Recruitment, can't believe how hard it is!

[Sunnydawn]

I read and hear so much about people wanting flexible working, and how so many people are stuck in dead end jobs, or on zero hours contracts.

But, I am involved in recruitment for two jobs right now, one a professional job in a lovely environment, as a part time job share. The other, a part time, flexible, admin job, again in a lovely office, with training and a good career if you want it.

And no decent applicants! No applicants for the first. Loads who have applied for the latter, but ecan't even attempt the basics forvan interview or trial (ie. turning up in time, dressing half smart, answer a phone).

Frankly, I despair. What are people doing? Where are they working/wanting to work?

These are different places, by the way, so it's not the particular environment.

I agree with pp that employers expect too much and in my experience can't be arsed to do any training so expect candidates to have exact industry experience and skills, they don't really get the idea of transferable skills.

YY to no appreciation for transferable skills. I would really like to change sector, but the "minimum 5 years experience in [...] sector" is impossible to get past.

So they pick a candidate for their fairly uninspiring role based on those criteria, then that candidate gets a better offer and just doesn't turn up, as they're so used to being treated like crap by recruitment agencies and employers that they think that it's everyone for themselves.

Whispering- how can basic admin role pay £50k?
Something is awry there.

That's genuinely not the case for us Venus. We're actually really open to giving people a chance to change paths as it's what DH did. However we get tonnes of applications from people with zeo relevant experience and no covering letter so no indication that they actually want our job or have a reason for changing direction. I'm not up for wading through dozens of applications which look inappropriate if they can't be bothered to explain why we should consider them.

AccioMerlot if you're looking to apply for a tech / developer role with no experience / qualifications you would, imo, need to show that you had developed your IT skills in your own time. Otherwise an employer would have no idea if you had an aptitude for it.
If you could do that and created a good impression I'd give you a chance - that's how I started programming. (I've got no IT qualifications at all btw)

I really think you need to look at how you recruit, the wording you use and what are your essential criteria before you shake your head and assume people don't want to work. Because it's bollocks.

I have recruited a lot recently, and find it similarly impossible to get good staff. I.e. staff who turn up on time, look vaguely enthusiastic, and can produce written work without a million mistakes. I just don't get it. There must be hundreds of good candidates out there, and we pay very well, with great benefits. But where are they??

God I'd love your job that's being advertised op! I'm a classic case of had to take a backseat job wise as had no childcare and now can't get anything remotely interesting.....don't suppose you are recruiting in Scotland?

People often underestimate what is actually involved in a role and dismiss it as "admin". A project role or a senior PA role could command that and still be thought of as an admin role anyone could do.

i'm looking out for good PT jobs at the moment and I have no idea where to look. I'd love to know good places to go to find these kind of jobs. I used to work where you got phoned up for your next job so didn't really ever have to look. Now i'm out of it and at home with the kids i never know where to start! Maybe this could be a reason for the lack of applications?

Goodness. I work in a public sector professional role and take home 30k and give my pound of flesh in return. To see an administration role like the one whispering mentioned paying 50k is both amazing and horrifying to me. I'm wondering where these jobs are advertised as I certainly never see any good roles anymore in my local area and our jobs page consists of approx 10 adverts...mostly rubbish sales ones

What's so bad about being technically over-qualified for a part-time role?

phil - It's not a basic admin role - it's for an experienced admin.

I work in an industry that typically pays well to attract good candidates and we also don't believe in shafting junior staff employees on salary.

Graduates start on six figures, again, so we can compete for best candidates. We couldn't justify paying a fresh graduate many multiples of an admin salary - it wouldn't be equitable.

Not RTFT but I'd bloody love a part time job that could get me out of the retail hell I seem to have landed in.

Whispering where is your job based and what is the industry? I am a qualified professional with experience and earn £45K. I work in the HE sector in Scotland. I would love to know where/what sector earns you £50K in admin.

If it's a jobshare, has the person in the other half of the post bagged the most favourable hours?

I think, from a recruiters perspective, the problem with taking on someone over qualified is its hard to know if they actually want your job - maybe because of the hours for example- or if they are interested because it's the only role available and so will be looking to move on really quickly. Recruiting is time consuming and can be expensive and often it would be better to take someone less qualified who wouldo stay longer term

Whispering that sounds incredibly high for the role you're describing

Yup, seriously. The job spec and pay are not aligned.

I suspect t people who think the job spec would suit them, aren't expecting £50k so think they are 'missing something' - and people who would generally be looking for that kind of pay think it sounds a bit menial to be proof reading letters...

Unless it is back-office banking role in which case the pay is generally 3x what the role is worth elsewhere...

What's so bad about being technically over-qualified for a part-time role?

Because employers assume you'll be off as soon as you find something better.

They also assume that you'll have an attitude over being too good for the role and not want to do the more menial aspects,

They also assume that you will expect to be promoted over or paid better than colleagues.

I have a phd. Employers can't see why I'd want an entry level or admin job when in their minds, i could get get a fancy all singing all dancing stupidly well paid job at the click if my fingers.

Oh and I've also come across the opinion that because my field is medical research, I don't want just a job when I could be out there curing cancer and doing worthy work.

looking for that kind of pay think it sounds a bit menial to be proof reading letters...

See? :)

I'm not going to post my industry as I don't want to out myself but there are a good number of industry's that pay well. I've seen support staff coming from:

Legal
Banking
Consulting
Biotech
IT
Pharmaceuticals
Oil and Gas

All on similar sorts of packages.

A few years ago I applied for a PT admin role in my local town, I was working in a FT "professional" role in the nearby city in a field that's considered "exciting" (), but the commute and hours weren't working with my childcare. The recruiter came out and said straight away they were concerned I'd quickly get bored and move on because I was overqualified. It pretty much put me off applying for any more admin roles on that basis.

I can think of several good reasons why someone overqualified would stay for years and years in a part-time job. Wanting to have time to do a job well without finding it too difficult or stressful and fitting it around family commitments without feeling you are letting either family or employer down being amongst them. Why you wouldn't want to consider taking advantage of such a person if they are offering themselves up to you, I don't know.

Seems to me some recruiters are just lazy and unimaginative and get applications in a similar vein...