Parents roped in to find children a job

1:10pm Friday 18th July 2008

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RESULTS of a recent study has revealed 68 per cent of today’s youngsters are in desperate need of advice on how to get a job.

More than 21 per cent of British school leavers claimed to have received no career advice before leaving education.

According to the research from fish4jobs, 38 per cent of those given guidance felt they did not know what to expect in the way of wages, opportunities and duties.

When it came to securing the first job, 69 per cent of candidates needed their parents’ help to apply. In most cases, this involved the basics such as how to write a CV and cover letter - and even where to look for a job.

Recruiters supported this, saying applications are often sent from parents on their children’s behalf and some had even received calls enquiring about vacancies.

In most cases, this was because young job hunters were motivated to look for work but very nervous about approaching employers directly.

The study of recruiters, first jobbers and their parents shows those who dismiss the UK’s school leavers as uninterested in getting a job are over-simplifying the issue.

It revealed although 52 per cent of British teenagers had work experience while in education, they had been helped to secure positions by their school or college, and only 37 per cent were given any advice on finding a job by themselves.

Although youngsters are often passed over by employers as inexperienced or uninterested, the results of the study reveal only a minority two per cent fit in with the unambitious image often ascribed to 16 to 21-year-olds.

Employers noted the improvement on issues with first jobbers, such as lack of confidence (54 per cent), trouble with timekeeping (46 per cent) and lack of experience (65 per cent) was encouragingly fast as candidates were given more guidance and responsibility, and their self-assurance improved.