Girls and boys all over the UK are now leaving school and moving onto sixth form and college to continue with their education. After a torturous, hard working two years of GCSE exams, these students are now into their early years of adulthood and preparing themselves for their first year of A- levels. Some will even start job hunting. However, will getting a paid job be harder for students of this generation than the last? The schools have tried preparing their students for the big wide world but will that be enough for them, especially considering the economic and financial problems that have recently crashed down on the UK?

I asked 16 year old student, Jamilah Jahi, starting Sixth Form College this year what she thought on the matter.

“Because I am not entitled to EMA (Education Maintenance Allowance) I’d like to have a Saturday job but my age is an obstacle and in a way so is the fact that I’m still attending school. I’m not sure if I’d be able to handle college as well as a job at the moment.”

Students are constantly faced with this dilemma when it comes to getting a job. They will often be busy studying, while still trying to hold onto what they can of their social life. Although at the same time a huge number of young adults crave independence and the satisfaction of earning their own money instead of feeding off the bank of mum and dad.

With this overwhelmingly busy lifestyle students may feel more inclined to drop out of school completely or take desperate measures to get a job. Statistics show that 25% of job applicants from state schools are more likely to feel the need to lie on their CVs. Over the last three years candidates lying on their CVs have reached its highest level.

After years of education, when a student leaves school with good grades and qualifications they expect to be rewarded by finding a good job without too much trouble. However, university loans must be paid and moving out of family homes are usually what’s on the mind of these young adults. But without a job how are any of them going to be able to deal with the strain of adulthood?