I just want to earn some cash! It's understandable that you will want loads of cash to go out with, buy CDs, clothes or anything else. As it is unlikely that you can rely on the lottery to provide you with the money you need, you need to think about earning it! Now, you have already read articles about finding jobs, applying for them, getting interviews etc. All of these articles are useful, but there is still something else for you to bear in mind.

What can you do at certain ages?

It may seem stupid for there to be lists of jobs that you can and cannot do at certain ages, but you need to think back in history. Aren't you glad there are laws to protect children from working in horrible conditions? Times have changed a lot, but there is still a need for some guidelines about what is suitable and not suitable for young people to carry out as jobs.

What you can do!

• Agriculture
• Delivering newspapers
• Hairdressing salons
• Shop work
• Office work
• Cafes and restaurants
• Hotels
• Riding stables
• Car washing, in a private residential setting

Obviously this does not mean that as soon as you wake up on your 13th birthday you can burn your school uniform, change into a pinstripe suit and expect the local office to employ you. You still have to go school until you are 16 (there are specific rules about the exact leaving dates - ask your tutor or connexions adviser) so the above jobs must fit into your spare time.

What you can't do!

These jobs are not allowed for under 16s and over 16s in full-time education.

• Working in a theatre, disco, dancehall or night club except if involved with a children's / youth production.
  
• Delivering milk
  
• Delivering fuel
  
• Working in a commercial kitchen
  
• Collecting refuse
• Working more than 3 metres above ground level, or, if inside, floor level
  
• Working with biological or chemical agents
  
• Collecting or selling door to door, except under adult supervision
  
• Being exposed to pornographic material
  
• Telephone sales
  
• Working in a butcher's
  
• Working at a fairground or amusement arcade
  
• Working in personal care or at a residential home, except under adult supervision
  

Be sure about what you will do for your wages!

So, now you are aware of the legal issues about jobs you can and cannot do at certain ages, you must also remember that some jobs can be hard work (getting up early to do papers in summer holidays can be annoying when you want to lie in). You really need to think about what you are prepared to do for the cash you need! You can also use any part-time or Saturday job experience for application forms, CVs and interviews, previous experience may be very helpful for job seeking when you leave school. You also have an idea about whether you like certain types of work. If you have a Saturday job in a shop, you will have a good idea about whether you enjoy retail work or not.

If you want more information about working restrictions or permissions, why not have a chat with your tutor or Connexions Adviser. You may also find information in your Careers Library or local Connexions Centre, or have a look on the Web.

Good Luck
Jennie Glitherow
Source - The Times Newspaper - January 2nd 2003

At school or college? Look out for Jennie's future articles which we'll have here for the first Monday of each month, and which we'll link to the best sites we can find on the Web. Why not bookmark us now?

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Copyright © Careersoft 2003 - First published September 2003.