Work Trials - New Deal

Westlife2009

Hi everyone,

The other day i applied for a job at my local B&Q on the checkouts. Now my details were then stored on their system, and someone phoned me back the day after and said that they're trying to set up a new team of people dealing with trade customers, and would i be interested in an interview? Naturally i said yes.

I've had no experience dealing with trade customers, or anything to do with DIY. Only experience is in my 3 month stint at Sports Direct. It's not something i would have originally applied for, so obviously i don't know whether the job is going to be something i am going to enjoy or not.

I'm on this New Deal thing at the moment. I've been given a flyer that says 'Work Trials: Let me show you i'm the right person for the job', and it's got the name of my New Deal adviser on and contact details.

Work Trials obviously mean that if the job isn't right for you, there's no effect on your benefit if you leave the trial. Plus there's no cost to the employer, as alls you get paid while on the trial is your JSA benefit.

Would it be worth mentioning about this work trial thing at my interview tomorrow? Or would that look like i'm trying to push my way into the job?

Only reason i ask about this is because in June, i made the mistake of taking up a job, and in the end it wasn't what i thought it was going to be. Luckily my benefit wasn't affected.

rachnbri

Absolutely - that's exactly what work trials are for. A big employer like B&Q should already be aware of work trials but it wouldn't hurt to take a copy of the leaflet and let them know you're eligible.

Good luck.

Westlife2009

Hiya Rach,

Thanks very much for your reply. Will make sure i take the flyer with me.

About an hour to go now, and getting nervous

rachnbri

How did your interview go?

Westlife2009

Hiya Rach,

I answered the questions to the best of my ability, so here's hoping. They said i'll hear back from them no later than 31st Jan. Apparently they score your answers, and then they put everyone in a league table with the total score and the top people get offered the job.

Westlife2009

With these Work Trials, does anyone know whether it's worth mentioning to places when you phone them up, that you are eligible for a Work Trial, if they have any vacancies?

I wouldn't mind working at Tesco. We have one of them big Tesco Extra stores near us. What's the best thing to do? Phone them up and see if they have any vacancies? Fill in the application form and send it off? Or phone them up and enquire about if they do Work Trials?

Only reason is because my New Deal advisor said that Tesco may do Work Trials, but obv we don't know!