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Original poster

Bloody Next jobs

51 replies

Ihopeyourcakeisshit · 14/11/2018 16:59

In September I applied to Next for a part time position I saw advertised, 6 hours over 2 days.
Apparently I passed the online test but about a week later received an e- mail to say I hadn't made the interview stage but try again next time. So I did and 4 other times after that, always with the same end result, shortlisted but no interview. Until...
5 minutes ago I was contacted by Next on the phone and asked if I could spare 5 mins for a chat.
I was then asked if I could work Christmas eve and boxing day? I said yes but I would have to confirm, she said she needed to know now or there was no point in continuing the interview.
I would be expected in store at 6am Boxing day.
I said no.
What kind of shit arse recruitment process is that Hmm

OP posts:
sausagefingers9 · 14/11/2018 17:04

That is terrible. 2 days work on the busiest time, is there any chance of a job after? Will they even train you properly?

LaurieFairyCake · 14/11/2018 17:05

Surely that's just them saying that they are recruiting for before Christmas but they don't want to take people on who won't work the busiest days of the year?

That's not the only days she offered you?

Original poster
Ihopeyourcakeisshit · 14/11/2018 17:08

I don't know, I presume the normal shift i had applied for would be available afterwards? but I'll never know.

OP posts:
ScreamingValenta · 14/11/2018 17:08

Sounds like you would potentially have been their cover' for any undesirable shifts over the festive period, and could probably have kissed goodbye to New Year's Eve/Day as well if you'd accepted.

BadgersBiggestFan · 14/11/2018 17:09

They commonly take people on just for the sale days. I worked one as a teen.

thenightsky · 14/11/2018 17:13

Blimey, they still do that 6am opening on boxing day thing? I thought that had died out with internet shopping Shock

TaliZorahVasNormandy · 14/11/2018 17:36

You'd be xmas cover. I would imagine with no job in the new year.

GirlAtTheRockShow · 14/11/2018 17:37

Ditto what @BadgersBiggestFan said - I worked a Boxing Day for them once - we were given break times/lunchtimes - but because the store was so chocka and no one knew who I was, I also went on my friends breaks/lunch with her 😂😂 soz Next!

Original poster
Ihopeyourcakeisshit · 14/11/2018 17:39

I was pretty convinced that my previous rejections were probably on the basis of age discrimination (50) now it's approaching Christmas it's obviously a case of get anyone in to cover the floor, despite their 'customer focused retail bs'
Quite pissed off, I have years of retail and customer service experience but as my dh has just said, I can kiss goodbye to ever working there.

OP posts:
Storm4star · 14/11/2018 18:05

It sounds to me like you've had a very lucky escape. It's actually really shit treating people like that. No wonder there are then people saying they don't want to jeopardise their benefits by taking these sorts of jobs. I wouldn't either.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 14/11/2018 18:07

I thought that was standard in retail? The working Christmas eve and early Boxing Day.

Original poster
Ihopeyourcakeisshit · 14/11/2018 18:11

Storm I know you're right but it has given me a rather sad wake up call that I'm very unlikely to get a job, even in 'crappy retail' I'm not over the hill yet.

OP posts:
britnay · 14/11/2018 18:11

Sounds like they are just after cannon fodder

Original poster
Ihopeyourcakeisshit · 14/11/2018 18:13

Not all retail is 6am Boxing day.
I'm quite happy to do unsociable hours but the 5 previous rejections over the last 3 months made me Hmm

OP posts:
CleanHonestGoals · 14/11/2018 18:15

You are not over the hill at all...I work for a large retail company and we have have several new starters in your age range.

RandomMess · 14/11/2018 18:16

All next staff have to work C Eve and Boxing Day due to it being their big sale day.

Original poster
Ihopeyourcakeisshit · 14/11/2018 18:16

Any vacancies Clean? Grin

OP posts:
ScreamingValenta · 14/11/2018 18:17

I would be annoyed too. I would feel like saying 'Oh, so you rejected me three times but you suddenly want me now?' and blowing a loud raspberry before hanging up. Obviously I wouldn't do that, but that's how I'd feel.

Original poster
Ihopeyourcakeisshit · 14/11/2018 18:19

Exactly!

OP posts:
Storm4star · 14/11/2018 18:20

Have you thought about admin work? In my organisation they take on staff of all ages for those roles. What sort of thing would you like to do? There are a lot of jobs where experience is valued and they would prefer to hire someone older.

crow2018 · 14/11/2018 18:21

I used to work for Next, they ask because all staff have to work Christmas Eve and Boxing Day because of the sale. It's in there contracts that you have to work it even if it's not your contracted days

Original poster
Ihopeyourcakeisshit · 14/11/2018 18:22

I get that.
I've been rejected 5 times previously!

OP posts:
topcat2014 · 14/11/2018 18:23

Why would you keep applying though? How much time were they expecting you to leave between applications

worked in retail for two christmasses, never again

Aworldofmyown · 14/11/2018 18:23

With the Next recruitment process you have to be VERY flexible with the hours you can work when you fill in the form even if its for advertised set hours. The trick is to make yourself much more available than you want to work on the form until you get to interview. Then if they like you they will employ you.

Also ALL Next staff are required to work xmas eve and the two days after Christmas day - its non negotiable and the reason I left in the end, you can't even have one Christmas off and after 8 years i was fed up. They also blanket ban all holiday for the whole of dec and the first two weeks in Jan.

katseyes7 · 14/11/2018 18:25

My friend used to work at Next. She said it ruined Christmas Day for her and her family, because having to be up so early on Boxing Day meant she had to go to bed ridiculously early on Christmas Night. lt's hardly conducive to a 'family Christmas'.
Why on earth they need to open at daft o'clock on Boxing Day is beyond me.