Top 15 Occupations Ideal for 16-Year-Olds in the United Kingdom (2025)
In the UK, 16-year-olds who are of school-leaving age but under 18 have specific legal working hour and break regulations. Here's a breakdown of what these rules entail:
- Maximum working hours: They can work up to 8 hours per day.
- Breaks: They are entitled to at least a 30-minute uninterrupted break during the working day.
- Working times: Work must not be earlier than 7am or later than 7pm for 16-year-olds who are still in education (term time restrictions apply for younger teenagers).
- Weekly limits: During school term, young people aged 15-16 can work up to 12 hours per week, and during school holidays this increases to a maximum of 35 hours per week.
These rules are in place to ensure the work does not interfere with education or health and safety.
There are numerous job opportunities available for 16-year-olds in the UK. Here are some examples:
- Delivery assistants, who transport food and parcels locally, can earn an average salary of £21,000.
- Social media assistants help businesses create content, respond to comments, and schedule posts across different platforms. The average salary for a social media assistant is £22,000.
- Yoga assistants help set up classes, greet clients, and keep the studio clean and calm. The average yoga instructor salary is not specified in this paragraph.
- Ice cream servers sell and serve ice cream in shops or vans, mainly during summer. The average salary for an ice cream server is £20,000.
- Gardening assistants perform outdoor tasks like mowing lawns, weeding flowerbeds, and planting new greenery. The average salary for gardening or yard work is £22,000.
- Theme park workers operate rides, assist guests, or work in retail and food outlets. The average salary for a theme park worker is £20,000.
For those with little work experience, creating a compelling CV is crucial. Highlight school achievements, extracurriculars, volunteering work, informal work like babysitting & tutoring, a short personal statement, your education, key skills such as teamwork, and references from teachers or coaches.
Don't forget that you can also find jobs by visiting local businesses in person with a printed CV and a positive attitude.
Lastly, freelance or online gigs, such as filling out surveys, creating simple designs, or writing content, can vary in salary.
Getting your first job at 16 can be an exciting step towards independence and exploring career paths. Good jobs for 16-year-olds can be found on websites like Indeed, StudentJob, E4S (Employment 4 Students), and Active Careers.
- To boost their career development, 16-year-olds might consider skills-training programs in sports, education-and-self-development, or fitness, such as team training workshops or workout classes.
- Apart from job hunting online, it's beneficial for 16-year-olds to attend team training sessions in sports or pursue fitness regimens, which can enhance their teamwork skills and overall fitness levels.
- To stand out from other job applicants, 16-year-olds can participate in sports teams or fitness clubs, as these activities demonstrate commitment, initiative, and valuable teamwork skills, which are essential for various careers.
- By engaging in sports, education, fitness, or even freelance opportunities, 16-year-olds can cultivate a diverse set of skills that make them attractive candidates for numerous career sectors and contribute to their long-term career development.
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