Not able to secure store assistant interviews, what am I doing wrong?😕

[Catonthefence]

So I have a Masters but I have not used it and not confident to use it after doing remote admin job for nearly 9yrs. Before Masters I have done a degree and diploma in sciences.
Anyway, here's how it went:

I have put the Masters in the CV and applied for admin jobs... got none

• I have then removed the Masters and truncated my education to Bachelor of Sciences, still nothing.
• Then I removed the degree and then cut it short until Diploma and applied for assistant admin jobs... none.
• Now, I have kept the Diploma and applying for store assistant jobs mentioning that that Diploma was almost 20yrs ago ( I want to give them an impression that I am not an active science person anymore)... still nothing :(

What am I doing wrong?... I am looking forward to work in the real world after working remote/work from home for almost 13-14yrs. Its like my first job search.... the degrees I have done are itrelavent now but they seem to haunt me on the CV making me overqualified ( I dont know how thou, because I have not worked in those industries at all).

Please tell me how your CV looked when you got starting level store jobs.
Thankyou.🙂

What does the jobs section of your CV look like?
Have you got relevant customer service and cash handling experience?
Is your age on there or work outable?1

Yes, I think your previous work experience will be much more relevant than your education for these types of jobs.

Do you have customer service experience? Working as part of a team? What was your remote job that you’ve done for the last 14 years - are there any relevant skills in there that would apply to a store assistant job?

there are hundreds of applicants for some of these jobs - why should they interview you?

If your application does not answer that question, then they wont

I had answered questions they asked on their website, can’t recall if a CV was ever sent. Wrote that I had the experience they require as listed in the job requirements, gave examples-so yes, been part of a team and can work alone, yes, have dealt with customers, stock rotation etc. Passed the aptitude test, passed the interview. (Then quit after a brief period as I got a WFH home, which is bliss)

Can you volunteer any time at a charity shop to get retail experience on your CV?

Thankyou all.
Yes, I have worked with people although via calls/emails. I am 40+ so not near retirement. When I put my admin experience, I seem to over qualify but I will put it back on the CV and try again.

Also,about the working hours in the quentionnaire, I am ticking Mon-Fri 8am to 5pm, not ticking early morning hours, evening hours or weekends.... is this a deterrant?

No idea about shop jobs but if you want admin can you sign up with temping agencies? Every temp admin job I've ever had has led to the offer of a permanent job.

I think not being able to be flexible with hours in retail can be an issue.

when I have worked retail in the past we have all taken turns at the early start or late finish and done our fair share of weekends

Did you check your cv for ATS readability?

I am ticking Mon-Fri 8am to 5pm, not ticking early morning hours, evening hours or weekends.... is this a deterrant?

100% it is a deterrent.

Shops have to open long hours and operate on weekends. It isn't a Monday to Friday 9 - 5 job.

I was in retail for years and recruited staff, honestly I would have passed your application by as I needed people who are flexible about when they could work.

I think it’s more likely to be the hours you are available and if you have any recent experience rather than your qualifications.
How about applying for admin roles if that’s your recent experience?

You have to say pretty much 24/7 availability these days.

Not being able to do weekends in a retail job? There is your problem!

Definitely the hours you can work. Retail expects flexibility and 8 to 5 mon to Fri really isn't flexible.

I agree with others that your available working hours will be restrictive for retail . I can’t think of a single store operating Monday to Friday 8-5. They will be looking for more flexibility and are probably discarding your applications due to this.

Supermarkets need flexible staff. Ones that can start at 4am to stock the shop, ones who can stay on till 11pm and obviously work weekends. It's not a 8-5 type of job.

Agree that it's your availability. Even for zero hours work employers want full flexibility.

Two issues, the hours but also you're a flight risk. You're cv read as someone who will be looking for another job with higher pay soon due to the degrees and diplomas.

I worked in a supermarket and there wasn't an 8-5pm shift. It was like 6am-2pm, 11pm-7am etc even shops that shut at 6pm can have staff working past midnight unloading deliveries.

I employ people every day for the kind of roles you’re looking at. I wouldn’t even look at your CV with your restricted availability.

Have a look at NHS admin roles.
At least you'd get a contract then, so many shop roles are zero hours.

Have you looked at Civil service jobs, science, hospitals, prisons, schools, colleges in your area ?
A job in a shop doesn't sound like a good fit for you, with your qualifications

You can look on their individual websites or if you are in UK
www.gov.uk
Find a job
Enter postcode or county

Good luck

As everyone is saying it's your availability that's the issue. I worked in a supermarket and my availability was 4am to 11pm Monday to Sunday. Didn't tend to do the really early (started at 5 or 6am generally) and never did until 11pm but if it had suited the needs of the department I would have had to.

There are set shifts for some roles but 8-5 would be very desirable and would likely go to longer serving members of staff tbh.

Ohh!.. I know now... Thanks!. Will tick all availability for offers but I would only be be able to work 1-2 weekends every month not every weekend or all day late evenings... would this be lying?