To think that getting a job at a supermarket is impossible!

[Supermarketreject]

Ok, it obviously isn’t because there are thousands of people working in supermarkets but here’s the problem...

DS is 17 and will finish A levels this week. Predicted AAB
He’s really friendly & just a normal, nice lad.
Going to University (in home city) next year so will be able continue p/t work.
Applying for temporary supermarket jobs (advertised as such).
He has stated that he can work any hours/days.
He has filled out the online questionnaires/multi-choice questions (trying to answer them so that he puts customer first/doesn’t pester managers too much/shows initiative).
He gets almost immediate rejection e-mails every time!
What is going wrong? Is it his age? (17)
How do you actually get past the questionnaire & get an interview nowadays?
The computer says no every time!! 😳😓

Can anyone advise or give tips? Or does anyone know how it works?

[Moonstone1234]

Waitrose definitely do not want you to just tell a customer the aisle number and carry on stacking shelves but others are right. Being under 18 means that you cannot sell booze and always have to call a supervisor which in Waitrose is fine but you need to have something about you for Waitrose. Some 17 year olds lack confidence and you need to be able to resolve a customers query without having to get a supervisor.

[SpiderinaWingMirror]

Garden centres are a good shout if he can get to them (dds first job was scraping plates in the restaurant. Involved me taking her though!

[SpiderinaWingMirror]

My strong suggestion is that he has a walk along the nearest high street and looks in windows. We are a touristy area with hospitality. Shops, bars and cafes put a note in the window. Also, ask about!

[diamondpony80]

Our local supermarket employs a few 17 year olds. They normally work 6-10 shift after school and Saturday's. They recently let go some of the younger employees that were on temporary contracts because they had to downsize staff throughout the rest of the shop, and many of the staff on permanent contracts who lost their jobs were moved into those positions. DS17 was on a temporary contract and at that time had to reapply for his job but managed to get a permanent contract. How did he get in? Through a family member. He had to wait at least 6 months on a waiting list for temporary jobs to even come up. A very high percentage of the jobs that come up in this particular shop go to family members/recommendations from current staff. Probably closer to 100% when it comes to shop floor workers. DS's other friends mostly work in independent cafe's, small restaurants, pound stores etc.

[Comefromaway]

@LlamaDrama20

There are still loads of older, more experienced applicants in retail right now - especially from industries like performing arts and airlines which have been decimated by lockdown restrictions. I know of two airline staff currently working in Sainsbury's until the industry picks up again.

Yes, I know lots of West End performers are working in supermarkets at the moment too.

[Bionicname]

It might just be that supermarkets are spoiled for choice with lots of people applying for not that many jobs. In that situation they might just automatically discount anyone who is under 18, and/or doesn’t have prior experience of retail/supermarket work.

[Devlesko]

My dil is on mat leave from Asda, she applied for her own job and failed the test.
She answered using company policy policies too

[TeeBee]

@cronk23

Tesco manager here. Employing under 18s is basically a ball ache because they can't work certain hours, breaks have to be documented and the obvious they can't serve age restricted products. As for the answers to the questions on the online application, they can be found on the student room along with every other supermarket. For me the questions are now pointless because it's too easy to find the answers online. Also Tesco expect you to stop whatever you are doing and take the customer to whatever they are looking for, pointing them in the right direction isn't enough.

When I worked at Waitrose many moons ago, we also had to stop what we were doing if a customer wanted to find anything. As a customer, I just want to here 'aisle 5'. I don't want people following me around the supermarket.

[IrmaFayLear]

I just scrolled down Indeed and saw that all the supermarket jobs were for nights.

Interestingly there were masses of teaching assistant jobs. These have always been fiercely fought over, and at the dcs’ school they made a condition of application having to be a dinner lady for a while (they couldn’t get any dinner ladies). Are people afraid to be TAs now?!

Anyway, OP’s ds I’m sure has no interest in being a TA, but looking at Indeed he could perhaps find something under the temporary work section there. They also wanted mushroom pickers near me (Ooh, my back!) and a pallbearer !

[PlasticSmileyCat]

I think it's the questionnaire. My husband ran a vast vehicle spares operation in the armed forces. Responsible for hundreds of thousands of pounds of stores, if not millions. Apllied for a floor job in B and Q when he rejoined civvy street . Didn't fit the "psychological profile". The questionnaire. They are fiendish.

[starrynight21]

For DD I paid for a professional resume writer to do the job for her. She had never worked before but the writer managed to make her sound like the ideal employee ! She also wrote a great covering letter, and coached DD in interview techniques. DD took the papers around to all the local food places, supermarkets etc. Got an interview within the week, and got the job. I'd highly recommend paying a small amount of money for a good outcome. It gives young people the edge.

[ExConstance]

DS2 got a job in a chinese takeaway taking phone calls and booking orders when he was 16. I was away for a fortnight when he was looking for a part time job and expected him just to try the supermarkets, instead he tried all the small businesses near our house and got more than one offer, he combined the takeaway with helping out at the garden centre in the holidays. His job at the takeaway was great, made friends, not badly paid (and they got a bonus and free food at the end of the shift) it is not always the obviousl places to apply that bring the best results.

[Goodtohear]

What experience does he have?
My dc got a job in a supermarket recently aged 16. He however had done a paper round, regular voluntary work and had gone on to get some adhoc paid hours at his voluntary work. His boss has employed a few 16-17 year olds but all have previously shown work ethic / commitment through other jobs.
The downside to employing under 18s is they can't sell certain products and have to comply to stricter working hours directives so they have to be worth the risk.
How about trying b and M, home bargains, do they use the question system?
Can he volunteer, may be something connected to his uni course help him get some experience for his cv?

[LlamaDrama20]

There are still loads of older, more experienced applicants in retail right now - especially from industries like performing arts and airlines which have been decimated by lockdown restrictions. I know of two airline staff currently working in Sainsbury's until the industry picks up again.

[CharityDingle]

Had a nephew running into same issues with applications to retail jobs, his age was the issue because of alcohol sales etc. He recently got a part time job in a coffee shop, and it's working out great.

Hopefully your son will get something soon.

[Clymene]

If I were him, I'd take his CV and walk round all the local independent shops with it. That's how the teens I know found jobs. Initiative is a good thing with independents, even if it's not appreciated by the supermarkets!

[Comefromaway]

@toocoldforsno

I love a good exclamation mark!!!

Sure but you don't need one after every short sentence, it makes you sound like an over excited child.

And the problem with that is ?!!!!

[toocoldforsno]

I love a good exclamation mark!!!

Sure but you don't need one after every short sentence, it makes you sound like an over excited child.

[Firkinhavinalaugh]

OP
Top tip here, your DS wants a job he can carry on part time? Have you looked at local food service/pubs/cafes/restaurants?

As business is opening up, many are finding themselves short staffed and are keen to employ. It might not be ideal but it is good experience and can be seasonal which might suit?
If on the foodservice/ kitchen Porter duties he can be under 18.

[Comefromaway]

When is he 18 Supermarketreject?

Dd works for Serve Legal but you have to be 18 with photo ID. She gets her own back on all the places that rejected her for jobs by visiting lots of them and buying alcohol, vapes or knives and writing a report on whether they ask her for ID or not.

[IrmaFayLear]

Don’t worry, Supermarketreject, there’s always one grump on a thread. What’s wrong with a decent exclamation mark?!?!?!

[looptheloopinahulahoop]

As a customer I wish they'd only employ over 18s, it's such a pain when you want to buy an age-restricted item and have to wait ages for a supervisor to come over.

But there are other jobs eg in hospitality.

[Supermarketreject]

Just about to start work so I’ll catch up later.
Thanks so much for all the replies!

[Supermarketreject]

@toocoldforsno

OP your incessant use of exclamation points make you sound hyper and high. Are you terribly over-invested in this? He's 17, leave it to him.

I love a good exclamation mark!!!
Fortunately, my DS takes after my DH when it comes to written English!
I also love an emoji or two (three).
I also overuse ‘...’
Sorry!!! 🤣😓😊😅😞

[OldGreyBoots]

I applied for a job with Boots last year, the application form had two questions. When can you work (24/7), and do you have retail experience (yes). Still didn't get a response! I suppose everywhere is just overwhelmed with applicants at the moment.