Cant find a retail Job

score

Hi
I am a student in London looking for part time employment. I have been looking before the summer Holidays had started to no avail. It is no coming up to Christmas and still no phone calls or anything.
I have applied in stores handing in CV and still don't get a response
I have education but lack some experience in the work place which I am trying to build. But how can I if no one bothers give me a chance.
I have applied for jobs online using cover letters and cv. And recently have redesigned my cv with the Reed website. with the free password I received so saved me £10.
It is getting frustrating as I don’t receive any call. When I do ask in stores for vacancies some stuff are helpful whilst others are up tight.
I don't have any criminal records. Yet others whom do seem to get jobs as though it is a badge of honour to them.
Annoying was one case when I applied in Morrisions recently after hearing over the Tannoy in store that there were vacancies. Yet after applying I received a letter stating there there were no vacancies in store. Then why bother have me fill in the application form. I even have applied to macdonalds and got declined.
I even did the asda assessment online and got declined
I have done Boots and get the message sorry you have missed out. So having filled over 10 vacancines I get this message. So declined along with Next
It's as though I have a black marker on my name
I am debating weather to do the SIA course even though it costs alot of money as it seems as that you can get a job regardless of your education or with no English. But again I am not guaranteed a position being in security as I would have no experience
It is getting frustrating; I suppose the only place I have got to hand in a cv is the drug dealers on the street.
Sorry if this is longwinded but I am frustrated and with no results at the end of each day.
I put in effort and yet I don’t receive any results back in return. Is going onto Job seekers allowance the way to make a living after education. I am not on this but I seem it to be inevitable.

bluenoseam

You're a student - therefore not 100% flexible, which is what places are looking for these days, it's nothing personal, but there will be someone who's capable of coming in for any shift any time which as a student you can't do.

MrsManda

Have you searched/applied for jobs via your university's job shop?

Are you just looking for shop assistant roles or expanding to other roles in retail such as warehouse packing, bar work, waiting tables, kitchen hand etc...? Events promoting, Leafleting, bill board carrying can be options in London.

Just signing up to an agency is often not enough, it can be worth calling the office every day and asking if they have anything you may be suitable for - they'll be a lot of people on their books so if you chase them rather than expecting them to chase you you may get better luck.

I wouldn't bother with the SIA licence unless it's something you really want to do as you are still likely to find it difficult to get the experience.

What are you studying?

Have you spoken to your careers service to get them to look over your CV to see if there's anything they can suggest?

hcb42

try the decent hotels - 4star 5 star.

DCFC79

bluenoseam wrote: »

You're a student - therefore not 100% flexible, which is what places are looking for these days, it's nothing personal, but there will be someone who's capable of coming in for any shift any time which as a student you can't do.

im was a student once and got my first ever job when in the sixth form but it meant working 2 late nights a week and the weekend, but times have changed so maybe employers are looking for staff who are flexible.

OP have you tried sainsburys website for jobs, asda.com or asda jobs, direct.gov and choose shop worker, not sure if jobs working at iceland are advertised on they're site but ask in store, you tried waitrose jobs

Oldernotwiser

If your written applications and CV are on a par with your post, then I'm not surprised that you're not getting jobs. The very least that employers would expect from HE students is a decent standard of written English.

bluenoseam

DCFC79 - i remember getting a job when i was a student, but it's also true that at the time we weren't in a recession & unemployment wasn't rapidly approaching 3m, i dare say there are jobs suitable for students out there, but when the market is such that someone is willing & able to do it, it's a lot more difficult to find them now than it was even 5 years ago.

DCFC79

bluenoseam wrote: »

DCFC79 - i remember getting a job when i was a student, but it's also true that at the time we weren't in a recession & unemployment wasn't rapidly approaching 3m, i dare say there are jobs suitable for students out there, but when the market is such that someone is willing & able to do it, it's a lot more difficult to find them now than it was even 5 years ago.

yes i accept its a different market now hence why i said "but times have changed so maybe employers are looking for staff who are flexible".

Premier_2

score wrote: »

Hi
I am a student in London looking for part time employment.

You, and a quarter of a million others likewise, I guess...

score wrote: »

I have been looking before the summer Holidays had started to no avail. It is no coming up to Christmas and still no phone calls or anything.

Well make some!
If a shop is looking for someone (and many are right now!), why should they waste their time chasing someone when there's usually a queue at the door continually asking

score wrote: »

I have applied in stores handing in CV and still don't get a response

If you want a job in a shop, take a CV by all means, but go there in person and sell yourself.
Why would a shop take you on to sell their goods if you can't even sell yourself to them. They want to see you, they want to see you can sell.
If they have no jobs today, go back tomorrow and ask again. Expect to get lots of "no, not today thanks" but shops do look for staff frequently, and you need to be in their sight on the day they decide to hire, not a piece of paper at the bottom of 100 other pieces of paper stuffed in a drawer.

score wrote: »

I have education

Then why not use it? What education do you need to stack shelves? That's why competition is tough. Use your education to apply for jobs that those without cannot even hope of getting.

score wrote: »

but lack some experience in the work place which I am trying to build.

Exactly. Get a job in the field you will use your education in. Whilst a job is better than none, if its a job in the field you ultimately want to work in, then the experience it brings will leave you head & shoulders above the competition with no such relevant experience.

score wrote: »

But how can I if no one bothers give me a chance.

Everyone who has a job, was given a chance once. You will get that chance one day, but make sure you are there the day the offers are open, not sit playing your Xbox or whatever hoping they will come looking for you. They don't need to when there is a queue of more passionate people at their door everyday.

score wrote: »

I have applied for jobs online using cover letters and cv.

Turn off the computer, get yourself uptown, buy yourself some decent clobber, and some really good walking shoes ... and then put them to use for what they were designed for.

score wrote: »

And recently have redesigned my cv with the Reed website. with the free password I received so saved me £10.

That;s good. Leave a CV with the shops, but go back tomorrow, the next day and the next day. Eventually you will be there the day they need someone, and if you show passion, perhaps they will take you on rather than wasting their money phoning through the 100+ CV's they probably have stuffed in a drawer.

score wrote: »

It is getting frustrating as I don’t receive any call. When I do ask in stores for vacancies some stuff are helpful whilst others are up tight.

Yes, job hunting is frustrating ... but not as frustrating as some retail customers can be. Are you sure this is the right field of work for you? As you have found competition is tough. Why not choose something more select where the delinquents will not even get a look in?

score wrote: »

I don't have any criminal records. Yet others whom do seem to get jobs as though it is a badge of honour to them.

Perhaps those ex-cons were a bit more pro-active than you sitting at home waiting for the job offers to come flooding in?

score wrote: »

Annoying was one case when I applied in Morrisions recently after hearing over the Tannoy in store that there were vacancies. Yet after applying I received a letter stating there there were no vacancies in store. Then why bother have me fill in the application form.

You have to kiss of load of frogs to find the Prince.

score wrote: »

I even have applied to macdonalds and got declined.
I even did the asda assessment online and got declined
I have done Boots and get the message sorry you have missed out. So having filled over 10 vacancines I get this message. So declined along with Next

Did you seek feedback from all these potential employers who were actively seeking employees? Why reason did they give for them not wanting you? It's tough out there, I know, but if you know where you are going wrong, perhaps you can do something about it ... even if that means you are not suited to retail work. From the comments above, you see even I think you will struggle in retail (and I don't even work in that field)

score wrote: »

It's as though I have a black marker on my name

Not at all. You either are not showing the required drive and passion for what you are applying for, or are simply applying for the wrong type of work. Use the skills & education you have to get ahead of those who don't have yours skills & education.
And then be pro-active seeking a job in that field.

score wrote: »

I am debating weather to do the SIA course even though it costs alot of money as it seems as that you can get a job regardless of your education or with no English. But again I am not guaranteed a position being in security as I would have no experience

You said you have education. You don't need more, you just need to use the education you have to get the skilled jobs in that field.

It is getting frustrating; I suppose the only place I have got to hand in a cv is the drug dealers on the street.
Sorry if this is longwinded but I am frustrated and with no results at the end of each day.
I put in effort and yet I don’t receive any results back in return. Is going onto Job seekers allowance the way to make a living after education. I am not on this but I seem it to be inevitable.

It is frustrating job seeking I am fully aware, but you have not demonstrated any effort other than printing off CV after CV.
Get yourself out there and in front of potential employers. Bang on their doors and do not accept no until you have at least had a chance to sell yourself to them.
If you know they are actively recruiting and they don't give you the job, ask them why. Don't try & force them into giving you a job, their mind will already be made up, but find out why and learn from that criticism when applying at the next door.
Also, if you know the employer is looking for someone now, make sure your CV is tailored to that specific opportunity with that specific employer ... but hopefully you will already have talked your way into the job before you have the chance to leave a CV.

If they are not actively recruiting, and you can't talk them into taking you on today, then leave a CV by all means, but find out when they will be actively seeking someone ... and make sure you are there bright & early that day to be first in the queue.

If they won't say when they will be looking, then go back tomorrow, next week, whenever ... don't think they will come crawling to you. Show some passion, some spunk, some get up and go ... that is what employers are seeking.