Intrigued by long-running advert in Guardian: Home help needed for female writer...

jap200

I am intrigued by a job advert that I happen to notice in the job section of the Saturday Guardian every week. The same advert has been running for years:

HOME HELPS NEEDED BY FEMALE WRITER IN NOTTING HILL GATE
Employer is slightly disabled.
Several mornings during weekdays.
£10.00 per hour. Housework, shopping, and whatever comes up. OVer-qualified people welcomed. A sense of humour helps and you'll need to be reliable, practical, keenly helpful and able to commit to a minimum of 6 months.
References required.
Email (no attachments please) with covering letter and CV including full contact details.
[EMAIL="nottinghillhelp@tisali.co.uk"]nottinghillhelp@tisali.co.uk[/EMAIL]

I've done a google search and all I can find is people asking the same questions as me:

Why has this same advert been running for years?
What is this all about?
Is it a 'front' for something?
Why are attachments not allowed (how else could you send your CV?)
Why is the word 'reliable' in bold?

Anyone feel like sending in an application to see what happens?

heretolearn_2

I've noticed it as well and assumed it's either a fake vacancy by an agency recruiting carers, or some sort of con. It's been in there week after week for years. Either that or she is a nightmare to work for and everyone walks out after a few days :rotfl:

Has anyone ever applied?

InsideInsurance

There was a blog by someone who applied for every job advertised in the Guardian for 1 year (http://guardianwork.blogspot.com/2007_10_23_archive.html )

Whilst it notes that he applied for the role I never traced a response to this application

sweaty_betty

I've often thought the same. I decided that the employer must be a complete nightmare to work for if she keeps having to advertise!

jap200

Surely the cost of advertising week after week in a National newspaper must be enormous - there must be something going on!

Edit: just found the prices here: http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-files/Guardian/documents/2011/04/19/GuarJobs_Print-OnlineRates_April2011.pdf

The minimum cost for the 'General' job section on Saturday would seem to be £90. That's equivalent to paying someone for 9 hours work at the rate they are advertising. The plot thickens....

Jarndyce

Well there's only one sure fire way to find out! Anyone going to volunteer to be a guinea pig?

jap200

I'd be willing to give it a go - although I live a long way from central London, so will have to make up a ficticious address - come to think of it, everything should be ficticious in case it is really dodgy. How are you supposed to send a CV and covering letter without attachments?

Edit: just seen your post emsywoo123. Let's both do it and compare results. What's the betting that we don't get a reply though?

emsywoo123

jap200 wrote: »

Edit: just seen your post emsywoo123. Let's both do it and compare results. What's the betting that we don't get a reply though?

Oh well that would be annoying :rotfl:

Sent from one of my fake (but very genuine sounding!!) email accounts!

InsideInsurance

Only problem is if they respond by phone or letter rather than email then we will never know

an9i77

I'm intrigued. Thanks gineau pigs -I await an update with baited breath

Justicia

jap200 wrote: »

The minimum cost for the 'General' job section on Saturday would seem to be £90. That's equivalent to paying someone for 9 hours work at the rate they are advertising. The plot thickens....

If the advert has been placed regularly "for years," then surely the advertiser would be paying a LARGELY reduced fee by now!!!

Will be subscribing to this thread with interest