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how to get a job at 16

hi, i am 16 and i want to start working. i dont know how to get a job because when applying mostly it doesnt specifically say 16 year olds. i want to get atleast the minimum wage.

Reply 1

MindMax2000

Universities Forum Helper

Original post

by Aryanlit

hi, i am 16 and i want to start working. i dont know how to get a job because when applying mostly it doesnt specifically say 16 year olds. i want to get atleast the minimum wage.

i dont know how to get a job because when applying mostly it doesnt specifically say 16 year olds.
Methods:

•

Network

•

Apply speculatively

•

Apply through applications

In the order of ease of getting the job. Networking implies you have friends or family members in the companies that you want to work in, and they would help sort you out with an interview or put in a good word. If they can't help shortcut the process, they will give you as many tips for the application as they can.
Applying speculatively is great, but the CV needs to be tailored specific to the company you are applying for. There aren't that many variety of jobs that would accept people with zero experience (qualifications don't mean that much unless it meets regulatory requirements); and even when they do, they still prefer people with relevant work experience.
Applying through applications can be through online (through recruitment companies or on the firm's website) or asking for application form offline straight from the firm that you want to work for.

I don't know what sort of jobs you are looking for, and whether it's part time or full time. It's difficult to pin down what is required without knowing the details.
If the role does require specific qualifications, make sure it's one of those that are asking for day courses. Unless you're going for an apprenticeship, studying for a specific degree for a career in mind, or going for a full on professional qualification, you shouldn't be applying for roles that require qualifications that take years to complete.
The sort of short term qualifications that come to mind include: hygiene certificate (for kitchen work), personal licence (bar work), lifeguard qualification (for lifeguarding), first aider qualification (first aid).

i want to get atleast the minimum wage.
If you get a job, you are legally supposed to be paid minimum wage. If they are not, the firm can be shut down and the owner can be liable to criminal charges.

Reply 2

Aryanlit

Original post

by MindMax2000

i dont know how to get a job because when applying mostly it doesnt specifically say 16 year olds.
Methods:

•

Network

•

Apply speculatively

•

Apply through applications

In the order of ease of getting the job. Networking implies you have friends or family members in the companies that you want to work in, and they would help sort you out with an interview or put in a good word. If they can't help shortcut the process, they will give you as many tips for the application as they can.
Applying speculatively is great, but the CV needs to be tailored specific to the company you are applying for. There aren't that many variety of jobs that would accept people with zero experience (qualifications don't mean that much unless it meets regulatory requirements); and even when they do, they still prefer people with relevant work experience.
Applying through applications can be through online (through recruitment companies or on the firm's website) or asking for application form offline straight from the firm that you want to work for.
I don't know what sort of jobs you are looking for, and whether it's part time or full time. It's difficult to pin down what is required without knowing the details.
If the role does require specific qualifications, make sure it's one of those that are asking for day courses. Unless you're going for an apprenticeship, studying for a specific degree for a career in mind, or going for a full on professional qualification, you shouldn't be applying for roles that require qualifications that take years to complete.
The sort of short term qualifications that come to mind include: hygiene certificate (for kitchen work), personal licence (bar work), lifeguard qualification (for lifeguarding), first aider qualification (first aid).
i want to get atleast the minimum wage.
If you get a job, you are legally supposed to be paid minimum wage. If they are not, the firm can be shut down and the owner can be liable to criminal charges.

i currently go to college, i want to work part time after college but im struggling to find places to apply and i would take any job right now

Reply 3

MindMax2000

Universities Forum Helper

Original post

by Aryanlit

i currently go to college, i want to work part time after college but im struggling to find places to apply and i would take any job right now

i currently go to college
Do at least finish college. It usually makes life easier.

i want to work part time after college
Not always a good idea, but so long it doesn't affect your grades.

but im struggling to find places to apply
OK, but this depends more on the specific job. Do you know of any classmates who are working right now? What do they do?

i would take any job right now
Not exactly the best attitude to have. Whilst I appreciate that you are willing to do anything (a good thing), it's not the best approach because you then fall for anything (a bad thing). There would be some jobs that you would be absolutely terrible at and you can't stand; there would be some that you can do like it was second nature and you love doing. Until you know who you are and what you are good at, I would refrain from just doing any job - your prospective employers would be looking into this themselves in interviews (they want a good fit for the role, and not just anyone - take the same approach yourself).
The go to sort of jobs college students take usually fall into the following categories:

•

Supermarkets

•

Retailers

•

Care homes

•

Catering - probably the most popular

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Warehousing

In some cases, if you look a little deeper, you can find some doing the following:

•

Translation

•

Staring a business/side hustle - not recommended if you know nothing about business (and no a BTEC or A Level in business alone don't help)

•

Design

•

Cinema

•

Bowling

•

Leisure centre

•

Lifeguarding

•

Teaching assistant

•

Newsagents

•

Fishmonger

•

Butchers

There are roughly 200+ careers and jobs that you can go into with just your GCSEs. However, most of them ask for full time staff as opposed to part time work, but you can sometimes find them.

When applying for work, I would try to be as flexible with what hours you're willing to do as possible. Saying you are only willing to work Friday night and Saturdays is not going to help. Note down all the hours that you're available for.

Catering work in my opinion is probably the easiest to get into. It's incredibly difficult to find a location where there isn't a catering establishment e.g. café, restaurant, hotel, dining area, delicassen - even if you go out into the middle of nowhere, you would find a catering establishment long before you find retail shops. If you talk to the boss there (or better yet know someone who works there who can introduce you to the manager), and ask for a trial shift to prove yourself, they normally give it to you (you would need neat CV). I wouldn't try to focus on the large chain establishments (unless you know people who work there), and focus more on the small and medium sized companies since they are usually more flexible with how they hire.

If you can be more specific about the sort of place that you want to work in or the sort of job that you want to go into, I might give you more specific advice.

Reply 4

Emma:-)

Entertainment Forum Helper, Careers Forum Helper

Original post

by Aryanlit

hi, i am 16 and i want to start working. i dont know how to get a job because when applying mostly it doesnt specifically say 16 year olds. i want to get atleast the minimum wage.

Look on websites such as indeed.
Also look on companies own websites. Some companies (e.g. mcdonalds, tesco etc) have their vacancies on the careers section of their website and require you to apply on there.

Reply 5

username7397621

I would say apply to jobs that don’t require a CV but rather an application. That’s how I got my part time role at a high street supermarket. I worked at a newsagents before this job so it helped for the interview.