How can I get a summer job at 14?
Posted by aidzo_mcg@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 56 comments
I am 14 and live out of the UK but come back every summer. I am a UK citizen so I have a national insurance number. This summer I want to get a job in Belfast but am not sure how to apply, what do I need to apply, how is the hiring process. I don’t have former work experience but I have volunteered as a camp leader in my home country. I wouldn’t mind any type of job but would prefer retail. Do I need to make a CV and if so what should I put in it.
I wouldn’t mind to also do volunteering.
DrRuckus74@reddit
It will be tough at your age. Most likely your best bet will be offering to do some garden mowing/car cleaning/ weed picking.
Intelligent-Ant-5770@reddit
Working for people handling with Class B drugs isn't the best of ideas for a job right?
DrRuckus74@reddit
Haha! It would most likely be the highest paid of the three, until it isn’t…
Intelligent-Ant-5770@reddit
Yep probably will be high in life until the rozzers turn up
Skanedog@reddit
You won't get a job in the UK at 14 - certainly not an official paid one.
Scared_Implement3913@reddit
How do you have a national insurance number at 14? Also most large businesses (mcdonalds, tesco etc) wont hire under 16s as it is a hassle for them to organise insurance and work permit paperwork. You are better off working under the table for a small business but you might get taken advantage of.
aidzo_mcg@reddit (OP)
My dad told me that I have a national insurance number since I’m a citizen
Competitive_Test6697@reddit
Cafe or chip shop. Usually hire for cleaning tables and that
Careless-Giraffe-623@reddit
Fortunately we have anti-slavery laws in the UK. Why are your parents not supporting you?
Educational_Worth906@reddit
Nothing wrong with a kid wanting to earn their own money and take on some responsibility. I had a daily paper round at 12 and was working in high street shops by 15 (maybe 14). I was certainly not enslaved and this was all totally legal and normal back in the eighties - although I know things have changed. Never did me any harm.
Careless-Giraffe-623@reddit
Ok boomer.
Educational_Worth906@reddit
Not quite sure what your point is.
__mz@reddit
I worked at a garden centre age 14. It was only 20 years ago. Was that illegal?
SpaceTimeCapsule89@reddit
I worked in a chip shop at 14 but this was 23 years a go, I don't think they'd allow it now. It was all school aged children serving. Our shifts were 4:30pm-7pm or 7pm-9:30pm. 2 weeknights and 1 weekend night each we all got. I think I got about £2.50 an hour.
The owner made the fryer (an adult who cooked all the food and kept charge of the shop each shift) walk the 2 servers home at 9:30pm then go back and clean the shop 😂
Wooden-Writing-6843@reddit
When I was 14 I was working at the local spar for £1 an hour. The owner had me cleaning the shop floor with a cloth and a bucket of bleach. No gloves. Holy moly.
Fun_Trash_6715@reddit
You can’t have a National Insurance number as they get issued at 16 years old or slightly just before.
DameKumquat@reddit
They're issued at registration, just not passed to the kid unless they're needed for a reference number, eg for DLA.
Additional-Guard-211@reddit
You can, if the child claims certain benefits, like DLA.
bsnimunf@reddit
I used to pick fruit at a local farm when I was under 16 also had a paper round. Pay was awful for both and wasn't worth it at all. Complete waste of time. Taught me the hard works doesn't necessarily pay and people rip you off which were both valuable life lessons.
Easy-Equal@reddit
Your best bet is odd jobs for people like washing cars or bins, bit of gardening for someone
Intelligent-Ant-5770@reddit
I don't think retail hires under 16s, the youngest I've seen is a really old Yr 11 student who turned 16 and got the job after the GCSEs. I think paper rounds or mowing people's gardens or asking if they won't mind getting chores around the house done for a some cash.
Hiring processes can vary in my eyes, I had a work experience at Starbucks where I worked for free and I didn't get the job so lucky me but now I work at a 'cheap' fashion brand store and they did a group interview (can be single but I got lucky).
-Intrepid-Path-@reddit
You have national insurance number at 14?
SubstantialAd283@reddit
My nephew had one from a young age. He has a disability and it was assigned when he claimed Dla
cariadbach64@reddit
I thought you go his at 16
-Intrepid-Path-@reddit
Exactly
Organic_Reporter@reddit
Usually about 3 months before you turn 16
Grey_Bomberman@reddit
Yep, a couple of months short of 16 is usually the case
DragonWolf5589@reddit
You need to be minimum age of 16.
That said nothing stopping you going around door to.door offering to wash cars, cut grass (with a lawn mower that's safe enough for you to use), wash windows, offer to vaccum or help elderly. But it will just be "pocket money"
Sadly due to laws there is very little to no jobs at all in uk if under 16 and even then majority of jobs want over 18s
SubstantialAd283@reddit
You could do some children first aid courses and babysit. I’m sure there’s a few parents that need a break during the summer holidays
_KAZ-2YG_@reddit
No proper retailer will hire a 14 year old. No 14 year old has a national insurance number.
NewDate6115@reddit
Do they issue NI numbers at 14 now then?
_KAZ-2YG_@reddit
No, they don't. My youngest is 16 in 3 months and hasn't even received hers yet. No way someone has one at 14.
Ambitious-Elk-3350@reddit
Child labour laws means very few businesses are even able to hire children, let alone willing. There are hundreds of adults applying to work retail, and they can legally sell alcohol and work longer hours. Shops don't need kids.
Some replies will say "get a paper round" but that's also rare.
-WigglyLine-@reddit
If paper rounds are anything like I remember from being a kid, it’s not far off slavery!
I remember spending 4 hours organising all the inserts and fliers into the papers, and delivering them took another 4. All for a poxy 15 quid! Did it once and then quit!
CrazyPlatypusLady@reddit
Paper boy serving my estate is a pensioner.
Zal_17@reddit
Paper bloke
DeaconBlueDignity@reddit
When I was 14 (2009) I did an hour or so paper round, 6 days a week for £13. Then I’d work on the sweet counter when it was busy on a Friday and they’d give me £1 for the hour. Ridiculous really
-WigglyLine-@reddit
Yeah I think I was 13 or 14 too and quickly realised all the effort wasn’t worth it. Ended up waiting til I was 16 and getting a job collecting glasses at the British Legion during Saturday lunchtimes! Was there for a good few years and even did a few bar shifts once I’d turned 18!
Real23Phil@reddit
When I was 14 (2002) I had a job working at a pub cleaning/washing up at a village nearby, lovely location, probably my favourite summer, worlds changed a bit since then so don't even know i it's allowed today (not sure if it was allowed then, but it's cash in hand)
hallerz87@reddit
I think best bet would be to pop your head into local shops/cafes and ask if they need any help. I wouldn't bother with a CV, just provide your contact details e.g., phone number and/or email. Your fairly limited in what you can do as a 14 year old.
Fingertoes1905@reddit
No retail shop will hire a 14 year old
ADM_ShadowStalker@reddit
Paper rounds are about the only 'common' job for under 16s. Honestly you're probably better off offering a tidying service or something. You dont want to be going into people's houses unaccompanied, but sweeping and cleaning people's front gardens etc.
Sufficient-Cold-9496@reddit
what is a camp leader? Are you rural/semi rural, or urban? I had a weeknd job at a clay pigeon shoot at 13 and onwards, you could try and get in touch with a local gun club/shooting club as well as a gun shop. if your not sure where to start you could chceck google maps, or ask if anyone has guns and /or goes shooting.
There could also be some agricultural work available, although it may be seasonal, there is a wide range of things that fall under that umbrella from field work to ratting with dogs.
outside of the more rural stuff, potwashing in a pub/restaurant could also be an option
Cold_Royal5124@reddit
Cut peoples back gardens, you won’t get a real job, best bet is to do small favours like wash cars cut grass walk dogs
schemmenti@reddit
A few charity shops offer volunteering under 16 but their policies vary from chain to chain. You would need to ask around. Great retail experience though. A lot of them love to whack teenagers on the till because a lot of older volunteers won't touch it.
Grey_Bomberman@reddit
From experience, the limit is usually 18
GuiltyCredit@reddit
I used to manage charity shops, the big ones such as Oxfam and Barnardos are from 14 but you need parental permission. Many young volunteers are doing their DoE and how many hours you can volunteer are limited. Plus you can only volunteer if there is someone with a DBS/PVG on the premises which is typically the manager.
LetsAdultTogether@reddit
I couldnt get a job at 16 due to no work experience and was told to volunteer first to gather experience. Walked into an Oxfam shop and got it. This was more than 15 years ago though ( i feel old)...so OP try oxfam...4 hour shifts so not too bad
schemmenti@reddit
At ours we have some 15yos, we get a lot of Duke of Edinburgh teenagers especially. It really depends.
Equal-Tomorrow2442@reddit
Go to a barber and offer to brush up the hair etc .. they always seem like young kids
Grey_Bomberman@reddit
So did Jimmy Saville 🫣
anxious_antelope813@reddit
You don't have a NI number, they're not issued until you're 16. And sorry to be all doom and gloom, but there are huge volumes of unemployed people in the UK fighting for jobs, you're highly unlikely to get one of them as a very young, and temporary, worker I am afraid
Organic_Reporter@reddit
Most places can't legally employ you at 14.
Alzdeejay2@reddit
I think any company that hires you needs to get a work permit as your under 16. I worked in a corner shop at 14 but that was 30 years ago.
tradegreek@reddit
When I was working at that age it was all through approaching local businesses / people and asking for work and was all cash in hand. I think that’s your best bet
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