Should I do this unpaid 3 day trial for a retail job

Southend1

I wouldn't do it.

A fair day's work for a fair day's pay.

pinkduvetdiva

A couple of unpaid hours as a trial is fair enough - but 3 full days is taking the mickey. I wouldn't do it, I'm afraid.

chanie

No, I wouldn't. If you really want the job, I'd consider the following before making a decision:

1. A three day trial for a retail job is excessive, particularly if the employer has seen your CV, interviewed you and taken up references. Now, the owners may have suggested a 3 day trial if they'd had their fingers burned in the past with staff not being reliable and may want to insist on a long trial to weed out any wasters. If you have a good career history, you could argue you are a good worker with a good record.

2. Whether there is a genuine job. Whilst I don't have any experience in this area, I have read that certain retailers taking on unemployed people for trials and nine of then getting jobs as they are being used as free labour.

3. How much you want the job. Sometimes, youv just have to suck it up. Highly skilled people in demand have higher bargaining power and my company have difficulty in recruiting them. Lower skilled workers don't have this power when there are lots of people fighting for the same jobs.

getmore4less

For any job trial,

I think you would get the feel of a place and if there is a real job in a couple of hours, 1/2 day at most.
The obvious thing is there enough work?

Regular customers would know and as it's a trial you talk to customers about a place as part of you checking out the place. They would let slip things like Jane is on holiday for a week(in as free cover).

If a place is a serial get free dogsbodies in it will be known and there will be something on the web.


Costume shop, unpacking boxes.
We are coming upto halloween this could just be a get that stock ready job.

scooby088

I have only ever done one unpaid trial and that was half a shift (4 hours) i wouldnt even consider doing 3 days unpaid . Depends how desperate the OP is for a job. I got a feel for the place within that half a shift and talking to other workers there they hated the place.

Paully232000

I cant see any good reason to have such a long trial in the job. A day, yes, two days at a push.

But even having said that they have (presumably) your previous experience, have interviewed you and have references, and given the fact that they could sack you within the first two years for no reason, I don't see the point in this.

[Deleted User]

fluffypaws wrote: »

Yes I had an interview

Good that's something, I really do like to think of it that you only get offered a work trial when an employer has a 'reservation or doubt' so I really think it needs questioning to be clear where you stand. (either that or as others say free labour)


Earlier in 2015 with the exception of the one trial I was offered because there were reservations, I found a lot of employers were not wanting to know about work trials - they said it was unfair to all other job applicants and that they were confident in their decision making when asked in an interview, majority said that is what a probation period is for granted - that's why you need to question this (JCP approved employers aside)

bugslet

No way.

I interview a driver, go out on a driving assessment ( an assessment and not expecting him/her to deliver something!) and that's it. I'd never ask someone to do something and not get paid.

It's a standard job, not rocket science. They just want cheap labour.

pinpin

I think 3 days free labour is a liberty!
Unfortunately, employers are able to exploit people and have the Government on their side.
Unless if was for a dream job, I'm not sure i'd do it.

I done a 1 day trial once, though (my dad thought I was mad for working for free!! I tried to explain we live in a different time )

bartelbe

Welcome to mcjob Britain. For all the employers who think this is OK please forward me the contact details for your business. I will take 3 days free service or equivalent in products from you. Then if I like them I will pay for stuff after that.

That is completely reasonable, how dare I say I should be able to have free stuff off you. Fine, then you can't expect someone to work for free.

My cousin did something similar, and after the trial he wasn't given the job. Pretty much legalised theft, but that is modern Britain I'm afraid.