Job help (UK)

[Karxili'boq]

Anyone got a good place I can go for a job interview that:

A) Is a nationwide establishment/an establishment local to Greater Manchster

B) Is a good place for a 16 year old to work that doesn't involve heavy lifting or having to use heavy equipment

C) Pays relatively well (probably between 5 quid and 7 quid an hour, 5 being minimum wage and 7 being the utmost I could expect to be payed at my age and with my grades and stuff)

D) Takes further education into account (so no excessively long hours and no hours between about 10/11pm and 4pm being expected)

?

I'm trying supermarkets and stuff, but from experience, a lot of the stuff they have you doing is dragging huge rollercages piled high with stuff around the shopfloor (which I can't do due to strength limits) and lifting heavy objects (again, strength limits and knee problem, meaning that I can't support a lot of weight). All I need is a job for the next year and a half (till i'm 18) and then i'm applying for my local games workshop (not for the pay, but for enjoyment of the job and what it entails), which should be easy since they're low on staff and i'm a regular there and knowledgable about what I need to be knowledgable about.

So yeah, should I continue with my supermarket sweep for jobs or does anyone have a better suggestion based on the criteria? So far, it's only supermarkets that fit most of it (heavy lifting is usually minimal, but not completely gone, and I can't apply for my local co-op till i'm 18), but i'm reluctant to pursue a job for Tesco based on their employment patterns.

They accept people who look good and turn away people who know what they're doing (since they spent their work experience there, even getting staff reccommendations) and know what's best for people. They also ignored the fact that most people handed their applications in a week before the interviews, when I handed mine in about a month and a half before them AND rejected me via 2nd class post (yeah, thanks...)

[Joker]

You want to look into retail or waiter. Those are the typical student jobs. You can easily get jobs in those sectors without need to lift alot.

Tesco has some of the best work patterns you can get, they are normally open 24/7 so you can do a late shift after college, 5-10 kinda thing. You will have trouble with shops that shut early like 6 or 8.

Doesn't matter when you handed the application form in as long as its before the deadline, even than most will still accept. Its not exactly high standard stuff your after, your cannon fodder, just keep throwing application forms at places till one sticks.

Your NMW isn't £5, its £3.50 ish. Go to national companies and you will get paid around £5 though if not abit more.

[Karxili'boq]

Originally Posted by Joker

Doesn't matter when you handed the application form in as long as its before the deadline, even than most will still accept. Its not exactly high standard stuff your after, your cannon fodder, just keep throwing application forms at places till one sticks.

The app date wasn't the most important bit, but at most it shows that you like to get your priorities right. The main bit i'm annoyed about is how they don't accept people based on skills, abilities and reccommendations by high level staff, but choose to reject them by 2nd class post instead.

Your NMW isn't £5, its £3.50 ish. Go to national companies and you will get paid around £5 though if not abit more.

Tesco told us it was £5.80, joy, misleading comments.

EDIT: Just noting, they said it was the minimum wage, it wasn't what they were going to pay us, that was set at 6 quid 50.

[Joker]

Originally Posted by The Betrayer

The app date wasn't the most important bit, but at most it shows that you like to get your priorities right. The main bit i'm annoyed about is how they don't accept people based on skills, abilities and reccommendations by high level staff, but choose to reject them by 2nd class post instead.

Pretty pointless speculating, there will be other reasons for it, they might just not of liked you. Not saying you are but for example arrogance can come across on application forms, I saw it happen where we were reading through one that was just handed in, they are meant to be confidential but meh, my boss read the answers to the normal questions and just brushed him off as a cunt.

Originally Posted by The Betrayer

Tesco told us it was £5.80, joy, misleading comments.

EDIT: Just noting, they said it was the minimum wage, it wasn't what they were going to pay us, that was set at 6 quid 50.

There are 3 levels of NMW, 16-18 (£3.50), 18-21 (£4.50ish) ,22+ (£5.80ish). Alot of people assume there is one set level and they only ever hear about the top level as it applies to most people.

National companies do tend to be significantly higher than the NMW for 16-21 year olds and tend to be around the 22+ limit, but i have had friends who did get £3.50 working for a small shop.

£6.50 for a 16 year old is a very good deal, i know that other companies are lower more around £6.00 - £6.10 mark.

[Karxili'boq]

Originally Posted by Joker

Pretty pointless speculating, there will be other reasons for it, they might just not of liked you. Not saying you are but for example arrogance can come across on application forms, I saw it happen where we were reading through one that was just handed in, they are meant to be confidential but meh, my boss read the answers to the normal questions and just brushed him off as a cunt.

The form was box checking, no comments made in it... must've been based off the colour of pen used and how the ticks were formed...

[Bobby B]

If you can't find a nationwide establishment, look into mom and pop places or your town or city for a job. I'm not 100% sure about the government, like if they use county government or local governments only, but inquire to them. you'd be surprised at what sort of jobs may be available, I got a simple job in my town, but other youths have worked 3-6; 4-6 jobs. Lifeguarding is also a good option, you have to pay to get certified and take the course, but its worth taking. Contact a group over there that is similar to the American Red Cross.. they basically are who local governments turn to for lifeguard training.

[Karxili'boq]

I am petrified of swimming, I won't even go near a swimming baths... and mom and pop places? I'm not up on your hip, young, american lingo, son.

[Bobby B]

Originally Posted by The Betrayer

I am petrified of swimming, I won't even go near a swimming baths... and mom and pop places? I'm not up on your hip, young, american lingo, son.

haha... mom and pop is a term used for at least 70 years . Anyways, it means a local place that's not a chain like someone in your area owns it, operates it, and staffs it. It can be anything from stores to restaurants to entertainment to what ever else. I work at a 'mom and pop' grocery store, the owners are moving into town all the employees live within 10 miles of the store and its known to all the towns members.

[kdee]

Originally Posted by The Betrayer

I am petrified of swimming, I won't even go near a swimming baths... and mom and pop places? I'm not up on your hip, young, american lingo, son.

I'm not going to go out on a limb and assume that first-job-finding in the UK is identical to how it works in America, but frankly........if you lived in America, you would not be able to find any job with how picky you are being.

First job suck. In fact, second jobs often suck too. I've been continuously employed for 6 years now (I recently was laid off of my old job and found new employment), and I'm only making a dollar more per hour than when I first started working when I was 16.

That's exactly why I'm @ the uni. I want to BE the employer one day. And it WILL happen. But for your case, it would be best if you simply filled out as many applications as you can at virtually ANY kind of establishment. You just very well might have to do hard physical labor. Sorry, but that's kind of how it works sometimes.

My advice is to just get SOME for of employment right now. If you don't like what you end up getting, at least you will be able to put money in your pocket every week while you continue to look for a job you like. Best of luck to you.