Lack of experience - unable to get job

[Talk2Dave]

So i had an interview last week for a worldwide sports wear company for a sales assistant role, was a group interview with 9 candidates in the room, after a presentation the invterviewees (sp?) chose 3 of us for a one-on-one interview, made it through, felt the one-on-one went very well although he did say it was unusual that i was 18 and had not previously been employed in retail before

The next day i had a voice message on my phone:
Hi David, unfortunately you didn't quite make it as we went with another candidate who has more experience.

ok that's fair enough, but how am i supposed to gain experience when no-one wants to hire me due to my lack of experience?
Applying for just work expirence is just as bad!
I've been travelling and i always thought that was good life experience?

If anyone knows of a job i could apply to in the S.E London/Kent area it would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, david

[Frik]

Catch-22

Retail is hardly a closed shop(!) I'm sure if you keep applying and show enough passion for the job you'll find something.

[dtmpower]

In my experience it's much easier to get a job once you are/have been employed. Even if it's helping out a family/friend's business or working outside of the mainstream 'big' retailers.

My wife's first job out of uni was as shop manager in a small chain of gadget shops. I doubt she would have been given a big retail management job straight off and left to run the show. Hence my tip is to look at all the opportunities that are out there for you , not just the obvious and often more difficult to get into.

[al1991]

Retail is slightly easier to get your foot in the door than, say, bar work where nearly everywhere demands experience.

You might need to set your sights lower. Don't take offence, but you need to be aiming at places that are frequented by pikeys/chavs etc and you're slightly embarassed to work there. From there, you can build up your experience and get with the better known/better paying companies.

Or, another route that has worked for people I know of is to get a Christmas temp job, when they're less worried about the candidates because they're not permanent and they just need people in to help with the hectic days and the sales. Again, from there you will have the retail experience that is so desired by prospective employers.

Hope that helps, good luck.

[dilbert]

Talk2Dave said:

So i had an interview last week for a worldwide sports wear company for a sales assistant role, was a group interview with 9 candidates in the room, after a presentation the invterviewees (sp?) chose 3 of us for a one-on-one interview, made it through, felt the one-on-one went very well although he did say it was unusual that i was 18 and had not previously been employed in retail before

The next day i had a voice message on my phone:
Hi David, unfortunately you didn't quite make it as we went with another candidate who has more experience.

ok that's fair enough, but how am i supposed to gain experience when no-one wants to hire me due to my lack of experience?
Applying for just work expirence is just as bad!
I've been travelling and i always thought that was good life experience?

If anyone knows of a job i could apply to in the S.E London/Kent area it would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, david

Wait until you do have some experience... Because, then they'll tell you the same thing.
Experience is a nebulous concept.
Don't dwell on it if you can possibly help it.
It'll just drive you nuts.

[Engineer1]

Go to a temping agency, get a christmas job, be a shelf stacker, start low and hope your intelligence drive and skills shine through allowing you to head up the ladder quick.

[Talk2Dave]

thanks for the advice chaps.
thing is, i've applied to everywhere, supermarkets, shops etc you name it.
I feel i have a stronger CV than some of my friends who have recently got jobs in supermarkets etc.

I'm going to the jobcentre yet again tomorrow morning to try again

[dtmpower]

Talk2Dave said:

thanks for the advice chaps.
thing is, i've applied to everywhere, supermarkets, shops etc you name it.
I feel i have a stronger CV than some of my friends who have recently got jobs in supermarkets etc.

I'm going to the jobcentre yet again tomorrow morning to try again

maybe post your cv up and PH can fettle it for you ?

[Talk2Dave]

oh i didn't think of asking, thanks.

heres the link to my CV
so if anyone could take a look at it, anyone can edit it too.

https://docs.google.com/document/edit?id=1HV4EbIZ-...

Thanks, David.

[Pothole]

Oh dear. First line:

"If your seeking someone that is reliable,"

I think you mean "If you're seeking someone who is reliable"

I read your whole personal statement as more stating the obvious.

Also your current school is Christ the King: St Mary's (cap. K and colon) put that first and previous schooling after that, perhaps with a bit about how much, when and where you travelled.

[Talk2Dave]

Pothole said:

Oh dear. First line:

"If your seeking someone that is reliable,"

I think you mean "If you're seeking someone who is reliable"

I read your whole personal statement as more stating the obvious.

Also your current school is Christ the King: St Mary's (cap. K and colon) put that first and previous schooling after that, perhaps with a bit about how much, when and where you travelled.

Edited. Thanks for that, also what would you suggest i say in the personal statement?

[Glocko]

Talk2Dave said:

invterviewees (sp?)

Well spotted Dave!!

[Pothole]

Talk2Dave said:

Pothole said:

Oh dear. First line:

"If your seeking someone that is reliable,"

I think you mean "If you're seeking someone who is reliable"

I read your whole personal statement as more stating the obvious.

Also your current school is Christ the King: St Mary's (cap. K and colon) put that first and previous schooling after that, perhaps with a bit about how much, when and where you travelled.

Edited. Thanks for that, also what would you suggest i say in the personal statement?

mine says this:

"A people-orientated Team Player with first class customer service skills and experience and the ability to communicate effectively with people at all levels. Quick thinking, with a practical, common sense approach to managing difficult customers or dealing with the unexpected. Cool under pressure, he has a keen sense of humour and a friendly, approachable manner."

Talks about me, albeit in the 3rd person, rather than telling potential employers what they can work out for themselves.

[Mattt]

Talk2Dave said:

I'm going to the jobcentre yet again tomorrow morning to try again

From what I've heard, you'd be better off doing the rounds yourself.

Job Centre is just there to give out benefits, not find you a job.

Walk round town with a whole bunch of CVs, and speak to every store manager there.

[sy534534]

Mattt said:

Talk2Dave said:

I'm going to the jobcentre yet again tomorrow morning to try again

From what I've heard, you'd be better off doing the rounds yourself.

Job Centre is just there to give out benefits, not find you a job.

Walk round town with a whole bunch of CVs, and speak to every store manager there.

Good advice, the Job Centre is rubbish, you can check the vacancies on-line anyway without being surrounded by the braindead and drug-addled. It may be worth checking with local agencies as we always use them for short term staffing and it would get you the experience you are lacking. Good luck

[trix-a-belle]

whoever was the complete child & added certain 'extra statements', all I can say is grow up

I've added some notes in red just to give you an idea on bits to think about & expand

good luck to you dave

S

[Talk2Dave]

trix-a-belle said:

whoever was the complete child & added certain 'extra statements', all I can say is grow up

I've added some notes in red just to give you an idea on bits to think about & expand

good luck to you dave

S

Thanks S, i didn't see the "extra statements"

[oldbanger]

A few comments on your CV - put the driving license down as one of your key skills, don't hide in the blurb at the end. What did you do whilst travelling? Any work, voluntary or paid?

Also in the interim, find yourself some voluntary work, doesn't have to be fulltime (a morning a week could suffice if necessary) - charity shop might be the most relevant, but any people-facing work would be OK. Then at least you've got a job on the cv and a work-related reference.

[skeggysteve]

Talk2Dave said:

If anyone knows of a job i could apply to in the S.E London/Kent area it would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, david

David,

Have you thought of a summer job at the seaside?
Round here (take a guess where!) all of the seasonal business are desperate for staff at his time of year. Butlins give you accomadation/food/etc. in with the job - OK not the best working conditions but it will give you the experience to put on your CV.

WRT your CV personally I'd get rid of "with use of my own transport." could sound, to a potential employer, that if you crash you wouldn't turn up on Monday.
Also "In my spare time I regularly go out with friends." again could ring alarm bells - he goes out on the p**s and will not come to work the following day.

Best of luck.

[Nidjit]

Here's my two penneth:

1. Inconsistent formatting. You've listed your GCSE results one underneath the other, but the A and AS level topics read as a sentence. (Yes, I'm that pedantic)
2. Personal statement almost questions the employer as to whether they may or may not be looking for someone with your qualities. I'd not bother with the "If you're looking for..." stuff. Just tell them the facts.
3. I'd leave out the bit about your basketball team experience being "in school". Instead, perhaps say "I was a member of the school basketball team, where I learned valuable skills about teamwork, communication, collaboration...." yadda yadda yadda, only referring to school if you desperately want to.
4. I'd take out the "in my spare time". This is the Interests section, so it's usually all in your spare time.
5. "Different sports" doesn't mean anything. Which ones? Whoever reads your CV might have an interest in what sports you're into.
6. I'm always a bit wary of including socialising in my CV. I think "I enjoy socialising" instead of "I regularly go out with friends" This = socialising, so it may appear as if you use lots of words when you really don't have to. As well as the potential for them seeing you as a pisshead.
7. Reliable doesn't need a capital R.
8. Where have your "Good customer service skills" come from?

I'd have made a few updates myself but apparently my internet browser at work doesn't want to play ball. I can understand it's difficult putting a CV together with no actual work experience, so fair play to you for pulling this together so far.

One question though - to those that know more than I do... Is it better to leave a Drama - D off the CV, or include the grade albeit one that's below the others and not a great result?

Good luck chap, hope something turns up for you