that young adults are being tqken for a ride when looking for work

[lily2309]

I dont think that I am being unreasonable when I get angry hearing about teenagers and young adults being used by employers . They are so desperate to get a job and experience that companies can take them on as "slave labour" promising possible work at the end of either 3-6- or even 12 months and then say sorry we have to let you go. My DD has been looking for a job for 9 months now. She was offered a paid partime job but turned it down to work unpaid for a company that she wished to get experience with. They strung her along for over a month then finally she started work and on the first day was told that actually she should only come in from 2 -5.30pm as there was no room in the officefor her to work. On the third day she went in and was told actually we dont really need you until Jan/Feb 2010 ! Her self esteem has just plummeted plus the fact she missed the other job. And has to start looking all over again. Does anyone agree that there should be some legislation regarding the control of this type of employment. Would like to hear comments

[fernie3]

well i dont know if I qualify here but I am 26 (so maybe not so young) BUT I have been looking for part time work for a year I must have applied for hundreds of jobs now but still havent got one. I think this is my own fault though, I got married straight after graduating uni and had kids so no experience in anything. although why you need experience for a job in a shop or as a hospital cleaner is beyond me. I tried applying for voluntary positions and started at one but childcare was WAYYYY to expensive when I wasnt getting paid and when we started having to get into debt for it I decided to stop.

another pet hate of mine is that we dont qualify for tax credits childcare element because of my husbands income but childcare is HUGELY expensive so Im not sure what your are supposed to do there! ah well if only I had known this 6 years ago.

I really feel sorry for your daughter I know that it does make you feel like you are a totally worthless member of society

[sunnydelight]

I agree, it sucks. Your poor DD; in theory it would seem like a really sensible decision to try and get experience in an area of interest as it's often a chicken and egg situation with experience/jobs, so she must be gutted now.

[TheBossofMe]

That's terrible for your poor DD. In my company, we take on lots of unpaid interns (they get paid travel and lunch) for three month periods, especially at the moment, but they sign a contract like everyone else, so could never be just dumped like that. And we frequently then hire these interns for graduate roles when they become available (four roles just came up, all of which were filled by people who've interned for us over the last year). Shame on any company that treats its interns so badly.

[ruddynorah]

'although why you need experience for a job in a shop or as a hospital cleaner is beyond me.'

maybe that's coming across in your interview?!

how about some weekend voluntary work in a charity shop while your dp is home? that way you will build up something to put on your CV. and then if you can get some paid retail work you may find you can fit this in with your dp's work so not having to pay for childcare. i'm a retail manager and i work evenings for this reason. most of my team work 6-10pm 3 or 4 evenings a week.

[fernie3]

ruddynorah - you are probably right I do give rubbish interviews I am not the most sociable of people at the best of times and when they asked for example "why do you want this job?" in an interview for a hospital cleaner its hard to think of an answer that doesnt make you sound insane!

Alot of the jobs I have applied for are weekends or partially weekends but my husband works on calls every other weekend so we need childcare in place on those weekends as well.

Having said that a job in a shop I would actually love because I worked part time in clintons cards before having my first child and again after and LOVED it - but when I say this in an interview they dont seem to belive me - again my rubbish interviews coming through there I think.

also for example boots told me they thought I was too old (fgs I am 26) for the position and that I would not stay there long. - sad pathetic face.

I have another interview next weekend which is just for one day a week so fingers crossed

[whichwitchisthis]

I've applied for a lot of jobs recently and have got the impression that as soon as employers find out I have kids or that I can't work anytime of the day 7 days a week it pretty much kills my chances of getting the job

Oh well will just keep trying but it is soul destroying when they won't even take you on at a supermarket, surley they can't expect everyone to be super flexible

[fernie3]

whichwitchisthis - I know what you mean at every itnerview I have I have been asked the ages of my kids an my childcare arrangements -also who will look after them if they are ill . My husband has never once been asked this.

[sherby]

I don't think boots can say that they think you are 'too old' for a position at 26!!!!

[fernie3]

sherby they did twice. once "all the other weekend workers are much younger" and then "we feel that you are too old to take on in this role" you cant get much clearer than that!

[ErikaMaye]

I'm 18, and yes, its ridiculous. The thing that bugs me as well is the fact that every damn job requires "experience" and get no where will employ you to allow you that experience!! Before I got ill I worked weekends in a shop, before that in a cafe, and before that I had a paper round. Doesn't count for anything.

And then of course, young people are slated for not doing anything

[whichwitchisthis]

fernie I have also been declined even an interview at Boots as they feel I'm not able to be flexible enough with my hours I can work, I can do 20 hours a week over three or four days a week all I want is for the days to be set, so I can arrange childcare!

I am willing to work on a weekend, but not every weekend

I'm 28 so not that old

the other day at Anne Summers I went in to see if they were looking for any staff and the manager woman was a right patronising cow, I had ds2 with me in his buggy,

Cowbag: what hours would you want to work

Me; Well part time either during the day and I'll arrange childcare, or I can do any night of the week, or a mixtire with notice

Cowbag; Well we don't really do set hours, see Claire here behhind the counter, her hours are supposed to be 12 a week but some weeks she can do upto 30

Me: Ok, I'm all for a bit of overtime, how much notice would you get of what your shifts would be and I'll ask the nursery how much notice they would need

Cowbag: Well not much notice at all, we really require people with no other commitments to be honest!!!!!!

surely this is some sort of discrimination! she's tried to put me off even handing my CV in!!

[pointyhat]

Young people can be treated badly by employers. It has always been so, though. I don't think this is a new problem.

YANBU to be cross and frusttrated.

[MrsMorgan]

It is the same all over tbh. I also got refused an interview for Boots for the same reason as others.

Last week I got turned down for a job in a coffee shop because I couldn't say that if asked, I could work every weekend Sat & Sun.
I had said I could work any week day and one weekend shift every week but no, not good enough.

I am a single parent so I just cannot be 100% flexible and so employers don't want to know.

[whichwitchisthis]

exactly MrsMorgan what gets me is they have all the students and younger adults aged 16-18 who probably can't work during the weekdays so why not let them work the nights and weekends? Maybe there is something I'm missing....

[TheBossofMe]

I think retail and catering roles, though, are particularly difficult when it comes to being flexible about childcare/working hours etc. To be honest, I think they are both industries where it is very difficult to build a career (or even get a job) when you have children due to their 7-days-a week nature. Plus they are also heavily targeted by younger people (16-21) who can be more flexible with working hours.

I might be being naive, but if I were looking for an entry level job in a more "within the working week" environment, ie offices etc - better chance of fixed days, clearer sight on what working hours are needed, and also more likely to be working with those who also have children, so understand that those with children can't just work any old hours at no notice. I know these jobs are thin on the ground, but there are some around - we've just filled three roles in our office (catering assistant, junior receptionist, junior secretary) with Mums with small children. Two of whom had had been out of the work environment for 5+ years. Its tough, but not impossible. In the meantime, though, look at polishing up skills through evening classes or learn from home courses, which can even be funded if you are on a low-income.

By the way, I'm pretty sure that asking anyone about childcare at an interview (ie how would you cope) is illegal (esxual discrimination), and I'd be reporting that person to the national HQ of their employer....

[Hando]

Fernie, I'm the same age as you and I also have a daughter.

I'm almost sure you can claim the childcare element of tax credits if you are working part itme or voluntary work.

Have you thought about going to college or doing an Open University course? If you are ona low family income then you are entitled to government funding (courses paid in full and help with childcare costs)

If you husband is work weekdays and some weekends can you not ask him to perhaps compromise with his job to see if he can work from home or cut down his hours to enable you to work?

Are your children school age? If so why don't you try and get a job in a school? Or if they are preschoolers you could try your local childrens centre as they often offer free/affordable childcare places int heir nurseries to those on a low income!

[TheBossofMe]

Sorry - just realised my post doesn't make sense. It should read:

"if I were looking for an entry level job, I would look in a more "within the working week" environment"

Also, its sexual discrimination

Good typing is clearly not a skill I've picked up along the way