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Job advise please....

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greenday1 | 00:28 Sat 23rd Sep 2006 | Jobs & Education
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I'm 14 nearly 15 and was wondering if anyone can tell me what kind of job i can get other than babysitting...I'm looking for anything to get me some extra money...How likely is it that I'll be employed at only 14? also...Is it ok to up my age a bit for small jobs such as pot washing ?
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(2-part post):

Let's start with the rules:

Anyone who employs you must notify the local eductaion authority of their intention to do so. If the LEA are happy with the arrangement, they'll issue you with a permit. They can withdraw the permit (and stop you working for that employer) if your school work seems to be suffering or if they're unhappy with some aspect of the work (such as safety provision).

You can't work before 7.00am or after 7.00pm.

You can't work for more than two hours on any school day or on a Sunday. On Saturdays (and on weekdays during school holidays), you can't work more than 5 hours. (When you're 15, that goes up to 8 hours).

At some time during the year, you must have a continuous period of a fortnight, during the school holidays, when you don't work.

Those are just the main rules. The full details are here:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/Parents/FamilyIssuesA ndTheLaw/ChildrensRights/ChildrensRightsArticl es/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4002945&chk=AaZA0p

Back to your questions:
If an employer intends to take you on (other than illegally), you won't be able to 'up your age' because the LEA will have a record of your date of birth and will take this into account when considering whether to issue a permit.
When it comes to finding employment, it's going to be difficult (but not necessarily impossible). Very few jobs are advertised. You usually have to spend a lot of time calling on businesses (or phoning them up). Your screen name doesn't indicate whether you're male or female. One of the most common jobs undertaken by teenage girls is helping out (by sweeping the floor, etc), on busy Saturdays, in hairdressing salons. (That sentence isn't meant to sound sexist. It's just that I've known many girls do this type of work but no boys). The only way to find out if anyone requires your services is to call on (or phone) all of the hairdressers in your neighbourhood.

Teenage boys (and, to a lesser extent, girls) sometimes find work helping out on a market stall. Once again, the jobs aren't advertised and you can't even find phone numbers in Yellow Pages. The only thing you can do is to ask around at your local market.

Of course, there's always the possibility of doing a newspaper round. Don't just ask your local newsagents. Try phoning the firm which publishes your local free newspaper; they might require someone to deliver newspapers in your area.

Also, try thinking of where you've seen other teenagers working. Then phone (or call on) similar businesses in your area. It's hardly ever worth bothering with big companies; it's usually very small firms which take teenagers on.

Good luck!

Chris
Question Author
Thank you...that's helped a lot...I am a girl, so i'll try the salons in my area, however, I'm working at the moment in a kitchen for 6 hourson a sunday...My boss thinks I'm 15 and i've worked there for 4/5 months and still haven't heard even a mention of a permit?? should I do anything, is it worth it as i've just handed in my notice because my boss is a big meany?
Just keep quiet about the fact that you've been working for 6 hours on a Sunday. You wouldn't have got a permit anyway (because you're only allowed to work 2 hours on a Sunday, even during the school holidays).

I quoted the rules to make you aware of the restrictions which employers face when taking on young people of school-age. It's largely because of those rules that big firms (which tend to do things 'by the book') won't be likely to employ you. The rules aren't always followed by other employers. For example, most young people doing babysitting, do so well after 7.00pm and I very much doubt that any of them have permits!

If you work without a permit, it is your employer who is breaking the law and not you. Don't worry about it but be prepared for a few 'formalities' if you find a potential employer who insists on following the law.

Chris
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