You're right of course, but the argument still holds up
I'm 21, and I had trouble getting till monkey work in retail. "Looking for a motivated individual with retail experience." To operate a till. Really, how much experience do you need?

That's something I'd been asking myself for 8 months until I finally found work recently. Where did all these 'experienced' people come from, and just exactly how did they get it in the first place??
(Dyslexic Pidgeon, Mon 6 Apr 2009, 3:46, 1 reply)

If our outfit was anything to go by:
They think they need geniuses, becasue it takes so long for new staff to get up to speed. They don't. They actually need competent trainers who actually understand what they're teaching, as opposed to reading theory to you. For if you don't already have a knack for IT, it's like one of those school science/maths/language lessons covered by a PE teacher becasue no-one else was free - long and slow.

(Rant) Of course, the trainer job was guarded jealously as it gave her exemptions from real work. The deli counter was walled off and turned into a training room, which due to building layout gave her an excellent place to skive unobserved. Luchtime Rush / Big Spillage / Delivery Lorries queueing to unload? Oh, suddenly she's got NV-sodding-Q paperwork to complete. Perhaps if she spent a little less time gossiping and slacking, she might have more time to actually put in her share of the work, which she's assumed to contribute when it comes to calculating staff levels. (/rant)

You're right in that someone needs to give people a chance - this is what I meant by my response here www.b3ta.com/questions/unemployed/post398182 when I referred to "schizophrenic" job descriptions. You could understand airline pilots and surgeons needing prior experience (Eg prior rating on light aircraft, doctorate + 4 years); but almost anyone can fly a checkout, and if it's so skilled why is the pay so low?

The further you get from these lofty heights, the less willing people seem to train up new staff.

Seems you've got a few options to get into retail:

* Lie. Pretend you have experience to get your foot in the door. After all, they'll certainly lie in the job description, contract, staff handbook, etc. ("Competitive wage", "H+S is a priority", "compassionate leave will be granted", my arse).

* Nepotism. Find a friend or relative in the sector and get them to help you in. Do not feel guilty; the higher you go the more prevalent this is. I get the impression our entire board of directors is related somehow.

* Ignore. Tackle the problem head on; and explain (possibly in person) with simple examples, how it actually isn't a problem. Didn't you figure out that 2nd hand VCR / set top box / PC, possibly without instructions, in a few hours? Possibly overawe than with jargon, compliments, and feigned interest - "Ah, looks like you're running Windows XPe EPOS. Good choice, you get broader familiarity with a minimal vulnerability tradeoff. How do you find it?"

(Of course, if I'm such an expert, why am I technically unemployed? Take with caution.)
(The Incredible Sulk Finally remembered his password on, Mon 6 Apr 2009, 4:41, closed)