What is going on with the job market, it's crazy!

[Ketchupandcustard]

Not sure why i'm starting this thread, maybe so I can see that others are in the same boat and to stop me losing my mind?!

I applied for a job at my sons school in the office, I applied with 5 days to spare before the closing date. I waited and waited and heard nothing. I chased it up, still heard nothing. Then found out from the school newsletter that the job had been appointed, so I emailed and asked for feedback on my application. I got a reply today telling me that there was nothing necessarily wrong with my application, it's just that they had already appointed the role before they received my application?! No indication in the job advert that they were doing rolling interviews or potentially closing the advert early or anything. So basically, my lengthy application that I spent hours on was completely pointless before I had even sent it, I didn't even stand a chance. Is this even legal?! Why is it okay to waste people's time like this?!

My second grievance is the fact that so many jobs have a ridiculously lengthy list of essential criteria, for jobs with such low pay. I found a job a few weeks ago that wanted you to be a qualified, experienced dog trainer with extensive experience with working dogs, as well as extensive training and experience working with adults and children with additional needs, among other things, all of this for just under £14p/h. Who has that much experience and is looking for a job for less than £14p/h?!

I applied for a job working for minimum wage in a veterinary practice reception, and was told that I lacked experience, despite me having run my own animal related business for over 10 years, and prior to that having worked in a veterinary hospital and a children's hospital. How can I lack experience for a minimum wage job when I have that much experience?

My husband is also looking for a job at the moment, the amount of jobs he applies for which require so much of his time, yet they can't even send a courtesy e-mail to say thanks but no thanks. It's so rude!

Don't even get me started on the jobs that don't advertise the salary, can we stop pretending that people don't work for money, because we do. Put the salary, it's just a waste of everyone's time if you don't. I saw a job yesterday that said the salary was up to £3000 more than your current salary?! What on earth is that about?! Surely they know what their salary range is? How can it be based on your current salary? How is that fair?!

I've had a job since I was 12 years old, i'm nearly 40 and I have never felt less employable than I do now, I literally feel like I am worth nothing to anyone. I have a degree, an extensive employment background as well as having run my own business for 10 years, why is it so hard to find a job? I know it is an employers market right now, but my goodness it's soul destroying. I just want a job, why is it so bloody hard?

The increased cost of employment hasn't helped, higher minimum wage and employer NI.

However, if an applicant who already has the skills/training to do the job has applied, surely it makes sense to offer them the job over someone who'd need training?

Many job vacancies that are advertised note that reserve the right to appoint ahead of the closing date. Don't lose hope, keep applying! Good luck!

Yep. What a bad policy.

I have been out of work for 3 months and it's very tough, I have applied for well over 150 jobs but it's a slow process with a lot of the companies and most companies you don't hear from at all. Don't get me started on salary not being advertised.

Very kind, I've worked in Human Resources for 30 years so no, she won't be. Working in Human Resources is pretty much the front line with dealing with immigrant recruitment, diversity monitoring, visas, disciplinary and performance management.

But in today's world we have to pretend we have no idea what's happening.

Salary not being advertised is a huge bug bear for me. I cannot for the life of me understand why they don't put it?! It is hugely relevant! I've enquired about salary ranges when it hasn't been listed and no one even gets back to me, it feels like they are affronted that i've dared to ask, because I can't possibly want the job enough if I only care about the pay. Well yeah, I do only care about the bloody pay, it's relevant to everything!

Good luck, 150 job applications is tough. I just wish you at least got a rejection email when you invest your time in applying, it just feels like basic manners!

My husband has massively broadened the search and now applying for jobs anywhere he can find them, today he applied for one in Edinburgh and we live in the south east. Sods law says he'll get that one and we'll have to uproot everything and move! What else can you do if you can't find a job more locally though?!

People are going to have to start to make an effort to keep their jobs.

British people are so entitled when it comes to work. Lazy fuckers for the most part, which is why employers prefer immigrants.

This is really common in the nhs to do this. I feel it’s really unfair to candidates unless ofcourse they were recruiting for multiple roles in appointments/ phone teams/ typing pool/ bank workers etc but for one off roles it can be unfair.

This all sounds incredibly frustrating and you have my sympathy! I’ve seen it myself too. It’s soul destroying.

Really? No diversity in school staff? You seem pretty adamant about that. Isn't that racist to not have any diversity in school staff?

I've literally had a job since I was 12 years old. Massive sweeping generalisation about British people there i'd say. Most people I know work really hard. I really hope you're not implying that i'm lazy and entitled, because I cannot see anything i've said that suggests that's true?

Unless I’ve missed it, the link you posted yourself makes no mention of billions.

You can’t give feedback on every application form op if you get 100 per job ad.

Feedback after an interview is fair enough.

Essentially they just gave it to someone else.

It takes weeks and costs a lot of money to recruit. Sometimes applicants waste your time interviewing when they don’t really want to job too.

The whole process is a pain on either side.

@Ketchupandcustard

has he registered with a recruitment agency?

No, it's called capitalism. It's what you right-wingers love.

I struggle to believe that recruiters can't AT THE VERY LEAST let everyone who has been unsuccessful know that, it is very easy to do a BCC generic email, and considering most applications are done via some sort of online portal rather than a paper application, it would surely be easy enough and not time consuming at all to do. Fair enough about feedback, but the vast majority aren't going to ask for that are they, they just want to know they haven't got the job, that would be kind.

Yes, they gave it to someone else, with absolutely no indication anywhere that they were going to do that before the closing date. Why was the job advert still live when I applied if they had already recruited by that point? It's lazy and sloppy to have a) not indicated they might recruit before the application deadline b) not have removed the advert.

Yes he has, but they have sent him 3 jobs in 7 months, none of which were even remotely suitable!

I miss the "Laugh you're being F'g ridiculous" emoji.
Demographic traits are not on the scoring sheet when I sat on interview panels.
We have oversight on those scoring sheets, they have to "make sense" to external auditors. Not "I like her hair" reasons.

This thread is soooooo full of speculation and thin on facts.

I've never resented preparing for a job I didn't get esp. if I got an interview. I find the interview experience valuable.

I wish the public sector didn’t have to externally advertise jobs that they clearly have a (likely internal) candidate lined up for

My current public sector employer has a policy that all jobs must be externally advertised, to reduce nepotism. It's not an interviewer decision, so blasting our interviewers because you believe that they wasted your time when they had a preferred internal candidate: nothing the interviewers can change, it's organisation policy. Also, buried in the fine print is requirement for flexibility (particularly part of accommodating people with care duties) which means that we MuST consider requests to fill the vacancy using job share or PT hours.

My previous public sector employers had policies that jobs have to be advertised ONLY internally for a minimum period before they can be advertised externally, as part of employee welfare to reduce redundancy. NHS-employed friend was affected by this, all internal candidates for jobs she went for, as part of massive restructuring. Most internal candidates in large employers (councils etc.) get a job that was competitive but only internally advertised. When a job has to go to external adverts, internal candidates may still apply & then have an edge from having inside knowledge.

if folk feel their time as applicant is being wasted, I guess you're happy if an interviewer resents you for applying for a job you clearly aren't qualified for. Or when an interviewer has a candidate who can't string sentences together properly. NB: I have been that candidate.

I can't abide resentment, the way people like to revel in it.

Hrft OP consider looking at agency temp work, many people I know have done this and it's led to a contract. Also gives you a chance to try out different jobs and employers..

@lljkk 'if folk feel their time as applicant is being wasted, I guess you're happy if an interviewer resents you for applying for a job you clearly aren't qualified for. Or when an interviewer has a candidate who can't string sentences together properly. NB: I have been that candidate'.

The difference being, whether they are suitable or not, the applicant will have put in time and effort to be there with no recompense and the interviewers are being paid and getting nearer their home time.