I'll never get hired

LegacyUser

Hey guys, kinda in a rut here. I applied for a job recently in retail. I'm only in my early twenties and have part time experience in retail of short durations due to my studying ect. My most recent retail experience was christmas work with a very prestigious retail company so was delighted to get it, really helped my cv.

problem is the job I applied for this time around, I got an interview, should know this week the outcome and I guess I feel kind of dejected. I just know that even though I'm well suited for the job and would love it, that I'll be overlooked because of the length of my experience. I reckon most people interviewed against me probably have years experience on their CV, where I only have a few months here and there for each one. Its an awful feeling. I feel like I'll get the interviews but never get past that, as anyone with years of retail work on me is entitled to the retail job more than I am. And I really need this job.

Im just wondering would any employers look past how long you worked there for. The only advantage I have on this is the last place I worked was very high up in the retail chain, but it was christmas work so extremely short.

LegacyUser

Anyone?

RossFixxxed

I don't know what anyone can really say on this one, unless they work in career guidance. I think you'd be surprised how much of interviews relies on luck etc too. You obviously need to be good, and open, articulate, able for the job, confident, good experience, but sometimes it just comes down to a vibe, or an interviewer just liked someone over someone.

I was out of work a fair while and it isn't easy constantly applying, but I treated it as a job. Up at 7, on the computer by 8 applications til lunch, replies to anything after lunch and so on. It is a numbers game and you need to keep hammering at it, and not blaming yourself if things don't work out. Some companies will give you good feedback on why you didn't get the job. Thank them if they do and say it was a pleasure to have the opportunity, they may consider the nice guy who thanked them for the next role!

Keep applying, keep your head up and get on to some retail oriented recruitment companies. You need to show that you can can adapt and work in any role, we all had to gain experience at some point, and we got the jobs by being there and ready and eager to work.

Times are tough man, don't take it out on yourself. Many have been there and it is disheartening, but don't blame yourself. You want to work and you are ready to get stuck in. That's brilliant. It's a hard situation. I've been there.

woodchuck

As you're getting to the interview stage, lack of experience obviously isn't a deal breaker for them. Obviously the more experience the better, but once you make it to the interview itself a lot of it is down to how you present yourself there. Eg. Person A with 5 years experience, but doesn't answer questions well and comes off as a bit lifeless wouldn't necessarily get the job over person B with only 1 year of experience but answers questions well and comes off as very bubbly and interpersonal in the interview. I think particularly in a customer facing role a lot of it is how you come off in person; it's not something you can tell from a CV and a cover letter. It's absolutely brilliant that you're being given the opportunity to do this; a lot of people don't even make it to the interview stage.

If you really want to try and improve yourself maybe you could look around to see if there are any interview courses etc that might help? That's not to say you're not already doing well in the interviews, but there is always always always room for improvement. So you should explore anything that will give you a bit of an edge over other candidates.

Also was your most recent job at Christmas? If so then hardly any time has passed yet. It can take months (if not years) to line up another position these days, so just do what you can and try to remain positive.

If you haven't heard back yet, then chances are that this is a good sign and that they are still considering you.

I was in a similar position, where I left college with good qualifications, but had no work experience, so pretty much didn't get a single look-in for most jobs. Had worked in dead-end jobs pretty much all throughout my late teens and early twenties, so couldn't face doing something like that again.

Are you on social welfare? Look into taking up an internship, into doing a Springboard college course (these are all generally geared towards getting work), into even doing some volunteer work, which would get more experience and also look good on a CV.

LegacyUser

OP, here, No not on social welfare. I have a really good degree and intend to pursue a career in that but I need to save money for my postgraduate course in the future. So Im working in retail for the moment to do so. So an internship ect isn't really what Im gearing towards. I need to save. I'm fairly confident in my interview skills, Ive gotten most jobs I applied for but they've only been temporary christmas or temp jobs so I guess I feel very under qualified for this role as I really dont know what Im up against.

I havent heard anything yet. Its been over a week now since my interview and I was told I'd know this week, so I dont know really.

woodchuck

neverwillbepicked wrote: »

I havent heard anything yet. Its been over a week now since my interview and I was told I'd know this week, so I dont know really.

One thing I'll say is that you'll do your head in trying to interpret whether it's a good or a bad sign that you haven't heard yet! There's really no way to know yet. They said you'd hear this week. You might not hear until Friday, so in the meantime just keep yourself occupied. Keeping looking around and applying for more jobs. If you don't hear back from them by next week then I'd give them a call.

IF you don't get it make sure to ask for feedback.

marialouise

Hey, I finished college last year and intend to pursue my degree too, but have a job in retail to save for postgrad too! I started looking for work in August and started work in September. I had absolutely minimal retail experience, but had other experiences that were somewhat relevant to the line of work. Anyway I interviewed for another prestigious company and I'm sure there were people with way more retail experience than me, but that's not what it's about. Obviously it's an advantage but not a necessity. You can teach anyone how to work a till and how you run things, but you can't teach them a personality etc.!

I'm rambling a little bit but
-I had no retail experience and got the job ahead of many people who did have retail experience (so you can too!)
-you've gotten interviews which means on paper you're good and it's down to interview skills and personality from there

More interviews will give you experience, you could apply for jobs you don't care about too so you get some dummy runs, but don't lose the head in the itnerview, keep in mind all the things about customer service, company history and policy, what makes the company unique, competitior companies, what you can bring to the table and you'll eventually get there!!!!

R.D. aka MR.D

I worked in retail while paying off some debts and have a lot of experience in it at this stage!!

Basically, once you get to interview stage you are being judged on your personality. I worked in clothes shops so you were also judged on your appearance.

Make sure that you are enthusiastic and talk like you think that retail is the best career on the planet.

Best of luck.

LegacyUser

R.D. aka MR.D wrote: »

I worked in retail while paying off some debts and have a lot of experience in it at this stage!!

Basically, once you get to interview stage you are being judged on your personality. I worked in clothes shops so you were also judged on your appearance.

Make sure that you are enthusiastic and talk like you think that retail is the best career on the planet.

Best of luck.[/QUOTE

thanks, Ive heard nothing yet from the job so Im hoping the end of the week I'll get a decision. I guess my main fear is just that someone will anything over 4 months will beat me to the job as thats all I have. I have a few jobs with that duration, its just the way it played out over the last few years. My college degree was very demanding, I couldnt handle both. In interviews I think I'm ok. I'm fairly chatty, not overly chatty which would be annoying, but I answer questions well and haven't been stuck for answers. The only thing I can think as a positive really is that I have no commitments like college or family commitments, ie children ect to worry about, so I'm extremely flexible. But its hard to know what will happen, their impression of me as a person could be extremely different to what I think Im giving out.

marialouise

Don't worry about the 4 months, really. If it was a good company and you were there for a month or two, you have enough experience. And availability will work in your favour, they don't want to be rostering around anyone's life, so you do have an advantage there. Like I said I had zilch retail experience, but full availability and did a good interview and got it, you have more of an advantage than I did! Fingers crosseD!!!!

LegacyUser

OP here.

Yeah I really need to clear my head. Heard nothing yet. Been a week and a day now. going crazy clearly!!! haha. And I cant exactly follow up on it yet as they said last week, next week Id know, so its very vague!! But I'd say they have made a decision by now and aren't contacting non successful applicants perhaps!!

LegacyUser

OP here.

Should I ring and follow up now? I've heard nothing and thinking the worst at this stage?

LegacyUser

Hey guys, OP, here. so I called and was told they were still interviewing, very brief call, couple of seconds and was thanked for calling. Should I have left it and will this work against me maybe, maybe it being perceived as rude and impatient ect.

marialouise

Not at all, I took a summer job before and emailed the company after the interview as I had flights to book and couldn't wait much longer, they said I'd hear by blah blah date, and said it was good I appeared interested!

It sounds like a very normal phone call, and at least you didn't hear they have filled the position! Just try and relax now, keep yourself occupied with other things (and maybe keep up the job hunt too so you have something to focus on!)