Young people to be given a chance at work

[JD95 10]

This is very true, I'm 18 and just moved to Sheffield and finding a job was the hardest part by far!

 

Employers won't take on young people because they feel as though we don't have enough experience, but we don't have enough experience because nobody will give us jobs!

 

Even if you do have experience - it's not enough. I've been working since the age of 14 I've done all my GCSE's and A Levels, completed 2 Apprenticeships but everybody still thought I was too inexperienced - everybody'd got to start somewhere and employers need to realise that!

 

The only job I can get is cold-calling and I really don't want that! :'(

[salsafan 10]

This is very true, I'm 18 and just moved to Sheffield and finding a job was the hardest part by far!

 

Employers won't take on young people because they feel as though we don't have enough experience, but we don't have enough experience because nobody will give us jobs!

 

Even if you do have experience - it's not enough. I've been working since the age of 14 I've done all my GCSE's and A Levels, completed 2 Apprenticeships but everybody still thought I was too inexperienced - everybody'd got to start somewhere and employers need to realise that!

 

The only job I can get is cold-calling and I really don't want that! :'(

 

Do you mind me asking you what experience you have had when you wrote that you have been working since you were 14 ?

 

And what jobs have you been trying to apply for ?

[tinfoilhat 11]

This is very true, I'm 18 and just moved to Sheffield and finding a job was the hardest part by far!

 

Employers won't take on young people because they feel as though we don't have enough experience, but we don't have enough experience because nobody will give us jobs!

 

Even if you do have experience - it's not enough. I've been working since the age of 14 I've done all my GCSE's and A Levels, completed 2 Apprenticeships but everybody still thought I was too inexperienced - everybody'd got to start somewhere and employers need to realise that!

 

The only job I can get is cold-calling and I really don't want that! :'(

 

But it's been like this since the dawn of time hasn't it, it's just magnified when the economy is in the crapper. I struggled back in the 1990s when I was competing with people with better qualifications, people who interviewed better than me and 34,000 miners who 'do just been laid off. I did the cold calling and it's miserable. It does however toughen you up, put something on your cv and prove to yourself and employers you can get a job - plus it's easier to get a job once you've already got one (don't really know why that is but it is).

[JD95 10]

Do you mind me asking you what experience you have had when you wrote that you have been working since you were 14 ?

 

And what jobs have you been trying to apply for ?

 

 

Sure. At 14 I did 2 weeks work experience with a vets, and after the 2 weeks, everything worked out so well and I ended up staying on with them paid, 3 days a week until the age of 16. I did everything that I could do without a licence, including helping out with the animals and front of house. As soon as I hit 16 I got a job at Pets at Home for a year which had more responsibilities.

 

I also worked at a zoo for 6 months, and also did voluntary work experience for 1 month at Tesco, 1 month at an Aquarium, 3 months at John Lewis.

 

So I thought for an 18 year old I did my fair share of experience and since I have been applying for jobs with both animals and retail, the only jobs I can seem to find yet that will even ask me for an interview are cold callers -_-

[salsafan 10]

Sure. At 14 I did 2 weeks work experience with a vets, and after the 2 weeks, everything worked out so well and I ended up staying on with them paid, 3 days a week until the age of 16. I did everything that I could do without a licence, including helping out with the animals and front of house. As soon as I hit 16 I got a job at Pets at Home for a year which had more responsibilities.

 

I also worked at a zoo for 6 months, and also did voluntary work experience for 1 month at Tesco, 1 month at an Aquarium, 3 months at John Lewis.

 

So I thought for an 18 year old I did my fair share of experience and since I have been applying for jobs with both animals and retail, the only jobs I can seem to find yet that will even ask me for an interview are cold callers -_-

So why not take on these cold callers and ask them what the position is and why they think that you are good as a candidate. Work with them. Then leave them to deal with the job of getting you an interview.

 

So okay, you can handle the animals yourself and know how to take care of them. On the Tesco job, and also on the John Lewis, the skills should be quite different I would have thought. It depends on the kind of position that you are applying for. Some of them may want actual direct "like for like" experiences. Or some of the job ads may have more responsibilities than it shows on the job advert. You can sometimes only really know this when you enter that workplace.

 

Normally, you also have to know and to understand that in a newer job, they still want some of your old experience, and also stretch yourself that little bit more. At the same time, be frank and honest on what you are looking for also too. For me, I sometimes get headhunted in particular directions. I normally stand my ground and focus on a particular path as I know that I need to gain in a certain direction. This is because of my age and I want a career, but as you are starting out, you need to get onto a good rung on the ladder first. You need to know what the other person is asking for. Have you ever also asked them for a feedback for your own understanding too ? Normally if you went as far as an interview, then they will indeed say so.

 

 

Try to rewrite your CV also, and omit the age from it or DOB. Then write in a timeline fashion and then also leave the years of when you left and is educated. Let the employer check out your CV this way, and see the skills for what it is. Sometimes employers are indeed looking for particular styles and so forth too.

 

You may also want to dress up sometimes and then enter a potential workplace and ask if there are any positions available with a handful of CVs. Let them gloss you over and decide this way. More often than not, they too will consider this method too. I once did this across all working restaurants in the city this way, and in the end, I did get asked to go in for Subway to run as a manager. I then was already in a permanent job through another agency. It can indeed be ongoing, so do not give up !

 

Even when you are in a job, keep looking. If you do not then you do not what else can be out there for you. Most people do this as I come to understand, and do not feel disloyal in any way, most people do this too.

 

(By the way, the only reason I can tell you these kind of things is because I also worked with these cold calling agencies too, and ask them for their opinions. In doing so, you keep the whole job hunting thing honest. There is no reason to be defensive or annoyed at them. It can show you what is out there too. Some indeed do not have jobs but others do have jobs and they also are trying to check too. Normally you can tell when someone genuinely has a position too. It is a people skill, and you can quickly learn who is lying and who is not.)

Edited March 20, 2014 by salsafan

[mikeybear 10]

i know how hard it is my self at the moment I'm 25 iv done a 3 year apprenticeship and didn't get me anywhere i worked in a bakery for a year and had 2 days agency work in amazon warehouse and ended do to there contract fell through and now I'm jobless and applying for what i can and not getting anything

[salsafan 10]

i know how hard it is my self at the moment I'm 25 iv done a 3 year apprenticeship and didn't get me anywhere i worked in a bakery for a year and had 2 days agency work in amazon warehouse and ended do to there contract fell through and now I'm jobless and applying for what i can and not getting anything

 

Why not go for these specialist bakery places who will appreciate you more ? You do realise that if you want to pursue a kind of career, then you HAVE to move wherever your specialism is ? I wanted to focus in IT, and I should have moved to America, but I missed that boat and caught a second wave in this country. When I left university, the bottom rung of my industry was outsourced to India, so I have to self teach myself to jump directly onto the next senior level and continue to learn this way. As most companies within the UK are more for senior to higher level managerial positions.

 

You guys DO realise this of the UK industry, right ?

If you have worked in the food industry, then do not hesistate to consider working for some of these chain restaurants where they DO need a good person from the food industry and background too.

 

http://www.caterer.com/JobSeeking/Baker_London_l1621_t2.html

http://jobs.foodmanufacture.co.uk/searchjobs?utm_source=FM_site_Jobs_box&utm_medium=site&utm_campaign=FM%2BSite%20Jobs%20Box?utm_source=FM_site_Jobs_box&utm_medium=site&utm_campaign=FM%2BSite%20Jobs%20Box

http://www.pret.com/jobs/current_vacancies/team_member_opportunities_uk.htm

[alchresearch 214]

If any young people are interested in IT, there's always work available in secondary schools.

 

There won't be any pay involved but there's lots of invaluable on the job training and experience given. I know a few people who've volunteered their services this way and ended up getting a job, either in that school or another.

 

The only conditions are that you need to be over 18 and have no previous connection with the school (i.e. you can't have gone there as a student)

 

If anyone is serious, PM me and I'll forward the details.

[Mecky 10]

The other side of the coin is why should employers take on people simply because they are young?