To wait around for a job I want?

[pepsimaxxx]

I worked in a well known department store for over 5 years and loved it.
I worked 30 hours per week and it was perfect for me.
I've recently been made redundant and I want to ideally work in another similar department store /clothing store(not food /supermarket )
My oh works in a contact centre and can get me a job for 37.5 hours a week it's £10.30 a hour so more than min wage I was getting at this department store.
I really don't want to take this job.
The thought of being on a phone 24/7 terrifies me.
I want to hold out for a retail job h/m Zara etc
My oh has said with furlough /lockdown the chance of me getting a full time role is slim.
Aibu here ?
What would you do?

I don’t think you are being realistic. If you look how many retail redundancies there have been, versus how many new retail jobs there are likely to be, seeing as everything is still closed, where do you think your perfect job is going to come from? I think department stores are dead, tbh

Sorry but you need to take any job going. Retail is not a good market right now and the longer this goes on it’s getting worse. Take the call enter role and keep looking elsewhere

The job market is brutal at the moment. .take the job and keep looking I used to work in a small complaints call centre.it's really not so bad!

I’d not fancy being on phones all day however £10.30 an hour is better than being unemployed,

I think retail will take a while to pick up so I don’t think you will easily find a job. Take the call centre job and if you really don’t like it then look for retail,

Any job is better than no job.

I've applied for receptionist jobs but not even getting a interview.
I don't know what I'm doing wrong.
I've updated my cv etc but still zilch

@pepsimaxxx

I've applied for receptionist jobs but not even getting a interview. I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I've updated my cv etc but still zilch

You’re not doing anything wrong. The jobs market is awful right now; jobs that used to get 20 applicants are now getting hundreds.

That’s why it’s so important you take the job being given to you, because you will struggle to find anything else, especially in retail.

@pepsimaxxx we are probably talking about the same chain, my store felt like family too, everyone bickered and celebrated each other like a real family too!

I just wanted to say I am so sorry you have lost a job you loved and I really hope you find something similar again in the not too distant future. I would also try the job you don’t like the sound of but keep looking and applying at the same time.

Take it. It’s easier to find a job if you already have a job. Weird but true.

I'd take something as a temporary measure whilst looking for something you want. That might take some time. Frankly, I think the days of department stores are mostly over except for a few and with so many of the high st names gone, realistically, there will be fewer jobs available. Shorts stints on CVs are better than large gaps, not to mention the financial risk of holding out.

What type of contact centre is it? I used to work in a call centre but deliberately stayed away from sales.
Car breakdown service - was great job and vaguely helping people
Furniture customer service for m&s - less great but still alright. I just wasn’t suited to calling everyone sir and madam!
Both jobs provided really good training and didnt throw new starters into handling calls on their own straight away.
Give it a try, the worst happens is you quit!

Basically it's new and existing customers calling up to renew plan and/or add on channels or services.
All inbound
I have been told if customers are wanting to leave we try and retain the customer by offering half price deals etc

It's sky

We get a months training on products and how to deal with calls etc

You probably aren't getting interviews for receptionist jobs because receptionist work is not the same as retail and there may be experienced receptionists applying.

@emilyfrost I dread to think what the job market is going to be left like! 8 years back I was in charge of recruiting for a small gift shop opening in a small town. 2 full time & 2 part time jobs...I had over 800 applications to go through within just over a week of advertising 😳 I think a lot of people severely underestimate the number of people out of work or looking for other work!