So pissed off my dd cant get a partime job with good grades while others can without any.

[alfiethekittycat]

I need to moan lol

I feel so bad for my dd(17) she is desperatly trying to get herself a pt job and has applied for at least a hundred since she finished her gcse's last year, she is currently going into her second year in sixth form and has brilliant grades,

She was so upset last night as yet another of her friends had on her facebook that she has landed herself a pt job in a local supermarket that dd had applied for but was not even considered for interview, This girl is in sith form with my daughter but hardly ever turns up for lessons and just scrapped by getting there in the first place,

All she wants is the chance to earn a bit of extra money while she is studying but has only had one interview in the last year (wilkinsons at xmas) they didnt even bother to tell her she didn.t get the job even though they told her they would let her know in writing either way.

We both applied for a pt job in Greggs the bakers, she was told she wasnt suitable whilst I have an interview on monday,(I am going back to work after 18 years, have no qualifications)

So many of her friends who left school after their gcse's have landed jobs she has applied for she is beginingg to wonder what is the point of trying hard to get better qualifications cos the don't seem to count for anything.

Ok rant over, just woke up remembering how upset she was last night,

Have you seen her application forms, any indication as to what isn't right on them to even get selected for interview?

Spelling all correct, the awful paragraph that you have to say why you are good for the job is that well written?

It is really hard isn't it. It depends on what the requirements are for the job, do they require qualifications? It might be these others have similar experience in other shops or whathaveyou.

Well I don't think gcse's count for anything when you're applying for supermarket jobs. If anything they may well want people who don't have prospects as they are likely to stick around rather than disappear off to uni.

Try an experiment where your dd puts down bad gcse results and sees if she's more successful.
Make sure she's not coming over as feeling superior when applying too. She has no more right to the job than anyone else just cos she got an A at physics..

She seems to be doing everything right, she even helped me fill out my one for Greggs as i didn't have a clue what to write about myself,
I felt really bad when I got the phone call inviting me for an interview as only 5 minutes before she had one saying she wasnt suitable,

Did she ask why? They may be happy to give her hints as to what it was that made her unsuitable.

When I was interviewing it was also about availability. For example, if someone is available 9 - 5 and another is only available , say, 3 - 8 the person who fits their busy times/available shifts will get the job (quite often regardless of qualifications). THe friend who hardly goes to school probably works during those school hours, upping her availability and therefore a better fit for that business.

WHat availability is she putting? Put ALL available hours, as she is not going to be rostered on for all of them and should be able to fit in study around it iyswim? DONT not put availability based on 'oh I wont put Tuesdays cos I will study that day' if that makes sense?

They don't want someone who is going to be too busy studying and have to quit after a couple of months or who will bugger off to university next summer. She needs to present herself as someone who is looking for a long term low paid entry level job, not someone who wants to work for a few months.

I totally agree that they maybe think she will dissapear off to uni, she said that herself last night, She is not going to uni, she is aiming to work in childcare eventually but just wants something for now,
She isnt a brainbox, she just gets on with it and does the best she can, she is doing health and social, history and english literature in sixth form.
Maybe she should lie about her grades on her next job application, I will put that to her although she shouldnt have to lie cos she trys hard.

I would suggest the same thing. Look closely at the application form and make sure it's answered appropriately, is neatly done and is spelt correctly. If the job doesn't need glittering qualifications, leave them off the form... it'll get rejected as being 'overqualified'.

She could also be more proactive.... Rather than relying on applications forms, there's nothing to stop her just visiting local shops and businesses and asking straight if they need help. Temp agencies will sometimes take on junior staff. She can't serve behind the bar in a pub but she could collect glasses or do other jobs. And everyone should keep their ear to the ground for leads - the saying 'it's not what you know, it's who you know' is very true. Good luck

I will tell her not to restrict her hours although most of the jobs she has applied for have been evening and weekends which are no problem at all

If she wants to get into childcare why doesn't she put a postcard in your local shop advertising herself as a part time mother's help. It would be great experience for her and would help with her childcare training.

Yes she should definitely ask why they thought she wasn't suitable if she gets the chance (ie when they're good enough to bother ringing to say she didn't get it, which many don't)

I sympathise completely. My daughter spent months looking for a part-time job in March/April this year so that she could work full time over the summer, and then continue to work part-time during her third year at University. Her CV is great- my husband (who works in recruitment for a massive firm) had checked through everything for her, she's got almost straight As since GCSEs and has had loads of relevant work experience and past jobs in both catering and retail. After she'd handed out her 100th CV she came home crying about how she couldn't understand why anybody didn't want to employ her.

I'd had my suspicions about why people weren't giving her a chance, but I kept it to myself. So, when she went to the shopping centre the next day and saw a new job vacancy listed I decided to go in (keeping away from her obviously) like I was just another customer and lurk in secret near the till afterwards to see if they said anything about her. What I heard absolutely shocked me, and confirmed my suspicions. Once my daughter had left the shop, the MANAGER said the following:

''Oh. My. God. Did you SEE how up herself she was? Fucks sake, who needs to wear perfume to go out shopping?! God she looked like a right little tart, I bet she's sooooo up herself. You know the type, pretty and loves it. starts flicking through CV. HA! I knew it! She's a right fucking geek. Urgh, no- I'm not having that tramp here''.

She proceeded to rip it up.

I can assure you that my daughter did not look like a 'little tart' but that she is in fact a very attractive looking girl. She did nothing to come across as up herself unless smiling politely and asking for a few details about the job is suddenly showing arrogance. The comments about her grades also confirmed for me that many managers probably feel uncomfortable about hiring somebody better qualified than they are.

Does this sound like your daughter? I never told her what I'd heard because I didn't want to upset her, and obviously there's nothing she can actually do. I would never have voiced my opinions (I'd have just sounded like a mad over-indulging mother) until I heard it for myself.

Sadly, the world is a bitchy and judgemental place. I wish her the best of luck.

If your daughter wants to go into child care, she should be looking to get experience with children. Babysitting is one obvious. Then helping at Summer holiday clubs, after school clubs etc. She should get a first aid qualification, and maybe do a bit of voluntary work experience, and then let them know she needs a part time job, do they know anyone who has one etc?

As for Vosene's daughter, would your daughter really want to work for such a bitch? Why doesn't she try the big chains? I worked during a recession, and the jobs were mainly awful (factories, MacDonalds etc.) but my qualifications weren't held against me. Some people are just looking for someone for a few weeks and will prefer someone who is looking for the same thing. But I do remember one chain which had an application form which asked why I wanted to work in retails, I didn't but had to make something up.

Waitressing is another good job if you can get trained properly.

I was in the same boat throughout my post-GCSE time, up until I went to Uni, applied for job after job only to be told I was over-qualified - such a blow when I had worked so hard!

I went into temping instead, lots of office based work that was quite varied, and I really enjoyed it. Maybe that might be an option?

HTH

alfie- I agree babysitting could be a good option for your dd. Ideal way for her to get some experience with children.

My friend's teenage ds will start gbabysitting for us in September, just relieved we can go out in the evening with a responsible teenager looking after the dc.

I remember when I was a teenager finding a Saturday job was really difficult, I got interviews but I don't think I came across well in interviews so I took on a cleaning job, just to get some money, and at least it gave me a work record and some cash. Your dd may not want to consider this, but it could be a start.

OK this will be hard but i was in the same boat at this age; what i did was do charity work to gain experience. Three months and i had a job.

The Guardian has a good volunter section -
my sister is doing admin at the mo (she has just graduated) to get the required office experience for a basic HR role.

Vosene - interesting to see the prejudice, would have been a bitch to your dd anyway.

I remember going for a job at Halfords when I was doing a secretarial course in the 6th form, the manager told me not to be disappointed about not getting the job because there were others who were doing A'Levels applying

When I was employing teenagers to work in my shop their GCSE's weren't really my first concern tbh.

Being a good student does not mean you are the ideal job candidate. Mayeb she is coming across badly.

I don't think she's coming across badly, I think the job market is appalling! I have loads of students at university wanting (needing) part-time jobs, they can't get any, even the usual part-time student type jobs for holidays or in bars which don't expect the person to show lifelong commitment to that career choice. We are getting over a hundred plus applications for bottom-layer academic jobs which we found difficult to fill three years ago.

You must just reassure your daughter that this is a tough time and it does really come down to luck or at least, factors which are rarely in her control, like being available all day every day. These jobs don't usually pay above minimum wage, they often work shifts, no pensions, they are hardly in a position (normally) to be so fussy. But now they are, so they are (and obviously some of the rather socially challenged managers are really enjoying that opportunity to lord it over others less fortunate or better qualified, as Vosene indicates!)

I agree about the childcare though. She should definitely look for work as a babysitter/mother's help or even volunteer somewhere (probably have to wait for CRB check).

tbh I think educational qualifications are becoming less and less significant these days because so many more people have them. I think experience is key in many instances (totally unfair if you're looking for your first job, I know) as is flexibility and common sense (you'd be amazed how many highly educated people don't have any!)

Agree that babysitting is a good idea if she eventually wants to work in childcare. Other than that she would probably benefit from doing some unpaid work experience just so that she has something to bulk out her CV a bit.........she would also be able to obtain a work related reference that way.

Back in the day, my experience of being a young presentable and nicely spoken girl with good grades was that recruitment agencies will take you on and get you temporary receptionist jobs or secretarial / filing jobs. Has she tried that route?

I also spent a (very boring) summer once clearing cheques in a high street bank, not sure if the banks still work that way. That was through an agency too.

I agree with the others who say it's hard to get jobs if people think you're going to up and off and go to uni/move onto a better paid job. My ex struggled to get a job after graduating and he was applying to all the same jobs as his brother, who was 17 and dropped out before his AS levels who kept getting the interviews. People do feel threatened by bright 'junior' staff, sadly.

If she wants to work in childcare she should definitely start getting experience now. What does she want to do in the rather broad field of childcare?

If she wants to go into home based childcare then after-school nanny/mother's help jobs would be a great way for her to get experience and that all important first reference (which is even harder to get than shop work IME!).

Babysitting / Mother's help is a great idea! The busiest time of day for me is from 4 till 7 in the evenings and it would be great to have someone who comes in, helps with tea, tidying up and bed, especially when my husband is away. A well worded postcard sized advert in local places might work.

I was chatting to my post GSCE neighbour who babysits and he and his dad mentioned that he was struggling to find a job. We've given him a job painting our fences, filling in the plaster on our garden wall and cutting the grass - not full time but better than nothing. So maybe you could have word with some carefully selected neighbours? Also elderly neighbours might like a few things done round the house etc.

These would be great on her CV when she is looking for childcare jobs later, may give her the edge she needs in the future even if not well paid now.