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?

[Bluedeblue]

It's not personal. Just not enough jobs for the people that want them.

My son graduated last year with a Masters in Engineering. It's taken him a whole year to get a job. And that's with applying for about 10 every week! He's now landed something part time at minimum wage, but it's in the correct field and the hours will increase in 6 months. 5 years in Uni, I never thought this is how things would pan out!!

Keep applying.

[Trayble]

Oh and regards interviews sometimes on the website Glassdoor people have posted the interview questions they were asked which may help him prepare although it's a bit of a gamble as to whether they ask those specific ones.

[Comefromaway]

@Trayble

McDonalds used to be a great employer when I was at school (although quite a few years ago now). You had decent shifts and could work lots of extra in the school holidays.
There was free food and they used to put on free taxis to get home if you finished at 11pm (I can imagine that perk has probably gone now).
They also used to run a bursary scheme if you were at university (which i applied for and received one year) plus I was sent on a management training course all for free which helped in job applications post university.
They really did used to hire anyone and generally people who weren't cut out for it would leave of their own accord anyway. The staff turnover is usually pretty high.

Ds didn't get past their online questionnaire. One of the questions was if he had arranged to meet friends but was asked to work late what would he do? As he's never really had friends to meet that was easy but then again what if the friends were part of his theatre group and he had rehearsal where he couldn't let people down.

It felt like the questions were designed to trip people up.

[SushiGo]

Local pubs, restaurants and cafes (not chains) will probably be much easier to get his foot in the door at. Much fewer applications and it'll be easier for him to prove he will be a good independent worker.

He won't be able to serve in a pub yet but they might need people washing dishes etc.

[sashagabadon]

Waitrose employ 16 year olds.

[Xiaoxiong]

Pretty much every single shop and cafe on our high street has signs in the windows saying help wanted - maybe a stack of CVs and going in in person with a big personable smile on his face will give a better result, or at least some feedback if the problem is that he's too young!

I hate these "computer says no" scenarios where you just don't know where you're going wrong, it feels so unfair - how are people meant to improve their applications if there is just a faceless rejection by an online system.

[IrmaFayLear]

Waitrose is a difficult one. They have literally every sixth-former applying and are very choosy. There is a turnover, but you have to wait until they advertise; they no longer accept speculative applications. It’s a far cry too from the old days when there were staff parties, training courses in London and generally much fun to be had!

Agree with pp that many supermarkets are not hiring. Most places have slashed the number of cashiers, and have one person monitoring the self-checkouts. There are more jobs as “pickers” for online orders, and a lot of these are at night.

[Comefromaway]

I do have to say I loved an advert for a "Washing Up Executive" a local pub put on facebook. They asked for experience helping in the kitchen at home and to know the difference between a mop and a dishcloth! I think they were inundated!

[Comefromaway]

@IrmaFayLear

Waitrose is a difficult one. They have literally every sixth-former applying and are very choosy. There is a turnover, but you have to wait until they advertise; they no longer accept speculative applications. It’s a far cry too from the old days when there were staff parties, training courses in London and generally much fun to be had!

Agree with pp that many supermarkets are not hiring. Most places have slashed the number of cashiers, and have one person monitoring the self-checkouts. There are more jobs as “pickers” for online orders, and a lot of these are at night.

This is another issue. When you have someone whose academic qualifications are not great like ds they are competing against the high flyers.

[TheGoogleMum]

I've just seen an ad for a 16-18 year old for a glass collector at a social club so the jobs do exist!

[whoamitojudge]

I work in a supermarket and agree with a previous message that if you are under 18, yes you can go on a till but you have to get authorisation for alcohol every time you sell it. Yes you can be trained on other areas of the shop but they always like you to be flexible across all areas.
My DD 17 has just got a retail job ( not in a supermarket ) after months of trying literally everywhere. It’s tough for them at the moment with many people who have experience that are looking for work too.
If it’s any consolation I tried an online supermarket recruitment questionnaire recently for Tesco’s bearing in mind I’ve done the same job for a competitor for the last 12 years and still didn’t get through 😂
Good luck for your DS and hope he finds something soon

[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.

[ghostyslovesheets]

He needs to apply for everything not just supermarket jobs - restaurants- hotels - fast food

He’s 17 with no paid employment experience

My eldest two both work in supermarkets but they started at 16 - as soon as they could work and both during Covid - eldest had and interview today for another job with a different supermarket chain - the issue maybe they expect a 17 year old to have been doing something

[Chocolateandamaretto]

Remember a lot of people have been made redundant in the last year and taking whatever jobs are going. If I was hiring I would take a previously employed adult over a green 17 year old I'm afraid.

I've worked in a lot of supermarkets, since the age of 16 up to just a few years ago and I would say they are becoming less pleasant places to have a first job. A lot more people after jobs so you're a lot more expendable, less flexibility, huge pressure to take on extra hours and much less robust training. But that's just my personal experience! Try smaller shops/cafes/pubs and see if there's anything going there.

[IrmaFayLear]

Those computer sifts... what do they do apart from just slash numbers? I applied for a job a while ago and was “rejected” after I had filled in the form. Reading up on it, I had blown the question, “Mary cannot work the computer, do you a) report her to boss b) do her work for her or c) help her access training?” Of course I ticked “c” quite confidently. Oh, no. The correct answer was b) do her work for her !!!! Because it was a team job and you always take one for the team . I read that in some companies (presumably this one) the current staff answer the questions and the right answers are the ones they select. Doesn’t inspire much confidence in innovation or diversity.

[vivainsomnia]

One mistake people make, and understandably often the younger ones, in answering the online questions is assuming that the correct answer is ‘in doubt, ask your manager’ when actually, they are looking for people who can take responsibilities. People answer the question portraying themselves in the role for the first week when they should imagine they’ve been there for 6 months already.

[quiteathome]

I worked in a McDonalds as a teen. They do a lot of training and it is a good job to have on a CV later, as you can train up to management even as a student job. Which will give him something to talk about as a graduate as well.

Tell him to go in and ask for an application form/ ask to speak to the store manager. I imagine other places like that are similar.

[Comefromaway]

@IrmaFayLear

Those computer sifts... what do they do apart from just slash numbers? I applied for a job a while ago and was “rejected” after I had filled in the form. Reading up on it, I had blown the question, “Mary cannot work the computer, do you a) report her to boss b) do her work for her or c) help her access training?” Of course I ticked “c” quite confidently. Oh, no. The correct answer was b) do her work for her !!!! Because it was a team job and you always take one for the team . I read that in some companies (presumably this one) the current staff answer the questions and the right answers are the ones they select. Doesn’t inspire much confidence in innovation or diversity.

That's a dreadful answer! No wonder companies are struggling if thats what they are looking for!

[MoiraQueen]

DD's friend works in WHSmith at 16, so they might be worth a look.

[QuitMoaning]

My OH owns an independent takeaway and if a 17 year old came in, looking clean and presentable with good manners, and asked for a job, my OH would definitely take note and ask for contact details. Cannot guarantee a job there and then but you never know.
He likes someone with initiative and being proactive.
It is more difficult due to regulations with age but he already employs a 17 yo so he knows the challenges and is happy to do them if the 17yo seems worth investing time in.
Advise your son to go in and ask independents, I think it could work.

[GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing]

I remember it being hard to get a first shop/ supermarket job even when I was a teen (90s) as everywhere wanted experience.

Had to cheat and apply somewhere where I knew someone (simplified explanation).

This isn’t a helpful answer but can he do charity shop or something first to get experience?

My nephew was able to get a McDonald’s job while doing his a levels without experience too.

[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.

[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!!! 🤣😓😊😅😞

[Supermarketreject]

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

[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.