Getting your first job

Part-time contracts allow you to work anything up to 37.5 hours a week, so if you are still studying, this can fit around your school/college hours. A zero-hours contract is a flexible working contract meaning you can work any hours you are available each week.

Tag spoke to Rob Terrel from the Hastings-based ASL Recruitment Ltd. about zero-hour contracts. He says “The company doesn’t have to offer you a certain number of hours, equally, if they do have shifts available, you don’t have to work them.”

Retail Average pay: £9.86 p/h (unqualified, over 18)

Best part: you make a lot of friends as many people are around your age

Worst part: it can be tedious and repetitive

Common responsibilities: stacking shelves, advising customers, running checkouts

One of the most important steps to getting your first job is writing a CV. This is a short document listing all your skills, experience and achievements, which an employer can look over when considering you for a job role. Here is everything you need to know when creating a CV: member. You can find examples online.

The first thing to do is write out all the main details about yourself i.e. name, home address and contact information. You can then start writing your ‘Profile’, which a short paragraph summing up who you are and your goals for the future. You should include good qualities about yourself, your education and any hobbies or interests.

Then produce a list of your qualifications categorised by the school and/or college you gained these at. Underneath, record any work experience you have; this can be previous jobs, volunteering, favours for family friends like babysitting, or even extra responsibilities you have been given at school or clubs. Briefly discuss responsibilities for the role underneath each one.

When deciding what to wear, consider the context of the interview. Is it online? (are they only going to see your top half?) Have you been given a dress code in an email? What kind of company is it? Is it working indoors or outdoors? For example: you are not going to wear the same thing to a sports instructor interview as you are to an interview for a job in IT. If you are unsure, business casual is often a good way to go.

During the interview, try to answer the questions as honestly as you can and think about how you can use the answers to sell yourself for the job. Tag spoke to Rachel Lucas, an Editorial Assistant for a charity

8 hours a day or 40 hours a week. You are required to have a break of at least 30 minutes if you are working for longer than 4.5 hours.

In terms of working rights for all ages, Rob Terrel tells Tag, “From your first day onwards you have the right to a minimum notice period, written terms which outline your job and responsibilities, national minimum wage, paid holiday, payslips and of course, the right not to be discriminated against. After two years of continuous service, you have the right to redundancy pay and can claim unfair dismissal.”

When you first start your job, there are plenty of unspoken rules, for example, most jobs want you to arrive five minutes early so that you are ready to work at the time your shift starts. They don’t tell you this when you get the job! Rachel Lucas says “Unspoken rules are everywhere and it’s really annoying. They are usually just about treating people right. Just use common sense and you’ll be fine.”

Stepping into the working world can be intimidating. There are so many expectations and so little information that it’s difficult to know where to start. With so many teenagers seeking employment, it’s important to understand the processes involved as well as your employment rights.

Vacancies

The first hurdle of getting yourself a job is finding vacancies. Be sure to keep an eye out for notices in shop windows saying “Vacancies” or “Staff needed”. Many companies will also use job listing sites such as indeed.com to advertise positions, which you can use to search by industry and by location. Another option for seeking jobs is using recruitment agencies, who can match you with a job based on your preferences. These agencies will also act as your Human Resources department (employee rights and wellbeing). A few popular industries available for teenagers to work in include retail, hospitality and leisure.

In terms of working hours and fitting work around your study hours, there are two contracts you are likely to come across: part-time and zero hours.

Job example: cashier, customer service, delivery driver (requires a driving licence)

Hospitality

Average pay: £10.09 p/h (unqualified, over 18)

Best part: working in a small team, getting tips

Worst part: dealing with rude and awkward customers

Common responsibilities: customer service, cleaning

Job examples: bars, restaurants, hotels

Leisure

Average pay: £9.69 p/h (unqualified, over 18)

Best part: enjoyable work and co-workers your age

Worst part: doesn’t pay as well

Common responsibilities: supervising customers, giving safety briefs, setting and clearing up

Job examples: trampoline parks, activity centres, sports instructing

The minimum wage for workers between the ages of 16 and 18 is £4.81 and for 18-20 year olds it’s £6.83. Under 16s are not entitled to minimum wage.

Rob Terrel says “My best advice for CV writing is to try not to be too fancy. Hiring managers tend to only look at a CV for 10 seconds before deciding whether to progress or reject that candidate. I advise candidates to keep the layout fairly basic but, make up for it in the text. Start by writing EVERYTHING that would make you attractive to an employer and then slowly refine it over and over again.”

Once you have a CV, you can start to apply for jobs. Some companies have application forms on their website and others you may have to email. If you end up applying via email, make sure that you keep it formal and to the point. An employer is not going to waste time reading through a long email if they have loads of other applications.

When filling out an application form, make sure you read the questions carefully and answer them in sentences, unless it is a yes/ no question. Try not to repeat yourself - if the questions are similar, try to think of a different way to answer.

If you are called in for an interview, well done! An interview is used by the employer to determine if you are the right person for the job. The interview may be face-to-face or online, using software such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams.

Something important thing to remember is that an employer is not looking to catch you out; they want you to be the right person just as much as you want the job. If you are nervous about the interview, go through some common questions with a friend or family in Eastbourne, about her experience. We asked if she had any advice for interviews, and she said “Always have a question for the interviewer. You look interested, and you get to see if you’ll like your new team. I always ask, ‘Why is this role in your team empty?’ You can also use the answer to boost yourself in the process.”

You’ve got the job? Congratulations! Starting a new job is always exciting but can be nerve-wracking too. The first thing you need to understand is your employment rights. If you are under the age of 18, these rights are more restrictive for you and your employer. For example, as a young worker, you are not allowed to be asked to work more than

Tag’s Interview Tips

- Seem confident and smile.

If you find that you aren’t enjoying your job, it may seem counterintuitive, but try to stick it out for a while if you can. The first few months of any job may feel awful, because you don’t know what you’re doing and it all seems very unfamiliar. Around the 4-5 month mark is when you can begin to tell if the job is right for you. It also looks better on a CV if you stick with a job for more than 6 months!

Do read your contract of employment. This outlines what is expected of you and of your employer. Reading this will tell you your rights within the company and you will be able to tell if they have been broken. Rob says, “If you think your rights have been breached, I would first do some research on the subject to ensure that it is a legitimate claim. If found to be true, there are many employment law firms who specialise in things like this, who would be willing to give you some advice to determine if they are in fact in the wrong.”

Taking the step from school into the world of work can be daunting, but it’s a step that we all have to take at some point. If you are

- Don’t speak negatively about yourself, think of a way to put a positive spin on any negatives.

- Be on time.

- Do your research on the company.

- Don’t be afraid to ask for support for the interview if you need it (ie. an interpreter).

- Be enthusiastic and open minded. An employer is looking for someone who seems as though they will enjoy the work and be reliable.