Why don't people hire 15 year olds?

[Prussian to the Iron]

this is really pissing me off. I simply cannot find a place that will hire me, a 15 year old since April. the minimum age here is either 14 or 15, and the actual age that anyone hires is 16+. I mean come on??!?!?!?! Is there some secret "no hiring" policy for those who actually want to work, rather than those who have to? I don't wanna have to rely on my parents for everything anymore, but I cant get any money.

where can I work?

if you say mowing lawns i will rip off your head and spit down your neck!!

[Beskar]

this is really pissing me off. I simply cannot find a place that will hire me, a 15 year old since April. the minimum age here is either 14 or 15, and the actual age that anyone hires is 16+. I mean come on??!?!?!?! Is there some secret "no hiring" policy for those who actually want to work, rather than those who have to? I don't wanna have to rely on my parents for everything anymore, but I cant get any money.

where can I work?

if you say mowing lawns i will rip off your head and spit down your neck!!

You do know there are 5 people for every job, right? Not even adults can get work.

[Centurion1]

i used to work on my uncles fishing boat out in california. tipsy people give good tips

[Louis VI the Fat]

Sucks buddy.

I know you as a responsible guy, so if you lived near me, I would employ you, pay you five baseball collector cards to wash my car.

[Secura]

The thing is, there are people with university-level qualifications that are struggling to find a job in the current climate, so finding one at your tender age is going to be pretty difficult; I was, unfortunately, claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (basically, it is a bare-minimum substitute for a weekly wage) for six months after returning home for a gap-year of uni (overdraft needs paying!), sending my CV off to various companies and agencies that basically responded with "you're overqualified, why are you applying here?".

I had no luck whatsoever, despite my wealth of qualifications, and was eventually foisted into a job that, while it has it's fun moments, isn't worth £5.80 an hour; I want to be a teacher, not a glorified litter-picker. -_-'

I don't know the country from where you hail, but if you were British, the only thing you could offer an employer would be that you don't actually have to be paid a minimum wage as you're still of compulsory school age... that and you're pretty keen to work, I guess.

A 'paper round' is probably the best place to start, or maybe offering to wash cars or something... but you'll be working for a pittance.

[drone]

IIRC, under 16 years of age there are rules designed to prevent child labor sweat shops. It might be hard for you since there aren't many jobs in general, and hiring you (as opposed to a 16+ worker) probably restricts what can be asked of you on the job.

[Hooahguy]

You say that you wont do yard work, but face it pal, you just might have to if you really want to make money.
You are 15. Face it, employers want older people who they view as more responsible.
When I was 15 I applied for a job at Pike's, at Brusters, and neither of them called me back. You want to know why? I was 15. I eventually got a job being an intern for a local law professor, but that was only because I knew him and he took pity on me.

[Hosakawa Tito]

The job market's tough for everyone right now. My 16 year old step-son has had job applications in every business within a 6 mile area, bike riding distance, of our home. He managed to land a part time job pumping gas at a Seneca Nation Indian gas station last week. Keep trying, don't give up. Offering to do yard work/clean up/painting jobs during this hot summer could be lucrative for you. Depends on how bad you want a little financial independence I guess. Part of the problem is that since you are 15, you'll be going back to school by Labor Day, 6 weeks or so from now. Being a student means your hours available to work will be restricted by State Law. Try places that desire part time workers, fast food joints, pizza/subshops, grocery stores, Dollar General, Walmart, etc...

[Rhyfelwyr]

Nobody will employ me and I'm 20. I applied to everywhere in my hometown and the surrounding towns this summer, and got a few interviews, but still got nothing.

It will probably look bad that I won't have had a job when I finish University next year, but there's not much I can do.

[Prussian to the Iron]

the reason, Hooah, that I refuse to do yardwork is that I wasted an entire summer of my time mowing lawns, and I...will not do it. just won't. would i f i had a ride-on mower maybe, but i have some crappy 10 year old push one that takes forever to mow anything. worst summer EVER.


and now you guys are making me feel bad that I think injustice is being done to me. wheres the over sympathy? I WANT SYMPATHY DAMNIT!!!!





/obvious sarcasm

[Monk]

You do know there are 5 people for every job, right? Not even adults can get work.

This. It's crazy out there right now.

[pevergreen]

Keep trying, you'll get a job eventually. Or you won't.

Also, as a rule, most 15 year olds tend to be up themselves and automatically think they know better than those they work with, unwilling to listen to instructions and just generally low on productivity compared with someone older.

In a proper store, experience also helps.

Not saying you fit into that, just thats the common perception out there.

[Prussian to the Iron]

hell, I cant blame anyone for that assumption; lots of people I know that age never listen to advice, and do stupid things constantly. I just wish that people would at least ask some questions/interview you before they pre-draw your entire personality/work ethic.

[Husar]

The wages a re low, the jobs are few,
The only thing plenty, are people like you.

Look, I made a poem just for you.
It's hard to get jobs at the moment, my dad and I think I should get a better job to get complete financial independence and get away from the student loans, plus gain work experience, but I don't have much hope of finding such a job at the moment.
All you can do is try.

[Centurion1]

You live on a base like me right? Our base and as a result our surrounding town are all largely unaffected, yours should be much the same. Apply for jobs ON base. I've got a friend at the exchange, the ligfeguarding tons of em, at the commisary, etc. You should be able to pick up a job as long as you move quickly enough.

[Hooahguy]

hell, I cant blame anyone for that assumption; lots of people I know that age never listen to advice, and do stupid things constantly. I just wish that people would at least ask some questions/interview you before they pre-draw your entire personality/work ethic.

Unfortunately PI, because there are so many 15-year old idiots (again, not saying you fit into that group), employers just say "why bother" and move on to older applicants.

[Megas Methuselah]

if you say mowing lawns i will rip off your head and spit down your neck!!

Paper route.

[Prussian to the Iron]

You live on a base like me right? Our base and as a result our surrounding town are all largely unaffected, yours should be much the same. Apply for jobs ON base. I've got a friend at the exchange, the ligfeguarding tons of em, at the commisary, etc. You should be able to pick up a job as long as you move quickly enough.

Oh, I forgot to start a thread; we moved. In Virginie now bizniches!

gotta say, the traffic here sucks. the house and neighborhood are better, and I love being able to go to one central place to get everything, rather than run around the whole town (Uber-malls FTW!!!), but to get anywhere basically you have to take I-95, and my mom frequently misses our exits >:(


funny enough though, i had a friend at the Lejuene exchange who said it paid well and had flexible hours. the people said I had to be 16 though...

[Csargo]

Because they are 15... Also, mow lawns...

[Megas Methuselah]

Up here, the kids shovel sidewalks. Summers don't last long enough for the grass to grow.

[Prussian to the Iron]

now that i wouldnt mind.

[Whacker]

FWIW, when I was 15 the only job that under-16-year-olds could get outside of having a family member of friend of the family employ them, was bagging groceries. And I do mean only. Until you hit 16, you're a bit out of luck, and as others have mentioned the economy sucks big time right now. Good on you that you want to work though, I've been constantly employed (outside of school) since I was 16. Having a job teaches you a lot of really good life skills.

[Andres]

Sucks buddy.

I know you as a responsible guy, so if you lived near me, I would employ you, pay you five baseball collector cards to wash my car.

Since when do you have a car, mister "I live in Paris, I don't need a car. Public transport FTW"?

[Louis VI the Fat]

I've had a car ever since I've had a collection of Major League Baseball trading cards, that is, ever since I passed my driving test and was issued my poetic license.

[Skullheadhq]

I'm 15 as well. I just buy things at execution sales when companies go bankrupt, after that I sell it for 4x/5x the price I bought it for at the Dutch equivalent of Ebay. With my profits I buy more expansive things at the execution sales and sell that for more.That's THE way to profit from the crisis. I've earned 854 euros this year alone.

[naut]

I eventually got a job being an intern for a local law professor, but that was only because I knew him and he took pity on me.

This. If you don't know anyone who could be hiring/needs workers, then you're going to have a tough time. The place I work intermittently I only got because I know the other guys who work there and they asked me if I wanted to work because they needed extra hands. The pay is awesome considering we are basically stock handlers.

[Prussian to the Iron]

I'm 15 as well. I just buy things at execution sales when companies go bankrupt, after that I sell it for 4x/5x the price I bought it for at the Dutch equivalent of Ebay. With my profits I buy more expansive things at the execution sales and sell that for more.That's THE way to profit from the crisis. I've earned 854 euros this year alone.

lolwut?

and even then i'd need starter money, and i dont think $5 is enough...

[Skullheadhq]

I started with 35 euros, bought a modern PDA, sold it for 100. Then it's easy. I always laugh at my friends who work and don't even get a fraction of what I get. Such is life as an entrepreneur.

[Husar]

I've had a car ever since I've had a collection of Major League Baseball trading cards, that is, ever since I passed my driving test and was issued my poetic license.

You're one of the biggest mysteries on this site, the only things I seem to know about you are that you live in Paris and seem to be male, if I weren't a girl, I wouldn't find that incredibly sexy.
What I'm trying to say is, compared to you I'm almost naked.

I also notice we have a real dutch merchant among us.

[Louis VI the Fat]

You're one of the biggest mysteries on this site

One post you share your picture, in another your occupation, and then one day some punk has figured out your Facebook and LinkedIn accounts and sends blackmail to your wife or splatters all over the net some controversial Backroom opininion you posted in 2007.