GONE are the days of printing out your teenager’s CV and marching them down the local high street to help them bag a job.
Now they might need to complete an online test or two before their application is screened or do a video call before finally getting to the interview stage – if they are lucky. But you can beat the tests and bots to get your teen a job with our expert tips.
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A new generation of Gen Z job hunters are having to jump through hoops just to get a job at their local chain, supermarket or shop.
It’s no wonder that almost one million youngsters aged between 16 to 24 are not in education, employment or training (NEET), according to the latest figures.
Here, we look at the application process your teen has to face, and, with our experts’ tips, reveal how you can coach your child to get them through the hiring obstacle course to bag a job.
The hoops YOUR teen needs to jump through
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Sun Money looked at the process of applying for a store role for major retailers and supermarkets.
The interview process varies, and appears to be no different for those applying aged 16-18 years old compared to how you would normally apply for these roles.
At Lidl, for example, you will need to answer mandatory questions when you apply for a job, and you may need to do an online assessment. If you are successful, you will be invited for a phone interview, and then a face-to-face interview lasting up to 90 minutes.
At Asda, you will need to do an online assessment for a store role, and then an interview in person.
Sainsbury’s may require you to do an online assessment or two depending on the role, which could include a numbers test and a situational judgement test, before an online interview. In general, you should expect to have a face-to-face interview.
At John Lewis, you may need to do a situational judgement test and a personality questionnaire, then if you get through to interview stages, it could be in person or virtual, and you may be part of a group assessment.
A spokesperson said: ” Every single person we hire is interviewed by people, usually face-to-face, and we always share interview questions in advance with candidates to help them be at their best.”
Meanwhile, at The Entertainer, your application for the job will be screened. If you pass screening, you may need to do a video screening as well, where you will be recorded while answering questions. Then, you will have an interview in person.
Career coach Pamela Lanagan, known as the Queen of Careers, questions whether such stringent hiring processes are necessary.
“It used to be a five-minute chat with the manager, and you had a Saturday job. Now a 17-year-old is doing online tests, personality quizzes, video interviews and sometimes group assessments, for a job on a till,” she says.
“Retailers have taken hiring processes designed for graduate schemes and applied them to entry-level roles, without asking whether that level of scrutiny is actually needed.”
Who uses AI to screen applications?
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Another issue youngsters need to battle against is AI being used to screen jobs applications.
Nearly two in five companies use AI or automated systems to screen applications, according to a survey of over 1,000 business leaders by the think tank Work Foundation at Lancaster University.
While one in three had reduced the number of entry-level jobs available to young people aged 16-24 in the last 12 months.
Sun Money asked major retailers and supermarkets if they use AI at any stage of their hiring processes.
Boots, Poundland, Asda, M&S, Aldi, Sainsbury’s and Primark said they don’t.
Morrisons, Currys, Greggs and Superdrug declined to comment.
How your teen can beat the bots
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There are clever ways to game the screening system.
Keep your CV clear and simple, and highlight any of your skills or achievements relevant to the role.
Even if you don’t have experience in the workplace, any charity work or extracurricular activities you do can count.
Make sure to AI-proof your CV to make sure you get through screening, Hannah Cornish from the jobs platform CV-Library said.
The key is to apply as soon as you can. “AI-powered systems often prioritise early submissions to manage application volumes, so getting your application in sooner can boost your visibility,” Hannah says.
Don’t be tempted to make your CV look pretty. Avoid text boxes, images, graphics and tables.
“AI tools can struggle to read them, so stick to clean, simple layouts,” explains Hannah.
If you need to do an online test, do your homework first, Pamela says.
“Practise numerical and verbal reasoning tests under timed conditions before you sit the real one – there are loads of free practice tests online,” she says.
Read the company’s values before doing a situational judgement test, Pamela adds. This should help guide your answers.
If you get past this stage, it’s time to get prepared for your interview.
Have two or three real life examples of when you solved a problem, handled a difficult person, or worked well in a team.
“Nearly every competency question is really just asking for one of those, worded differently,” she says.
“On video interviews, the first ten seconds matter most. Sit up, and get to the point rather than easing in slowly.”
Can’t get a job? Make £100s with side hustles
IF you’re struggling to get a weekend job, there’s plenty of other creative ways of making money.
Here’s our handy ways of making some extra cash.
Dog sitting or walking
Becoming a dog walker or sitter doesn’t require any official qualifications, meaning anyone can do it.
Go on local Facebook pages where you can start advertising your availability.
You can also sign up to websites like pawshake.com, which matches dog owners up with sitters.
Tutoring
There’s no official law around what the minimum age is to work as a private tutor.
So if you got good grades, why not advertise yourself as a tutor?
Tutoring whizz Ishaan started teaching his peers when he was just 13, finding students on TikTok who were willing to pay for his lessons.
Sell on Vinted
Got old clothes you want to sell? Go on Vinted and sell them.
Long-time Vinted seller Melanie Monchar (@melaniemonch on Vinted), has more than 400 five-star reviews and has been selling for four years.
The mum-of-three has outlined her checklist when it comes to being successful with sales:
- Photos “stop the scroll” when buyers are looking so it’s important they are clear, taken in natural lighting and show off the item. Iron any creases and make sure they look clean. Use a nice background.
- Find the best title. Use keywords that buyers are searching for.
- Price it right. Look what items sell for on Vinted and elsewhere. You can do this by looking on eBay using the ‘sold items’ function. Use the ‘show only’ filter on the left-hand side of the screen and then select ‘sold items’.
Photograph empty properties
Looking for something to do on the weekend? Go on a walk around the neighbourhood – you can make some easy cash at the same time by taking pictures of empty properties.
There are websites which pay you in exchange for uploading pictures, which they use to identify possible development opportunities for eager construction companies.
Look for properties with boarded windows and overgrown gardens, and take a snap with your phone and send it to You Spot Property or Empty Property Hunters.
You’ll get £20 for each image you send that is verified, and if the property company buys the empty house later, you’ll get commission too, of up to 1% of the purchase price.
There are, however, some legal considerations when taking property pictures. Trespassing is illegal even if a property appears abandoned, and you should avoid taking snaps directly through windows as privacy may be an issue.