Summer jobs are probably the last thing on your mind with exams in full swing, but it’s something you should definitely start to consider if you want to have more than just your pocket money to spend. Especially if your plans for saving haven’t quite gone to plan. Plus, getting that first job will help you to start building upon the skills you need for work in the future.
How many hours can you work?
During holidays depending on your age you might be limited by how many hours you can work because of the law. If you’re 13 to 14 you can only work 25 hours a week.
This includes:
- a maximum of 5 hours on weekdays and Saturdays
- a maximum of 2 hours on Sunday
For those 15 to 16 it’s a little higher with an allowance of 35 hours a week.
This includes:
- a maximum of 8 hours on weekdays and Saturdays
- a maximum of 2 hours on Sunday
If you’re 16 to 17, you can work 40 hours per week, a maximum of eight hours per day. Any more than this is unfortunately illegal.
These limits aren’t a bad thing as they mean you can balance summer work with summer fun.
Types of job and pay
The type of job you’re able to do will vary depending on your age but generally, it will be limited to paper rounds, retail and café/restaurant work.
Minimum wage for under 18’s is £4.20 and for apprentice’s, it’s £3.70. This is the minimum that employers can pay you per hour.
However, the minimum wage only applies once you are of school leaving age (16). If you are under that age employers are not required to pay you that much but many will especially if you convince them you’re worth it!
How to land your summer job
This is the biggest question, how to land the job in the first place! Not to worry we have some tips that can be applied to a summer job and when you start to look for work later in life!
- Play to your strengths when it comes to deciding what job to look for.
- Tailor your CV to every role.
- If you don’t have any jobs for your CV yet, use voluntary work and internships to help your CV stand out
- Write a cover letter for the application.
- Prepare for your interview and research the company especially if it has information available online.
Where to look for your Summer Job
Job boards are always good to check but if it’s your first time looking, you could have a parent or older sibling help with looking for the right job for you and applying for it. Some popular job boards include:
If you’re confident, going to potential employers in person and politely asking if there are any upcoming summer jobs can also make you stand out more than a regular application. But if you’re going to go in person make sure you look your best, it makes all the difference.
You can even go to your local job centre to see what they have on offer!
Remember, spending a few hours working could make your summer fun last that much longer! If you still need some help finding a summer job feel free to get in touch with us on twitter, we’ll be more than happy to help.