Harsh Reality of getting a job at 16
As a new school year starts, there is a time for new beginnings and fresh starts. For some they are starting a new school and starting Year 7, others have been at school for a while but are now starting the challenging Year 11. And then there’s the Year 12, which is a weird year. It’s not as important as Year 11, however the content is more challenging and the fear of going to university in a mere two years is settling in. Outside of education, there is another challenge: entering the working world. When sixteen it is common people start looking for jobs, to get a bit of extra pocket money, learn new skills and utilise their time productively. However, no-one really warns you how hard it is to get a job. A friend of mine who has applied for five jobs as of now, still has not got to the interview stage yet. However she says “When I do get an interview I am determined to convince them I am the right person for the job and I am capable”. Why has she not got to the interview stage yet? Well, most jobs want you to have some sort of experience- but if everywhere wants experience, how do we enter this viscous cycle of not having any experience but being willing to work and learn new skills? Additionally, most jobs actually want you to be eighteen, so your magic age of having gained your national insurance number is no longer useful. Luckily for most schools, students complete work experience in Year 10/11. At Ursuline, in Year 11 you are required to do work experience for two weeks at the end of Year 11 and for one week in Year 12. This is very useful, as you are able to gain some experience of working and as you are applying through the school, in my case Ursuline, the work firm don’t expect you to have any experience Then, you can use this work experience in your application for other jobs. As well, websites such as www.cv-library.co.uk/career-advice/start/want-saturday-job-4-tips-success are very useful for teenagers who are applying for jobs with little experience.
