up the latest promotional banners/flags etc etc.

Not sure these kind of jobs exist today at a main dealer as I always tend to see the valeting outsourced. Could be worth checking in with independent garages to see if they have any kind of work like this.

One to consider for when they are 16 is life guarding, take the NPLQ qualification and it will open doors for regular or seasonal work. Great one to have on the CV at a young age.




ClaphamGT3

11,527 posts

250 months

Friday 20th May 2022
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A lot of organisations will have safeguarding policies that prevent employing anyone under 16 - or even 18.

I was working on the family farm every summer from the age of 14