London is a vibrant city with plenty of job opportunities for teenagers who want to work and gain some experience. Be it jobs in retail, hospitality, or the creative industries, there are numerous roles within the capital suitable for teenagers. Below are some of the commonly available jobs for teenagers in London, examples of how much you can earn, and advice on how to increase your chances of getting hired-even if you have little or no work experience.
Part-Time and Weekend Jobs for Teenagers in London
With London being a diversified economy, the availability of jobs for teenagers is ample on a part-time and weekend basis. These jobs are ideal for students who wish to work flexible hours around their school or college commitments. Here are some common roles:
Retail Assistant
There are so many shops and department stores in London, such as retail assistants. Of course, work may be busier on weekends or holidays. Retail assistants do some jobs: stocking shelves, helping customers, operating tills.
Salaries: Currently, in the UK, one earning below 18 years of age may receive a minimum wage of £5.28 per hour as in 2024, but with some retail stores, there might be slightly more pay due to the nature of work and responsibility provided.
How to boost your chances: Approachable, polite, and willing to learn is the key to success in retail. Ensure you can show that you have good customer service skills and an understanding of the brand.
Waiter/Waitress
Restaurants, cafes, and chains of fast food often hire waiters to help get them through the busiest periods. You will be expected, as a waiter or waitress, to take orders, serve food, and generally ensure that customers enjoy a good experience in the place where they are dining.
Pay: Generally, a waitstaff can earn anywhere from £5.28 to £8.00 an hour and have the opportunity to make more in tips. For more exclusive restaurants, pay may be higher based on the establishment itself and the clientele it caters to.
How to improve your chances: Any experience with people or team environments, whether in school activities or other volunteer functions, is good to mention. Energy, attention, and communication skills are key.
Babysitter
The most sought-after job amongst teens, and one that especially the ones who love children desire, is babysitting. In London, many families are in dire need of responsible sitters who will be able to take care of their kids either in the evening or during weekends.
Salary: Although salaries for babysitting differ, in London, a teenager can earn anything from £8.00 to £12.00 per hour depending on the age of the children and one’s responsibilities.
How to better your chances: Proof that you are reliable and responsible. If you have younger siblings or have provided babysitting services to family and friends, make sure to include this in your application or when discussing with prospective clients.
Dog Walker/Pet Sitter
There are many busy professionals living in London, and it has generated a huge demand for dog walking as well as pet sitting services. This is an excellent career for individuals who love animals and are ready to spend the majority of their time outdoors.
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Pay: Dog walkers in London get anywhere from £8.00 to £15.00 depending on the neighborhood and how many dogs they take out at one time. Additional money can be made by overnight pet sitters or those providing additional care.
How to Improve Your Chances: Prove you have experience with animals by having pets yourself, by volunteering at an animal shelter, or simply looking after friends’ pets. Reliability goes a long way in this position.
Cinema Attendant
Working in a cinema is one of the cool jobs teenagers who love films would dream of doing. As a cinema attendant, you will be assisting customers with tickets, concessions, and seating.
Salary: Most cinema attendants are paid from £5.28-£7.50 an hour and sometimes get tickets either for free or at a discount, courtesy of the employer.
Improve your chances: Show you like dealing with customers and are able to work flexible hours, including weekends and evenings, since this is when a cinema is busiest.
Seasonal Work for Teens
As well as part-time work, there are a number of seasonal jobs available in London, be it summer holidays or festive periods.
Summer Camp Assistant
Working as a camp assistant at either summer camps or holiday programmes is a brilliant way to get some extremely valuable experience working with children and teenagers. It typically will involve activities such as supervising events, assisting with sports, and monitoring the kids to ensure they are safe and enjoying themselves.
Salary: Typically, a Camp Assistant can expect to earn from £6.00-£10.00 per hour, depending on the type of camp and nature of work involved.
How to improve your chances: If you can show experience in sports, arts, or leadership roles-for example, helping to organize school events-then it will help your application. If you have experience working with children-even just informal work-make sure you highlight this.
Christmas Temp Worker
Many retailers and businesses in London hire additional staff for the busy Christmas period. Potential temporary jobs in the holiday period include retail, hospitality, and event management.
Salary: Christmas temporary workers can earn anything between £5.28 and £9.00 per hour, although some retailers will offer a bonus or discount to staff as part of the job.
How to boost your chances: The Christmas vacancies are filled quite quickly, so apply now. Show how flexible you are and that you are willing to work extra hours during busy shopping periods, including weekends and evenings.
How to Increase Your Chances of Getting Hired
Although there are thousands of jobs available to teenagers in London, the process is not that easy since the competition may be quite high for jobs with flexible hours and good pay. Here are some tips to increase your possibility of getting hired.
How to write a killer CV: You can still have an amazing CV for teenager without experience. Emphasize those on-demand skills and achievements that might be from your school project, volunteering, or perhaps even a roster of some sports team. Some qualities to emphasize are dependability, teamwork, and a positive attitude with wanting to learn. Some sections that you may add in a no-experience teenage CV are hobbies and interests. Everything lists responsibility, like helping with household chores or organizing activities with a school club.
Networking: Let family and friends know that you are looking for a job. It is very often the case that the best opportunities are found through word-of-mouth recommendations. You might even just pop in to your local shops and businesses and ask if they need anyone.
Apply Early: Seasonal jobs are often filled quite fast, and you will need to apply as early as possible. Do not wait until the last minute, as it is always great if the employer sees that you are proactive and not lazy.
Personalise your application – It is very important not to use the same CV and letter of application for every vacancy. Matching appropriate skills and experiences to the job description, tailor-make your CV for each particular job you apply for.
Be Persistent: It does take time to find a suitable job, so do not get dejected by the lack of immediate response. Make follow-up calls with your target employer if you fail to hear from them after a couple of weeks. Continue applying.
Conclusion
Finding a job in London can be very rewarding for teenagers, offering experience, new skills, and ways to make extra money. From retail and hospitality jobs to babysitting and dog walking, options are endless for these young workers. With a solid CV, early applications, and persistence, you will get a good chance at getting hired-even with little or no prior experience.
The right attitude and readiness to learn mean being able to find your job, which will help you not only financially but also develop your useful skills that will be helpful for your future profession.
