My First Job

Dennis3003 on 11/10/2014 - 12:12
Last edited 17/10/2014 - 18:00 by 2 other users

Hi,

I'm 13 and 8 months years old and I would like to possibly get my first job. I have had a long hard think about this and have even listened to experience from fellow class mates.

I have 3 options in mind and I have listed them in priority:

  1. Woolworths (5min walk)
  2. McDonald's (10min walk)
  3. Dominos Pizza (10min walk)

I do understand that I'm not going to be earning more than $10 an hour. I have spoken to some of my teachers about this and they have given me some tips about the workforce.

My parents do know about this and so far are supporting it (I think), I just need a final Yes.

The reason I want to get a job is because I want to get some experience over the holidays, earn some money, and save it up for my future University fees or something like that. Plus it will give me some more things to do over the holidays.

So what are your thoughts and do you have any recommendations?

Update: All my local Woolies require you to be 14 and 10 months years old. Guess I'm going to have to go to Maccas.

Update 2: Applied for a job at Maccas and you need to be 14yrs old. So now applied at Dominos and will get a reply with 14 working days.

Poll Options expired

  • 214
    Woolworths
  • 18
    McDonald's
  • 2
    Domino's
Education & Work

Comments

    • dashmacad on 13/10/2014 - 23:11

      at what age did you first get this job? As I would highly doubt that it was in year 7 or 8…

      • samboread on 14/10/2014 - 09:45

        No. I was just about nearly 16.. Year 9 I believe.

  • hooray on 13/10/2014 - 18:57

    I was a recruiting officer for a large organization and when I had the choice between someone who worked and studied and someone who just studied I chose the one who worked every time

  • technowiz11 on 13/10/2014 - 20:33

    Hi OP, I've seen your situation and scenario and we are very similar. Marks wise and interests wise. :) I used to be a junior computer coordinator in Primary helping teachers and the computer coordinator as well. I'm 14 and I run my own hobbie/business buying broken laptops then fixing them and selling them for a profit. I learnt some various tricks and skills. I'm in YR9 and I recommend Commerce. Commerce teaches you the life skills you need, the experience of running a business as all schools make you run your own stall. Judging from your marks do you go to a selective school?

    • Dennis3003 on 13/10/2014 - 21:00

      No. I go to Randwick Boys High School. It's a pretty good school especially in Math, nothing what rumors are suggesting. :p

      I will probably change my elective next year as it's too late to do so this year.

    • Dennis3003 on 13/10/2014 - 23:16

      Do you take a IST elective at your school? If so, How is it?

      • technowiz11 on 14/10/2014 - 19:49

        Hi Dennis, It all depends on the teachers at your school. At my school I had horrible teachers for IST and that turned many people off it. But with the arrival of a new TAS teacher, she actually teaches things and from what I've heard from my friends they really enjoy it.

  • dashmacad on 13/10/2014 - 23:00

    how would you apply for the woolies job though? through the website (if there even is a link) or in store?

    • Dennis3003 on 13/10/2014 - 23:15

      I would go to the local shop and ask to speak to the manager and etc.

      • dashmacad on 14/10/2014 - 17:44

        thats the way to go :)

  • dashmacad on 13/10/2014 - 23:10
    +1

    i doubt you will be able to apply for a job at woolworths if you are only 13 and 8 months. Maccas will definitely take you in, dominos wouldnt. Woolworths dont offer many job opportunities for people at your age. in a few years, i would say you would be able to get it.

    • Dennis3003 on 13/10/2014 - 23:15

      ok. Still, worth a shot.

  • auna on 14/10/2014 - 00:08
    +5

    It's not worth working at that age - start at 16 or 17. You'll do practically the same work for half the money - and your time in your youth IMO is priceless.

  • ironsword on 14/10/2014 - 00:51

    You can find out how much you will get paid from the awards listed here
    Some light reading for you ;)

  • adante on 14/10/2014 - 11:27

    Massive props to OP - post was clear, concise and obviously he had put some thought into it before posting. Impressive maturity shown for a 14yo. I think a lot of the ozbargain adults (myself included!) could learn from this.

  • Fizzgig on 14/10/2014 - 11:51

    Good on you for wanting to get a job at such a young age! It seems you have your head on straight.
    I think both options 1 and 2 are great as they will give you valuable experience as you will be working in all the different sections that they have.
    Good luck in your applications and let us know how it goes!

    • Dennis3003 on 14/10/2014 - 16:17

      Thanks, and will do.

  • smpantsonfire on 14/10/2014 - 13:58
    +1

    I'd go McDonalds, you start young, you will probably keep the job until 18/19 with consistent hours every week. The most flexible of the 3, and with your attitude, opportunity for progression to Manager/Crew Trainer/All areas relatively quickly.

  • humdogg on 14/10/2014 - 14:14

    I know everyone is saying woolies because of better pay and conditions and for some that is definitely the right choice.

    But for you, if you actually are doing it more for the experience and truly want to be set up for life. Go for something different, like maccas.

    why?

    the most important thing you can learn start to cultivate now is a really good work ethic. Do something that is harder now, you'll be better off later. If maccas can offer you that, ultimately it's more worthwhile pursuing that.

    You obviously have a good head on your shoulders but imo, if you are going to pick woolies because it pays more and is the easier job, that is the myopic option and you are setting yourself back.

    • scrimshaw on 14/10/2014 - 14:23
      +2

      It's not like he has liberty to pick, it's the hiring manager's decision — There's no guarantee that he will even get the a job at any of the three places.

      Apply for both and work at whatever.

      • Dennis3003 on 14/10/2014 - 16:18

        Thats what I have been trying to say. Its up to the manager.

  • centrelink on 14/10/2014 - 16:19
    -4

    Omgosh stop calling Woolworth wollies. It so does not deserve a nick name. The company just created its own nickname and y'all all fell for it . FELL FOR IT.. easily brained wahed zombies!

    • tonka on 14/10/2014 - 23:16

      Proof please. Been calling it Woolies for 40 odd years.

  • Eivad on 14/10/2014 - 20:07

    Woolies would be my pick of those 3. My first job was at Coles, where I worked graveyard shifts stocking the dairy section (read: frozen hands! ). My dad had to pick me up at 3/4am which inconvenienced him, so I only worked on Friday and Saturday nights. Keep in mind that sometimes you might not get the role you want at a big supermarket chain like Woolies.

    Have you considered other options, for example, the local library, bookstore, cafe, or coaching sport at school? I agree with the other posters that education should be your number 1 priority at this stage (as well as participating in extra-curricular activities). Nevertheless, a job is great as it lets you earn your own pocket money, makes you a little more reliant on yourself, and teaches you how to interact with people in the workplace.

  • pat3wagon on 14/10/2014 - 20:33

    You need to be 15+ for most jobs these days.

    • Dennis3003 on 14/10/2014 - 20:41

      Well I know for Maccas you dont.

  • MattyD on 15/10/2014 - 13:34

    Hi Dennis,

    I haven't read every comment but I'll give you two tips that might help:

    (1) Get a job in customer service. Front line, dealing with customers. Getting a wage at your age is a nice plus, but if you want doors to start opening up in life you're going to have to learn to deal with people. Period. Every interview you'll ever attend for the rest of your life will rise and fall on how you relate to others - your authenticity, confidence, communication skills. Don't become another gum-chewing, too-cool-to-use-sentences register monkey. Serve people and take genuine pride in their satisfaction. Customer service will teach you to talk to people; about being friendly, courteous, helpful and professional. More importantly you'll learn to listen and validate what the other person is trying to convey - and that's probably the single most bankable skill around (in a job, business, marriage, friendship, parenting) - precisely because it's so rare.

    You've got a great opportunity to start to learn now a secret many haven't figured out at 50.

    (2) Don't sweat the magnitude of this (or any other decision) at your age. Make a decision, make some mistakes, learn from them and move forward. Repeat. You're young enough to make a thousand mistakes and still make a thousand fresh starts. Life's a journey not a destination.

    Good luck!

  • Lilstudent on 15/10/2014 - 13:36

    Amazing attitude Dennis3003 - I hope employers recognise this! My first job at 14 was a local $2 shop and then at 15 they opened up a Big W and I got a job there, had it all the way until the end of uni.
    If there is a Big W near you I highly recommend, they have 'recovery' jobs, which is tidying shelves and cleaning up the department for trade the next day. 3 hour shifts & they always take high school students for it and the hours are convenient for this. They will generally let you stay back for nightfill when they need to too.
    Otherwise I reccomend going into Woolies, go with your parents maybe but do all the talking, go in with a positive cheerful attitude (don't be meek). Someone suggested work experience, this is a good idea as most stores will put you on afterwards if you are willing to do a week for free. LEGALLY you aren't supposed to do the full role as work experience, but if you want to prove yourself do anything & everything.
    My advice when you get the job is be AVAILABLE. never turn down a shift, offer to stay back whenever possible, always discuss with your line manager before you take leave etc, give plenty of notice for exams, and this will in turn mean you get more shifts, the first to look at for being promoted. Also make sure you are reliable but not irreplacable, you dont want to be in a situation where they don't promote you because they can't find someone as good as you.

    GOOD LUCK!!!

  • pebee47 on 15/10/2014 - 15:39
    +3

    Haha Dennis3003 ! You didn't realise how much conflicting advice was out there, did you? My 5 cents worth is regarding the value of saving.
    Mate, its not the amount, rather the habit that counts. If you regularly save 10% of your take home pay from EVERY pay packet, you will end up a very well off man.
    In the finance industry there is "The Rule of 72". Basically if you divide 72 by the interest rate your savings are getting, the answer is the number of years it will take to double your money. Similarly if you divide 72 by the number of years you hope to double your money in, the answer is the interest rate you should be getting for this to happen.
    Of course the above relates to a lump sum (which you don't have unless the robbers dropped a bag of the stuff at your feet or you found it or Great Aunt Murgatroyd died and left it to you). But by starting small and adding to it you can amuse yourself every 6 months working out how much you've put in and how much the bank has, and what overall percentage you have made.
    Crappy at maths? Trust me, once its YOUR money, you become really good at maths!
    Best wishes for the future, Dennis 3003. I hope I live long enough to see you make the Rich List!

  • Dennis3003 on 15/10/2014 - 15:52

    All my local Woolies require you to be 14 and 10 months years old. Guess I'm going to have to go to Maccas.

  • pebee47 on 15/10/2014 - 16:00
    +1

    Oh, one more "work ethic" trick I was given by my Dad and I have passed on to my daughters (Both in Management positions at age 28 and 23) is this:
    ALWAYS get to work early and start 5 minutes early. DON'T spend extra time at "Smoko". Always work right up to knock-off time THEN go and get ready to go 5 minutes after finish time.
    It will be noticed.
    An example: After 2 holiday jobs at a Makro shop (like a huge Reject shop) my elder daughter had the job of co-ordinating a large chunk of the annual stocktake. Full timers sure were Pee'd off! And it sure beat counting mountains off crappy trinkets! After that she was made Shift Manager so got to pick and choose the area(s) she worked in.
    She now runs the 30 odd meeting and Conference rooms and Concierge area plus oversees all conferences and Lunches/dinners for the State Headquarters of a large mainstream Bank. She has a staff of around 15 plus the catering company answering to her, and has recently won several Management Awards from the Bank.

  • brokeasajoke on 15/10/2014 - 21:09

    Try for Woolies/Safeway, if unsuccessful then go for the fast food joints. Work there for a few months and start looking for another job. it is far easier to find a job when you've got a job.

  • adn on 16/10/2014 - 00:32

    woolies

  • ethereal88 on 16/10/2014 - 06:30
    +2

    ROFL, are you still considering working for a pitiful slave wage? Get on Youth Allowance once you hit 16 and blaze up in the meantime. Make more $$$ if you pop out a few munchkins with someone. And so on and so forth.

  • MrLeE on 16/10/2014 - 10:01

    I worked at Coles as part of the nightfill team from 15 - 18 YO.

    It was fantastic. Great easy source of income and it was straight after school. Not to mention very flexible with hours.

    Also I was fortunate enough to have a good team of friends with me. So it didn't really feel like work!

    I also had a good balance of working nightfill, but then when I needed to take time off for study, centrelink helped to fill in the gaps of money per week.

    So working or not, it was an even balance.

  • [Deactivated] on 16/10/2014 - 20:34

    I'd recommend Macca's first and if you want Woolies, transition there once you reach the correct age. Most Maccas will work you hard and be strict, however they are fair. A lot of mates worked at our local one and they consistently had shifts until they left at around ~20.
    One transitioned and is now a manager at a new store and he seems pretty happy. You will learn a lot of skills and you can, like I said, take those over to Woolies once you are old enough to work there.

    Just a thought.

  • Dennis3003 on 17/10/2014 - 18:00

    Applied for a job at Maccas and you need to be 14yrs old. So now applied at Dominos and will get a reply with 14 working days.

    • pebee47 on 18/10/2014 - 18:22
      +2

      If you want to be a bit cheeky and make an impression, apply again when you're 13yrs 10months. Tell them you know they won't employ you until you're 14, but you just want them to be ready to start you as soon as you turn 14!

      • Dennis3003 on 19/10/2014 - 21:24

        Won't work as you apply online and the system automatically tells you that your not 14.

  • Dennis3003 on 18/12/2014 - 23:07
    +5

    Got the job at Domino's.

    • Woodyg22 on 19/12/2014 - 08:31

      Congrats!

    • [Deactivated] on 23/12/2014 - 00:06

      Well done. Thanks for the update.

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