Secret club for picker jobs

[Onthehuntstill]

I am looking for a job as a picker in a supermarket. You know, the people who push a cart about and do your online orders for you. Well I've been looking for absolutely ages and I can't see a single one. Not just in my area - anywhere. Equally the ones who pick the amazon prime groceries in morrisons and Co op. Where are they getting the jobs?

It's mainly bugging me because I used to see them advertised but it wasn't the right time for me and now I'd be able to, they're not there. I have seen one for Sainsbury's but my nearest store isn't very local. That's the only one I've seen.

Anyone know how Tesco Adsa and Morrisons are divvying out these jobs? Thank you

I was wondering the same thing today weirdly! Do regular shop staff do the picking?

Loads advertised locally. DS applied for Asda and Tesco via indeed, the job title is online shopper

Do you mind me asking roughly which area you're in? Thank you

South East

No secret club, there are lots of posts out there that the supermarkets are desperate to fill.
They are a separate department to normal shop floor staff, as PP has said they are normally known as Online Picker.
Would only be in the larger stores, not convenience or local

They often start very early (3am in our local store) and although some work during the day for later deliveries/collections, the majority do that horrible early/hybrid shift.

Tesco, Sainsbury, Morrisons etc show vacancies on their websites although they usually make it onto Indeed a couple of days later.

Quite a turnover of staff as the hours are unsociable, the work relentless (each pick is timed) and the pay is not great (although working "unsociable" hours attracts a premium payment). Also the managers tend to be young, go-getters trying to create an impression so they can climb the greasy pole of success.😑

Honestly I'm not just being thick. I seriously can't find them. I have checked all the store websites ive done general searches on Google and scoured indeed. Must be my area perhaps although I'm in the south east and a pp said that they've seen them. I've even searched within 100mile radius because I thought I was going mad.

I don't want to do "normal" supermarket work so I am just wondering if the posts are advertised as such and not specifically as online shopper/picker etc

I have a friend who does this for ASDA she works long hours,walks miles and does well not to lose it with people dithering around when she's being timed. She says it's a pretty easy job to switch off from at home time though.

Ex Supermarket manager / recruitment background for many years here.

A lot of retailers just want people fully trained everywhere in a shop. It's not cost effective or productive to have people only fulfilling one role in a shop. If you have a busy checkout time, you need to jump on a till until no longer needed. If a delivery comes in late, you need to be able to work stock. If date code checking needs completing, you need to be able to do that.

Picking can sometimes be separate because of the hours but most supermarkets will employ you as an assistant and the expectation will be you are trained throughout the shop.

Retail - especially supermarket retail - can be seen as fairly easy work sometimes, but it's not. It's fast paced, full of accountability and hard graft!! You need to be where the work is needed.

That makes sense and is very helpful thank you

Very welcome!!