Am I applying for the wrong jobs?

[BrieAndChilli]

Ds2 starts school in a couple of weeks so I will finally have all 3 in the same school.
I have been for the past 7 years been working in an Indian resturant (am now the most senior staff apart from the owners even though part time)
I really want to work during the day and get back my weekends and week nights, so had been applying for part time admin jobs
My previous experience has been varied from call centre customer services, sales administration to outdoor adventure organiser etc
I haven't received any interviews (apart from my old work who had an opening for a sales trainee and I decided in the interview I didn't want it as now they have to go into a little room and do loads of cold calling which I am crap at and hate)

Am I being too fussy? I want to work part time (as full time would actually gove me less money after paying childcare for 3 children and I actually want to be able to pick them upon school, take them to activities, have friends over etc)

I don't want to work in hospitality as apart from the need to work weekends I'm fed up of it, ion by want to work in a shop/retail as I want something a bit more brain using.
Most of the part time jobs want years of direct experience, sage experience etc etc
I don't have spare money to do any qualifications and wouldn't qualify for an financial help do feel like I'm in a catch 22 situation, I can't get a job without experience but can't get the experience I need without a job doing it!
I'm really awesome and always do really well at whatever job I'm doing (when we were 16 me and my friends tried to get sacked from our summer job for a laugh instead of handing in our notice and they all got sacked and I got a promotion! My current bosses have asked me numerous times over the years to take over the management of the place but it's too many hours for our family (noon to midnight 6 days a week) so I'm very capable.

Any ideas how I can improve my chances or is it a case of keep on applying and eventually o should get something?
I think it's the not getting any interviews that's getting me down, the only other job I've ever applied for and not gotten, I had been interviewed for and they rang me a few months later to offer me another job! I've never had to deal with rejection before (boohoo poor little me!!!) in a professional sense (plenty in my personal life!)

[BrieAndChilli]

Maybe it's my lack of using spellcheck that's holding me back! Should really either turn off autocorrect or proofread before posting!

[FrancesOldhamKelseyRIP]

Is there something available in a larger restaurant chain that might enable you to leverage your experience to gradually make the switch from front of house to day time admin?

[AliceAlice1979]

It sounds like with your need to have flexibility and a relatively entry level job, you will be in a very competitive section of the market. Could you try volunteering for a charity to build up current work experience? Have you tried applying for public sector jobs (generally more flexible than private sector?) can you go back to your old company and see if they have other jobs coming up? You might be better trying with an organisation you already have a foot in the door with?

[BrieAndChilli]

I am treasurer for the scout group and a member of the PTA committee
Jobs at my old work come up very rarely this is only the second time since I left 9 years ago I have seen a job advertised!
We don't really have any chain places in our town it's mostly independent resturants apart from a wetherspoons.

[AuntieDee]

Sadly the type of job you want is the type of job a lot of people in your situation want - lots of competition. You can increase your chances by filling in the application at the same time as reading the job spec - you might be unknowingly missing points out that would increase your chances of interview - if you cover all points on the job spec you should get an interview.

[BikeRunSki]

You are after the holy grail of jobs! I agree that public sector jobs are more flexible, but with a massive squeeze on public funding it is rare that they are advertised externally, a even rarer that they are permanent. In my public body roles are now only funded for 12 months at a time, so external candidates (ie those not already in established permanent positions) are only ever given contracts to the end of the current financial year.

[mandy214]

I agree that you are competing with hundreds of other people for these flexible-fit-in-with-the-school-run type jobs but I think from your OP your main issue is that you have been out of an office type environment for 7 years. That is massive in terms of technology / social media / job expectation. I think you need to maybe strengthen that side of your recent experience, and if necessary, volunteer for a while. Or are there any sort of low level jobs that you could do short term (maybe for 6 months) even full time if necessary just to get something on your CV so that when a better part time job comes up, you'll be in a better position to compete?

[TantrumsAndBalloons]

I was going to say the same thing- you want a job that loads of parents of school age children also want.

Competition is massive- school hours jobs are like hens teeth in our office and to be honest in our area as well.

If we ever do have a part time post admin post available there are 100s of applications, literally 100s. It's really hard to get it to a short list for interview so we do generally look for experience in a similar role above anything else.

It's really difficult- if you can't get the job you can't have the relevant experience- I assume there's no way you can work FT or even a 4 day compressed week?

[BrieAndChilli]

I'm wondering if I should start mentioning on my applications that I joined Mensa aged 12 in order to stand out!!

[poocatcherchampion]

Have you registered with temping agencies? Once you've got your foot in somewhere if you are as good as you say you are :) you could probably negotiate working hours.

[scatterthenuns]

What are your qualifications like?

[TantrumsAndBalloons]

Mentioning Mensa will not make you stand out in a good way.

If there are 100s of applicants we go thorough them according to relevant experience.
Saying how "awesome" you are and how you were a Mensa member at 12 is not relevant experience.

You can either keep applying in the hope that someone does offer you an interview, or do a qualification that shows the relevant skills are up to date or apply for FT jobs.

[BrieAndChilli]

The Mensa thing was tongue in cheek!

[lougle]

Do you go through the job spec and write something to address each point? For instance 'must be good with IT' in the job spec = 'I have x years experience with y software.'

[BrieAndChilli]

Yes I have 2 widows open an refer to the job spec as I'm writing the covering letter for each application.
I think because I've never done multiple applications before and had no response I'm a bit knocked for six. Previously I've always seen a job advertised, applied and got it. Self esteem is taking a bit of a bashing! Last year I applied for a job and got it but ended up having I turn it down due to childcare issues - it was 16 hours a week but different times each week and so I was going to have to pay for 40 hours childcare for ds2 and 5 evenings of after school club for ds1 and dd each just to make sure I had childcare in place!

[CloserToFiftyThanTwenty]

I know what you mean about confidence being knocked - I'm in a similar position, struggling to get my foot in the door (when I interview for a job, I tend to get it, I just can't seem to sell myself on paper right now...)

I second the suggestion to find a temp agency - you can get some recent office experience, and you might find you are offered a permanent contract on the back of some temp work you do.

[BrieAndChilli]

Closer - I think you might have the answer!!! The agency in our town sometime supplies work with staff and the manager is one of our customers and I know him to chat to. Will pop in and see him.