Latest news with #parttimejobs
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'We hate relying on our parents to buy our festival tickets'
Every day, Abi applies for part-time jobs to be a waitress or work in a shop. The 16-year-old, from Colchester, Essex, has made more than 50 job applications recently but has never heard anything back. Speaking at Latitude Festival, near Southwold, Suffolk, Abi says it is very difficult for her generation to find part-time employment. "I worry that in the future even when I have qualifications I won't be able to get a job. It just feels impossible," she says. Abi, who wants to be a paediatric therapist, has been predicted top grades when she collects her GCSE results next month but says it is not enough. "Employers want experience, but I can't get any. I want the responsibility and I want to give something back," she says. She feels grateful that her parents have paid for her festival ticket and is aware many families would not be able to afford it. "I want to pay my own way. I would love to be part of a team and a job would give me some independence rather than relying on them." 'We want to earn our own money' Many young people at Latitude say they have either borrowed money to attend or had their tickets paid for by their parents. Ella and Lydia, both aged 16 and from Lincoln, keep handing out their CVs when they go into town and send multiple emails to employers but have had no luck getting work. "No-one in our friendship group has a job," Ella says. The teenagers, who have just finished their GCSEs and will continue in education, had to ask their parents to pay for their tickets. "We would love to earn our own money but it feels like it will never happen," Lydia adds. How much does Latitude Festival cost? Up to 40,000 people are expected to be at Latitude each day, where headliners include Sting, Fatboy Slim and Snow Patrol. Adult weekend camping tickets cost £308. The festival offers a plan where payments can be spread out. Children aged up to four are free for the weekend while those aged five to 12 cost £28. Teenagers aged 13 to 15 pay £190 and over-16s pay adult prices. Adult day tickets cost £110 plus fees. Under fours are free and children cost £18, but those aged over 13 must pay adult prices for day tickets. Campers are allowed to bring their own alcohol into the camping areas but not the main areas, where it costs £6.95 for a pint of lager. 'We've borrowed money from our parents to come' Zac and Freddi, both 17, and their friend Matt, aged 18, all from Norwich, have had to borrow money from their parents to attend the festival. Zac is about to start an electrician's apprenticeship while Matt is going to university to study for a degree apprenticeship in quantity surveying. Freddi is at college and working in a pub, cooking and washing up, which he says is the only job he was able to get without experience. "It's minimum wage but I feel lucky to have got it," he says. He hopes to be able to afford to go to university to study criminology. Many of their friends are Neets, meaning they are not in education, employment or training, and one has applied for "more than 100 jobs". Almost one million young people across the UK fall into this category, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). That equates to about one in eight young people. Graduates make up about 10% of them. Job vacancies in the UK are currently at their lowest level in nearly four years. In April, National Insurance Contributions paid by employers increased while a rise in the minimum wage came into force. The hike is forecast to raise £25bn in revenues by the end of the Parliament, but some analysts say it has discouraged firms from hiring. There are concerns the forthcoming Employment Rights Bill could make it even harder for employers to offer people part-time jobs. The bill includes a right to guaranteed hours and a crackdown on zero-hour contracts without the offer of work. 'Unemployment can affect mental health' Many Neets are economically inactive, meaning they are not actively seeking work, according to the ONS. Poor mental health is one of the key issues preventing them finding work, according to The Youth Futures Foundation. The organisation, which aims to help marginalised young people find work, says unemployment can be both a cause and a consequence of mental ill health. It is calling for more inclusive entry routes into work – through apprenticeships and employment support programmes. Abigail Coxon, a senior economist at the organisation, says being out of work and education "can have a scarring effect on young people even decades later, impacting their future prospects and wellbeing". Mental health needs to be prioritised, she says, and "preventative solutions that bring together health services, education, employers, civil society and other stakeholders" must be found. A Department for Work and Pensions official said getting more young people into work was a priority for the government. "We are determined that no young person is left behind as we drive up growth and opportunity in every corner of the country. "Through our Plan for Change we are transforming job centres, testing new ways of delivering targeted youth employment support and giving every young person the opportunity to earn or learn through our Youth Guarantee, while we significantly expand mental health support." Expert tips for finding work 1. Search beyond a 40-mile radius - Remote, hybrid and flexible working open up opportunities further away. 2. Use key words in your searches - Online algorithms will pick up on daily searches and send you more of the same. 3. Do not wait for a job to be advertised - Contact a manager at a business that you like the look of as you never know what opportunities might be coming up. 4. Sell your skills - Use social media sites such as LinkedIn which showcase your skills and experience. Other platforms such as X and Instagram can prove useful when touting yourself out to potential employers as well. 5. Get learning - While you are on the hunt for a job see if there are ways to fill gaps in your CV with free courses, volunteering or shadowing. 6. Celebrate the small wins - Set personal targets, such as a certain number of jobs to apply for in a week or a number of cold emails to send, and acknowledge the little wins along the way to keep your spirits up. You can read tips from careers experts in full here. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. More on this story Graduates turned down by supermarkets as vacancies drop Everything you need to know about Latitude Festival
BBC News
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Young people at Latitude explain how hard it is to get a job
Every day, Abi applies for part-time jobs to be a waitress or work in a shop. The 16-year-old, from Colchester, Essex, has made more than 50 job applications recently but has never heard anything at Latitude Festival, near Southwold, Suffolk, Abi says it is very difficult for her generation to find part-time employment."I worry that in the future even when I have qualifications I won't be able to get a job. It just feels impossible," she says. Abi, who wants to be a paediatric therapist, has been predicted top grades when she collects her GCSE results next month but says it is not enough."Employers want experience, but I can't get any. I want the responsibility and I want to give something back," she feels grateful that her parents have paid for her festival ticket and is aware many families would not be able to afford it. "I want to pay my own way. I would love to be part of a team and a job would give me some independence rather than relying on them." 'We want to earn our own money' Many young people at Latitude say they have either borrowed money to attend or had their tickets paid for by their and Lydia, both aged 16 and from Lincoln, keep handing out their CVs when they go into town and send multiple emails to employers but have had no luck getting work."No-one in our friendship group has a job," Ella says. The teenagers, who have just finished their GCSEs and will continue in education, had to ask their parents to pay for their tickets."We would love to earn our own money but it feels like it will never happen," Lydia adds. How much does Latitude Festival cost? Up to 40,000 people are expected to be at Latitude each day, where headliners include Sting, Fatboy Slim and Snow weekend camping tickets cost £308. The festival offers a plan where payments can be spread aged up to four are free for the weekend while those aged five to 12 cost £28. Teenagers aged 13 to 15 pay £190 and over-16s pay adult day tickets cost £110 plus fees. Under fours are free and children cost £18, but those aged over 13 must pay adult prices for day are allowed to bring their own alcohol into the camping areas but not the main areas, where it costs £6.95 for a pint of lager. 'We've borrowed money from our parents to come' Zac and Freddi, both 17, and their friend Matt, aged 18, all from Norwich, have had to borrow money from their parents to attend the is about to start an electrician's apprenticeship while Matt is going to university to study for a degree apprenticeship in quantity is at college and working in a pub, cooking and washing up, which he says is the only job he was able to get without experience."It's minimum wage but I feel lucky to have got it," he hopes to be able to afford to go to university to study of their friends are Neets, meaning they are not in education, employment or training, and one has applied for "more than 100 jobs".Almost one million young people across the UK fall into this category, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).That equates to about one in eight young people. Graduates make up about 10% of vacancies in the UK are currently at their lowest level in nearly four April, National Insurance Contributions paid by employers increased while a rise in the minimum wage came into hike is forecast to raise £25bn in revenues by the end of the Parliament, but some analysts say it has discouraged firms from are concerns the forthcoming Employment Rights Bill could make it even harder for employers to offer people part-time bill includes a right to guaranteed hours and a crackdown on zero-hour contracts without the offer of work. 'Unemployment can affect mental health' Many Neets are economically inactive, meaning they are not actively seeking work, according to the mental health is one of the key issues preventing them finding work, according to The Youth Futures organisation, which aims to help marginalised young people find work, says unemployment can be both a cause and a consequence of mental ill is calling for more inclusive entry routes into work – through apprenticeships and employment support Coxon, a senior economist at the organisation, says being out of work and education "can have a scarring effect on young people even decades later, impacting their future prospects and wellbeing". Mental health needs to be prioritised, she says, and "preventative solutions that bring together health services, education, employers, civil society and other stakeholders" must be found. A Department for Work and Pensions official said getting more young people into work was a priority for the government."We are determined that no young person is left behind as we drive up growth and opportunity in every corner of the country."Through our Plan for Change we are transforming job centres, testing new ways of delivering targeted youth employment support and giving every young person the opportunity to earn or learn through our Youth Guarantee, while we significantly expand mental health support." Expert tips for finding work 1. Search beyond a 40-mile radius - Remote, hybrid and flexible working open up opportunities further away.2. Use key words in your searches - Online algorithms will pick up on daily searches and send you more of the same.3. Do not wait for a job to be advertised - Contact a manager at a business that you like the look of as you never know what opportunities might be coming up.4. Sell your skills - Use social media sites such as LinkedIn which showcase your skills and experience. Other platforms such as X and Instagram can prove useful when touting yourself out to potential employers as well.5. Get learning - While you are on the hunt for a job see if there are ways to fill gaps in your CV with free courses, volunteering or shadowing.6. Celebrate the small wins - Set personal targets, such as a certain number of jobs to apply for in a week or a number of cold emails to send, and acknowledge the little wins along the way to keep your spirits can read tips from careers experts in full here. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
RNZ News
10-07-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Rise of the underemployed: New Zealanders struggle to find full-time work
A growing number of people are settling for any job that will put food on the table. Photo: 123rf A growing number of people are giving up their dream career, and settling for any job, or jobs, that will put food on the table. In the March quarter, the unemployment rate jumped to 5.1 percent, and the number of people in full-time jobs fell by 45,000. The only area that saw positive growth was part-time work, with 25,000 more people in those roles than the previous year, a 4 percent rise. But some Kiwis have said for them, fewer hours is a last resort, applying for hundreds of jobs before settling for a part-time role. When she's not busy juggling her two part-time jobs in the entertainment industry, Petra Elise is trawling job listings and writing cover letters. It's been this way for a few years now, after she was made redundant from her full-time role during the pandemic. Five years on she hasn't found a full-time job, now getting by on 24 hours of work a week. "The reason I have these two part-time roles is I had to take what I could get pretty much. I obviously would much prefer one full-time role where I don't have to move my mindset out of one role and into the other role the next day." Even for jobs she's fully qualified for, Elise said it is rare to get a response, let alone an interview. She receives a $50 wage supplement, but even with that entitlement she says it's incredibly hard to get by. "How I survive is extremely careful budgeting and not a lot of, in fact no fun. It's not really a life, it's living hand to mouth." Although it is far from her ideal situation, Elise said managing to get these two jobs was no easy ride. "I was on a WINZ benefit for about year, the amount I was eligible for was $360, so I was living on less than I'm living on now." While she is passionate about the work she does, it is far from enough. "I care deeply about the two part-time jobs I'm doing but there's just not enough money there for me to have as much of an impact, they can't afford to pay me for full-time work." Elise isn't alone in her struggle to secure full-time work. Craig Renney, economist at the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions, says the market's so saturated that the number of people settling for any job is also on the up. "What we're seeing is that growth in that part-time work and often that's a measure of stress in the labour market. This is people who might well want to work full-time, can't find full-time work but will happily take any job just to keep an income coming into their household." Part-time workers who want more work but can't find it are classified as underemployed. In the past two years the number of people in this situation has risen by 26 percent. Now over a fifth of people working part-time are struggling to find more work despite looking. "In the second quarter of 2023, there were around 92,600 people who were basically looking for more work, couldn't find it, basically were underemployed. That number is now 127,000, so there's an extra 30,000 people just inside a couple of years, who are in that want more work can't get it basket." Renney said. Olivia Duncan has been unemployed for just over a month, leaving her last job after the company ran out of money and her pay checks stopped coming in. The job hunt has been no easy ride. After applying for close to 100 full-time roles she has had to expand her search to include part-time work. "I started off looking for just full-time roles, because I've always worked full-time. But then I expanded to also look for part-time roles, just because I was really needing anything and I figured if I took a part-time role, I could always supplement my income with another part-time role or maybe do some kind of side hustle." Duncan said most jobs she has applied for have had hundreds of applicants. While she's now ready to settle for any amount of work, she's keeping an open mind and hopes that even a part-time job will send her career in a new direction. "I do not have a linear career path at all, my career has been all over the place. This has really made me expand my ideas of where I might like my career to go. I'm considering so many different things." A patchwork career however, isn't always taken on as a necessity, with some choosing to ditch the linear career for something different. Amy Wang is all too familiar with creating her own career path. Suffering from burnout after working in an IT role for seven years, she decided it was time to pave her own way, now following her passions as a musician. "I quit my job in tech about 2.5 years ago, since then I took a little break after because I was quite burnt out, so I just took a break to rest and try and figure out what I wanted to do and just been trying a whole bunch of things to see what works." She now works close to seven different jobs; some days teaching music, others producing and performing it, or even leading a kickboxing class. While it is harder than she expected, she says the benefits are worth it. "It's just more rewarding, I think, even though it's quite scary I find it more exciting, like I'm creating my own opportunities." Jeff de Jong, Manager Skills and Employment Policy at the Ministry of Business and Employment told Checkpoint the unemployment rate is forcast to start to reduce from the end of this year. "Reserve Bank research has shown that during a recession, organisations generally respond to reduced demand for labour by reducing hours first, before resorting to reducing staff numbers. During a recovery, the opposite is true: hours worked by existing employees increase before organisations start bringing on new workers." "We are currently seeing people wanting more hours than their employer is offering." "As the economy strengthens and labour demand recovers, underemployment is expected to decline."
RNZ News
10-07-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Growing number of people resorting to part-time work to get by
A growing number of people are giving up their dream career, and settling for any job, or jobs, in order to put food on the table. While the unemployment rate has remained steady 5.1 percent, The number of people working part-time jobs has jumped to 20.5 percent of employed people an increase of over 4 percent. But for some, fewer hours is a last resort, applying for hundreds of jobs with hundreds of other applicants before settling for a part-time role. Others are working seven different roles just to earn enough to live. But while it's a way of survival for some, others are opting for a patchwork career. Evie Richardson reports. To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
BBC News
05-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Summer jobs: How to get one when you have zero work experience
Grace Pickett has been applying for part-time jobs for two years now - with no 18-year-old from Corby is hoping to head to Liverpool John Moores University to study history in September, and now her A-levels are over, she's ramped up her job she's found herself facing the same issue many other young people across the UK say makes it hard for them to get their first part-time or summer job - not having enough previous experience."It is very frustrating," says Grace, who has been told by several companies they cannot hire her due to a lack of prior work Mistry, from charity Youth Employment UK, which helps young people find jobs, says it's "a vicious cycle". "To have experience, you need experience."Grace volunteered at a charity shop for six months and says she doesn't understand why some employers don't think this is enough. She's been dropping off her CV in pubs, emailing potential employers, and filling in applications on job site Indeed - but hasn't found anything of Grace's friends have "given up" on their job hunts because they don't think they'll ever find anything, she says. She's not reached that stage yet, but she's started to feel pessimistic about whether she'll find a job before the summer Holton, a 17-year-old college student in Retford, is also struggling to find a summer job, despite nearly four years' experience doing a paper round. Many employers in the retail and hospitality sectors want him to have more specific experience, he jobs are more competitive than they were 20 years ago because online applications mean there are generally more candidates for each job, says Chris Eccles, from jobs site Employment 4 Students. Increases in the minimum wage and National Insurance have also affected hiring, according to Lauren Mistry. As well as earning money, working part-time while at school, college or university, or during holidays can also help boost your CV when the time comes to apply to full-time figures from the Office for National Statistics show fewer young people have jobs while studying than 30 years ago. From 1992, when records began, to 2004, more than 35% of 16-17 were employed while in full-time education each summer, compared to fewer than 20% in summer those aged 18 to 24, about a third had jobs last summer, which is also lower than in the late 1990s and early asked careers experts what you need to do to to land a summer job, and how you can stand out - even with no work experience. Where can I find jobs? Many young people get their first job in retail or hospitality. There are also part-time roles in healthcare, warehousing and many jobs get posted on jobs boards like Indeed, LinkedIn and Reed, some employers only advertise them directly on their websites or social-media it old-fashioned to drop your CV off speculatively at local pubs and cafes? Careers experts think it's still worth trying, especially at smaller businesses."I actually prefer it when people come in," says Edward Frank, manager of the Brewers Arms pub in Berwick-upon-Tweed. "It shows initiative."Jane Meynell, owner of Olive and Bean cafe in Newcastle, agrees. She says when candidates pop in with their CV it doesn't just show their interest in the role, it also allows her to find out more about their personality than she might over email. And if she doesn't have any vacancies, she often keeps the CVs on record, she says. Show off your volunteering or teamwork experience Even if employers list previous work experience as desirable or required, they might be flexible if you find other ways to prove you've acquired the same skills, according to Matt Burney, an advisor at Indeed."You're not going to be expected to have a really packed CV at 16, 17, 18," he about how you can show you've learned the skills employers are looking for -like teamwork, communication, problem-solving and team experts say this could be through volunteering at a charity shop, being on a football team, delivering a presentation or even taking on caring responsibilities at home. Keep your CV simple If you've never written a CV before, there are countless examples online demonstrating how to format them, as well as your contact details, then list your work experience, if you have any, followed by your education and any volunteering or extra-curriculars. Matt Burney recommends keeping it to one page. "Don't pad it out just for the sake of it," he says."Make it easy for them to find your best skills and achievements without having to wade through large blocks of waffly text," Chris Eccles some personality but keep the appearance simple. Go for a size 11 or 12 font and "stay away from highly-designed PDFs", which CV-scanning software may struggle to read, Lauren Mistry make the document easy for the employer to find by saving it with an appropriate title, which includes your name, she adds. Don't waffle in your cover letter Some jobs also require a cover letter. This should summarise why you're interested in the role and why you're suitable for it."It's very easy to waffle," Matt Burney says, but people should keep it "short and specific" letters a bit like exams with marking criteria, according to Chris Eccles. Study the job advert carefully to see which skills and experience the employer is looking for - and make sure you include this information, he should address the letter to the person recruiting, if you can find their name on the job listing or company website, Matt Burney says. Otherwise, open with "Dear Hiring Manager", and end with "Sincerely" or "Best", he recommends. Use AI carefully Some people use generative AI to craft CVs and cover letters. Attitudes towards that vary between companies, Lauren Mistry says - some big companies scan CVs for AI and automatically reject candidates who've used it. But others don't mind. Sam Westwood, people experience director at KFC UK and Ireland, says AI is a "really good starting point" for writing a CV or cover letter, and that recruiters at his company "actively embrace" the experts recommend that if you do opt to use AI, you should check for accuracy and make sure you refine results to show your personality. Don't worry about your grades Don't stress too much about your GCSE and A-Level grades when you're applying for a summer job. For part-time roles in retail and hospitality, "maths and English GCSEs shouldn't be a barrier", though the importance of exam results varies by employer, Lauren Mistry employers just want to know that an applicant has good numeracy and literacy skills, which they can demonstrate through their CV, emails and job interview, she says. You can never be too prepared for an interview Matt Burney advises people ask friends or family to conduct a mock interview with them or get an AI platform to generate some questions, and think of specific examples for your answers. Chris Eccles recommends structuring your answers using the STAR answer method - situation, task, action, both the role and the company as much as possible too. If you can, visit the place you're applying to before your interview - cafe owner Jane says the first question she always asks candidates is whether they've been there before. Present well at the interview It can be hard to know what to wear for an interview because dress codes vary so much by company. Lauren Mistry advises against wearing trainers, and recommends keeping your shoulders covered and avoiding blue jeans. If you're unsure what's appropriate, ask the company how you should dress, she experts say interviews are a two-way process. It's not just an opportunity for an employer to find out about you, it's also an opportunity for the candidate to learn more about the role and the company. Asking questions shows your interest in the role can ask about training, the company culture, and what a typical day in the job looks like. You can also ask about the next steps in the application process and when you're likely to hear about the outcome. And don't just save your own questions until the end - asking them throughout the interview shows curiosity, Lauren Mistry sure you're polite when you're speaking to other staff at the company. Managers often ask other workers, like receptionists, what they thought of the candidates, she Burney recommends sending a short, polite follow-up email after your interview and says this will help set you apart from other candidates.
