Did you have a job as a teenager?

Lounge boy in a mad kip of an area. If you saw a dog with a tail it was a tourist

mariaalice wrote: »

After reading about Jacinda Ardern working in a chip shop after school, aged 14, I had a babysitting job aged 13 and was left in charge of a baby.

I think working as a teen even at 14 is good for you and that 14-year-olds should be allowed to work?

It give great confidence and freedom to have your own money that you had to work for.

Paperboy from 13
Shop work from 15
Brief spell of unemployment when I was doing the leaving, and that was it

Coal mine at 13 and I was damn glad for it.

I worked as a "henchman" (basically waiter) at the mediaeval banquets at Warwick Castle when I was 16. Best job I ever had, there was wine, serving wenches, etc...

I didn't get my first job until I was 17, and it was a summer job, then I only had summer jobs until my post-university proper job. I've always been fairly low maintenance (even now when I have money) so I could save from the summer jobs to keep me going for the year. I remember when I was in college I used to sometimes give my older sister loans, even though she had a full-time job.

Flimsy_Boat wrote: »

Babysitting at 12

Bakery at 17 for less than min wage where I was treated horribly and sexually harrassed by 22 year old woman (and I'm a woman).

Barista in college.

Odd jobs after college until I got into medical school.

I have loads of debt. My parents are millionaires but didnt give me a cent after the age of 21. I'm bitter about it as I have had to go on the dole at times. But soon I will be a doctor.

I don't understand parents not funding their kids education, especially if they can't afford it. I feel it's the responsibility of a parent to get their kids through college. My parents paid for mine, and I will pay for my kids when the time comes.

Did a bit of waitressesing, baby sitting. I found it challenging, I was 16 and people would not go easy on you at all. Getting yelled at and insulted by customers when you don't have the skills or confidence to deal with it isn't good for a young person imo. It put me off that kind of work for life.

Lounge boy then barman in a local pub from 13 - 18. A great job for taking the glamour out of alcohol.

I started delivering leaflets at age 11, got paid a penny a leaflet. Used to absolutely walk the legs off myself and be happy if I got a fiver or a tenner a week.

Babysitting 1 or 2 nights a week from around age 14-18.

Child-minding 4-5 days a week in summer at age 14 & 15.

Worked in a kids play centre in an amusements the summer I was 16, that was the best job ever. Went down the freefall slide 50 times a day . I think that was £2 an hour.

I took off the summer after I did my leaving cert but since then have always worked full-time, even while in college.

I'm glad that I've always worked, it gave me a huge amount of independence as a teenager and young adult. My parents didn't have a lot of spare cash, so things like weekends away with clubs, or kit needed for sports or hobbies would have been a stretch. I was always proud that I could cover some costs myself without having to ask.

While 11 is a bit young, I think all teenagers should get some kind of a job, even if it's 1 saturday a month or a couple of hours a week. When you learn the value of a euro by actually earning it through your own hard work, I think it can change your outlook on spending.

James Bond Junior wrote: »

Had a summer job from about 13, washing cars in a car dealers.

Spent a while washing cars in a service station, until about 15, then shop work from 16 to 19. Moved into working in a pub then at 20 and that kept me going until I was about 24 or so. Worked the summer holidays and the odd weekend in between teaching jobs until I got a permanent teaching job and then gave it up. Never claimed a cent of dole money, even during the depths of the recession which I'm proud of.

I was unemployed for a few months last year, I regret not claiming the dole, it cost me the guts of a grand. Now I have to work like a sucker, while half the country gets 350 quid a week for sitting on their arse.

mariaalice wrote: »

The skills and confidence comes from dealing with it, its a conundrum. No one should be abused or taken advantage though.

I think younger staff are an easier target. I'm fairly sure the people who gave me grief would have dealt with it differently if it had been an older or more senior member of staff.

Odd jobs during the summer. Mainly selling ice cream at a miniature golf place.
Good times.

Yes, chanced the arm and popped into a pub on the Long Mile Road on the way home from my last JC exam, started the following night. 15 years old although I did say I was 16. £2ph. I'm sure the smoke didn't do my lungs any favours.

Yep. Babysat from 11 or so. First real job was in a hairdressers in Garfton St when I was 14; 10 hours a day on my feet for 45p an hour. I know that sounds like the start of a "When I were a lad" joke but it's the truth.

I worked every summer after that, answering phones in a cab company, lounge girl, Champion Sports.

I think all kids should work during the summer once they hit second year or so. I know it's a lot harder to get jobs at that age these days, though.

I started working in retail at 17. Had applied to loads of places from turning 16 but didn't manage to get anything.

My niece is 15(16 in the autumn) and I can't think of anywhere that'd consider employing someone her age and none of her friends have part time jobs yet.

antimatterx wrote: »

I don't understand parents not funding their kids education, especially if they can't afford it. I feel it's the responsibility of a parent to get their kids through college. My parents paid for mine, and I will pay for my kids when the time comes.

Sometimes people are rich because they are miserly. There a few billionaires who have children and they are getting nothing. So I suppose it could be worse.