Students and weekend job interviews.

I know it is complicated and does seem unnecessary BUT it is good practice for later on when their career starts. I used to do lots and lots of interviews mainly nurses and health care assistants. So many people trained and highly trained nurses let themselves down badly at interview with very basic things like unpunctuality, mumbling, not looking at the interviewer- I even had a trained nurse come straight from the gym in her gym kit!! My nephew (15) had mock interviews at his school last week with banks, retailers etc for practice and for the feedback this was done instead of conventional work experience and I think they are going to have some more soon. My sister got him all done up in a suit, collar and tie and he got compliments for appearance but he giggles when under pressure!! Bless him.

When our kids were at 6th form, they applied for jobs at the local Tesco. They were put on the list after one interview and had jobs by the summer.

Why has everything become so complicated?

These teenagers are not aplying for the CEO post- just as temporary shelf stackers- what a performance to go through.

For a holiday job, may I suggest that they get in touch with neighbours for maybe fence and shed painting? I did this last year and the twins did a marvellous job. There are many tasks not involving electrical equipment which could be done and somebody like myself. living on my own, would be grateful to have done. I am good at supplying drinks every hour on the hour!

This whole interview bit is a load of nonsense. I too have helped teenage children through the online process bit, and yes Leticia you are right, they just want a cheap labour force they can call on when things are busy, not at all suitable when you are at school Monday to Friday. There was case reported some months back of a prat manager with a clipboard and a very high opinion of himself, making applicants at Currys 'dance in the style of a 70s disco'. This was sheer malice and nastiness and had nothing to do with the rubbish job being offered. The sad thing about the woman in ASDA who quite rightly told the prat man with a clipboard what he could do with his spaghetti and marshmallows, is that she will likely be sanctioned by another prat jobsworth at the jobcentre.

I agree with Coolgran. They may also have wanted grit, a person to keep their cool with difficult situations and customers.

My son had to be in a team and design a musical bathtub for a part time seasonal, Christmas job in Argos. I don't know how many applied but about 24 did the team thing and then some got a second interview, my son did, but there were only 2 jobs and he didn't get one.

He had terrible difficulty getting any Saturday job -with forms and CVs. I don't think I even knew what a CV was at that age. I simply wandered up the High Street asking if there were Saturday jobs until a shop had one and then they said 'which school are you at?- start next Saturday'.

What really annoyed me was that he wanted a Saturday job ( or Sunday would have done) but it was 'can you work both?' 'Can you work any evenings?' Basically they want a cheap labour force they can send home if quiet and call on if busy.

He got a pub job in his first summer at University,but only because he said he could do the whole summer, any days and any hours.

Well done that woman in Asda! A pity they need the jobs and can't tell businesses where to shove their stupid ideas! (I would have thought she showed initiative and given her a job!)

This last bit in the Asda interview is called The Asda Magic, all about seeing how you work in a team, who takes the top role (a leader) in trying to do whatever daft task has been asked of them. Showing initiative etc.
Everyone who does it thinks it's appalling and stupid, the idea is to overcome your reservations and show what you can do/your ideas.

Actually my daughter in law has a degree AND several years experience of part-time work in a well known chemist's shop, but still didn't get short-listed for a job at Boots.
(Turned out well as she got a much better summer job, but what on earth did they want?)

A degree needed to clean toilets looms!