How to progress in life?

Snoozle

DCFC79 wrote: »

you dotn need experience for retail let aone a 12k retail job

you might not always 'need' experience, but the reality is even in very poorly paid jobs, employers tend to ask for experience in a similar role. And sometimes they insist that it is paid experience too, so doing voluntary work or unpaid work just won't count.

Sadly its something that has been faced by generations of job hunters, although sadly with increased competition it can only get worse.

DCFC79

Snoozle wrote: »

you might not always 'need' experience, but the reality is even in very poorly paid jobs, employers tend to ask for experience in a similar role. And sometimes they insist that it is paid experience too, so doing voluntary work or unpaid work just won't count.

Sadly its something that has been faced by generations of job hunters, although sadly with increased competition it can only get worse.

not for the retail jobs ive seen advertised dont ask for experience in a similar, maybe higher positions eg supervisor etc

Snoozle

DCFC79 wrote: »

not for the retail jobs ive seen advertised dont ask for experience in a similar, maybe higher positions eg supervisor etc

well, I'm not saying that there are no retail jobs out there where experience is not needed, but I do know for definite that there are plenty of places that do ask for experience.

I remember applying for dozens of part time summer jobs when I was a student, shops, waitressing, the usual things and getting knocked back from every single one because I had no experience. I even remember one shop that advertised a vacancy for months and preferred to leave it unfilled than to take on someone with no experience - myself and several friends were all rejected from that one!

I mean, I started applying for part time jobs when I was 13 (it was legal in those days!) and even at that age I remember being asked to prove I had experience, it was laughable really, but upsetting all the same.

supa-girl

I think in order to get on you really need to focus on the positive and utilise every opportunity you get. Opportunities won't find you, you need to find them.

I left school with just A-Levels and ended up taking a crappy job in a call centre. Not what I wanted to do, spending all day quoting people for insurance for very little money BUT it was a big company and I saw it as a stepping stone. I sought out chances - offereing to cross train whenever I got a chance and offering to do extra duties without extra pay, such as coaching new starters.

The trick is to get yourself known by other people. Are there any jobs within the warehouse that yu fancy - supervisor, or a more technical role? Get to know the people who do those jobs and ask them how they got there. Some people would be very flattered to be your mentor and help you move on. Enthusiasm is rewarded in my experience.

I progressed at that company and then moved onto others and got reasonably high. I then took a career break to have a family and now find myself back to square one. Employers don't want to take me on the previous level I was at as I have no "recent" experience. It is frustrating when I know I could easily do the job and woud be an asset to them but I need to get a foot in the door. I have now accepted a position in a large company with a big operation locally. It is a lower grade and salary but the pospects and opportunities for career development are good. I intend to go in and make myself known from day 1.

A friend of mine did the same recently - she suggested that her company forge stronger charity links as this would be good advertising. She offered to set up a committee to meet at lunch time and organised a "launch" day when employees did various things to raise money for the charity. She also arranged for all the employees to take in their old clothes and a rep from the charity picked them up to sell in their charity shops (she got this idea from tv). She raised her profile within the compnay and was promoted with 3 months.

This is long, but the point is to think outside the box, make opportunities for yourself, work out where you want to go and make connections with the people who can get you there. It can be done, especially in this climate, where employers value people who are dynamic and have good ideas.

SG

cottyh24

If you're serious about setting up your own business there are organisations that can help you with this. I don't know where you live but I work for one that covers the North West area, giving business advice to people looking to set up their own business. Our advisors can provide help and support with everything from writing your business plan to sourcing funding. If you live in the North West I can give you our details.

If you are not in this area there may still be organisations that can help. You could take a look at the Business Link website. This has a step by step guide to starting a business. You could also take a look at the Princes Trust website - they help people under 30 with setting up businesses.

liberatrix

Check for your ideal job at the jobseeker's website of Directgov. Recently the have been offering part time train-on-the-job for people between 18-25 years old.

getmore4less

What sort of IT stuff did you do

Would one of the companies that does IT for warehousing be an angle.

QA is often a way in to the IT world, and industry knowledge is often of interest.

MrChandlerBing

Russe11 wrote: »

I guess you need to look at entry level IT jobs, then do that for a couple of years.

I not sure theres all that many of these sort of jobs about though, to many graduates, so those that can't get on a graduate scheme fight over the entry level jobs?

Here is the problem, there are no entry level IT jobs anymore. There may be jobs advertised as entry level, but why take someone on with few qualifications when you can have someone with a degree and a few years experience.

slugger09

Hi mate, I am in a similar position, at 16 I started working in factories/warehouses, I realised I hate it and put myself through a few Open Uni courses in IT, I suppose I've now got the equivilent of a BTEC in IT and a few RSA qualification, more than enough to get me onto the bottom ladder of data entry or something, and to be honest I'd be more than happy with that but have never been able to get anywhere worth while, I did get 2 months work experience repairing PC's for a small local retailer before he went bust. I'm now into year 5 in my current job in a factory and I hate it with a passion, like you i'd love to start out on my own and I would if I had the funds, but the problem with low paid work is by the time you paid out for living etc there is nothing left, and a loan is a no go with things as they are at the moment. I've found in my 14 odd years in this environment progressing anywhere is very difficult, it may sound rude but I don't know what other way to put it, brown nosing seems to be the only way to progress in these low paid environments, how good a worker you are seem irrelevant.

Not much help to you I know, but I do have an idea as to what your going through.

fedster

Thanks for all the help guys it has been taken on board,i did mostly coding at Uni, as for the Entry level jobs i did spot 1 a year ago, i think it was called Microsoft Gold or something, they actually wanted me to pay for a course, and if i passed they would guarantee me a job!!!

It has to be said Slugger is absolutely correct, i have seen people who can barely speak English, become supervisors, yet people who work hard and are well spoken find it extremly hard.

I think i have just opened my eyes recently, and can see that there are many people who are in jobs, who i and others,can probarly do a better job, but because thy have a Degree or have connections, they are chosen ahead, regardless of their ability at the actual job, it aint fair, but i suppose life isnt fair.