To wonder how anyone gets a job in Tescos

[Tootsey11]

Ds20 has been applying for jobs over the last few months and has applied twice to our local Tesco store, most recently for Xmas staff. For the second time he has been rejected, not even getting to interview stage. We cannot work out what he is doing wrong.

He has 5 Gcse's, 6 A levels, is willing and able to work, and can take a variety of shifts, so fully flexible.

Can anyone give me an idea of what he is doing wrong.

Is your Tesco not that short staffed?
Our Tesco will take anyone that turns up and talks coherently (actually not sure that talking coherently is necessary) Teen DS has got 2 jobs there without any difficulty

Without looking at his CV or application it's impossible to know (and, obviously, don't post them here). Likely reasons might include:

• What are his GCSEs and A Levels in? Five of the former and six of the latter is unusual, does he at least have GCSE maths and English? Failing the basic exams will make him an unattractive candidate.
• Conversely, if his qualifications are good, it may make them think he won't stick around long.
• He's 20, so when did he finish education and when did he start looking for work? Employers don't like unexplained gaps, so if he finished education two years ago and hasn't been working since, that will be a concern.
• If he's been in and out of several jobs, that will reflect badly. Employers want someone who shows they are a longer term prospect.
• Does he tailor his application for the role? A statement that he wants a career in medicine or management will suggest he's ambitious, again this suggests he won't be there long.
• When does he apply? Does he apply as soon as the job is advertised or leave it until the closing date? Even low-skilled jobs like shelf-stackers attract hundreds of candidates. The timing of when someone applies can be used as an indicator of how interested they are.

Generally, employers have three questions. Can the applicant do the job (are they competent)? Will they do the job (are they lazy)? Will they cause trouble? Managers like staff who just get on with the job without much supervision and who don't cause HR headaches.

Do they have a screening question that requires 6 GCSEs so he's automatically thrown out?

I'd try another retailer if he's having no luck

Sorry, I had to go out. This was night shift, it was online application, no cv, no covering letter and no previous experience needed!

Conversely, if his qualifications are good, it may make them think he won't stick around long.

OP says he's applied for Xmas staff - so surely that's not an issue?

Job advert, no qualifications or experience needed. Training provided.

Tell him to go in and ask to speak to the manager. Ask the manager what they are looking for and how many positions they have to fill. It may be that they don't have the staff to train someone up, or that they'll think he'll leave for a better paying position so they don't want to waste their time on him.

You can (or used to be able to) Google the answers for their screening questionnaire. Also tips and tricks on how to get an interview. DH spent ages doing it all properly once and didn't get an interview, so I tried with help from Google and it worked.

Might be because they see him as being over qualified for the job. So he will only do the job until something else comes along that he has qualifications in.

If it's only seasonal staff though I can't see it being a problem.

I don't know the answer but my DS got a job in Tesco this time last year when he'd just finished his Masters. From applying to starting it was exactly 1 week. When he went for interview the other lad waiting to go in had also just finished his Masters. They both got a job. This was for part time shelf stackers not graduate jobs. Maybe your DS is under qualified 😉

Oh don’t be a dick. Ffs

He is fit willing and able to work. Can do any hours or days. Surely his results in his exams show he is hard working. Decent, honest and intelligent. It is so frustrating when I keep hearing of how everywhere is short staffed yet no one will give someone young a chance.

And there's your answer.

He looks indecisive and unrealiable. Why return for another 3 A levels? Combined with now looking vastly over qualified. And his experience isn't in retail.

If there are lots of other applications, why would they pick him train him, only for him to go elsewhere?

On paper, you'd definitely raise an eyebrow and go 'whats going on there?'. He's a wildcard option when there are much 'safer' choices.

He probably a lovely lad, but there isn't anything here that says he really wants to work at Tesco and stuck it out long term. They don't want to be forking out on replacing him in 6 months time when he's found something he really wants to do.

He'd be better either temping (and potentially getting a job through that more permenantly) or going for something better related to his Alevels. Or another retail job, somewhere with less applications (as the supermarkets are always going to be first choice).

I have made about forty applications to Tesco over the last three years, I have passed the online customer service test but never so much as an interview. I am early 50s.

Is he applying himself? You’re not applying for him?

@RedToothBrush,@RedToothBrush why return and do another 3 Alevels? Bloody covid, as I said.

They won’t care about his exam results, they make zero difference to his ability to fill a shelf. They will only care that he is able to work the shifts they need filling.

It could be that the positions are already filled. Tesco seasonal vacancies went live weeks ago.

Yes, he is applying himself.

They’re probably getting filled quickly, lots of people looking for extra work over the Christmas period.

As I've said we are in Northern Ireland, he applied the day they were advertised here. It was not weeks ago.

Are there other options locally? Argos maybe?

Is it that screening questionnaire? DS tried to apply and it’s so difficult to know what the ‘right answer’ is.

I approached someone who is a manager at Tesco about younger child who has LD to ask about jobs, mentioned the screening tool and she said it’s really hard and even people who work there don’t even know what they’re supposed to say.

Doesn't matter why. If looks 'off'.

No one is going to check the year or reasoning if they have another 20 suitable candidates.

Yes, he answered the screening questions on both occasions, he said he answered honestly and what he thought was the most sensible thing to do in each situation.

Some places will have people with ore work experience applying. Could he look to get some experience working with people, following procedures and dealing with problems etc through voluntary work whilst he is applying? Assuming he is not planning further education I’d really encourage considering an application to civil service apprenticeship or other apprenticeship programmes. He likely has sufficient qualifications for these and they will not expect lots of work experience. Does need to demonstrate what skills he has to offer, for example working as a team and applying himself to training if has been part of a sports team.