My son is 15 and will be 16 mid july. I REALLY need for him to get a job and we are running into the problem?

Question

that he needs to be 16 at most places he has applies (likeTom Thumb and Walgreens). I remember getting my first job at 15. Can anyone suggest somewhere that would hire him considering he is so close and we are tired of him always asking for $$ to go out with friends and he needs to start saving for a car! I am going to go NUTS if I cannot get him out earning his keep around here. And please don't suggest mowing lawns because I cannot drive him around wth a mower that just will not work! Thanks!

Answer 1

wow, you wouldnt drive him around to mow lawns? Thats sad. Because that is probably all he is going to be able to do unless he is 16. If you are going to FORCE your kid to work at such a young age, you are going to have to make a few sacrifices.

Answer 2

Until he is 16, he may not be able to get jobs other than yard work, babysitting and the like. A paper route could be a good fix as well. I agree that kids should earn their own spending money, especially as they get older and the costs go up. Does he have to work at home for the money he gets? If not, than put him to work at home...have him do your yard work, laundry, vacumming and such for a weekly "salary". If he wants beyond that, then come up with a list of things like cleaning the over, washing the cars, babysitting (if he has siblings) and such. Assign a certain dollar value and go from there. Finally, I am confused about your not being willing to drive him if he is able to work..any work. Would you be willing to drive him to a PT job at WalGreens or the like? You can always ask for him to pay for gas money, but the truth is if he doesn't have a vehicle of his own yet (or a liscense) you may have to provide the transportation for him to work, where ever it may be.

PS...Even when he is 16, your state may have rules governing how many hours a week he can work, both during the school year and when school is on break.

Answer 3

Okay, first of all, he should be able to work at a grocery store, at age 15, some resturants that have busboys and dishwashers will also hire a 15 year old.

Now on to the lawnmowing. You should not have to drive him around for him to mow lawns, if he is physically able to push a lawn mower to cut a lawn, then he is physically able to push that lawn mower to his destination. Just make sure he is within an area you are comfortable with. IE. 10 block radius.

As soon as he comes to terms with the fact that you will not pay for his excursions with his friends anymore (you will have to completely stop giving him money for any reason) he'll get a job. Just be sure if he says he needs something and it is reasonable, don't give him money for it, buy it yourself.

Answer 4

He could get a paper route there is no age on that one or in most states all you need at 15 is a work permit with parents consent and he can have a job anywhere they hire 16 years old. Not places where they hire 18 and above. Try applying at stores in the mall with a work permit.

Good Luck

Sarah

Answer 5

You shouldn't have to drive him around with the mower, but nowadays all the old people are taking the kids jobs. Mowing lawns is a good idea, and he can wash windows in between the tools to do this are fairly inexpensive, have him make up a flier to hand out to the neighbors that are close by within walking distance at least, let him do the foot work!

Answer 6

I honestly don't know about your state. In NJ i had to have working papers at 16 that basically said can't work past 5:00pm on school nights, could not work past 24 hours a week etc... at 17 i could do anything. I'll never forget that day, my mom came home with an aplication to McDonalds and said time for a job. Not bad good experience, probably would not have gone out and got one myself.
Only way around it is if you get him a job at a landscaper. Usualy pay under the table, will most likely have him washing the trucks and cleaning up the equipment after jobs.

Answer 7

I guess it depends on the state, but I lived in MO and I got a job a Dairy Queen when I was 15 and a half. I think I had to have a work permit though. You might as well wait a little bit and make him do extra chores around the house until July so you can justify giving him money. If he won't do extra chores cut off the money, he'll find out real fast that you have to work for money, wether it's at a "real" job or at home. Good Luck!!

Answer 8

Fast food places usually hire younger kids than that, at 14 even. But if places where you live are hiring only older kids, then maybe he'll have to wait. Teach him to not be so money hungry, though it's probably too late. Just as it's way too late to start saving for a car when you're 6 weeks away from being 16... where have you been?? He could have been doing a paper route for years, or other odd jobs. I hope this is a lesson for you both to be better prepared for the future...

Answer 9

First of all, you have no obligation to keep handing him money. You only have an obligation to feed and clothe him and give him what he NEEDS, not what he wants! So first, grow a spine and tell him NO once in a while.

Second, how about teaching him to clean house and having him start a small house cleaning business? I started mine at 14 and it went really well. People paid me $20 to dust, vacuum, clean the windows and bathrooms. Make a list of what he will do for how much. I'd pay some kid $30 each week to help with the cleaning. Make him work in the area you live in or one specific area. My grandparents lived in a condominium complex and all my "clients" were there. I could be dropped off by my mom and work all day (about 4-6 hours at most) then she could pick me up. The customers paid cash or made checks out to my mom (because I had no bank account). Teach him to be courteous and help him advertise in the area he will be working in with flyers or word-of-mouth.

Good luck! :)

Answer 10

Depending on where you live you can see if there is a state agency that assist in youth summer jobs. They usually start at the age 14. Also a good marketing strategy could be to tell the hiring manger at time of dropping off application that even though he is not 16 yet that he will be within a little over a month and would like to be considered for a position at that time!!!

Answer 11

Your local supermarkets will hire him. Why don't you look into Summer Camps where he would be working all summer doing fun things and receive 1 big check at the end of the summer? Or Summer Recreation for your town. There are plenty of things he can do to make money...like deliver newspapers on his bike, work at a fast food place, or lifeguard. There are plenty of options and 15 year olds can work....but with restrictions.