1. Disadvantages 2. Charity Shops

Hi,

I'm 16 waiting for my results and I'm ready to start work. I've been looking but so far havent found any. I live in a small town so not much shops to work in. I want to work after schools on weekdays. Pay is not an issue. My first choice of job would be in the library because I think I can do it well. I read a lot and know authors and all that.

Question 1. A job at the library is considered a council job. And most of the staff are pretty old. So since I'm 16 will my application be pushed aside?

Question 2. My dad is an expat so I'm on visa in england. I dont intend to become a citizen or anything so, again, will I be disadvantage when applying for a job? I cant keep quiet about it because there is a question about this on the application form for another shop I went into. (no vacancies but the lady gave me a form for some reason or another)

Part 2. Charity Shops
Are there applications form if you volunteer in a charity shop? And if you volunteer do you get the same training as the paid staff?

I was thinking of volunteering and then if a vacancy opens up I apply for that. Or just volunteer anyway.

Help anyone?

Thanx.

Reply 1

Montrose

Your application won't be pushed aside, but, you will probably be judged on similar criteria to everyone else. A lot of shops go a bit easy on students if they don't look as good a candidate as the full time day people, however, council jobs are generally well sought after. It is often a lot of shops don't turn people down (supermarkets), but this is certainly not the case with councils.

For volunteering....well, it's just that, you volunteer. I would just go in and ask.

Reply 2

Zinc11

i went down to the charity shop twice today. once it was closed for lunch and then the second time it just closed. they dont have a opening hours chart.

sainsbury wasnt helpful coz they wanted someone who can work full days. i'll try tescos.

Reply 3

aerith_strife

i worked at the british red cross charity shop over last summer, and yeah you do need an application form, which doesnt take long. they said i could come the next day. i had the same tasks to carry out as the other staff. the only paid ones there were the manager and assistant manager, everyone else were volunteering.

maybe you could find the opening times of the company in yell.com or on the company's website.

gudluck with tescos.

Reply 4

Zinc11

my first choice is the british red cross too. But I cant seem to find where the shop is. I'm thinking they may have moved because this shop is not listed on the bristih red cross website but is listed in yell.com. Do they sometimes give you oppourtunities to do other voluntary work? Like do practical work instead of just being in the shop?

Reply 5

aerith_strife

when i was filling out the application form i remember there being various options as to what type of volunteering you want to do and i opted for charity shop volunteering. and their website should have some information too bout all the types volunteering.

like helping out in hospitals, you get to take of care one patients who you visit and stuff. you get to represent red cross.

but does writing about how you volunteered at a charity shop on your cv look impressive, cos i've been trying to get one since i left school and now i'm going university?

Reply 6

nettle7

Of course it looks impressive- though the British Red Cross messed me around quite a bit, and never actually got back to me after my application and interview. I wasn't able to get a paid job, but at least I am able to prove that I can work hard... even if I make the crappest coffee you have ever tasted.