Climbing the career ladder is all well and good, but how do you get onto it in the first place? Are chain stores the only places that will take you? Do I have the time during A-levels?
Well, here’s what I know.
Having spent our lives preparing for highly qualified and well-paid careers, it can be hard to accept the brutal reality of spending our Saturdays in brightly lit supermarkets stacking shelves for minimum wage and a few extra lines on our university applications. I get it. We’d rather be catching up on lost sleep than counting down the minutes in a dead-end job doing work that, quite frankly, anyone could do after a few pointers. But somehow it still seems impressive and desirable to most young people, which is why it’s so difficult to find.
A few months ago, I lost my job due to coronavirus, having sacrificed all my Saturday’s stocking books on a basic wage for an entire year. Unemployment may not seem like such a big deal at our age, but it sure felt like it. So, I thought, how do I find work during a pandemic as an inexperienced sixteen-year-old who can only do weekends? For me, the answer lay simply in a sign on a salon window, “Shampoo assistant wanted.” It was that simple. But I had no idea what the job would entail or if I was old enough to qualify. I very much doubt that I would have inquired further was it not for the encouragement of the adult I was with at the time.
When it comes to independent businesses, asking in person makes all the difference. What is a random email from a faceless name, with a bare CV attached, to a busy manager? Not hearing back by email from potential employers can be disheartening, so you have to make yourself known. Simply asking after availability in person, rather than online, will ensure you get noticed. Be prepared to keep trying until you find a job that you like (I went from books to coffee to hair in one summer).
But be aware that in the workplace there are some things that you shouldn’t have to put up with. Young people are often seen as naive, which is something that can be taken advantage of. Standing up for your rights can be as simple as telling your supervisor that you haven’t had your lunch break yet or asking what your wages will be after working a trial day. This may feel intimidating, but it needs to be done. Asking for your wages to be paid into a bank account will ensure your legal rights as a worker that would be difficult to enforce if you were paid cash in hand without being officially registered as an employee. Some businesses prefer to pay young people in cash so that they don’t have to pay tax on your wages. This practice is cheeky but surprisingly common. But to prove previous employment to universities, you need wage slips.
I would recommend that you Google worker’s rights. Basic things like an increase in minimum wage when you turn eighteen are often overlooked. Under eighteens are legally not allowed to work more than eight hours a day, but I’ve worked longer shifts in the past not realising this. I was still only allowed a thirty-minute break for the entire day. As the next generation of the workforce, it is up to us to know and enforce our rights.
Amidst A-levels and the busy school week that Harris offers us, it can seem too much of a strain to also have to go to work on the weekends. However, it can be a nice break from education, especially as the tasks we are given at our age tend to be simpler. Work shouldn’t be identified according to its level of difficulty, but by whether we enjoy it or not. When we stretch ourselves, we often find that we’re able to manage more than we would expect. Saving money for university at the same time is certainly a nice perk.
There are other benefits too; ones that aren’t so obvious at first. On top of a staff discount, you may also get tips and constant access to the best deals in-store or, in my case, free haircuts. It’s also reassuring knowing that you will stand out on your university application by showing that you have excellent time and money management, as well as persistence and customer service skills.
Working, on top of studying, will never be every teenager’s goal but it can set you apart if you embrace it. Why not step out of your comfort zone and choose to experience something new? Show a little courage and persistence. What could be a better display of character?
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