To be absolutely livid on DSs behalf!

[MiddleAgeWoman]

DS (19) has been job hunting since early this year to get a job to help with Uni costs. He has applied for hundreds of jobs and has so far had about 6 interviews. The first 3 didn’t bother to contact him to tell him the outcome and in the last 2 weeks he had:

One in a pub where he was interviewed for an hour (went very well and she was discussing start dates with him and told he’d hear by the end of the week. Heard nothing, didn’t even tell him he hadn’t got the job.

One where he turned up (well known coffee shop) to be told that the manager who’d arranged the interview hadn’t come in that day and there was no one else to interview him but they’d get her to call him. She didn’t. Why couldn’t someone have called him to rearrange before he got there?!

Yesterday he did a 3 hour unpaid ‘work trial’ interview where they were supposed to call him by the end of the day and tell him whether he could start today. They didn’t and are now denying any knowledge of him turning up!

I am absolutely furious that he spent all that time, money on bus fares. The one yesterday was a half hour walk from the bus stop as out of town, and the employers can’t even be arsed to get back to him!

He is so despondent. I have been an interviewer in a previous life and would never not let an interviewee the outcome. In those days we had to send letters. Nowadays all it takes is a quick text or email!

WIBU to call them and give them a piece of my mind?

That's shit. Normally I'd say stay out of it, but that last one particularly is utterly taking the piss and taking advantage of a young person who is less likely to stand up for themselves.

Yes, you would be U. They'll just write you off as a nutty helicopter mother.

I'm sorry for your DS though. The sheer volume of applications for stuff means employers can pick and choose without bothering to be polite.

Unfortunately, the first scenario (not bothering to tell people if they have the job or not) seems to happen a lot. Has happened to my nieces several times. I think it's horribly rude and gives the kids the impression that they just don't matter but it just seems to be standard practice now.

But your son working a 3-hour trial FOR FREE and them then denying it even happened?

Phone them up and give them hell. Actually, no. P,hone for a different pretend matter, get the manager's boss's name and then phone THEM and give them hell and let it trickle downwards. What an awful way to treat someone.

Poor lad. That is utter shit.
I don't know what this does for young people's confidence!

A simple email after an interview, to say either way is not too much to ask surely.

I hope he finds something soon

It’s very shit but I’m astonished at how common this seems to be.
It so far beyond rude.
I can’t understand how there can’t even be a standard email or text than can just take 30 seconds of someone’s time.
Just keep telling him it’s really not about him all the other candidates will have had the same shit.

It is shit for your son, but unfortunately, it's probably not going be the last. It is quite usual now to not hear back after an interview although the manager not being there to interview and the trial shift are of course awful and not companies I would want to work for!

However, I think you would be massively U to phone them and give them a piece of your mind - he is 19, not a child. If he isn't happy with something and wants to do something about it that's for him to sort out however he chooses to.

That's how it's been for both my sons. It's so rubbish, but they have had literally hundreds of applications. It's a horrible time.

The companies that make people do unpaid trials (work for free) need to be named and shamed.

I have the same issue with my 3 teens.. interviews getting cancelled as they get on public transport. Turning up for interviews and getting turned away because positions already filled. It’s heartbreaking! Just seeing them all nervous for the interview and then not even given a chance!

Don't phone, put it on Facebook. There's 3 cafes/tea rooms I won't use because of how they treat/ed young staff

Is he calling them back when they don't proactively contact him with news? You don't just wait.

The first scenario is normal unfortunately- you usually don't get told after interview that you didn't get the job. Only the successful candidates get contacted.

The others are a bit shit.

I thought there'd been legislation on work trials - maybe it was just a campaign.
Haven't had time to read - may have useful info.
www.thehrkiosk.co.uk/are-unpaid-work-trials-legal/

My DD had the same experience looking for a job during Uni hols. She had an interview at a well known coffee shop( maybe the same as your DS) she never heard back.This as actually the only interview she got out of about 20 applications. Only had about 3 bother to reply (with rejections) She eventually got some bar work, however if they are not busy she gets sent home early. She was originally offered 20 hours per week, but because of it not being busy she has averaged about 12 hours per week. A stock email rejection would suffice, they don't even need to spend money on a stamp like in my day.

Please don't post on Facebook or do anything. Sure fire way to annoy your son...your adult son.

Let him figure it out.

My DS16 did a four hour unpaid trial on the hottest day of the year in a bar. No one showed him where the bathroom was. No one ever said where he could get a drink of water.
And then fobbed him off for two weeks saying they were trialling others too. When pushed they eventually said they needed someone who could work almost full time despite knowing he was only 16.
Had him handling alcohol too which I'm sure they shouldn't have done. Very poor management.
I won't set foot in the place now.

Thats awful. Had he tried a temp agency? They can be good for getting your foot in the door somewhere.

It's so hard for young people, probably adults too, trying to find work. I lost count of how many applications DS did over the last year, he had one interview and I think two replies saying no thank you? So disheartening.

I can't believe young people did trial sessions for free?! That's appalling

Dont call them, call ACAS.

That’s absolutely shit. Poor lad. I hope he finds something.

I don't think it would do your DS any favours if you called them, but I completely understand where you are coming from. I'm a dozen years older than he is and largely in the same situation.

I'm so sorry, OP. For both him and you. All I can suggest is that he makes as much use as he possibly can out of the university's department for helping students/graduates into work, polishing up CV, interview skills etc. He can contact them now, if he likes. It doesn't need to be during term time.

I'd be absolutely furious too. It's just so incredibly rude and unprofessional.

Unpaid work trials should be illegal as surely they breach minimum wage legislation.

I'm not sure what to suggest though if your son has already contacted the companies. At least he knows they're not worth working for.

Does your local area have an active Facebook group? Where I live a lot of jobs are advertised on the local village group.

That last one I would absolutely step in. How many hours free work have they had pulling that stunt?

It’s frustrating but common. Years ago my friend did a full weeks work at a pub as a trial period that they then refused to pay her for.
With interviews I understand they won’t contact every applicant but when I was attending interviews i always got told we will call you either way, then would hear nothing, and if I ventured calling up (if I thought it had gone well) they would say ‘person isn’t here, they will call you back’ (never did). What is wrong with just saying ‘we will let the successful candidate know by x date’ rather than we will contact you either way.