Chicken bald back

[Ain't Nobody Here]

My boys are desperately trying to get jobs for the summer. Among other things, they've tried the online application process for Tesco and Sainsburys so many times but keep getting rejected. We've even been keeping a note of the answers so they don't repeat the same mistakes (not that you get told which ones you get wrong ).

 

One application for them both for Tesco has been showing "in process" for a week now. Not sure whether to be hopeful or if the site has a glitch .

 

Makes you wonder how anybody ever manages to get a job in a supermarket. And also how on earth some of the people you see working there managed it .

 

Aaaaaarrrrrggggghhhhh!

[patsylabrador]

I think the big supermarkets do actually get a lot of their workforce from overseas. The supermarket depot that OH and MS work at is predominantly foreign, between 80-90%. I think they recruit amongst themselves and the jobs don't even get advertised. MS works with an almost entirely Nepalese crew, and only found out about the job because OH asked if there were any jobs going. Up until that point we were near to despair trying to get him work.

He has a good friendly relationship with them but sometimes he comes home and says it's nice to be able to understand what people are saying around him.

I think your boys might be wasting their efforts. Have they looked at some of the student specific sites for summer camp jobs, theme parks etc, I think some of them might be bit of a con but some seem to be genuine.

I'm sure I saw some temporary summer jobs with YHA in Scotland the other day. Worth checking anyway.

[redbug]

Think a lot of supermarket jobs are taken via those self checkouts .

I never use them because of this and the fact always a problem with them!!!

More and more in the supermarkets

[LolaLayla]

Maybe best to try some of the other supermarkets. I noticed our local co-op had a sign in the window looking for staff and I also saw a poster up in Aldi. I know you are not near us but the same may apply over your way. In the past my children have tried the online questions for M&S without any luck so goodness only knows what answers they want Good luck with the job hunting

[sparkysmum]

Hi ANH, would they not consider the hotels. I know Hilton are always looking for casual waiters and I would imagine other hotel chain likewise. My Ant is currently working for Cromlix on the outskirts of Dunblane (Andy Murrays recent purchase) and they are so short of quality staff he has to work 12hr days every day

[rachelk]

It may be different where you live, but our Tesco store employs lots of teenagers. My daughter (17) works for their dot com department, and loves it. She 'picks' the online orders, starts at 6 and is all done by 10 leaving plenty of socialising time! They are offered overtime constantly, and can do as much or as little as they want.

 

She enquired in store and was told to simply write a letter of application and went from there. It may be worth writing to the dot com team leader rather than the online system?

 

Good luck!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I'll look into the dot.com thing, thanks.

 

We've looked for vacancies at all the supermarkets but apart from the ones we've applied for they either have no vacancies or they're permanent posts. Most of the hospitality jobs seem to require experience but I've sent the boys lots of links for kitchen porter jobs.

 

I've got a whole load of job alerts set up so fingers crossed something comes up! Still waiting to hear from Tesco .

[Grandmashazzie]

Would they be interested in camp America,my ED did that one summer and really enjoyed it.

[sparkysmum]

If they are staying local (to Stirling) then Stirling Managment Centre ~ in Uni campus, are looking for a whole range of staff, as are Stirling Highland Hotel.

[sjp]

when I was out of work 18 months back I was told by at least one advisor that if you fail to get through the on line part of the process for some of the supermarkets then it takes at least 6 months before your failed score to be deleted regardless of how many times you give the right answers

[soapdragon]

What about a mail drop with CV and photo etc to local businesses - B&Bs,hotels etc ie; those with a seasonal trade? If they deliver personally and state they are willing to do anything (legal!!) this might prove fruitful!!

 

Good luck - its great that they are willing to graft (so many these days are not!)

[Choo-chook]

Not sure where abouts you are in edinburgh, but my daughter works p/t at the gyle and think a lot of jobs are coming up because lots of students go home for the summer. Might be worth them going round all the shops with some cvs. That's what she did. Seems to be that they put them on an 8hr contract, then phone them up last minute every day for extra shifts...grrr.

I was told if you know someone who works in asda, you're in. Good luck to your boys, I think online tests are hit and miss, she didn't get into asda but managed to get offered a job at waitrose. Imagine my disgust when she turned it down!!!!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Ali, they'll be back home over the summer - shame, that would have been good.

 

Good tip about The Gyle, Choo Chook, we'll try that.

 

Annoyingly, ES got an interview at Waitrose for a Xmas job but they only told him the night before the interview and he had labs/tutorials at Uni which he couldn't miss. They don't have any vacancies now .

 

Re the online supermarket applications, Sainsburys/Tesco say you can apply as often as you like (they've done about 6 each now ) - I would hope they wouldn't let you apply unless that was true.

 

If we get nothing soon we'll try the CV drop and personal approach when they've finished their exams and are back home.

[chickencam]

The supermarkets around here seem to employ a lot of teens, our neighbour was lucky that he could transfer from our local Morrisons to the one near his uni when he went, not sure what his family think because he has only been home once to my knowledge. Waitrose seem to employ loads of youngsters. The hotel are a good tip too, I have a friend who's son works for holiday inn and gets loads of shifts at anti social times, but the pay is pretty good.

[Cinnamon]

I can't speak for other Supermarkets, but where I work we employ a lot of teenagers.

My branch has just done its big recruit to fill up spaces left by those who go off to Uni later in the year. I know that the jobs are only online for a very brief time, so it is best to check back on a daily basis. I am sure most branches will be employing soon to fill the Uni gap

It may seem early, but we tend to interview now, overstaff ourselves for the summer (to cover holidays, Regatta etc), then drop down to normal staffing levels come the end of September, by which time they are re recruiting the Uni students who left for the temporary Christmas season!

 

Don't bother with a CV drop for Supermarkets, as they tend to only employ online.

 

If they do manage to get interviews, best keep quiet about it only being for the summer................

 

Also, should they get interviews with my employers, let me know & I can tell them what to expect!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Thanks Sarah. There aren't any vacancies with your supermarket just now so I've set up a job alert - hopefully it might be easier to apply as he's already in their system.

 

I was all excited for about 10 minutes at work - there's a vacancy for a PSA (learning assistant) to work with the Outdoor Education department but they want someone who can drive a minibus .

 

I can probably get him voluntary work till the end of term if no jobs appear which would be good for his CV.

[Cinnamon]

Look at local fairs & festivals too. My daughter did a stint at Henley Regatta, where she waitressed for the first time, then the Henley Festival, where she waitressed for the Roux brothers.

The money was good - the tips were amazing (although she was terrified of Albert!)

[LolaLayla]

Just had a thought. Are the boys interested in golf? I remember hearing of some lads here getting work caddying at a local course.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

No, LL, afraid not!

 

ES has had an email from Tesco, they're considering his application . Poor YS hasn't (but he's not been rejected yet either!) .

[Ain't Nobody Here]

After lots of rejections from Tesco's for both boys and an unsuccessful interview at MacDonalds for ES, I am very happy to report that ES had an interview at Sainsburys for a Groceries Online Shopper and was told today he got the job .

 

The contract is only for 12 hours but it seems he'll be offered extra hours once he starts.

[soapdragon]

Its a foot in the door, isn't it? And perhaps an opening for YS too once they get to know his big bro:think: Good luck to them both