can you help me work out why i can't get a supermarket job?

[jobrequired]

Tale as old as time, i'm mid 40s, husband and i are discussing terms of theoretical separation and divorce and i need to work.

Please be decent if you reply, don't leave inflammatory responses, i'm going through a very difficult time and every day is a struggle.

I am looking for helpful insight.

i have worked in a traditional/classic "status" profession (eg chartered accounting, clergy, medicine) for 5 years but have suffered very poor MH , GAD with the presence of panic attacks which continue to this very day and significantly impact me daily. I only have a couple of friends i'm in touch with and they agree that I am not suited to returning to the profession and don't think i could perform to the level required. On paper, I'm highly skilled but in reality, i really struggled to perform and work things out on the job.

I have been out of work for 5 years and i want a job that isn't too demanding and that i can just go in to do without yet more training. I've been rejected from admin roles even though I've got admin experience.

i feel that i've adapted my CV to the roles I've applied for. Specifically for the supermarket and retail jobs, I have taken off post-graduate qualifications and the professional roles.

I currently do volunteer work at a school and go in one morning a week to read with children. It's a very basic function and i don't organise anything as the school don't want that nor do i use any skills. I literally listen and prompt so i don't think this voluntary work could progress into paid employment.

On another thread, I read about a woman in her 50s who hadn't worked for a while and was in a similar situation in terms of marriage status and she was told to get a job at a supermarket to get her back into working. Separate to that, I had already been applying for low paid roles in retail and supermarkets. I've been rejected from Morrisons,Tesco, Cinton Cards Seasalt and Boots.

I have my own suspicions as to why I'm getting rejected but would like to hear of success stories and how people actually do get jobs in places such as these.

What do I need to do in the tests - Tesco one was very different from the Morrisons!

What would a successful candidate CV look like and contain or avoid?

Can anyone help me with suggestions on how to return to work or any resources?

I've been trying off and on for 3 years to return to work, so i'm not sitting passively hoping to just submit a CV and get an interview. I've been filling applications, doing virtual/ automated preliminary interviews etc but don't seem to progress.

Thank you.

Have you considered the civil service. There is a wide range of grades so there will be some that might suit.

Just another option to think about.

Agreed, that’s why I switched to tutoring, I did retail once it was exhausting (I also have anxiety, and I personally found there was quite some improvisation, and as you said, rush)
Tutoring, especially with primary age, there’s really not that much to do.
Exam preps got me slightly insane but I earned more

Have a look at your local high street. Things like opticians, solicitors etc. would need admin / reception staff. More likely to have office hours and make use of some of your pre-existing skills.

The idea of looking at a tutor job might be good but I don't have any specific subject specialism.

I was also thinking supermarket work might be available quickly which is what I need - situation requires me to be financially independent asap.

I really feel stuck.

You don’t need to. Parents (being likeable to parents is huge) will like the fact that you went post grad.
And as I mentioned, up to a certain age, it’s not very hard to teach them any subject, the exception being languages

After years of admin / hospitality work I was just looking for a local do your hours and go home type work ( due to caring responsibilities)

Because that's not how it is. Last supermarket I worked for had a clause in the contract that you had to be willing to work 1 1/2 times your contracted hours per week if asked to. To cover sickness and holidays. They would sometimes be asking half hour before your shift ended if you could stay on another few hours. You don't have the flexibility they want.

I was once told by someone in recruitment, that CV's longer than 2 pages go immediately in to the "no" pile. Is your CV short and to the point?

What about exam marking? Possibly accountancy? Not something I know anything about, just wondered if that would perhaps suit or would it feel to pressurised?

Exam invigilator? Grantee not long term but might be a useful stepping stone

Try carer jobs then. If you want instant employment you need to look at the jobs nobody else wants with companies who are crying out for staff. Lots of people want supermarket roles.

If you were a traditional professional, does your old governing body have a charitable arm that gives career advice? I know you don't want a traditional role, but they might still be able to help even with an admin role.

How far along the recruitment process are you getting? If you have had f2f interviews have you asked for any feedback?

It can be hard because many of the large employers have complex processes and require candidates to ‘tick’ certain boxes.

You might have more luck with smaller or independent stores that value finding good staff more.

I couldn’t tell you the delays for recruitment by professional agencies here because I’m an international student. It wasn’t that long I think, tutoring is in demand, and especially I think you fit the profile (for ex experience with reading to children in primary schools). Maybe just have a google search.
Some agencies are more reputable than others, need to keep that in mind

Try volunteering in a charity shop and then look for paid work in a charity shop? I know someone who did this. The pay will probably be minimum wage, but it's a start. I volunteer in a charity shop and the work is very varied and interesting.

If your mental health and GAD affects you as badly as you describe on a daily basis, then I am going to guess that you are failing the Situational Judgement tests.

It really does not sound like supermarket work is suitable for you. The recruitment methods they use have been developed that way for a reason. They may not be foolproof, but an enormous amount of money and research goes in to designing these processes. They are looking to weed out unsuitable candidates as early as possible in the process, and it seems like they are doing their job!

With your qualifications and experience, there must be something more suitable that you could do.

It is difficult to make suggestions without knowing anything of your background. However, public sector admin roles could be viable. Many of these are based at home or hybrid these days.

Or a more junior role in the field in which you are qualified?

Delivery roles also a potential option?

Not sure what it is about cleaning that doesn’t also apply to most retail work, so it’s quite difficult to propose suitable suggestions.

I mention more reputable because these things work a lot by word of mouth, advice from parents of older children etc.
No harm in googling and calling them (I did that, I found it easier than sending a resume and just waiting). And you’ll get lots more information.

@jobrequired if you try calling though you need I think to think of a better motivation reason (ex: volunteering in primary made me realise I loved it or something). And upbeat, flexible for hours (that’s a huge one), flexible in general really, you can’t sound too anxious (I have anxiety too)

I currently do volunteer work at a school and go in one morning a week to read with children. It's a very basic function and i don't organise anything as the school don't want that nor do i use any skills. I literally listen and prompt so i don't think this voluntary work could progress into paid employment.

    But it DOES provide evidence of your current ability to do a responsible. client-facing JOB; it's a source of a good reference;  and it demonstrates transferable  work skills.  So even though it's unpaid,  your current work should be the central feature of your CV.  Showing you have experience and qualities valued  in retail roles  ( reliable time keeping and commitment, patient persistence, attention to detail; social skills,  success at customer satisfaction, ). 

(Brief naming of previous profession, you might say WTE it was a highly driven career with limited scope for part time work and you now seek a change that fits better with other commitments (unspecified).

 "For the past X years (or, since last March 2022 which ever sounds longer) I have been a regular volunteer literacy assistant at St Marks School in Yetford. For this post I hold a current DBS certificate. I work X hours a day , Y days a week, to support pupils  reading skills . I work one to one, in a very focussed role  that requires  empathy, tact, and patience and good humour.  It can sometimes  be repetitive and frustrating but I  really enjoy the challenge, and the reward is seeing pupils growing self confidence and  steady progress.  The Head Teacher  Ms Blogg will be pleased to supply a reference".

Can you clarify if you're getting through to interview stage @jobrequired ?

Without knowing what it was about your professional roles that you found so difficult, I wonder whether retail would really be suitable for you? The general public can be difficult to deal with and more and more retail staff are expected to do a lot as part of a role.

What about something like a support worker role?

ESL tutoring online could also be worth looking into - you can offer conversation practice for a lower price than structured lessons on some sites, and it’s another thing that past professional experience and your current volunteering can be made relevant to.

Have a look at NMH roles in universities, such as a note-taker or an autism mentor. Most of these roles are remote and autism mentor only needs a degree and a two day course in supporting autistic students.

I came on to ask this too...

What about something like a support worker role?

She can't effectively support the clients while she's having a panic attack herself. She's not well enough for the role.

OP are you actually fit for work? Are you performing the same in your volunteer job as you would in a paid role, or is your performance lacking but you're getting away with it because you're "only" a volunteer?

Just seen you can't clean. You've got no chance in a supermarket, those places are filthy and generally everyone does every role/function. Faced with someone saying they can't clean due to their MH they're going to roll their eyes and bin the application, sorry.

Definitely try employment agencies. You sound like someone employers might have to meet and see your work to see your value to the company, on paper it maybe doesn't look like you have enough to offer for the type of role you want. Definitely don't tell anyone you just want a simple low stress work/get paid/go home type job, no employer ever wants to hear that, even though getting paid is the only reason the majority of people go to work!

Apologies if it’s been suggested but have you been to your Job Centre and asked if anyone can give you some advice and guidance?