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 am job hunting at the moment ( although I do currently have a job) and am getting despondent. Employers seem to want so much for such a low wage!! I am a professional with a degree but work in a very stressful job and just want something less stressful. though I'd apply to Aldi last week and I failed their situational judgement test !! I'd love to know where all these well paid part time jobs are in lovely places !! I am in the East Midlands by the way if anyone knows of anything ?

It very much depends on the way they present that tbh. But when it takes months to find decent staff and costs a fair amount it's not ideal to risk having people leaving quickly. Plus it's a small team so having staff cycle through too quickly is really detrimental.

Some over qualified people who apply are genuinely looking for the 'lesser' role but many aren't.

Where are these types of jobs advertised? I know too many we qualified graduates who have time out for kids and end up on minimum wage (with job descriptions like whisperings ;) ) or finding themseves considered overqualified.

Whispering - ex teachers could do all that and be great at delivering training. ALthough they'd fall short if your essential criteria includes recent admin experience...

And I had no idea any graduate started on a 6 figure salary....

My own experience when I've been job hunting:

Agencies operating on a 'bait and switch' basis, advertising jobs that have 'just been filled'

Pushing applicants to apply for jobs they're not qualified/experienced in - and yes the job centre are the worst for this with the threat of sanctions. Eg I have basic it admin skills and basic double entry book keeping knowledge I was being pushed to apply for senior payroll and accountancy roles!

Being over qualified/qualified in other areas - I've a nursing diploma, I left nursing for lots of reasons and yet employers never believe I don't want to return to it. Couldn't if I wanted to now anyway.

Following doing uni a second time - thinking it would HELP I'm now definitely in the over qualified zone - but when I applied for graduate positions I was denied on guess? Lack of experience! That ones always frustrating as how are you supposed to GET experience?

As a lone parent since second time at uni I NEED to take tax credits/finances into account just to survive! If employers have a problem with tax credits maybe they should pay enough that tax credits aren't necessary?

Every job I've been in I've had good reports, good references, worked hard, happy to go above and beyond, do further training. I'm always smartly turned out, punctual (army raised its drummed into me!) and take pride in my work.

But I was also married to army, so I've a lot of jobs on my cv from moving around. That apparently makes me look 'unstable' and 'unreliable'. Before they've even checked my refs!

Agree re the part time over 5 days as opposed to part time 3 full days a week too, transport costs, childcare or carer responsibilities mean 3 days is generally easier.

Ditto 'but you can do overtime yes?' At interview stage - that's the employer equivalent of an interviewee asking about wage advances and early annual leave! It indicates an element of entitlement, trying to get more out of you than they're willing to offer in return before they've even offered you the job. I've learned the hard way not to take jobs where this is asked at interview because when I have those employers have been the type to take advantage.

I'm currently not working due to ill health and don't know when I'll work again. When I first left my last job my health actually improved within a year (at that point 'only' mental health issues).

The dilemma -

Don't mention your ill health and be thought lazy/feckless

Do mention your ill health and be stigmatised

Not just my experience I've a number of friends with mh issues or disabilities that's had similar reactions.

And yes also in the initial advertisement

Nonsense job titles that make a job sound out of reach to the very applicants that could do it.

Lack of clarity on pay and hours.

Either lack of clarity on the role and responsibilities - or an entire grocery list!

Expectations too high - offering nmw for the kind of role that expects you to stick a broom up your backside as well as do 200 other things! Even very hard working people will avoid this as again it indicates overworking/undervaluing employees.

It's a very very tiny number who do treehouse. It's not the norm in any if the industries listed AFAIK- and I know several of them fairly well.

"Recruiter" and "Person who needs a job done" are often not one and the same.

There are some great HR people about, but ime they rarely have a good understanding of the needs of the business.

Having said that, handing recruitment over to managers often goes tits up

I'd agree that recruitment feels a bit broken at the mo. I feel lucky to be out of it, haven't had to recruit or be recruited for over 2 years. I used to enjoy it but the sheer stress of it now is overwhelming. I honestly think you could pull a name out of a hat and do as well as most recruitment processes, and conversely I don't really know why applicants are made to jump through so many hoops.

One option would be to make applicants do a written application, no online option You have to make a commitment to send in a completed application form or whatever.

I'd be inclined to just advertise the job with a start date and an honest job description and say that the first three who turn up will be trialled for a week.

I would love a well paid part-time job. Come on tell us where it is!

Is it actually a 1-2 hours per day spread over 5 days. That would put me off unless it was just round the corner from where I live.

However - I too have noticed a recent increase in people just not turning up to an arranged interview. A few years ago it would have been maybe one out of 10. Now it is more like 3 out of 10. It is not a generation thing I have had people of all ages not show without even a phone call. It is more often people with weaker CVs not in work.

Not answering the phone during office hours is obvious though. I am not allowed to carry a mobile phone on my person at work. If I want to answer a call I have to sneak to my car at lunch time. Sometimes I don't get a lunch.

But I was also married to army, so I've a lot of jobs on my cv from moving around. That apparently makes me look 'unstable' and 'unreliable'. Before they've even checked my refs!

I interviewed this afternoon for a job I am well qualified and capable of doing. However my interviewer expressed his concern that having been at my previous employer over 15 years, I'm too institutionalised. Can't win.

And on a recruitment website forum I once saw twatty recruiters having an argument. One said they penalised people for because they put on their cv that they knew how to do basic office tasks, the other said they penalised people for not specifying that.

Applications take forever, cost money and time and the chances of getting a job are low. People don't bother. They will lose benefits if they work too many hours so not worth it. Also they have to apply for jobs to "prove" they are looking for work - when in fact they are not - but waste your time OP to keep their JSA.

Many jobs are so low paid that it is barely worth it. Again - better off on benefits.

NOT me. I work freelance and do several different jobs - but no-one will employ me properly. I have applied for hundreds. But these jobs have so many applications that the competition is really tough. Might look at the MN jobs page although not found anything suitable in the past.

I don't disagree OP, I struggle to fill the vacancies in my team and I know it's not an application form but;

ecan't even attempt the basics forvan interview or trial (ie. turning up in time, dressing half smart, answer a phone).

What does half smart mean?

Don't pay too low that people can't live on it

Don't use lengthy application forms where people have to write out their cv in the boxes when you could have just asked for that

Don't expect exact industry experience or precisely similar skills, many people could potentially do the unremarkable job you're probably offering

Don't assume recruitment agents have the best interests of your company at heart

Don't let your HR department screen CVs, you really need to do this

Don't offer a "trial" unless you intend to pay people for their time

YADNBU
I'm the recruitment lead for our business area within a global bank.. paying a competitive wage, city centre location. Lots of progression etc and the quality of candidate is complete and utter sh1te!!! Like I mean my kids could do a better interview! I despair!

Hire me!!!
I have been looking for a job for over a year. No luck. Agencies don't want to know me, and I've had more rejection emails than i care to remember.
And then I read about people being recruited from overseas due to a shortage of good applicants in my city ! I despair ! *
For the record I am well groomed, good references, heaps of experience, turn up to interview/job on time and work hard.

*I am definitely NOT right wing anti immigration etc if that's how it's coming across, just frustrated when I read about or DH tells me about the 'lack of quality applicants' where I live. Just wanted to point that out.

I am convinced that people whinging about being unable to recruit are either using agencies, poorly advertising the roles or screening decent candidates out early in the process.

Don't let your HR department screen CVs

THIS!!!!!!!

And I had no idea any graduate started on a 6 figure salary....

Extremely extreemly unusual. Even in the traditionally high pay roles like investment banking you'd be doing well to clear £100k in your first year now we are post GFC (and probably about to have another recession).

I'm not looking for your job, but it does occur to me that I would just assume any job paying £50K was too difficult for me - and I'm really not that bad at what I do. Are you advertising with the salary rate? Try £negotiable maybe? Though I'd also assume that £negotiable was too high up for me too

Edwinbear definitely! No win situation. A friend of mine applied for a job with a national chain, she'd been doing the exact same job for 20 years at a small family run business, she was only out of work because the owners retired. She's highly qualified, intelligent, reliable, punctual, hard working but was turned down similar to yourself.

How about seeing someone who's stayed with an employer so long as

Loyal, reliable, well liked?

Or myself as adaptable, fast learner, quickly assimilates into new teams?

My experience of recruiters is they are lazy and v unprofessional.

Do people look at their local authority vacancies? They don't match the private sector salary wise in some professional roles, but they usually offer security, flexibility and pensions.

Surely that job can't pay 50k?!