Taking the micky

TrickyWicky

A while back I looked at applying to ASDA for their part time work. Same thing.. a load of pshychobabble on their website full of BS that is designed to make you cringe and want to cry just at the thought of trying to think of the answers.

Is this really what we've come down to? Supermarkets that think they're up there with engineers, scientists, university lecturers etc? You don't need to have a doctorate to be able to stack shelves or operate a checkout all day surely? The only thing they don't (weirdly) seem to want from you is a valid CRB check (now I've said it..).

It's the same everywhere these days and yet our political leaders continue to think that the job market is easier than ever. I think they need to get a grip.

theoretica

I suspect some of it is simply to automate the screening of the huge number of applications they get because picking applications at random to look at until they find someone to do the job doesn't seem fair enough.

The other point to think about with a 'living wage' is how much higher requirements are now for what is considered in what is considered reasonable comfort than in our grandparents' and great grandparents' days. A one bed flat might have once housed a family with children now has a single person.

Dangermac

TrickyWicky wrote: »

A while back I looked at applying to ASDA for their part time work. Same thing.. a load of pshychobabble on their website full of BS that is designed to make you cringe and want to cry just at the thought of trying to think of the answers.

Is this really what we've come down to? Supermarkets that think they're up there with engineers, scientists, university lecturers etc? You don't need to have a doctorate to be able to stack shelves or operate a checkout all day surely? The only thing they don't (weirdly) seem to want from you is a valid CRB check (now I've said it..).

It's the same everywhere these days and yet our political leaders continue to think that the job market is easier than ever. I think they need to get a grip.

I agree - it seems OTT have have a phychometric (sp?) test to work in a supermarket, however:

- These shops never seem short of employees
- I'm sure that every employee does not have an Honours
Degree, therefore,

- Much as the process may seem over the top, the jobs are attainable. It is a numbers game. You have to make yourself a better candidate than the others. Simple as that.

I'm really not beign flippant about the dire economic situation, but you have to accept that the economy is not about to change anytime soon, therefore, you have a choice

- fight (for the available jobs / positions)
- admit defeat

Fighting isnt the easy choice, and it doesnt guarantee success, but it's much more attractive than the alternative.

Although perfectly justifiable, there's nothing to be gained by moaning about the state of affairs. Stand up and fight. It's the only way to win.

DM

sniggings

theoretica wrote: »

I suspect some of it is simply to automate the screening of the huge number of applications they get because picking applications at random to look at until they find someone to do the job doesn't seem fair enough.

The other point to think about with a 'living wage' is how much higher requirements are now for what is considered in what is considered reasonable comfort than in our grandparents' and great grandparents' days. A one bed flat might have once housed a family with children now has a single person.

we have not come very far if we can't afford for a family to live in a family sized house! it's not like we are asking for gold taps, a roof over our heads is hardly asking too much.

sniggings

Dangermac wrote: »

I agree - it seems OTT have have a phychometric (sp?) test to work in a supermarket, however:

- These shops never seem short of employees
- I'm sure that every employee does not have an Honours
Degree, therefore,

- Much as the process may seem over the top, the jobs are attainable. It is a numbers game. You have to make yourself a better candidate than the others. Simple as that.

I'm really not beign flippant about the dire economic situation, but you have to accept that the economy is not about to change anytime soon, therefore, you have a choice

- fight (for the available jobs / positions)
- admit defeat

Fighting isnt the easy choice, and it doesnt guarantee success, but it's much more attractive than the alternative.

Although perfectly justifiable, there's nothing to be gained by moaning about the state of affairs. Stand up and fight. It's the only way to win.

DM

maybe you should check out the demographic of the average supermarket, most are 0 hour contracts, or 6 hours, Asda had an ad up for 3 cleaners, each one was for 4 hours :eek: Morrisons has 40% of it's employees on apprenticeships.
Yes the jobs are grabbed when they come up but most are either working for a bit of pocket money or on benefits too.

Not sure your argument hold much ground really, it's like saying a starving man will eat !!!! to stay alive so it follows he likes to eat !!!!!

TrickyWicky

sniggings wrote: »

we have not come very far if we can't afford for a family to live in a family sized house! it's not like we are asking for gold taps, a roof over our heads is hardly asking too much.

So very true.

Admittedly accomodation wise I've had to squeeze into a box room in the past that literally measured no more than 4ft by 8ft (a rectangular shoe box that could only fit a 2ft 6 inch bed). It wasn't nice but it did the job.. then you get some idiot preach to me about how they had it hard thinking that I've no idea what it's like to suffer myself.

As for the supermarkets, Tesco the last I heard, were only taking people on part time so they could avoid pension rights etc (a friend who works there confirmed this too). I think thats SICK yet all the supermarkets seem to be doing the same thing and yet somehow the government are ok with this and then telling us to put money aside for our pension? :mad:

It seems to me that people in this country no longer care for each other. We don't care if another human has enough food and water to survive, we only care that a business (a bunch of paper and electronic records) survives because that is so much more important than a real living breathing person. I find it terrifying that this country is led by politicians who only care about business and making money whilst not giving a damn about the real effects on their own constituents.

Dangermac

sniggings wrote: »

maybe you should check out the demographic of the average supermarket, most are 0 hour contracts, or 6 hours, Asda had an ad up for 3 cleaners, each one was for 4 hours :eek: Morrisons has 40% of it's employees on apprenticeships.
Yes the jobs are grabbed when they come up but most are either working for a bit of pocket money or on benefits too.

Not sure your argument hold much ground really, it's like saying a starving man will eat !!!! to stay alive so it follows he likes to eat !!!!!

I think that there are a lot of companies exploiting the Apprenticeships scheme. That is really bad form.

The rest of your post is nonsense.

You or I cannot change the economic situation. The economic situation is unlikely to change anytime soon.

Therefore, we can accept that we are all doomed, or we can stand up and fight (i.e look for appropriate jobs that match our skill set).

Ultimately, companies employ staff for their own benefit. Yes, they should operate ethically, howver, they will almost always pay the least that they can for the best quality candidate that they can get.

DM

SingleSue

I have a real problem in lying to get a job, or making myself out to be something I am not. I have always preferred honesty and knowing my limitations/weaknesses, things which were at one point, important to employers....they didn't like the blaggers or boasters.

It makes me uncomfortable, feel false and I worry about being found out about not being this amazing, super duper person once employed. I am what I am, a hard worker, reliable, honest, a team player (but can work solo and on my own initiative just as easily), can lead a team of people in a quiet but authoritative manner and with a multitude of skills across several sectors. I am not flashy, or bombastic, or appear ultra confident...I am just me.

Takeaway_Addict

sniggings wrote: »

maybe you should check out the demographic of the average supermarket, most are 0 hour contracts, or 6 hours, Asda had an ad up for 3 cleaners, each one was for 4 hours :eek: Morrisons has 40% of it's employees on apprenticeships.
Yes the jobs are grabbed when they come up but most are either working for a bit of pocket money or on benefits too.

Not sure your argument hold much ground really, it's like saying a starving man will eat !!!! to stay alive so it follows he likes to eat !!!!!

I very much doubt 40% of Morrisons employees are apprenticeships, anything to back this up or is it a nonsical rant?

Dangermac

SingleSue wrote: »

I have a real problem in lying to get a job, or making myself out to be something I am not. I have always preferred honesty and knowing my limitations/weaknesses, things which were at one point, important to employers....they didn't like the blaggers or boasters.

It makes me uncomfortable, feel false and I worry about being found out about not being this amazing, super duper person once employed. I am what I am, a hard worker, reliable, honest, a team player (but can work solo and on my own initiative just as easily), can lead a team of people in a quiet but authoritative manner and with a multitude of skills across several sectors. I am not flashy, or bombastic, or appear ultra confident...I am just me.

Those are great skills and qualities that would be useful to many employers.

You just need to ensure that those skills and qualities are clearly communicated at interview stage.

No need to be flash or untra confident. This would be a turn-off for many employers

DM