Crazy experience needed for Christmas work!

HavingCrack

Just thought I'd see what all you AH people thought of this. I've been looking around for part-time work for a while now and I clicked on a certain big retailers web page to see did they have any work going.

They're looking for Christmas staff from October but they wanted their staff to have 2 years full time retail experience :eek:!!!

Am I the only one who thinks this is absolutely insane . I know from people who work in shops similar to this one that it takes about 2-3 days to get the jist of the work and within a week you're pretty much on the ball.

Caoimhín

Trying to filter out the 500k + applicants.

AnonoBoy

Unfortunately with so many people out of work at the moment they can afford to be so picky.

If you have level of experience they presume that you won't need much training.

Slydice

HavingCrack wrote: »

certain big retailers

maybe they already have former employees in mind?

there's been a fair bit of news of certain big retailers laying off staff in the last few months

Sykk

It's not just for Christmas work. It's everywhere.. I went for a few interviews before my current job when things were ****, and I couldn't compete even for helpdesk jobs with the 20 years experience ****ing guru's who had to go backwards just for a paycheck.

It's in every profession.

ScumLord

I suppose they may be hoping they can find people who know what they're doing for during the busiest time of the year.

easyeason3

A job is for life, not just for Christmas.

alwaysadub

It's happening all over-like someone said, they know they can be picky.

I was looking at a job before for retail sales but they wanted someone with a 3rd level degree. Wasn't a managerial job, just a standard one.

Banned Account

Thread disappoints - I thought you were going two need 2 crazy experiences to entertain the interview panel with?



OP - lie ffs.

Lux23

Yea I put my CV in for a Christmas job and I was told to take it back as it was a waste of paper. I only wanted an extra few hours to tide me over until Christmas.

mathie

I just sank numerous billions into a zombie bank.
Do I qualify?

Yours,
Brian

Des Carter

I blame the Catholic Church and Religion? :mad:

Sheeps

if i dont meet the ridiculous requirements set for most jobs ill apply anyway because if theyre going to be that picky i might as well make their job harder by giving them one more cv they have to read and throw away before they get who theyre looking for

_feedback_

I'll tell you who is to blame. Scumbags, that's who.

HavingCrack

Some good serious and funny replies here :pac:. Good old AH never disappoints.

alexa5x5

I think you should apply anyway. I had a christmas job a few years ago that was advertised as needing retail experience (I had non) and I still got it.

GAAman

Des Carter wrote: »

I blame the Catholic Church and Religion? :mad:

I'm Ron Burgundy?

foxinsox

Fitzcaraldo wrote: »

Thread disappoints - I thought you were going two need 2 crazy experiences to entertain the interview panel with?



OP - lie ffs.

That's kind of what I read too...
I thought I was going to be offered "a crazy experience" in a retail job..:)

HavingCrack

foxinsox wrote: »

That's kind of what I read too...
I thought I was going to be offered "a crazy experience" in a retail job..:)

Sorry to disappoint

HavingCrack

alexa5x5 wrote: »

I think you should apply anyway. I had a christmas job a few years ago that was advertised as needing retail experience (I had non) and I still got it.

I will be applying, wost that'll happen is I don't get it! Just thought it was a huge amount of experience needed for a 3 month contract job and wondered what everyone else thought...:)

Banned Account

foxinsox wrote: »

That's kind of what I read too...
I thought I was going to be offered "a crazy experience" in a retail job..:)

Well now, that might still be a goer - what will you be 'selling';)

m@cc@

Sheeps wrote: »

if theyre going to be that picky i might as well make their job harder

Why? It's not done to spite you. It's about supply and demand.

foxinsox

Fitzcaraldo wrote: »

Well now, that might still be a goer - what will you be 'selling';)

Me love you long time five dollah...

eh... retail stuff? crazy stuff?

Banned Account

foxinsox wrote: »

Me love you long time five dollah...

eh... retail stuff? crazy stuff?

I was going to pay you ten dollah - you'll never make it out there alone !!

starlit

That's just crazy for a Christmas job? To train someone up for a Christmas retail job wouldn't take long to do? Its not rocket science! Fair enough that they might just want to know that you are experienced with customers thats all that they might be looking for.

Hand in your CV anyway. If you have shown that you have leadership, communication, team working, sales and customer service skills from previous jobs and college then that might help even if you had one of those it might make you stand out from someone else.

Best of luck OP

Einhard

HavingCrack wrote: »

I will be applying, wost that'll happen is I don't get it!

The worst thing that could happen is you do get it!! Then you'd have to work!:eek:

ottostreet

Just make **** up.

Carl Sagan

Try not having any work experience either.

Russian Blue

Where shop is it? Tell me and no one else cause im looking too and il take anything even if its for christmas.

Gary4279

HavingCrack wrote: »

Just thought I'd see what all you AH people thought of this. I've been looking around for part-time work for a while now and I clicked on a certain big retailers web page to see did they have any work going.

They're looking for Christmas staff from October but they wanted their staff to have 2 years full time retail experience :eek:!!!

Am I the only one who thinks this is absolutely insane . I know from people who work in shops similar to this one that it takes about 2-3 days to get the jist of the work and within a week you're pretty much on the ball.

I work in retail, once you lie as much as possible on your CV you dont need work experience. they just dont want a nob head. in retail, the one thing they look for in confidence and people skills.

itsallaboutheL

HavingCrack wrote: »

Some good serious and funny replies here :pac:. Good old AH never disappoints.

thanks for that captain obvious, i wasn't able to form my own opinion on then thread. You're a life saver.

questionmark?

What company is it OP? A mod might be able to confirm its ok to name and to be honest shame. Its a joke and its happening every where no wonder young people (talented and educated) are emigrating as there isnt a hope of getting a job. I remember seeing an add a while back in the local paper for a house cleaner(duties included cleaning and Ironing as well as shopping:eek:) and they were looking for somebody with minimum of 4 years experience:rolleyes:

sock puppet

questionmark? wrote: »

What company is it OP? A mod might be able to confirm its ok to name and to be honest shame. Its a joke and its happening every where no wonder young people (talented and educated) are emigrating as there isnt a hope of getting a job. I remember seeing an add a while back in the local paper for a house cleaner(duties included cleaning and Ironing as well as shopping:eek:) and they were looking for somebody with minimum of 4 years experience:rolleyes:

Shame? If there are people out there with the experience then what exactly is the problem? If they can't find people to fill the positions then they'll lower their expectations.

Copper23

HavingCrack wrote: »

Just thought I'd see what all you AH people thought of this. I've been looking around for part-time work for a while now and I clicked on a certain big retailers web page to see did they have any work going.

They're looking for Christmas staff from October but they wanted their staff to have 2 years full time retail experience :eek:!!!

Am I the only one who thinks this is absolutely insane . I know from people who work in shops similar to this one that it takes about 2-3 days to get the jist of the work and within a week you're pretty much on the ball.

I think its pretty reasonable in fairness... There's no way you are up to speed in 2-3 days.

If you have no experience and think you know it all after 3 days then I definitely don't want to be a full-timer working with you cleaning up your work when I've enough to do myself in the Christmas rush.

It's probably an area though that you don't often see them looking for a LOT of experience but they do look for experience. In the given climate I'd say there is more likely to be people unemployed with lots of experience who'd jump at the work, more-so than 5 years ago when it's mostly just teenagers looking for some Christmas cash so I guess the shops have more of a pool to choose from and can be more choosy.

nullzero

Employers want to cherry pick people these days, they feel that they're in a position of power and can find the best people, it seems like eveything requires 2 years experience these days, its crazy.
Then when you're in a job the employer makes recession comments to crack the metaphorical whip such as "we might not be here in a few months" or "Cut backs are on the way" or "We're all looking over our shoulders", cnuts.
What a world it is we find our selves in these days.

Little Acorn

I thought the thread had something do with acting as a Santa's elf in the store for Christmas time,like this job advert that I saw last year:http://www.movieextras.ie/santa.html
and thought the "crazy experience" was that you needed to actually have really worked as one of Santa's elves.:(

Des Carter

HavingCrack wrote: »

They're looking for Christmas staff from October but they wanted their staff to have 2 years full time retail experience :eek:!!!

What if you have 2 years tail experience?

questionmark?

sock puppet wrote: »

Shame? If there are people out there with the experience then what exactly is the problem? If they can't find people to fill the positions then they'll lower their expectations.

Sorry my apologies i forgot that anybody that didn't have two years full time experience in retail would not be able to work in a 3 month christmas contract position. They may have a masters degree in retail management but for an employer to take them on would be lowering their expectations!

Caoimhín

Des Carter wrote: »

I blame the Catholic Church and Religion? :mad:

I blame Maggie Thatcher, c'est la vie...

Copper23

questionmark? wrote: »

Sorry my apologies i forgot that anybody that didn't have two years full time experience in retail would not be able to work in a 3 month christmas contract position. They may have a masters degree in retail management but for an employer to take them on would be lowering their expectations!

What are you on about?

This isn't exactly something new... 2 people walk into an interview for the same job... All else being fairly equal the guy with more experience is preferable.

Given the current conditions, shops know there are plenty of experienced people out there without work, that's who they need, they don't need to train some newbie and go around fixing all their mistakes during the busiest time of the year for them, when they know there are people who can be given minimal direction and still do a better job willing to do the same job for the same pay.

What is the retail management thing about? Who has a degree in this (does it exist?) and has never worked in a shop?

caroiline

it is madness now though that yoke up in the dail wanna do sumthin !!

Now ya need a qualification for even the smallest job tis gettin out of hand at this stage..!!

starlit

Copper23 wrote: »

What are you on about?

This isn't exactly something new... 2 people walk into an interview for the same job... All else being fairly equal the guy with more experience is preferable.

Given the current conditions, shops know there are plenty of experienced people out there without work, that's who they need, they don't need to train some newbie and go around fixing all their mistakes during the busiest time of the year for them, when they know there are people who can be given minimal direction and still do a better job willing to do the same job for the same pay.

What is the retail management thing about? Who has a degree in this (does it exist?) and has never worked in a shop?

You learn more by doing not just by what work experience one has whether its 1 year or less, 2 years or more, or 10 years+ should it matter, they just pick the most suitable not just those who have the most experience. Its those who have a certain skill or expertise in something will likely stand out above the rest, if they have a different trait that few have like charisma for instance not everyone has that so those who do stand more of a chance of been chosen for the job. Hard world out there. Just blame the Government!

caroiline

Gary4279 wrote: »

I work in retail, once you lie as much as possible on your CV you dont need work experience. they just dont want a nob head. in retail, the one thing they look for in confidence and people skills.

Totally agree with this bull**** all the way, if your good at it the interviewer wil usually love ya . !!

And them role plays that ya now ave to do for retail 99% of the time the answer is contact the manager !

sock puppet

questionmark? wrote: »

Sorry my apologies i forgot that anybody that didn't have two years full time experience in retail would not be able to work in a 3 month christmas contract position. They may have a masters degree in retail management but for an employer to take them on would be lowering their expectations!

I doubt the shop said that the work was of a nature that it could only be done by someone with 2 years full time experience. They simply want someone with 2 years full time experience. There's a difference.


edit: and yeah someone without the 2 years experience could just lie and see how the interview goes.

bigpink

Its crazy yet if you go into Dunnes,Penneys etc they have loads of skangers guys and girls working there

Copper23

snuggles285 wrote: »

You learn more by doing not just by what work experience one has whether its 1 year or less, 2 years or more, or 10 years+ should it matter, they just pick the most suitable not just those who have the most experience. Its those who have a certain skill or expertise in something will likely stand out above the rest, if they have a different trait that few have like charisma for instance not everyone has that so those who do stand more of a chance of been chosen for the job. Hard world out there. Just blame the Government!

Er.... What?

Come on now, live in the real world... YOU are the store manager/workers... you are bringing in someone for 3 months at Xmas to give you a hand.

Who do you want... the guy who's worked the same job for 10 years at it but his hours were pulled back last year and is willing to work any hours he can get or the 16 year old lad who just wanted some cash for Christmas, has no experience in the job or in employment in general, will take a LOT of time to train and in that length of time probably won't be trained up on tills, cash handling, or other areas and will most likely phone in sick on the 26th (your busiest day of the year) when you are in the store at 5am preparing for the sales.

Jeez, why do people only see it one way. Ok, we get it, OP doesn't have 2 years retail experience and wants a retail job... Yes, we all agree thats difficult but that's the climate right now.

Your choice is hire the best option or waste your time and money and be the next place to hit the wall....

Yeah, getting the sunny disposition award in 3rd class is great but realistically, experience is the best measure of someone when all you have is a CV in hand.... I'll take the guy with 10 years experience over the lads with a B2 in English in the mid-term thanks. So would you! Nobody is saying its not tough, but its the real world... why do people think it's their god given right to have things placed in their laps?

HavingCrack

itsallaboutheL wrote: »

thanks for that captain obvious, i wasn't able to form my own opinion on then thread. You're a life saver.

Since I started the thread I think I'm entitled to say I'm enjoying the replies. If me saying that I'm enjoying the thread is such a big issue for you I suggest you piss off elsewhere.

starlit

OP, Have you tried volunteering to work in a charity shop? Might help you gain a bit of experience behind the till and other retail skill requirements.

Copper23 wrote: »

Er.... What?



Come on now, live in the real world... YOU are the store manager/workers... you are bringing in someone for 3 months at Xmas to give you a hand.



Who do you want... the guy who's worked the same job for 10 years at it but his hours were pulled back last year and is willing to work any hours he can get or the 16 year old lad who just wanted some cash for Christmas, has no experience in the job or in employment in general, will take a LOT of time to train and in that length of time probably won't be trained up on tills, cash handling, or other areas and will most likely phone in sick on the 26th (your busiest day of the year) when you are in the store at 5am preparing for the sales.



Jeez, why do people only see it one way. Ok, we get it, OP doesn't have 2 years retail experience and wants a retail job... Yes, we all agree thats difficult but that's the climate right now.



Your choice is hire the best option or waste your time and money and be the next place to hit the wall....



Yeah, getting the sunny disposition award in 3rd class is great but realistically, experience is the best measure of someone when all you have is a CV in hand.... I'll take the guy with 10 years experience over the lads with a B2 in English in the mid-term thanks. So would you! Nobody is saying its not tough, but its the real world... why do people think it's their god given right to have things placed in their laps?

Its the honest and hard-working person they will choose at the end of the day, you need to give people a chance. If they come across well at an interview and have the confidence and demonstrate that they can do the job well then they get my vote! Ah well they are more likely to choose someone who has some kind of retail experience even if its summer work and someone who has some kind of college studies done, they will have learnt a lot more from that than those who are just in secondary school, different kettle of fish altogether.

Asmodean

Have you tried volunteering to work in a charity shop? Might help you gain a bit of experience behind the till and other retail skill requirements.

Good idea actually.

starlit

Asmodean wrote: »

Good idea actually.

Did it myself last summer and its a great form of work experience. Its handy to have on a CV.

Overheal

Its not as if there are/were never opportunities for no experience jobs. You just need to know who to ask. New Businesses are likely culprits to bring on a mix of trained and untrained employees to reduce startup costs (Experienced workers almost always command better wage) the only problem of course is the lack of new business opening up lately. Your next best bet is to find businesses that are either downsizing (to cut costs) or expanding.

You'll almost never land a job inexperienced if you are applying somewhere that is trying to replace a worker on notice. A Manager loses Billy his hardest working stockboy because he's gotten fed up and quit, turned in his notice, etc. So the Manager isn't looking to spend a lot of time sifting through applicants, hiring a joe nobody and spending weeks training them in; He's just looking to get a replacement for Billy, that knows how to do the job. That way theres no unplanned disruption in business. The only time it's good to apply to these kind of places is when they are likely to be expecting turnover; like at the end of the Summer, start of the school year. Managers typically expect to have to do a bit of HR around this point of time and may have padded time into this season to train in greenhorns.

You really have to think about your target employer/business and their situation. Even the day of the week, time of the day that you apply, can make a difference, along with the month and season.

+1 to Volunteer work. It looks incredibly good on paper for a lot of reasons that revolve around not making you look like a timecard bandit.