A wasted day thanks to Asda :(

katkim

charlie792 wrote: »

I had a similar thing a few weeks ago, applied for a job online, turned up at the magic interview thing...stuck some baloons together and was told there was no jobs avaliable we would be told if we were going to be interviewed again if anything came up...two weeks later I still hadn't heard and phoned them to be told I was on a waiting list if any jobs came up! I was not impressed why advertise jobs they don't even have

I really don't understand the practice of interviewing for jobs that don't exist. It's so odd. A few years ago when I was looking for work, I was invited for an interview by 3 different companies. Post interveiw, I found out that there wasn't actually a job, but a speculative interview to see 'what's out there'. I wasn't happy at the time because of the cost of travel getting there. Plus all the time researching the companies to make a good impression and nerves beforehand...

OP, I would write a letter saying highlighting the inconvenience and the forms/invites to interview should be clearer on the type of employment on offer.

Beautifulmess

MrsMalthouse wrote: »

Hi,
I applied for a job at Asda today and got invited to one of their 'Asda Magic' interviews. I was really excited and hopeful for the job. I purchased a new outfit for the interview (from Asda!) and really swatted up on my Asda knowledge!

I arrived and waited with ten other interviewees for 20 minutes. They then took us into a room and sat us around a big table. A lady appeared and introduced herself as the Asda people manager. After she had introduced herself, the first thing she proceeded to say was:

"You are all aware that this is a seasonal position aren't you?" We all looked at each other, baffled. I spoke up:

"That's not what it said on the online application..." She replied:

"Well SOME people didn't read the application properly-it says seasonal at the top of it." Again we looked around confusedly. A young man spoke up:
"It said PERMANENT on the application..." And we all nodded in agreement. She looked a bit flustered, looking at the other interviewers for help and replied:

"Well, it IS permanent-you would be working for 5 weeks until Xmas and then we will keep your name on file and get you back in Easter." :eek:

Well at that point, several of us had to leave the interview as we could not work like that-we needed full time, permanent work. Basically, I'm just posting this experience as I feel a bit misled. I have just checked the application and it does NOT say seasonal anywhere on it. After buying the clothes (Although I know they'll come in handy later) I feel like I've paid ASDA for the privilege of them messing me about! It cost me £4.10 on the bus just to get there and I'd say the whole debacle cost me about £40 in total but I thought it would be worth it...:(

I had something similar a few years ago, group of 20 people, team building and then they gave it to the uni student... pfft, not even bothering with those who had the experience. This uni student, lived at home and wanted extra money to hang out with friends more/drink/buy clothes... I needed the job to live

charlie792

katkim wrote: »

I really don't understand the practice of interviewing for jobs that don't exist. It's so odd. A few years ago when I was looking for work, I was invited for an interview by 3 different companies. Post interveiw, I found out that there wasn't actually a job, but a speculative interview to see 'what's out there'. I wasn't happy at the time because of the cost of travel getting there. Plus all the time researching the companies to make a good impression and nerves beforehand...

What's annoying me more than anything is my local ASDA keeps on (like every 3/4 weeks) re-advertising the same non-existent jobs....Guess they just want a huge database of students who will be lining up to work for them.....

welshmoneylover

charlie792 wrote: »

What's annoying me more than anything is my local ASDA keeps on (like every 3/4 weeks) re-advertising the same non-existent jobs....Guess they just want a huge database of students who will be lining up to work for them.....

Could be its a crap place to work and no one stays more than 5 mins

Unintentional

Most jobs around this time are temp jobs due to the xmas rush.

But as somebody said earlier. Temp jobs can turn into permanent jobs. I took a temp job at argos last year, now I'm permanent staff, have been on 2 management courses and can go further in the company should the oppurtunity arise.

People should stop being so picky and just take what little jobs are around now.

Middy

Talking about the Asda Magic from my experience. In the space of 2 years, I applied for 2 positions at two different stores. The first one we had to construct a structure out of marshmallows and wooden skewers and the 2nd one was blowing up balloons. I wasn't going to do any of these in my job. I work for another of the Big 4 and I've not done that yet. Nor have any colleagues that have been there for 20+ years....

As I can't blow up balloons for toffee, I had no chance. So I didn't get to the 2nd stage for the 2nd time due to my inability to blow up balloons. That has got to be the worst reason for not taking someone to the next stage of recruitment/getting the job.

Anyway if Asda have balloons in store, they are blown up by either helium or by a machine!

Middy

Beautifulmess wrote: »

I had something similar a few years ago, group of 20 people, team building and then they gave it to the uni student... pfft, not even bothering with those who had the experience. This uni student, lived at home and wanted extra money to hang out with friends more/drink/buy clothes... I needed the job to live

I hate that. Students aren't as flexible than non-students. Though some colleagues at my work aren't students and aren't flexible as have 2nd jobs etc. I am often asked at work, could I do x-y instead of a-b.

Also companies that recruit the younger people over the older ones, I bet they spend more time and money recruiting as the young ones don't last as long as the older ones. Out of the 12 that started on the same day as me, in summer 2008, there is only 3 of us still working for the store. One more works at a store closer to their uni.

If they took older candidates more seriously, they would be saving money in the long run.

liney

Students will take the job for what it is and probably won't leave if their hours are cut to a minimum, where as there are many people who without the magic 16 hours will leave straight away. They will also accept seasonal work ..

pimento

Middy wrote: »

Talking about the Asda Magic from my experience. In the space of 2 years, I applied for 2 positions at two different stores. The first one we had to construct a structure out of marshmallows and wooden skewers and the 2nd one was blowing up balloons. I wasn't going to do any of these in my job. I work for another of the Big 4 and I've not done that yet. Nor have any colleagues that have been there for 20+ years....

As I can't blow up balloons for toffee, I had no chance. So I didn't get to the 2nd stage for the 2nd time due to my inability to blow up balloons. That has got to be the worst reason for not taking someone to the next stage of recruitment/getting the job.

Anyway if Asda have balloons in store, they are blown up by either helium or by a machine!

I think you've missed the point completely. The job interview isn't to prove that you can blow up a balloon, it's so that Asda can see how you deal with unexpected requests and how you work within a team.
If you can't see that, the job probably isn't for you.

pimento

My student son is happy. He has a huge student debt already and still needs to buy food and stuff. He worked out that arranging ballons within a group showed the interviewers at Asda that he was good in a team and his previous job in the local Co-Op may have given him the edge over someone else, I don't know.

I hope it turns into a permanent job next year. He's free to work 25 hours a week around his lectures and is happy to work weekends, evenings and night shifts if asked. He doesn't have any children so there's n chance he'll call in because of childcare issues.

I can see why Asda like students.