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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think this is utterly humiliating

194 replies

merricat · 07/08/2015 00:29

So, I live in a reasonably quiet Scottish village. We moved here two years ago after my husband got a job at [neighbouring city's university].

I know I'm overqualified for normal jobs - I have a PhD - but I want and need a job. Such jobs keep becoming available at our local Co-op shop. I would be fine and good at it, reliable etc. I have no commitments and could work any hours they wanted (which they said was a plus the first time I applied). I have now applied three times for a part time job on the tills. It is getting embarrassing. I will not apply again, but this evening I went in and noticed signs up saying they were recruiting. Every time I go in, the manager makes a point of ignoring me - he has my application on file and I've spoken to him about it previously, but can't keep doing so. I'm here, local, willing, and able. I cannot seem to get this shop job, despite the fact that they've been advertising consistently since I moved here, and despite having my application on file.

What is wrong with me? Why won't they even interview me? What can I do? How can I manage to get a job in a shop?

It's really started to depress me. Whenever I go in there, the manage very concertedly avoids eye contact. It's humiliating!

OP posts:
SomethingBad · 07/08/2015 19:51

In twenty years of changing jobs more often than most people I can count on one hand the number of times I've been asked to prove any of my CV qualifications and even then the only thing I've had to produce is a degree certificate, certainly not GCSE or A levels. Don't let that hold you back!

Sucks about the Co-Op. Can you apply via head office? Are there any other shops or petrol stations nearby?

glintwithpersperation · 07/08/2015 20:01

I have noticed that the local co-ops in my area often employ staff with terrible personal hygeine (BO, bad breath) and odd habits (grunting, clicking dentures, muttering, inappropriate conversation). Perhaps you are too clean and fragrant ? Grin

peskisaurus · 07/08/2015 20:09

Personally I'd apply for a 4th time and stress that you'd be committed (as your previous application history shows). If/when you don't get an interview you ask at that point for feedback so you can address the areas in which you're lacking. Asking right now for feedback for a job you've not applied for is harder to do. Also, change your CV to include an acknowledgement that you hope your PhD won't put off an employer as your heart lies in retail etc etc.

Hezaire · 07/08/2015 20:11

A few people I know with PhDs and masters really struggle to get jobs.

I do agree that it's work experience that is most valuable. I know someone who did a PhD on a particular animal. She finished it about 7 years ago now and still feels the world owes her a job. In reality the PhD has no real use

Hezaire · 07/08/2015 20:31

My previous comment is useless to you. I would maybe volunteer in a charity shop or similar if you want to get into retail. When you do get a job you will probably fly through the ranks

Tobiasfunke · 07/08/2015 20:49

I can beat this OP. I nearly got turned down as a scout leader because I had a pHD. I also had loads of scouting experience. Apparently the GSL didn't know if he wanted my sort.

I also volunteered in a local museum and got given the shit mundane jobs at first just in case I thought I was better than the staff. Which was nice.

Stripeysocksarecool · 07/08/2015 20:56

I would say definitely because you are English. Despite all the talk of "oh no, we welcome English people and people from anywhere else" a lot of Scottish people are really quite anti English, especially when you are away from the central belt (and in particular Edinburgh where I think there are a lot of English people). I say all this as a Scot.

WilburIsSomePig · 08/08/2015 07:22

Stripey maybe it depends where you are then? DH (English) never had any issues at all when we lived in Scotland and says he wishes we'd stayed there as he felt 'at home' there. Ironically, now that we live in a small English village, I was informed that I (I'm Scottish) had 'taken an English persons job' and asked if I carried a knife because I'm from Glasgow. On both occasions I thought they were joking until I realised they were deadly serious. It didn't change my view on 99.9 % of the people I meet who are utterly lovely. To be honest I think these things are more inclined to indicate that the person is just an utter wanker rather than a bigot. They're probably a wanker in all fields and don't limit it to thiscone issue! Grin

WilburIsSomePig · 08/08/2015 07:23

thiscone? this one!

tobysmum77 · 08/08/2015 07:53

Just one thing, although it doesn't relate to the op.... unlucky83 the company I work for frequently advertises vacancies, then decides the budget isn't there later on. No one believes it re recruitment until the person is physically there! Just because you don't get an interview doesn't necessarily mean you were rejected as such Smile .

Igneococcus · 08/08/2015 08:17

I have worked with a technician (in the US) who should have done a PhD, she was a better scientist than many PhDs I have known, but she decided against it because she said she was more employable and more flexible wrt where she wants to live without one.
I'm a little amused by the suggestions to go into administration instead. After my PhD and even until after my two postdocs I had very little experience of adminsitration but I had lots of retail experience and I years of waitressing experience from working in Bavarian beer tents to fine dining and everything in between.

Guitargirl · 08/08/2015 08:27

If you really want the job (and are not now just reapplying because you are miffed and want to make a point) then, if you really think it is your PhD which is the problem, then turn it around in your application and make it into a positive - break down all the qualities you needed to complete the doctorate and show each of them can apply within the retail sector.

How much people contact did you have in your research? Big that up as much as possible.

Time-keeping?

Resilience?

Patience?

Attention to detail?

These are all required in bucketloads for completing a doctorate and are transferrable skills for lots of sectors - including retail. Don't concentrate so much on your subject matter but more on the skills necessary to complete a research project.

monkeymamma · 08/08/2015 11:38

Sorry to derail Op, but I do want to respond to vatersay. There is a real resistance to acknowledging anti Englishness but it 100% exists and as I said in my pp, yes it depends where in Scotland. For me it was South west (I don't live there now). I could give you a million examples of bullying and discrimination but the clearest is probable Someone painting 'ENGLISH GET OUT' across the main road in the village, in several places and on several places.

I can agree this isn't every rural Scottish village but I don't think my experience was unique in any way.

monkeymamma · 08/08/2015 11:43

And my mum (very very experienced and qualified in specific field) had trouble finding work at first and was told we'd have to have lived there at least 5 years before she'd be considered local enough to be offered a job....

monkeymamma · 08/08/2015 11:44

I'm not bitter and actually loved living there, had an amazing upbringing but it does really rankle when people try to deny outright that kr happens, when as pp said it is your actual life experience (and a big chunk of my formative years!

monkeymamma · 08/08/2015 11:45

Kr? It!

mimishimmi · 08/08/2015 11:51

Cause you're a Sassenach of course ;)

TheHoneyBadger · 08/08/2015 11:54

a lot of the comments on here seem to completely overlook that discrimination is illegal. this guy maybe thinks he's untouchable (big fish in little pond complex perhaps) but he's not. i'd apply again and keep a copy of your application with, as i'm sure you've done previously, an emphasis on transferable skills rather than end outcome of your studies, a clear highlighting of the retail exp you've had in the past and an emphasis on how you enjoyed that work and despite wanting to study to fulfill your interest in that field (which you now enjoy as a hobby for example) it isn't a field you intended to work in and you want a local retail job that you can remain in long term.

if again you are not interviewed and the post is not filled then email and ask for feedback from the manager - if you don't get it or it reads like bullshit then contact the regional HR office (who are likely to be more clued up about legal practices and covering arses than big fish little pond guy) and send the copy of your application form, details of how long the job has been advertised/readvertised for and how many times you have applied. attach feedback from store manager, or detail that you've requested it on x date and never received it and ask for an explanation as to what might be the problem.

they hire teenagers - do they really think they're long term committed to the job? aren't they possibly going to go to uni? move away? change jobs as young people do? if they don't disregard applications from 18 year olds clearly not settled forever then it isn't a valid reason for disregarding the OP.

i'm stunned at people being so blase at what could be discrimination and unlawful behaviour and that should at least be checked out. i can only assume that is people's own discriminatory attitudes and assumptions about the OP that are likely similar to the projections the manager is making.

UseHerName · 08/08/2015 11:55

To the poster upstream, why shouldn't the secretary not have used her dr title? It would be the same as putting miss or mrs and she worked a helluva lot harder for it than anyone has ever worked for those titles?

TheHoneyBadger · 08/08/2015 11:58

oh and the poster who was massively rude to you and said about not wanting to employ someone useless - that was very much her issues not you to anyone objective reading. def don't take that to heart!

UseHerName · 08/08/2015 11:59

Sorry that should read 'why Shiuldnt the secretary have used her title'

hackmum · 08/08/2015 12:02

If they keep advertising for staff, and not even interviewing the OP, then clearly the manager has taken a dislike to her for some reason. Possibly he feels threatened by clever, highly qualified women (I think this is more than likely, actually); possibly he doesn't like English people; possibly he's hoping to recruit a blonde 18-year old who's easy on the eye. Who knows?

But I have to laugh at people saying that probably the OP isn't up to the job. How difficult do they imagine it is?

MewlingQuim · 08/08/2015 12:08

I was in a similar situation once I finished my PhD, I had been ill and wanted a part-time, stress free, local job, but no one would even interview me as I was so overqualified. Eventually I returned to my previous career simply because I couldn't get a job doing anything else Hmm

In hindsight it would have been better to leave off my postgrad qualifications. Perhaps just describe the time as lab assistant or research assistant, and play it down?

Too late to do that for you shop job though, the application is done. I would explain the situation and why you keep applying, it can't hurt. Maybe he is wondering why you haven't just asked if you are so keen for the job?

Melonfool · 08/08/2015 12:13

Are you English? An English friend of mine has had the same problem with finding a job in Scotland and has been told outright they won't employ English people.

Unless you want to take them to court not much you can do about it.

unlucky83 · 08/08/2015 12:30

Thanks tobysmum I guess that might have been the case but I know a lot of former postdocs (mainly women with children) who have said they have had the same experience and been told they are overqualified. I just thought that as the requirements were so closely related to my experience - I could and wanted to do that job - I must have a chance - seems not!
I actually vaguely know the Dean of a university who has a scientific background and when I mentioned the 'problem' at a social event he said it wasn't wasted as I was doing good for the community and me and others like me were inspiring children with a love of science ...
Except we aren't -or at least I'm not. I definitely wouldn't encourage anyone to get a scientific Phd - especially not anyone (male or female) who thought they might want children...