Strange 'Interview' - Setting up their shop.

Charityworker

I went for an interview a couple of years ago for a charity administrator booking out community cars who take the elderly and with disabilities shopping and to the hospital etc etc. They gave me a 1 day trial where I was there from 8.30am to 5.30pm and the phones were going non stop. I didn't even have time to have a lunch break or a drink and only just had time to run to the loo and back a few times. At the end of a very busy day they told me I didn't have the job even though I only made 1 small mistake all day - not bad for being thrown into a busy deep end. Anyway I found out later that their usual 2 telephone operators were both off on long term sick and they wanted someone to fill their place. They "interviewed" someone different each day for 2 weeks until they came back. If it were a normal company I would have written to them demanding to be paid for the 9 hours work but as it was a charity I let them off.

blossomhill_2

Ooooh that's terrible - were you covered by their insurance if you had been injured "on duty" - did they in fact have any insurance?
Did they do a risk assessment on the manual handling involved? I could go on but think you should just ... run away

getmore4less

On day one of these trial you pump doubt into the ohers,

its got to be a scam etc saying you won't come back.

only issue one of the "interviewees" might be a plant.

at eas that way you reduce the competition for the job if there is one.

See how many turn up day two and either decide to stay, negotiate new terms it pay for the rest of the trial, get hired and paid, or walk.

shaddix

Thank you for all the replies.

I went back today and I think there were 3 others that didn't turn up.

Anyway, I sort of got a job, but didn't at the same time. They hired a couple of the others that knew nothing about the products they sell. My offer of a job is to go back the next few days to finish up the shop, and then I get three hours for four weeks and that's it.. They called me into the back and gave me £50 for working 15.5 hours over the past two days.

Feel pretty disillusioned with it all so I'm unsure about what to do.

Just to add, in response to who asked (sorry, forgot your username whilst writing this).. I didn't get interviewed at all. They didn't ask me a single question.

naiveme

shaddix wrote: »

Thank you for all the replies.

I went back today and I think there were 3 others that didn't turn up.

Anyway, I sort of got a job, but didn't at the same time. They hired a couple of the others that knew nothing about the products they sell. My offer of a job is to go back the next few days to finish up the shop, and then I get three hours for four weeks and that's it.. They called me into the back and gave me £50 for working 15.5 hours over the past two days.

Feel pretty disillusioned with it all so I'm unsure about what to do.

Just to add, in response to who asked (sorry, forgot your username whilst writing this).. I didn't get interviewed at all. They didn't ask me a single question.

Sorry to hear that Shaddix. It is an ethical way to "interview" people. However, if I was in your shoes I'd take what they have offered and find something else at the same time.
Will they pay at the very least the minimum wage for the next 4 weeks?
Personally, if they don't, then I'd certainly walk away but it really depends on your circumstances.
Good Luck (don't despair - every cloud has a silver lining!)

Lizling

I'd work those few hours if you need the job that badly, then at the end I'd do everything I could to get at least minimum wage for the 'interview'.

Give the Pay and Work Rights Helpline a ring on 0800 917 2368. I got the number from Directgov. I don't know what your rights are when you're not actually an employee, but if you've got the time, it's worth looking into. Generally, if you're doing proper work (which you were) then you need to be paid at least minimum wage.

LadyMissA

shaddix wrote: »

Thank you for all the replies.

I went back today and I think there were 3 others that didn't turn up.

Anyway, I sort of got a job, but didn't at the same time. They hired a couple of the others that knew nothing about the products they sell. My offer of a job is to go back the next few days to finish up the shop, and then I get three hours for four weeks and that's it.. They called me into the back and gave me £50 for working 15.5 hours over the past two days.

Feel pretty disillusioned with it all so I'm unsure about what to do.

Just to add, in response to who asked (sorry, forgot your username whilst writing this).. I didn't get interviewed at all. They didn't ask me a single question.

It was me : so if they never asked you anything at all how do they know stuff like references, criminal records, experience etc?

If they are only giving you 3 hrs a week for 4 weeks it's not worth it, is it?

Idiophreak

shaddix wrote: »

Thank you for all the replies.

I went back today and I think there were 3 others that didn't turn up.

Anyway, I sort of got a job, but didn't at the same time. They hired a couple of the others that knew nothing about the products they sell. My offer of a job is to go back the next few days to finish up the shop, and then I get three hours for four weeks and that's it.. They called me into the back and gave me £50 for working 15.5 hours over the past two days.

Feel pretty disillusioned with it all so I'm unsure about what to do.

Just to add, in response to who asked (sorry, forgot your username whilst writing this).. I didn't get interviewed at all. They didn't ask me a single question.

Look on the bright side....You're £50 up on where you'd otherwise have been - and have a little more life experience

stacey4415c

I did do something like this but it was after an interview, and i got paid for it (i think).