What Should I Do For Work?

[PheonixKingZ]

We call them apprenticeships over here... I've been thinking about volunteering in local charity shops and such, but the only one close by is a children's hospice and I don't think my heart could take it. But I forgot about that actually, I might go looking for an apprenticeship at some point.

That would help you on latter in life as well. Learning a valuable life skill at a young age can be very helpful in the future.

 

[PlasticGalaxy]

My advise to you is. Make a list of the places you want to work and go door knocking.

For me I always wanted to be a Bread Baker, I made a list of the Bakeries I wanted to work in and I just showed up on their door. The first Bakery I went to employed me. I have used this approach for all the jobs I have had throughout my life.
As someone who has owned Bakeries, I have always tried to give the kid that shows up a job, some of those kids have now got Bakeries of their own. Some are friends now after 35 years.

I'll keep it in mind... Thank you!

 

[itiwhetu]

A little advise.
Don't think of your job as away to make money. Your job should be your passion, you will spend about 1/3 of your life working, so you have to love it.

 

[Tank Sinatra]

I had a similar beginning in life to the one you’re experiencing right now. Although I left secondary school with some very average GCSE’s. Certainly not any A’s like you have!

I’d suggest that your mental health is your priority. Invest as much time as you can in trying to improve that part of your life. Speaking as openly and eloquently as you do about it, makes me know that you’re already making huge progress!!

I started my working life off at TGI Fridays in Milton Keynes, cleaning tables. It was the best job I ever had! It taught me so many life skills and genuinely set up the rest of my career. I am now an Asset Finance Manager and have been for the last 7 years. I started working at TGI Fridays when I was 16, that was 15 years ago.

Due to your age, don’t worry too much about your CV. Employers will understand you haven’t got any experience. The majority of employers within the hospitality and catering industry actually prefer that. Because it means you haven’t had any bad training or picked up bad habits from a previous company.

My advice to you, once lockdown is over and the catering and hospitality industries are allowed to open. Is to go to each hotel and restaurant in person, with your CV and a cover letter (this is just your chance to express yourself and tell the employer about yourself in a less formal way than your CV will) and see what happens.

Google is your best friend when it comes to writing a CV and a cover letter. Just google for templates and use whichever one looks best to you.

The hospitality industry really is incredible!

Good luck!

 

[Tank Sinatra]

This looks like a great website for you to get started on the CV.

Free CV Template | Online CV Maker | StudentJob UK

With the StudentJob CV Maker, you can quickly create a profess...

www.studentjob.co.uk

Here’s a good template and instructions for your cover letter.

Free cover letter template | reed.co.uk

Feel like your cover letter could do with some work? Here's our handy free cover letter template to help get you started.

www.google.co.uk

 

[PlasticGalaxy]

I had a similar beginning in life to the one you’re experiencing right now. Although I left secondary school with some very average GCSE’s. Certainly not any A’s like you have!

I’d suggest that your mental health is your priority. Invest as much time as you can in trying to improve that part of your life. Speaking as openly and eloquently as you do about it, makes me know that you’re already making huge progress!!

I started my working life off at TGI Fridays in Milton Keynes, cleaning tables. It was the best job I ever had! It taught me so many life skills and genuinely set up the rest of my career. I am now an Asset Finance Manager and have been for the last 7 years. I started working at TGI Fridays when I was 16, that was 15 years ago.

Due to your age, don’t worry too much about your CV. Employers will understand you haven’t got any experience. The majority of employers within the hospitality and catering industry actually prefer that. Because it means you haven’t had any bad training or picked up bad habits from a previous company.

My advice to you, once lockdown is over and the catering and hospitality industries are allowed to open. Is to go to each hotel and restaurant in person, with your CV and a cover letter (this is just your chance to express yourself and tell the employer about yourself in a less formal way than your CV will) and see what happens.

Google is your best friend when it comes to writing a CV and a cover letter. Just google for templates and use whichever one looks best to you.

The hospitality industry really is incredible!

Good luck!

This looks like a great website for you to get started on the CV.

Free CV Template | Online CV Maker | StudentJob UK

With the StudentJob CV Maker, you can quickly create a profess...

www.studentjob.co.uk

Here’s a good template and instructions for your cover letter.

Free cover letter template | reed.co.uk

Feel like your cover letter could do with some work? Here's our handy free cover letter template to help get you started.

www.google.co.uk

Thank you again for the help! I knuckled down for an hour and managed to get my CV done... Basic stuff, but hopefully I can try and get somewhere with it.

 

[PheonixKingZ]

I knuckled down for an hour and managed to get my CV done... Basic stuff, but hopefully I can try and get somewhere with it.

Great work!

 

[Fishmanic]

You could attempt to learn a trade... like painting, carpentry, plumber, electrician, auto mechanics, landscaper etc. Some trades require study and passing requirements, testing etc. but if you enjoy the field that's half the battle.

If you think you'd enjoy interior or exterior painting, try to get a job as a painter's assistant and that way you can learn the trade and someday you may be able to start your own business and maybe then hire new painters to lighten the work load.

All the above trades pay very well once you are experienced. But initially you will get paid much less but it will give you the chance to gain experience and learn the trade.

 

[Naughts]

UK 16 and 17 year olds have to be in education or an apprenticeship so your options are more limited.
1) See if the hotel offer apprenticeships
2) Go back to college and get a B tech in Travel and Tourism whilst working at the hotel part time.
The CV will still be useful to achieve 1 or 2.
Good luck with your mental health, the positive steps you are taking for your future will help with your wellbeing

 

[PlasticGalaxy]

You could attempt to learn a trade... like painting, carpentry, plumber, electrician, auto mechanics, landscaper etc. Some trades require study and passing requirements, testing etc. but if you enjoy the field that's half the battle.

If you think you'd enjoy interior or exterior painting, try to get a job as a painter's assistant and that way you can learn the trade and someday you may be able to start your own business and maybe then hire new painters to lighten the work load.

All the above trades pay very well once you are experienced. But initially you will get paid much less but it will give you the chance to gain experience and learn the trade.

I might try... I took art as a GCSE and as an A-level (before I left), but was never all that great at it...

UK 16 and 17 year olds have to be in education or an apprenticeship so your options are more limited.
1) See if the hotel offer apprenticeships
2) Go back to college and get a B tech in Travel and Tourism whilst working at the hotel part time.
The CV will still be useful to achieve 1 or 2.
Good luck with your mental health, the positive steps you are taking for your future will help with your wellbeing

I think since the "books are closed" (as my sixth form put it) I can't get into a college anymore. That or they were lying to me. Not sure. I'll have a look over my options.

 

[Colin_T]

Go do some volunteer work at different places and see if you enjoy the work. You don't need any experience and you get a chance to see what is entailed in that particular job. Any work experience you do, can go on your resume (assuming you don't make a mess of things at the job) and help make you a better applicant for future jobs.

Hotel/ bar work is not that nice. You get beer dermatitis on your hands. You put up with smoke, noise, drunks and abusive people. You have to clean up dirty glasses, smashed glass on the floor, people calling you various names, etc. Try it if you want to but it's not a nice job for the most part.

Get an apprenticeship, as mentioned by Fishmanic, or do a few weeks work experience at a bakery, mechanical workshop, wherever.

Getting out of the house and exercising and socialising, (not easy to do with covid), is a good way to help treat depression and other psychological issues. Make sure you eat well (no junk food), get some morning sunlight when you wake up, avoid too much time on electrical devices (laptop, phone, etc). And don't use electronic devices for 3 hours before bed. Talk to a doctor, counsellor, friend about things stressing you out.

 

[Udanghantu]

Naughts is right about what you are allowed to do under 18 in the UK. I have a vague idea that the school/ college you just left has some sort of obligation to help you find something you can do within the law(?). It might be worth trying to re-open a dialogue with them.
However, if there is a local bird or nature reserve near you they might take you on as a temporary volunteer while you sort out something more long term. Just turn up, look interested and ask if you can help. These places are always looking for more volunteers and in my experience it’s a great way to get out of the house, meet new people, get your hands dirty and become too tired to worry about anything else. Plus, some of the ponds might have some interesting fish.......

 

[Udanghantu]

As for getting there - borrow a bike!

 

[Guyb93]

A little advise.
Don't think of your job as away to make money. Your job should be your passion, you will spend about 1/3 of your life working, so you have to love it.

Completely agree with above , I had to stop learning what I wanted to do but I was stupid and had children young and needed a job to support a family,
The apprentice option is always good earn money while you learn but most apprentice work is available in the construction trade .... might not be your first choice but with the way the world is going people with a skill are more and more in demand and the construction industry never stops ... even with a global pandemic people will always needs homes , I’m not saying jump into manual work but if you can find something with a skill that people will always need , your on to a winner

 

[madmark285]

That’s a shame. (he can't drive)

Not really. Europe has mass transit system which are easy to use, in many area you don't need a car. We have a small apartment in our house, our current tenant (grad student) from Serbia does not even have a driver's license, same thing for a Belgium PhD student we hosted a few years ago.