It’s a familiar story: You’re ready to earn, learn, and take your first step into the working world. You apply for dozens of summer jobs—only to hear the same thing over and over.
“You don’t have enough experience.”
The recent BBC report (6 July 2025) highlights just how widespread this issue has become. For many young people across the UK, finding part-time or seasonal work feels like an impossible challenge.
But it doesn’t have to be.
The Experience Paradox: Why First Jobs Feel Out of Reach
According to the Office for National Statistics, employment among 16–17-year-olds has dropped dramatically since the 1990s.
- In the early 2000s, over 35% of teens were working while studying.
- By 2024, fewer than 20% had a job during summer.
Several factors fuel this trend:
- More competition: Online applications mean more candidates per vacancy.
- Rising costs: Higher minimum wages and national insurance contributions have made businesses cautious about hiring young people.
- The skills gap: Many employers expect applicants to already have specific experience, even for entry-level roles.
The result? A cycle that feels impossible to break.
Why Skills Matter More Than Ever
While experience is often listed as “required,” research shows that employers prioritise transferable skills and mindset. A 2019 report from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) found that:
- 82% of employers value attitude and aptitude over direct work experience.
- Communication, problem-solving, and resilience are among the top traits they seek.
This means young jobseekers need support to:
✅ Recognise their existing strengths—whether from volunteering, sport, or school projects
✅ Understand how to present those strengths confidently in CVs and interviews
✅ Build clarity about where they want to go next
A Different Approach to Building Confidence and Careers
It’s clear traditional routes—dropping off CVs, filling in job site applications—aren’t enough on their own.
Young people deserve practical, empowering guidance that goes beyond simply “getting a job.” They need resources that:
- Show them how to articulate their skills
- Provide strategies to stand out in crowded application pools
- Teach them to prepare professionally and with purpose
- Support their personal development, not just their employment prospects
That’s why our upcoming programme is designed to bridge this gap. Whether you’re applying for your first Saturday job or preparing for a graduate role, you’ll discover:
🔹 How to craft applications that resonate
🔹 How to build confidence for interviews
🔹 How to create a personal brand that reflects your strengths and aspirations
🔹 How to navigate early career decisions with clarity
Instead of feeling stuck in the experience paradox, you can take control of your path—and do it with purpose.
Young people shouldn’t have to face endless rejection just because no one has given them a chance yet. As the BBC recently highlighted, the lack of early work opportunities is creating a frustrating cycle that keeps potential talent on the side lines. But meaningful change is possible.
According to the Learning and Work Institute’s Youth Opportunity Index 2025, disparities in education and employment opportunities across England significantly impact young people’s prospects. The index reveals that access to quality work experiences and skills development varies widely by region, underscoring the need for targeted interventions.
At Easy Tiger Group, we’re committed to changing that. Our summer job opportunities (Admin assistant and Marketing Assistant) are designed to help students and early-career professionals build core employability skills, gain confidence for interviews, and discover their strengths in real-world settings—all within a supportive, structured environment.
If you’re a student seeking your first paid job, or a parent or mentor helping someone take that first step, this is your opportunity to join a movement that believes potential should always matter more than experience. Together, we can create a future where early careers begin with purpose, not pressure.