Part-time jobs for teenagers would prepare them for careers, parents and pupils say

Many expatriate families say teenagers are unable to find the part-time work that is commonplace in their home countries.

Experiencing work, and finding strengths and areas of interest before entering the labour force full-time is something youngsters are keen not to miss out on, Jennifer Bell reports, in the first of a two-day series

ABU DHABI // Youths need more access to part-time jobs and work experience to gain meaningful skills outside the classroom, parents and pupils say.

Expatriate youngsters trying to find the part-time work that is common in their home countries, or internships in the career they are considering, have found it challenging and parents are worried it leaves their children at a disadvantage.

Abu Dhabi resident Sharon Crighton said her two children struggled to find work in the emirate.

“It is frustrating when kids can’t get part-time or weekend work to help them prepare for the world outside school,” said Ms Crighton, from Scotland.

“Kids back home can pick up Saturday or weekend jobs in cafes or restaurants, which helps them to have independence and work experience, but that is not an option here.”

French mother of two Nathalie Cooper would like to see a forum on social media for teenagers looking for work experience.

“It would be dedicated for teenagers aged between 15 and 18 and engage employers to post short work-experience adverts when extra help is needed,” Ms Cooper said.

The aim would be for teenagers to gain work experience with proper mentors and supervisors.

“The benefits for the teenagers will be felt long term as they will gain real work experience, learning how to think for themselves, dealing with problem solving and taking responsibility,” she said. “It could also be viewed as part of corporate social responsibility for big organisations.”

Her son, Year 12 pupil Keelan Cooper, said he would welcome the opportunity to work part-time in Dubai as a junior financial analyst if he were given the opportunity.

“Sadly, all the jobs you would generally be able to do in the UK as a teenager, such as a paper boy or girl, lawn or hedge cutting, car washing, pet caring and babysitting, are not easily available here in the UAE,” he said. “That leaves us teenagers with few options.”

American Noah Cirillo does not know of any teenager in the UAE who works. “This is very different to America where when you can start working, you do,” he said.

“That is what a lot of students do so they can earn some money so they are not entirely reliant on their parents. But here most of the work students could get back home, such as grocery store jobs, are not for students.”

Noah, 16, said that put him at a disadvantage to his peers.

“I feel like I am missing out a bit because after high school I am going to go straight into college and after college I am going to go straight into the workforce, and if I haven’t worked before it is going to be very new to me compared to my friends,” he said.

British mother Jacqueline Curran, 36, said work experience was an essential life lesson.

“I had a part-time job from the age of 13,” said Ms Curran, an Abu Dhabi resident.

“It meant that on leaving university I had lots of real-life work experience and gained lots of transferable skills, which gave me an advantage over others who had not worked, and made for a more interesting CV.

“I feel more should be done to let teenagers dip their toes into the world of work. It would be great if there was an initiative to get kids into industries doing regular work.”