But do the same rules apply across the globe? Fabulous finds out.
'I'm saving to go travelling around Europe'
USA: Emily Keeble
- Age: 18
- From: Florida, USA
- Job: Bakery assistant
- Hours: 30-35 a week
- Wage: £188 a week
“For American teenagers, there are so many barriers to getting a part-time job. Most employers expect you to have a reliable form of transportation, so they only hire people aged 16 or older as they can drive. On top of that, you can’t serve alcohol in the US until you’re 18 (or 21 in some states), so you can’t even be a waitress until then.
“I was desperate to start earning my own money, so as soon as I turned 16 I began working at a local bakery, while studying at community college. I earn $8.25 [£6] an hour taking orders on a computer system, doing dishes and cleaning the dining room.
“It’s tough, but I don’t mind because it means I’m able to buy things I want, like clothes, movie tickets or a new phone, without having to ask my parents for money. Of course, it’s a drag forking out on things like gas and car repairs, which my parents don’t help out with because they want me to learn the true value of money – but it’s working!
“Sometimes I get annoyed when I see the rich kids of Instagram flaunting their cash, especially since I have to work so hard for mine. But they’re born into it, so what can you do? I just wish they seemed more grateful.
“While I like my job, there are some downsides. For example, customers can be really rude. I’ve had people complain if I’m a few seconds late with an order or refuse to say please or thank you for their food.
“It might not sound like a big deal, but I don’t think anyone has a clue how difficult it is to work in the food industry until they’re behind the counter themselves. Admittedly, the job can get a bit boring when it’s slow – when that happens, I tend to zone out and think of the money I’m making!
“I try to save around $20 [£15] a week from my wages, so I can travel around Europe one day with my boyfriend, who I met at work. So far I’ve got nearly $2,630 [£2,000].
“I don’t know how long I’ll have this job, but it’s definitely not a long-term thing. I want to be a doctor one day, so I’ll give up when I go to medical school in the next year or so. But for now I’m super-grateful, because it’s given me so much freedom.”
'I WORK SO I CAN GO BACK TO SCHOOL ONE DAY'
GHANA: Edem Amoako
- From: Accra, Ghana
- Job: Teaching assistant
- Hours: 50-60 a week
- Wage: £5.75 a week
“In Ghana, a good education is expensive. I started working as a teaching assistant at the local primary school when I was 15 so I could save up to go to senior school, which will cost up to 1,000 cedi [£150] a year.
“Then I want to go to university to study law, which will mean paying an entrance fee of 6,532 cedi [£1,000]. Unfortunately, my parents can’t afford to help me – my dad Marcus, 61, works as a carpenter, but our family doesn’t have much money. At home I share a bedroom with my brother Samuel, 21, while my mum Comfort, 58, and my dad sleep in the large hallway outside.
“My job was easy to get, as I just needed a certificate to say I’d completed my junior education. I think that’s why a lot of girls my age end up working in schools to make ends meet.
“I do 12-hour shifts starting at 6am, mostly helping the children with their work and taking pressure off the teacher by keeping them in line. It’s tiring, but I do love being with the kids – it’s a nice environment, and by teaching them I’m still learning and improving my own education.
“I try to get as many shifts as I can, but there’s not enough work for me to do it every day. So far I’ve only managed to save 1,000 cedi [£150], as I also have to pay for basics such as food and clothes.
“Of course there are days when I wish I didn’t have to work so I could just enjoy my childhood and teens, but there’s no point in dwelling on it.
“I just keep telling myself that my job is a stopgap until I’ve saved up enough to return to school, and focusing on the fact that every penny I earn will help me achieve my goal of becoming a lawyer one day.
“Going to university will mean I have to move away from my home, but it will all be worth it when I graduate six years later. Then I’ll be able to buy my family whatever they need.”
'I work to party, not to save'
CHILE: Camila Cuicui
- Age: 19
- From: Santiago, Chile
- Job: Bag packer
- Hours: 21 a week
- Wage: £67.50 a week
“I’ve been working part-time in my local supermarket since April last year. My job is to put customers’ shopping into bags as they check out – pretty basic! I don’t mind, though, as I’d rather be doing this than working in a bar like some of my friends, which sounds really stressful.
“At the moment I make around 237,000 pesos [£270] a month working roughly 21 hours a week. That’s on top of studying human resources at college from 8.30am to 1pm, Monday to Friday.
“If I’m not at the supermarket, I’ll do more schoolwork in the afternoons, which means I’m always on the go. My priority is always making my classes, and I’d never let my job get in the way of that. I just have to be really organised and make sure my shifts never clash with college and that I always have enough time for my studies.
I met my boyfriend Andy, 19, at the supermarket as he works there part-time too, though I can’t see myself lasting much longer in this job.
“We used to get tips from customers to boost our pay, but they’ve become quite bad since the plastic bag charge came into force as now people bring their own bags and pack them themselves.
At home I live with my mum Pamela, 41, dad Enrique, 45, and younger brother Nicolas, 16. He doesn’t have to work yet as he’s still at secondary school. I know my parents are proud that I have a part-time job and feel it’s a really positive thing as it’s given me a sense of responsibility. Even so, I tend to spend my wages rather than save!
I like to go out dancing and eat fast food as I think it’s more important to have fun than to save for a rainy day. Santiago is really busy and vibrant, and much more developed than other cities in South America.
“We have loads of clothes shops and great technology, plus a beach only a two-hour drive away, so my friends and I have a ‘work hard, play hard’ attitude. Most of them have jobs too, so it means we can all afford to have fun together.”
'Waitressing has boosted my self-esteem'
GREAT BRITAIN: Dani Holland
- Age: 18
- From: Conwy, Wales
- Job: Waitress
- Hours: 5 a week
- Wage: £27.50 a week
“My parents encouraged me to get a part-time job as they wanted me to learn about independence and the value of money, so I started working as a waitress at a local golf club almost two years ago.
“I serve food and drinks and set up rooms for functions, always making sure our customers are happy. Most of my friends work part-time as well – I don’t think any of us would choose not to, as it would be awful not having our own money. I’m learning to drive and paying for the lessons myself, which are £24 an hour, so my wages have been invaluable. Any cash I have left over goes on clothes shopping and weekends away with my mates.
“During the summer and other school holidays I try to fit in a lot more hours, but in the winter the club isn’t very busy so I hardly work at all. I’m lucky because my colleagues and our customers are all really friendly.
“ I’m quite quiet and it can take time for me to feel comfortable and confident, but interacting with strangers on a daily basis has helped bring me out of my shell and I think this job has boosted my self-esteem.
While my dad Leigh, 40, didn’t have a job as a teen, my mum Tamsin, 35, worked a lot. Now my 15-year-old sister Georgia has started working as a waitress, too.
Juggling a job with A levels and a social life can be a real struggle sometimes, especially as nowadays there’s so much pressure on girls my age to do well academically and get a decent job. I really want to go to university next year so I can work towards a good career.
I always try my best to focus on school during the week and then on work and seeing friends at weekends. If I stop and think about it I realise it’s a lot to fit in, but I’ve become used to it.
“ Plus, it’s good for teens to develop an understanding of work/life balance, as there’s certainly no escaping it when you’re older – especially if you’re a woman.”
'I've been cleaning toilets since I was 13'
INDIA: Anjali Kumari
- Age: 16
- From: Meerut, India
- Job: Manual scavenger
- Hours: 50 a week
- Wage: 65p a week
“Four years ago, my life changed overnight when I lost my father Mukesh, 40. He and my mother Rekha, 35, both worked cleaning sewers, and I always thought that if I studied hard and got a well-paying job in computer science, they’d be able to stop.
“But when my dad died after getting an infection from the dirty gases he was exposed to, I had to drop out of school to work with my mum so we could afford food.
“Everyday, morning till evening, we clean, carry and dispose of human excrement from the dry toilets and sewers of 10 houses nearby. We often have to use very basic tools such as buckets, brooms and baskets.
“I have seven younger siblings, and last year my mum made my sister Neha, 10, join us too. She still goes to school once a week, but I hope if we all work hard enough we’ll have enough money to send her back full-time in the next few years. I’d hate for her education to be ruined like mine.
“Between the three of us we earn 750 rupees [£8] a month, but some days we still don’t eat much – our only meal might be some plain roti – and my mum and I have to share clothes.
“I know other kids around the globe don’t like school, but I’d give anything to be able to go back. Doing this job is humiliating. I smell, and people avoid me on the street because of it, which is embarrassing. “But I have no choice, especially as my family is from the Dalit caste, known as the Untouchables. We’re considered the lowest caste of Indian society and forced to do the dirty jobs no one else wants to do.
“Mum says I will probably have to marry a cleaner as no one else will accept me, so I hope my future husband will be a kind man or good worker and I’ll be able to quit this job. Maybe my sister will do well in school and be able to save me. I cling to dreams like that because I hate the thought of cleaning sewers for the rest of my life.”
'My family think I shouldn't work because I'm a girl'
AFGHANISTAN: Shukuria Nazari
- Age: 16
- From: Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan
- Job: Sales assistant
- Hours: 32 a week
- Wage: 30p a week
“Women aren’t encouraged to work in Afghanistan as we follow very traditional values. It took a long time to persuade my parents to allow me, but they finally did because they could see how much I wanted to contribute towards the family, as we’re not well off.
“My job is a sales assistant at a shop selling handmade goods, and I do around 32 hours over six days, earning about 30 Afghanis [30p] a week. Then I go to college in the evenings. It’s hard, but I want to save money for my family and education. I’m lucky to have any sort of job, as so many people are out of work because the country is recovering from years of war.
“The store feels safe as it’s in a women’s-only market. However, Afghanistan is a dangerous place, so we’re never totally protected. Once, a suicide bomber blew himself up in front of our market, but thankfully we all escaped unharmed.
“A good day at work is when I feel we’ve made a decent number of sales, especially as my boss will give me more money as a reward. Of course, it means that when people don’t come in and spend, I can end up feeling deflated.
“I’ve got four younger brothers and sisters, but I don’t think I’d want them to work like me.
“Not because it’s awful but because when a child works it’s a sign the family is struggling for money, and I don’t want my parents to be judged any more than they are. Plus, I want my siblings to focus solely on school and enjoy themselves.
“My dream is to study and work in the US one day so I can make a good salary, although I’m still deciding what career I would like.
“For now, I’m pretty happy doing the work I do, as I know it’s helping my family out. That’s a great feeling.”
'I know I'm lucky to work by choice'
FRANCE: Céline Ernest
- Age: 18
- From: Laguiole, France
- Job: Chambermaid
- Hours: 35 aweek
- Wage: £221 a week
“For the last two summers I’ve worked as a chambermaid in a boutique hotel. It’s normal in France for girls my age to have a summer job, although some of my friends don’t as they have rich parents.
“Mine separated five years ago, and money was tight for a while.
“At the height of the season the hotel can get really busy. I’m on my feet the whole time, and if I don’t finish all of my tasks within my working hours I have to carry on until they’re done.
“It’s exhausting, but I’m glad to have this job as I’m desperate to be able to pay for driving lessons.
“ I live in a pretty sleepy part of France, where there’s not much to do. All my friends live at least half an hour away and it’s almost an hour’s drive to the nearest big city.
“I don’t work during the school year as I don’t have time, especially as I’m now studying for my baccalauréat (the equivalent to A levels). One day I hope to be a humanitarian, working with the needy.
“Living in France, I know how fortunate I am.
“I work during my summer holidays because I want financial independence, not because it’s a necessity for my family – and I know what a luxury that is.”
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