Getting a basic unskilled job?

falko89

Obviously I'd want a job I am skilled in, but I'd be happy to take a basic unskilled role until something better came along but can't find anything, Checking the job centre I get this a pretty crappy selection at best but all require previous experience. I recently applied for a supermarket but it got 800 applicants, and the new recruits all seemed to be students so a shop/supermarket is out the window as I am seen as to old being 31. So where are all the basic jobs at? Let me into the secret please:(

heretolearn_2

Have you tried some of the agencies that specialise in this type of work, not just the ones that do office jobs? I see plenty of agency ads for litter pickers/leaf sweepers/street sweeper type work near me. also industrial agencies can be good, temping in factories/laundries, I did some work through those years ago, you don't need any experience but what they do need is people who are reliable and sensible, so being that little bit older might be an advantage.

As you are that bit older and have skills/previous experience, it's going to be blindingly obvious to any employer with a basic job that you will only be taking it for as short a time as possible while you look for a 'real job', so you aren't that appealing to recruit. Agencies aren't expecting you to commit long term.

falko89

heretolearn wrote: »

Have you tried some of the agencies that specialise in this type of work, not just the ones that do office jobs? I see plenty of agency ads for litter pickers/leaf sweepers/street sweeper type work near me. also industrial agencies can be good, temping in factories/laundries, I did some work through those years ago, you don't need any experience but what they do need is people who are reliable and sensible, so being that little bit older might be an advantage.

As you are that bit older and have skills/previous experience, it's going to be blindingly obvious to any employer with a basic job that you will only be taking it for as short a time as possible while you look for a 'real job', so you aren't that appealing to recruit. Agencies aren't expecting you to commit long term.

Never thought of that, that's probably what's !!!!!!ing me up.

InsideInsurance

The cost of short term tenure to a business is massive and so the concept of "recruit for attitude" has become very popular. You dont want the best person possible, for a job, you want the best person for that job for it as the former person will disappear off as soon as a better option comes along which then incurs recruitement costs, overtime to cover the gap, training costs, low productivity/sales whilst the replacement learns the ropes and a higher risk that that person too leaves quickly (the longer service an employee has the more likely they are to stay longer)

falko89

InsideInsurance wrote: »

The cost of short term tenure to a business is massive and so the concept of "recruit for attitude" has become very popular. You dont want the best person possible, for a job, you want the best person for that job for it as the former person will disappear off as soon as a better option comes along which then incurs recruitement costs, overtime to cover the gap, training costs, low productivity/sales whilst the replacement learns the ropes and a higher risk that that person too leaves quickly (the longer service an employee has the more likely they are to stay longer)

I don't think its fair to tar everyone with the same brush, not everyone will find something better and f*ck off, I actually liked the idea of stacking shelves at night in Tescos, would be a change from coming home freezing and dirty every evening for less money than Tescos were paying.

InsideInsurance

And that is why recruit for attitude questionnaires arent just a single question but will talk about your motivators, your aspirations etc and if you say you want a regular night job that earns you a bit of pocket money rather than the normal answer of saying you want to be the CEO within 5 years, then this can partially balance out the over qualified element.

The challenge of cause is that at the moment it is simply a numbers game. There may be the 800 applicants for the role and of those say 600 are probably roughly suitable but HR are simply not going to have the time to interview 600 people for every vacancy that comes up and so assumptions and broad brush strokes are unfortunately necessary to get that 600 down to about 6 to call for interview.

falko89

Here's another thing that annoys me, the rare instance there is something basic and local you could apply for its on one of these work scheme things, Just saw a job for a grounds person paying a whopping £15.38 for 40hrs work a week. I believe the employer gets £70 a week or so for taking you on

Job Duties:
Maintenance of the grounds, cleaning of changing rooms, club rooms and toilets and general handyperson duties and any other duties as required.
To be eligible for Step Ahead 2012 Phase 2 participants must be:
In receipt of Jobseekers Allowance for three months or more. A short break or an accumulation of short breaks which do not exceed 28 days in total, will not effect their eligibility period
Or
In receipt of Income Support, Incapacity Benefit or Employment and Support Allowance - with no qualifying period.