Tips for gaining bar/retail work?

InNeedofAdvice

No prior bar/retail experience. Worked in facilities management for a while for a small delivery company, but was made redundant about 18 months ago. All redundancy money gone, as well as savings.

Looking for full-time work, anything, as long as its full time. Minimum wage is fine for the moment, just need to start earning.

I've set my sights lower now, and just want a job, any job for the moment. I've applied online and in-person to 60+ employers in the past 2 months - bars, pubs, hotels, retail, warehouse, care homes etc - all the usual minimum wage, unskilled-type work.

I've had no reply to anything, not even a phone call.

How can I improve my chances? It is very demoralising the longer it goes on, especially moving from earning a fair amount above the UK national average, to struggling to find a minimum wage unskilled job.

What do I do?

What am I doing wrong?

Savvy_Sue

One problem with looking for full-time work in either bars or retail is that employers often want the flexibility of part-time staff, or zero hours contracts. So you may not be doing anything wrong, beyond saying "I want full-time work".

Have you tried agencies? Have you thought about how your previous experience can be transferred to other jobs? And have you made that clear on your CV? I don't really know what's involved in facilities management ...

InNeedofAdvice

@Savvy_Sue

Tried agencies, but nothing has come up yet apart from a zero hour contract job for a cleaning company. I said I'd do anything as long as it was full time, but that's all they came back to me with.

Maybe you're right, I do see a lot of bar/restaurant/retail jobs only advertising part time hours.

Most of the work I did in facilities management was dealing with external contractors (cleaners, maintenence, security), health and safety type stuff (although I'm not formally certified in anything), admin etc - all to do with keeping a distribution centre in working order.

I was applying for things more suited to my experience, but after a few months of trying wasn't getting anywhere. Apparently I don't have enough experience in specific jobs e.g. i would apply to an admin role, but be told I didn't have as much admin experience as other applicants - even though it was 'entry level'.

Just fed up to be honest. Life seems so easy for others.

ERICS_MUM

Would you consider doing a couple of part time jobs (obviously their hours would need to 'fit' !).

McDonalds near me often advertises for staff, usually by a notice in-store or on the door. Ditto the local petrol station which like so many these days has a shop attached and is open about 15 hours a day.

You might find that going in personally to places like this more likely to get you an interview.

Also is your CV appropriate for the type of work you are seeking ?

2 areas that will be recruiting within the next couple of months are Royal Mail and large stores, both needing temp staff for the Christmas & New Year busy seasons. Even though not permanent you would gain experience (especially at that time of year).

Good luck !