Teenage job interview process - is this usual now?

[SomersetBrie]

DC 17 is looking for a job. He's applied for lots over the last 6 months. He's quite quiet and has no experience (hospitality jobs mainly) so I can understand this process is difficult.
The following has happened:

1. Send in application form/CV for advertised job. Hears nothing. Totally fine.
2. Does interview. Never hears from them again. I don't like this, but, sigh, fine.
3. Does interview, they ask if they can take up his references. He has two - one from a hobby group and one from his daily paper round. They take up his references - never hears from them again. This is surely not fine? It's a waste of referees' time and goodwill, they are not going to want to do this indefinitely. So far this has happened once a couple of months ago, but last week he was asked to supply references again twice and so far has heard nothing.

It's possible but unlikely paper round is giving him a bad reference, but I can't see why. They are still employing him, and he doesn't plan to quit even with a new job. Is this how life is now? If it were me, I would be contacting the employers to ask for "feedback" but that is not his style. Despite my interest and support in all of this, I am leaving it all to him to actually find a job. What do you think?

3 has never happened to me but 1 and 2 has. To expand on 2, after an interview I will ask when I will hear the results and they always give a reply in the form of “If you are successful, you will be contacted by end of Monday” so no contact by Monday = unsuccessful.

That's a great idea.
It's possible they are saying something like that to him and he is not hearing it that way. My wider circle seems to think that 2 is life now, but I am still a bit surprised about taking up references and dropping off.

I think that it’s the height of discourtesy to interview someone and fail to contact them with the outcome of that interview. I know that’s how it often is now and I agree that asking when the candidate will hear is a good idea, but the basic lack of consideration is a poor example to set to young people looking to join the workforce.

I am job searching atm and interviewers have been happy to disclose how many days of interviews they are doing. So I went on Monday, was told that they were interviewing until Thursday so would hear by end of next Monday if successful.

As previous posters have mentioned, always ask when you will hear from them by if you are successful. I would also guess that the references may be a stumbling block. It won't be a bad reference as such, just a badly written reference. Sometimes if it doesn't have the right key points, or perhaps uses non business language, it can be a turn off for a company. I would suggest trying to ask one of his ex teachers, as their words may carry a bit more weight than the hobby group perhaps. It is hard for youngsters to get a step on the employment ladder. As they don't have experience, but won't get any unless someone takes a punt. At least your son has a paper round under his belt. It may not sound much, but it shows a good ethos getting up at silly hours, and all weathers, so don't be disheartened. I always told my kids to go into an interview as if the job was already theirs and it is just a formality. They have always been employed, so must be doing something good - I hope it was that? GL

This, that is so rude.

I understand what you are saying about the references, I have wondered what they are saying about him. In my day, you only took up references if you were seriously thinking of employing someone, these days I am just wondering if it's more casual.
However, this does not excuse the non-response from the employers. I'd be inclined to want to let a job seeker know if the reference was the reason they did not get a job. And I wouldn't be taking up a referee's time lightly - my DS has round 64 or something of the paper routes - that's potentially a lot of reference writing!

If he's getting to interview stage and doesn't get offered the job, I'd suggest he asks for feedback. That way you know if it's references, lack of experience, interview technique.

Yes indeed!
There's a lovely farm shop I've been avoiding since they never got back to him!

I agree it's rude not to send even a standard "regret" email.

If it were me, I would be contacting the employers to ask for "feedback" but that is not his style
He needs to get over this.

Do you know that the referees are definitely responding? If they don't (or don't quickly) that might lead to them going with someone else.

It probably is interview technique, he is super quiet and of the impression that he doesn't need to tell anyone anything as it's "already on the form."
We are working on that.
My point really is about the discourtesy of employers now, it's not a big ask to send a stock email to say sorry, after someone takes the time out of their day (and indeed their mother's day if I have to drive him!) to attend an interview.

Yes they are. DS got a notification to say that referees were in.
That was once though - they may be more reluctant now.

Unfortunately this kind of thing is all too common and we experienced it when ds was applying for jobs/ apprenticeships. I think it is shockingly poor manners. Employers have even said they will phone the next day (whether successful or not) and we are still waiting for those phone calls now - 12 months later 🙄. Even a rejection email would do!
I told my son that if an employer can’t even get the basics of communication right during the recruitment process , you wouldn’t want to work there anyway!

I know some employers are not keen to divulge reasons for not being selected. They are perhaps worried about saying the wrong thing and causing problems. So, I know it is easy to say, but don't take it personal and move on. If they can't be courteous do you really want to work for them anyway would be my outlook.

Does he have any friends who have jobs locally? My DS got his first part time job because of a recommendation from his friend who worked there. (Burger King). Just another route in.

I hear you but I am worried he will use up all the goodwill of his referees if they are asked too many times.
I was trying to get a feel for how things are now, if this is normal or not.
I agree longer term that you might not want to work for people who behave like this, but he is looking for a first piece of experience and I don't think would be too fussy about their communication style once they offered him a job.

He needs to ask for interview feedback.

What kind of thing is he applying for?

It sounds like he is either not interviewing well, or his references are not particularly well written.

One more thing, I have been doing a lot of entry level recruitment for administrators recently. We have been getting upwards of 80 CVs per application.

So only the best CVs are being offered an interview.

We would usually interview 5-8 people per vacancy. If he is not performing well in interviews that may be where he is losing out.

Suggest he researches interviews on you tube. There are some really good podcasts.

Also remember to adapt the CV to the job including a dynamic personal statement.

What sort of jobs is he applying for at 17? He has to be in education until 18 so I’m guessing they’re part time weekend/evening jobs?

I thought that once offered a post, the company then takes up references. Taking personal references before they offer a job doesn’t sound right - especially as so many companies nowadays don’t even use references!

Officially they’re only supposed to ask a referee if the person applying for the job works/has worked for the company and how many sick days you’ve had. In the business world, nobody writes personal references anymore do they?

That's interesting. About how many people would you take references from for one job? That's kind of what I am trying to find out.
He applied for an events catering job. They were taking lots of people and interviewed dozens. Do you think they took references from everyone and then decided?
Also, with 5-8 people for interview, do you contact everyone afterwards or just successful candidates?

A farm shop? So in that case, ask for someone who knows your DS (a teacher/friend of his parent etc to write a personal reference - that’s not the same as a general HR style job reference, where it simply states DS has worked for them for x time.

If your DS has forgotten a couple of papers here & there etc there’s a chance his boss is writing negatively and that’s unfair.
Plus, having his current employer as a referee surely means he won’t write a positive one if he wants to keep him….it they’ll be a paper boy short.
People in industry don’t give their current employer as a referee otherwise they would know they were looking for work elsewhere!

This is exactly what I thought too! Offer of position pending references.

He's at sixth form so just applying for part time jobs. Events catering, takeaways, lugging Christmas trees around a farm shop, waitering jobs.