Employment for under 16’s
M
ost school age teens are keen to find part
time work to earn some money. Aside from the financial benefit, in an increasingly competitive market, it’s useful to gain some experience of applying for work and taking on the responsibility of a job. There are two main
aspects to consider as your teen (aged 13 to 15) takes their first steps into the world of work: the legalities and actually securing a job. For parents and guardians First of all, under the age of 16 there are employment restrictions on the hours and the type of work that can be undertaken. Below are just a few key rules but you can find more information at
www.direct.gov.uk. • 13 is the minimum age for employment
• The working day must be between 7am and 7pm
• During term time a teen can work a maximum of 12 hours a week, and from Sunday to Friday there’s a limit of two hours a day. Up to 5 hours a day (aged 13 or 14) or 8 hours a day (aged 15) can be worked on Saturdays or school holidays.
• During school holidays the limit is up to 25 hours (aged 13/14) or 35 hours (aged 15) a week.
• The employer must provide 6
an employment permit, the application form for which the parent or guardian signs.
• There is no minimum wage for under 16s
• There are some
occupations such as factory work or work in pubs which are not permitted.
For teens What about getting a job in the first place? There aren’t many around, so if one becomes available you’ll need to be quick and you’ll need to stand out from the crowd. If you see a job you are interested in applying for, send your request in as soon as possible. Often – if it’s unskilled work – an employer will take on the first person to apply. If you are old enough to
take on a job, you are old enough to apply for it too. Why would any prospective employer choose an application from Mum or Dad over someone who had applied in person? By all means mention that your parents know you are making the application and that they will support you, but the first contact must come from you. (For parents: if your teen’s application is accepted, it is of course quite reasonable that you meet their employer before the job commences.)
If your application is
by email, make sure your grammar, spelling and punctuation are faultless, don’t use texting shortcuts and proof read your mail before you send it off. Mails that say “i saw yr job ad and i am interested” will go straight into the recycling folder. It might be the norm to use short forms and lower case letters with your friends, but it’s not when applying for a job.
Add some extra information about yourself. If you keep fit, do voluntary work, or have already had a job mention this in your mail too. You could even add in a photo. Don’t assume that just
one mail is enough. If you are really keen, send another, make a phone call or even send a letter. Even if you are told the vacancy has been filled, send a reminder occasionally that you are still interested should another position become available (although don’t make a pest of yourself either!) Your primary goal in
doing all this is to stand out from the crowd. If yours is the mail that has perfect spelling, you keep asking and you personalise your application in some way, then you are much more likely to land yourself some paid work.
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