How effective is "asking around" for work vacancies?

MarkAlexander18

How effective would you say is going around and asking if places have vacancies for jobs? I am unemployed and have been trying to find work but it's getting increasingly difficult. I do not have specialised skills, so It's literally a case of I will try find what I can, earn some money then look at other options when I'm in a more stable position.

Currently, I am sending out application after application and getting no responses. I have got to a point where I am considering "asking around" places, such as newsagents, convenience stores and independent restaurants.

What are your thoughts on this?

Brynsam

Good for you. Absolutely nothing to lose by doing so. I'm sure you will ensure you look at your most presentable, including clean shoes and fingernails (both of which repeatedly emerge as areas candidates overlook, so don't take that personally). Take some copies of your cv with you in case you are asked for this.

Best of luck.

Doshwaster

"Asking around" has to be more effective than sitting at home waiting for the jobs to find you.

Try anywhere that typically has a high staff turnover - hotels, warehouses, conference/music venues, call centres etc. They almost always have something available and often need someone at short notice.

Walk down your local high street and pop into all of the recruitment agencies to talk to them - don't do it online. They will have the relationships with local businesses and will know who is hiring. Even if it's temporary work it all counts as experience and helps get your foot in the door for when they want permanent staff

[Deleted User]

It’s a great idea and as people have mentioned it’s better than sitting around doing nothing.

Make sure your CV is up to date.

If you apply to any jobs that asks you to demonstrate how you meet criteria always give examples.

Some employers to look at:

Care Home / Support Work
Supermarkets
Call Centres
Civil Service
NHS

Indeed is a great finding a job tool and many areas have Facebook pages for local jobs.

[Deleted User]

Why not go and register with recruitment agencies even for manual/warehouse temp work with the possibility of work next day - you'll avoid problems in the future with references as a pretty much added bonus along with standing a proper chance of reassurance of being paid in future.

My latest job came about through f***book just searching jobs, caught at the early stage of their recuitment drive. I'll admit I thought it would be back to work Mum's and the unemployed but not quite.

I've also come by Call Centre type jobs hoping to appeal to someone who's never worked in one so maybe worth considering, breaking against the norm.

dawyldthing

Add all the local job agencies to your Facebook then ring them up/ pop in and ask about them too. As if you don’t contact them often they won’t. Other one is cv library is pretty good

Doshwaster

dawyldthing wrote: »

Add all the local job agencies to your Facebook then ring them up/ pop in and ask about them too. As if you don’t contact them often they won’t. Other one is cv library is pretty good

Twitter - for all of its annoyances - can be useful for job vacancies too. Follow local recruitment agencies plus any big employers in your area. Nobody puts job adverts in local papers any more because nobody reads them!

For full-time/permanent professional jobs, LinkedIn is probably better, especially as you build up a network, but maybe not so good for temporary jobs.

It may be a cliche, but it's true: it's easier to get a job when you already have one. Employers like to see that you are prepared to get stuck in with a temporary job rather than waiting for the perfect job to come along.

xapprenticex

I've witnessed people get jobs like this.

getmore4less

Networking through people you know, our local wetherspoons(6 within and hour) are always looking and now the students are going back they get desperate.

suki1964

Also your local facebook groups , Ive seen loads of posts asking who knows of anywhere thats looking staff and the replies come thick and fast

bugslet

Good on you and please bear in mind that any rejection you may get, is not about you, they simply don't have a vacancy at that time.

As an employer, I'm always impressed if someone knocks on the door.

Don't forget to ask friends and family to let you know if where they work have any vacancies - every one of my 25 employees came here because a current worker mentioned a vacancy to a friend.