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?

[Supermarketreject]

@lap90

These days the 'correct answers' for supermarkets job applications can be found online on social networking platforms.

I imagine the supermarkets are overwhelmed.

We’ve looked! The advice is so contradictory!

[Supermarketreject]

You’re right re. number of applicants. Every school leaver will be applying I guess!

[Westfacing]

He might be better going after jobs in hospitality now that's opening up.

When my boys were that age they did washing-up, clearing tables, waitering, etc.

[Supermarketreject]

I think you’re right about cafes/bars etc... smaller shops. Maybe he will have more chance.

I’m so behind the times. I walked into every job I applied for at 16/17/18.
He’s far smarter and more conscientious than I was at his age too!! 🤣

[Supermarketreject]

@Westfacing

He might be better going after jobs in hospitality now that's opening up.

When my boys were that age they did washing-up, clearing tables, waitering, etc.

He’ll definitely keep looking!

[Chersfrozenface]

@Smidge001

I think he's answering the questions wrong. My husband tried to get a job there and when asked what he'd do while stacking shelves if a customer asked him where something was, he responded that he'd show the customer.
Well that's not what they wanted.
His job was to stack shelves. He should have just told them the aisle number and left them to it and carried on with stacking shelves.
Apparently they don't want you to take initiative or actively help the customers. You need to answer the questions as if nothing would stop you doing the job you're employed to do!
Completely bizarre but I guess they just want a doer, not management material!

Depends on the supermarket's policy.

In the Tescos I go to (Express, Metro, Extra), if you ask a staff member where something is, they say "I'll show you", stop what they're doing and take you to the exact shelf every time, so it must be company policy.

So the advice to look on social media for the 'correct' answers for each chain would be spot on.

[Bagelsandbrie]

Dd found her job by following all the local shops on Facebook. One of them posted a vacancy on their page that wasn’t advertised anywhere else and because she was very quick to apply I think they thought she was super keen!

[FredaFox]

Mark’s and Spencer’s also take you to the aisle. I think it’s a thing nowadays

[Indoctro]

McDonald's would be a better choice or Burger King for a teenager. Do you have any local to you. They are great employers of young folks.

[Nancylovesthecock]

@Smidge001

I think he's answering the questions wrong. My husband tried to get a job there and when asked what he'd do while stacking shelves if a customer asked him where something was, he responded that he'd show the customer.
Well that's not what they wanted.
His job was to stack shelves. He should have just told them the aisle number and left them to it and carried on with stacking shelves.
Apparently they don't want you to take initiative or actively help the customers. You need to answer the questions as if nothing would stop you doing the job you're employed to do!
Completely bizarre but I guess they just want a doer, not management material!

Exactly this

[BarbaraofSeville]

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)

It's probably this. And it probably varies between supermarkets. Tesco might want the shelf stacker to tell the customer - the product is in aisle 4, while Waitrose will probably expect the assistant to personally escort the customer the product and give them a run down of the features and provenance of all the different versions available.

He might have burned his bridges with whichever supermarket he applied to, because he's now 'on record' with them as not being the type of person they want.

I think showing initiative or doing something that's not your actual job is seen as a bad thing, not the sign of a good employee that you might think it is.

[Sprogonthetyne]

Could just be coincidence or a few (lazy) managers, but everyone I've known to work in supermarkets have got the job through a friend/relative. I think they have to advertise the jobs to appear 'fair' but just get so many applications that they don't/can't even look at them all, so go with a recommendation.

[TheGoogleMum]

Try high street stores, for example I heard my local smyths is hiring, they might be willing to hire under 18s (although I think they sell video games with 18 age ratings so not 100% sure!). I think it is very tough at the moment though

[Supermarketreject]

@Bagelsandbrie

Dd found her job by following all the local shops on Facebook. One of them posted a vacancy on their page that wasn’t advertised anywhere else and because she was very quick to apply I think they thought she was super keen!

That’s a good idea.
I’ve seen a couple of jobs on FB.
Unfortunately both wanted full-time, permanent, with experience but it’s worth continuing to look!

[Saladd0dger]

He needs to always inform the duty manager with issues if the questions ask that.

Some roles can’t be given to under 18s. These will be very early starts and late finishes. Stores that have petrol stations also need staff over 18.

[Supermarketreject]

@Sprogonthetyne

Could just be coincidence or a few (lazy) managers, but everyone I've known to work in supermarkets have got the job through a friend/relative. I think they have to advertise the jobs to appear 'fair' but just get so many applications that they don't/can't even look at them all, so go with a recommendation.

This is definitely the case with our local ‘mini’ supermarket! The staff are lovely but they are all friends and neighbours! Their own children and relatives work there too!

Maybe we need to be more sociable!

[ChocOrange1]

I used to work in a coop as a manager . It was a real pain because if we had under 18s on the till, we had to go and enter a code every time they had a customer buying alcohol, cigarettes or any other age related products. I wouldn't be surprised if some shops won't hire a 17yo just to avoid that problem.

[Supermarketreject]

Thank you!

I think employment laws have changed! Tightened up at least!

[bonnieliesovertheocean]

It is definitely the answers here that are the problem. My son applied for Tesco aged 16 and I 'helped' him answer the questionnaire. Wrongly, as it happens despite my very best attempt. Immediate rejection. He was not able to reapply for a number of months - can't remember the exact time frame. In the meantime he applied for another chain answered the questions himself and got the job.

As a pp above mentioned each chain has a different emphasis - Waitrose is very centred on using own initiative, not bothering managers and customer centred.

[Supermarketreject]

@ChocOrange1

I used to work in a coop as a manager . It was a real pain because if we had under 18s on the till, we had to go and enter a code every time they had a customer buying alcohol, cigarettes or any other age related products. I wouldn't be surprised if some shops won't hire a 17yo just to avoid that problem.

Thank you! I thought that would be one of the reasons!

[kay3]

What about trying Macdonald's or domino's?

[Supermarketreject]

bonnieliesovertheocean

This is definitely a problem! The advice online is really confusing!

[VividGemini]

Its probably sheer volume of applicants- even pre Covid you could have 20-30 applicants for some entry level supermarket roles. I imagine this is more like 50-100 now.

[alrightfella]

Mc Donald's is a good employer for 16+ I think it is much harder for them to get jobs these days. DD works at a cafe, lots of them currently advertising round here albeit for summer jobs at the moment. He may have more luck trying the supermarkets again in September when lots of them are going away to uni. I have also noticed that there aren't many teens working in our local supermarkets these days.

I see lots of mums asking on our local Facebook group if anyone has a job for their teen dc. I would encourage your ds to get a Facebook account and see if you have a local page/group do the asking himself. My friend has teens working in her shop. She would never employ anyone whose mum does the asking!

[JocastaNu]

Pretty much all the local cafés I follow on Facebook are recruiting for staff at the moment, with lots of posts about part time flexible work. Might be worth looking on social media for similar by you?