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Original poster

To wonder how anyone gets a job in Tescos

220 replies

Tootsey11 · 19/10/2022 14:27

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.

OP posts:
jays · 19/10/2022 16:15

I’m sure I’ve seen quite a few threads on Reddit and Quora with folk talking about how difficult it is to get a job in Tesco. I think there’s a screening quiz/questionnaire that’s notoriously difficult to pass. I don’t know if your dh was faced with that but I think there are lots of hints and tips on line on how to pass it, maybe even a YouTube video or two. He’s not alone though, I think some of the questions are very ‘The Tesco Way’ so it’s worth having a look online if he’s been faced with that in the past.

StellaAndCrow · 19/10/2022 16:16

I remember them having really odd "Values" multiple choice test questions, where if you thought too much about it it was impossible to work out the right answer. I couldn't get past that bit!

Nizanb · 19/10/2022 16:16

Tipsyturvychocolatemonster · 19/10/2022 16:06

I’m genuinely curious on the a levels. Six means he’s done one without even doing the gcse before it . I didn’t even know that was possible and you’d get funding for it?

unless he took the same three again, which means he’s got three. Very confused as that’s such an unusual situation. With three a levels why not do something else. Going for six is very unusual

You don't need to have the GCSE to do the A-Level.

You could do Sociology or Law straight at A-Level, though they'd probably like you to have GCSE English for that. Philosophy A-Level could also be done like this.

StellaAndCrow · 19/10/2022 16:16

or what jays said!

Deathraystare · 19/10/2022 16:17

They have these "what would you do?" quizzes - say 3 things happening at once - you having to cover somewhere, person wanting help with a purchase and something else equally important.

I applied to them all and got nowhere.

Last one I actually got an interview at Waitrose. Was sat with 2 young girls and we all had to come up with some ideas. They were much quicker than me. I guess I could say in my defence I was still grieving my mother's death but I do tend to take time when thinking things over and they were rattling out ideas so of course would be deemed more dynamic?

mam0918 · 19/10/2022 16:17

He has 5 GCSE and 6 A levels?

Thats a wierd mix... have they changed something because 10-11 GCSEs and 3-4 A levels has always been the standard I have known.

MrsLargeEmbodied · 19/10/2022 16:17

i am sure it is computer generated.
do they have an advert on the

sandgrown · 19/10/2022 16:18

I had gone part time in my main job when my marriage broke down. I needed more income so applied to Tesco . The interview was quite involved and I got a temporary job over Christmas. The only people kept on after were young and cheap . I was told to apply again in the Summer which I did and was eventually given a permanent job . All the bright young things had left for better jobs . Maybe they think your son will just move on quickly . My son had retail experience but had to try a few times to get in at a local store .

Iliveonahill · 19/10/2022 16:19

Tipsyturvychocolatemonster · 19/10/2022 16:06

I’m genuinely curious on the a levels. Six means he’s done one without even doing the gcse before it . I didn’t even know that was possible and you’d get funding for it?

unless he took the same three again, which means he’s got three. Very confused as that’s such an unusual situation. With three a levels why not do something else. Going for six is very unusual

It is, but he was the year that was affected massively by Covid. My son had his A levels cancelled by Boris in March. No one, including the government (no surprise there) knew what was happening. Grades were all over the place so lots of kids ready etc.

my Son did economics, DT and physiology at a level. He didn’t study the gcse for them. Absolutely normal nowdays.

Wiluli · 19/10/2022 16:20

Dow she have experience ? I think they prefer “ grownups “ to young adults , which is a bit silly as how are kids supposed to get experience if they are not given a chance

Iliveonahill · 19/10/2022 16:20

mam0918 · 19/10/2022 16:17

He has 5 GCSE and 6 A levels?

Thats a wierd mix... have they changed something because 10-11 GCSEs and 3-4 A levels has always been the standard I have known.

Read the OPs posts.

crackersforcrackers · 19/10/2022 16:21

I worked at Tesco from the age of 18 to 20, do you know if he's doing the pre screening online test OP? From what I can remember they used that before interviewing, same as all the other supermarkets I applied to at the time. I did well in the tests (they say answer with your opinion but don't! Answer with what they want to hear e.g. I loveeeee teamwork). I applied to 4 supermarkets and got job offers from all of them.

141mum · 19/10/2022 16:21

Hi, try McDonald’s, £10.30 an hour, my DD works there PT while she at university, she 19, and loves it, she has had other jobs, Urban Outfitters, waitresses but said this is so much better
Good Luck

MyPurpleJacket · 19/10/2022 16:22

myusernamewastakenbyme · 19/10/2022 14:28

Its Tesco not Tescos

Haha, you showed your grammatical incompetence whilst trying to sound superior and mocking others.

Original poster
Tootsey11 · 19/10/2022 16:22

He didn't know what else to do at the time, I was seriously ill with covid, so he applied again to college to keep on studying. There was next to no jobs available and as I've said we are rural, I was ill, he couldn't get anywhere to work as didn't drive, so studied instead.

OP posts:
WhatTheHellIsAQuasar · 19/10/2022 16:24

They also want you to be available for compulsory overtime whenever they want to dish it out. If you put that you’re available on the advertised hours that could be another reason, especially coming up to Christmas. They want to give you 3am to 3pm shifts over Christmas so make sure your DS is ok with that

RedToothBrush · 19/10/2022 16:25

Tootsey11 · 19/10/2022 16:05

He doesn't know what he wants to do long term, so decided to spend a period of time just working and saving. He didn't want to go to university, it would mean a lot of travel and debt which he didn't want. During covid, rather than sit on his backside doing nothing, he decided to put the time in and study. How on earth is that a bad thing.

He looks like he's potentially gone back to school to avoid being a grown up. And then its weird for him then not to go to university.

maddening · 19/10/2022 16:26

Op if he doesn't want to do uni I would sack off Xmas jobs and look at apprentice degrees - I work in the banking industry and my employer offers apprentice degrees, they pay you to work while also funding your degree. Lots of companies across many industries offer this.

Roystonv · 19/10/2022 16:27

I am sure there was a thread a couple of years ago about their weird online algorithms and that common sense didn't seem to be taken into account

OMG12 · 19/10/2022 16:29

Probably over qualified and know he wouldn’t stay long term

Original poster
Tootsey11 · 19/10/2022 16:29

He applied for an apprenticeship electrician role. Was told he was over qualified and they wouldn't take him on.

I can assure you @RedToothBrush, my son is more mature than you sound. Don't make a judgement on a young person you don't even know.

OP posts:
RedToothBrush · 19/10/2022 16:31

Tootsey11 · 19/10/2022 16:29

He applied for an apprenticeship electrician role. Was told he was over qualified and they wouldn't take him on.

I can assure you @RedToothBrush, my son is more mature than you sound. Don't make a judgement on a young person you don't even know.

I'm NOT!

I'm saying thats what other people could interpret from it!!!!!

FFS.

Its a dead weird set of qualifications and decisions!

Speedweed · 19/10/2022 16:32

I know everyone is not impressed by the pp pointing out it's Tesco, not Tescos, but that is exactly the sort of thing that gets an application rejected. Always get the company name right...

Assuming he hasn't done that, agree it's probably because he doesn't know anyone who works there, particularly for seasonal work. If he had retail experience it probably wouldn't matter so much.

YellowTreeHouse · 19/10/2022 16:33

He is being rejected because he isn’t giving the right answers to the questions. He might think it’s the most sensible but that doesn’t mean it is.

They don’t care about grades. They care about the best fit for the job. His answers are telling them he doesn’t fit.

LazyJayne · 19/10/2022 16:36

I can’t get past the fact he was allowed to just do another entirely new set of A-levels. Literally do sixth form twice. His request for exceptional circumstances must have been… exceptional.