Why is recruiting so hard?

It's sounds like your only attracting applications from people who have to apply for x jobs per week of are sanctioned.

So it's either only being advertised on whatever jobs board the job centre is using now or is really really unattractive

The job advert obviously isn’t written in an appealing way coupled with the fact that ye are probably advertising in the wrong areas

If you pay enough, you’ll get candidates for the job. I’m betting the salary isn’t advertised (red flag), so you’re getting a bunch of hopefuls applying. Either take a chance on a hopeful - they may work out; be out and proud regarding the salary - put it in the add; and if all else fails - go to a recruiter.

when the inevitable "no one wants to work" bs gets raised, the inevitable response is, let’s test that theory by advertising for the job with a 100k salary.

Is it in the North-East? I have a friend looking for a part-time admin type role- he's great with spreadsheets.

"Although as it's a part-time job and incredibly flexible with the hours I'd assume that it would be mums with young children who would be applying, but it's not".

Sexist too, great!

Fathers can do childcare not just mothers.

Or it could be prison!

No one with any brains is going to interview for a part-time, 100% on-site job without knowing the salary range and where the prior employee isn't still there to train you, which also means your boss is unorganized and too cheap to pay two people so one can train the other for a couple of weeks.

You should just list the career break with no reason. It's indirect sex discrimination if they ask as it could be to care for children, elderly relatives etc. I wouldn't highlight a health condition on your cv if at all possible.

If your boss is too cheap to pay a recruiter and doesn't advertise salary, it's a part time minimum wage job

1. you are not paying enough
2. you are not advertising the salary

This is all.

My advice would be:

Don't discriminate against people with health issues or who are on maternity leave - as well as being a legal no-no, you're potentially missing out on good candidates by further restricting your options.
Make the job more attractive. An on-site part-time admin role might not seem particularly exciting. What can you (the company) add to make it more appealing? Emphasise those things in the advert.
Pay a competitive salary and advertise the salary.
If this is the pool of candidates you have to pick from after your best efforts to attract people, accept that and make the best available choice from the people appointable.

If you are not getting decent applicants then it is because the salary is too low for the job role, it's that simple for me.

Although, its horrible out there for applicants at the min aswell! My partner applies for loads of jobs and barely hears a thing back, its awful. He's well educated aswell, it's a nightmare.

Having read OP's updates I understand what she means, people who go into lots of detail about their various health issues are clearly only applying to keep claiming UC. Nothing for her to reconsider or 'tread carefully'.

You have to cast the net wider. So either an agency worker who can start asap or wait to find the right person. Immediate start is a red herring.

In the advert add the salary range.

If it's office based over wfh then expect you'll have a smaller pool of talent.

Job history or health (or age) is not really useful to use for shortlisting. Since covid work has really changed, as has health. I don't think your perfect candidate exists so you'll have to be very open minded and use the probation period wisely.

My company is actively targeting employee retention. External recruitment is very hard and they want to avoid people leaving. The recruitment process is very thorough but definitely a trend for hiring transferable skills and attitude is rising.

I used to get dozens of inappropriate applications from people who were clearly only applying to meet the quota required to continue claiming benefits.

You have one of a few problems:

1- your advert is wrong, pull it, scrub it and re advertise.
2- the listed salary is unrealistic for what you want
3- the salary isn’t listed (personally I don’t apply for jobs if the salary isn’t listed - why should I waste my time with an organisation who’s as transparent as mud)
4- your expectations are unrealistic, you’re expecting a master of all trades that just doesn’t exist

get advice from a recruiter, they’ll be able to tell you what’s wrong with your approach fairly quickly.

also you sound like you’re actively discriminating against some applicants - reconsider your outlook and tread carefully.

You need to advertise the salary
People are less likely to apply for a job where no salary is stated or it just says competitive. Usually means the salary is rubbish when it's not stated

You can't be serious?

When was the last time you applied for a job?

Your description is rubbish.

Filing, no experience, minimum wage
Filing + data entry, small uplift,
Filing+ data entry +other office duties another uplift
Add in answering the phone, receptionist duties, maybe someone with experience and you should be quite a bit over minimum wage, or if a good employer, living wage.

I would guess that your salary is too low. Have you proof read your advert? I won't apply for jobs where the ad is badly written.

That would indeed be a grim prospect

Can you really big up the flexible hours? How flexible are they? Are there core hours e.g. 10-2 or can you pick your hours?

As it's office based I'm guessing it's 9-5 or 9-6. That doesn't scream flexible hours to me. Flexible hours means I can start whenever and finish whenever as long as I do my contracted hours. If it's flexible hours, but only when the office is open that isn't really flexible hours. Unless it's a 24hr office.

As it sounds part time, can I pick own days to work my hours? So work if I work 16 hrs I can work 9.30-2.30 over 4 days? Or 2 long days. Or in whatever configuration fits my needs (childcare/ caring/ partner shifts ect)? If so really big up that.

Why can’t an office job which involves using software have any WFH element? Does it involve meeting clients/service users?

trust me, you won't want to apply

data entry into some shite homebrew software that glitches for £4 an hour.

Surely this whole discussion is pointless when even you don't know the pay. Why not put that in your OP? You can't be so naive as to not think people will apply or not based on the pay? Your boss has put you in a ridiculous position.

@Turkeyhen - I am not job hunting and I want to know what it is!