Why are companies so picky when choosing their employees?

flutterby_lil

They can be picky as there are that many people applying for each job considering the current climate.

InsideInsurance

westv wrote: »

Generally has it ever not been in the last 30 years or so?

I guess ultimately it depends on which market segment you look at. If you manage to match your skills to demand then certainly there are some areas where demand exceeds supply of skilled/experienced people.

There have been times when people working in the ".com" arena have been able to demand massive salaries. In the insurance industry people with skills required for gaining Solvency II compliance have been in massive demand up until a couple of months which has had a knock on effect for others in change/ project roles.

fiddlesticks

I have found that having a degree has been more of a hindrance than an advantage in job hunting, I've even had it used as a reason for letting me go.

Sharon87

Mrs_Arcanum wrote: »

DD is planning to get a part time job whilst she is in sixth form. This will give her valuable experience in the workplace rather than just relying on a "possible" future degree.

It's a good idea. I worked throughout college.

Employers like sixth form students for weekend jobs. They obviously have some intelligence, being in sixth form, they're willing to do the job, even if it's only for the money so they can get drunk. Also as they're mostly under 18 they cost less than 18+ or 21+.

I find the big supermarkets to be a bit picky if it's your first job though, you wont be put on tills due to the laws surrounding alcohol and tobacco.

vintagebrighton

Works both ways too. Those without a degree aren't going to get looked at unless they stand out in some other way.

My DS went to Uni but he always knew that there was no way I could help him financially. He did part time work throughout his studies at college (shoe shop, bakers, library) and from his second year at Uni. He worked for a company, for nothing at first but was then paid once he'd proved himself. He was employed in his chosen field as soon as he graduated. What made him stand out was that he had a degree but he'd also shown a willingness to get out there and do something practical.

It's hard out there but if you're willing to take chances you'll stand out and make yourself more employable.

Or you could always go self employed. Hard, but not as hard as being unemployed maybe.

Firefox1975

not so sure about going self employed!

what career could they start off self employed in with little or no business acumen?

I think they should lower their expectations (which have been inflated by schools and colleges) and just climb on the ladder at the bottom.

IrishGypsy

Firefox1975 wrote: »

not so sure about going self employed!

what career could they start off self employed in with little or no business acumen?

I think they should lower their expectations (which have been inflated by schools and colleges) and just climb on the ladder at the bottom.

They can apply some initative and apply current skills/knowledge with their hobbies or areas of interest. Look at anything THEY feel could improve said hobbie/area of interest and look at ways of solving those problems with little to no money and then sell that solution on. They can upskill online in many areas for free (for example, I'm currently upskilling myself in Excel using online tutorials and second hand books as it's a popular tool in my current work environment), and then apply those new skills in a pratcical manner.

Even if they don't make enough money initially, showing on your CV that you were a self-starter and can work unsupervised (and/or as part of a team successfully) is much more beneficial if someone's trying to stand out from the crowd.

Make the knowledge learned from the degree work for you. Show resiliance, determination and track results. This will garner experience that you can always take with you.

And as JohnathanH said above: "Show that you're a worker, a trier, a grafter, a learner, willing, loyal, have common sense, have something other than academic intelligence."

Thanks to the above I can take everything I've learned through the years and ensure that I always earn money one way or another. I've worked two jobs for the last 5 years because I've taken the initative to learn and apply that learning. I might never earn big bucks in a single job (unlike my wife who's a doctor), but I'll always earn something due to my wide range of experience and skills learned.

LizD_2

southerncritic wrote: »

That's absolutely correct. They want experience for everything, even if you're going to work at the local fast food chain, there's a high competition. These days you only get a job if you know someone who has some influence in the company you're applying for or if someone gave you a recommendation. I will look into some voluntary work or whatever. That's the only way I can embellish my resume. I agree with the guy above who said schools tell kids to carry on with their education because you're going to earn lots of money in the future. That's true! The good old days are long gone.:beer:

Sorry, but I disagree with that statement - I have never previously known anyone at the companies I've worked for, so how could I have got the jobs I've had over the years if that was true?

magenta22

This is my exact argument.

Degree or no degree it's doesn't really matter, the bottom line is how can ANY employer expect people to have experience when they are not prepared to give people the chance to learn the field?

I have had a number of interviews over the last few weeks and all of them have turned around and said, did a good interview, think that you can do the job really well and would fit in with the team but..... we had a candidate who had more experience in that field. So now not only do you have to have experience in the job itself, it seems that you also have had to have worked in that particular field - it's a joke.

I realise that employers a cutting back and perhaps they don't have so many resources to train people these days but it is even the case I am finding with temping work, if I don't have the experience then I can't do that assignment, whereas they always say that temping is a great way to learn new skills. I am yet to learn anything new!

I really don't get the ones that are advertising administration roles and offering a pittance for longer hours and want a degree of some sort.