We are NOT looking for an easy option

TODAY’S teenagers believe they should have their cake and eat it. A long-term study showed college-leavers think they deserve jobs with big salaries, status and plenty of leisure time - without having to put in the hours.

Teens value leisure time more highly than those of previous decades and are more likely to want jobs with an easy pace, no overtime and lots of holidays.

Tesco boss Lucy Neville-Rolfe — on £1 million a year — backed the survey by telling a packed conference the majority of school-leavers had an ‘attitude problem’ and lacked basic literacy and numeracy skills.

Do Oldham teenagers agree? DAWN MARSDEN spoke to students at Oldham Sixth Form College.

Chris Beckenham (17) said the amount of work that went into A-Levels was often underestimated.

He added: “I do a massive amount of work and there is so much revision and lots of studying to do.

“I want to do engineering and chemistry at university but I have not decided what kind of job I want later in life yet.

“I think the survey is unfair. I want a career that I can build on not just a way of making money.”

Kamraan Akhtar (17) hopes to be a barrister and is already putting in extra hours to make sure he lands his dream job.

He said: “I am doing a Pathways to Law course at Manchester University which gives me valuable experience and an insight into my future career. Being a barrister certainly won’t be an easy career but I am prepared to put the work in to achieve the things I want.”

Iltaf Mohammed (16) wants to study medicine and says the profession is getting tougher to break into.

He added: “They keep raising the bar for university places to study medicine so it is tough.

“The subjects you have to study are really time-consuming and there is lots of work to do so I think the survey is unfair to label all college leavers in the same way. Some of us are willing to work hard to get to where we want to be. Young people should be encouraged not criticised.”

Michael Power (18), who wants to be a science teacher, said: “I see my future career as something I will have to study hard for and build upon.

“It certainly won’t just be something I do to put money in my pocket. The survey is unfair to the teenagers who do work hard at college to get the grades they need.”

Sam Lockley (18) plans to study law and believes teenagers often get stereotyped unfairly.

He said: “I think the majority of people my age realised that you have to work hard to achieve your goals but some people do doss around at college and university. I am prepared to put the hours in because it is what I want to do.”

Sonia Ayaz (19) believes young people today want instant gratification without having to work hard for it.

She added: “It depends on your family. Mine encourage me to work hard but ultimately you can only achieve things yourself.

“You have to work hard and be motivated. I want to study fashion production and business and I am doing lots of work experience and voluntary work to build up my portfolio. The hard graft will pay off in later life.”