AIBU to think a travel adviser role is unsuitable at 16?

[thecuriouscat]

Hi all,
My DD (16) has recently completed her GCSEs and left school. She’s been desperate over the summer to get a part time job which I’ve supported her in, getting her to give her CV to local businesses and unfortunately not many callbacks. So she’s been looking online and applied for quite a few roles.

Today she came down and told us that she has a phone interview lined up for a Tui travel advisor. Needless to say we were unconvinced, because in what world would you trust a 16 year old to book holidays?? She said that they are accepting school leavers and it’s a part time role, but I still find it hard to believe. I told her to withdraw her application, but alas she won’t listen and she’s now in a strop with me and DH. So AIBU? I don’t think this role would be appropriate for her at her age, and TBH I’m surprised they offered to call back.

A friend of mine left school at 16 and went to work in a travel agents. What is your concern exactly?

Dont be daft. They will train her and she will follow a script.

Sounds like a good opportunity to me.

What’s the issue? Presume they will provide training.

She's not going to give personal advice. She'll search stuff on a computer and basically read it out.

I don't understand why you'd tell her to withdraw her application

I'm not surprised she's in a strop. It's not very encouraging.

If they've offered her a call back then they've offered her a call back.

She might not even be successful. Let her at least try

Christ this place gets worse.

Id be happy for my 16yo getting a call back etc.

If nothing else interview experience is great. Yabu it's up to the company to decide if she can do the role. And given the size of them I'm fairly confident they've recruited before and know what they are doing

I have a friend who started working as a travel agent at 16. She absolutely loves it and has had some amazing holidays from it as research trips. I don't know why you find it so unbelievable.

Why on earth would you tell her to withdraw her application?

she’ll get training and will follow a script that will give her some options at the end to discuss surely?

If they think a 16 year old school-leaver is unsuitable they wouldn’t be interviewing her surely? I don’t see what’s so inherently problematic about a 16 year old being trained up to book holidays at all anyway. A lot of 16 year olds are pretty good on the old internet! I don’t understand why you’ve told her to withdraw her application?! Do you think she’s particularly immature or incapable of the work once trained? She sounds really self-motivated and it’s so hard for young people to find jobs these days, why would you not encourage this?

No wonder we end up with failure to launch threads when we have idiot parents telling a school leaver to withdraw a job application, ffs
Well done to the lass for being pro active.

My 16 yo would be excellent at this, he's the person we turn to for anything that needs researching and booking online.

But even if she isn't, she needs your belief in her more than anything else, and denying her that is very harmful.

What a great job if she could get it. She could be the envy of her friends.

I am absolutely baffled by your response.

Yabvu.

Why do you know better than TUI? Surely they know what they are looking for? Taking people in at 16 and training them is surely a very common business model.

This has provoked a really strong reaction for me as I also have a school leaver looking for work. It's tough out there for young people. Your DD has been working hard to find a job and your negative reaction to her getting an interview must be really dispiriting.

Hi OP, I think you have just had the scales lifted from your eyes as to what modern customer service involves!!

They just want a nice sounding voice and the rest is a script.

BUT with the right attitude you can progress quickly in these environments if you are smart.

If she follows the script, sounds intelligent and mature, nobody is going to think “I don’t trust this 16 year old”, it’s unlikely customers will know her age.

As a parent your role is to be supportive, particularly given how proactive she is being. I would encourage her to go for it, if I were you.

😂😂

As someone said its probably easier for a 16yo to be a travel agent than it was 30 years ago. I wouldnt care what age someone was when im booking a holiday. But then I usually book online so never speak to an agent.

You told her to withdraw the application??! Yes, YABVVU.

Are you imagining they are just going to throw her into a customer facing role with zero training? I just don’t understand when you say you don’t think it’s appropriate.

You told her to withdraw her application? You're insane, and that's terrible patenting. She's been resourceful enough to actually get an interview with a proper company, not same shady fake charity, and you're trying to stop her for quite frankly, ridiculous reasons. Pull your head out of your arse and give her the encouragement she deserves.

Wow. Stop infantilising your daughter. At 16 , she’ll be fine with training etc. what the actual hell is wrong with you?

Are you quite well? Support your daughter.

Have you not heard of training?

When I finished my GCSEs a couple of girls left school and went to work at a travel agents. I don't see the issue here.