Tuesday 25 September 2012

Falling at the first hurdle

Well kiddo is happy in school and I find myself with time on my hands. Some of this is taken up doing a course with the council that encourages healthy eating. But the rest of the time, when not doing housework (i.e. a lot of time), I've been looking for a job.
I've just done an online application for a mobile phone company to work in one of their stores. My answers indicated that I am not the kind of person they are looking for. I have lots of retail experience, used to regularly meet my sales targets and I used to work in the phone industry. The application didn't get that as far as that - I fell at the hurdle of an online scenario stuff. So my experience is entirely irrelevant.

This is not the first one I've done.

I'm a bit crushed now.
I'm kicking myself for giving up my job 5 years ago. Yes, my kiddo benefited from having me at home. Yes, this was a parenting choice we made as a couple. Yes, my hubby went on to get a great job with a good employer. Yes, I have learnt so much in those 5 years and have grown in a more rounded person.
I'm kicking myself for not having had a career plan 5 years ago (brain was a bit addled with new baby etc. but really that's not an excuse).
I'm kicking myself for not doing accountancy like my parents wanted me to do.
I'm kicking myself for not having skills that will make me an ideal candidate for the jobs out there.

I have experience. I have an education. I made the "mistake" of wanting to stay home to care for my child.

I'm locking the gin away as it's starting to look rather appealing and that's a really bad thing when it's not even 11am.

I have time on my hands. I'm going to put the kettle on, and get a biscuit. Chocolate really does make everything better. 

I know that I will eventually find a job that suits me and my employer. I have hope. I feel for those who have no experience, no education, no hope.

7 comments:

Twisted Scottish Bastard said...

Life can be a real bitch sometimes.

What do you mean about "fell at the hurdle of an online scenario stuff"?

Plummy Mummy said...

It's something you see in some recruitment pages now. Before you can submit your details, you have to do a multiple choice. They give you a set of scenarios and you choose possible responses. I guess it's a way of seeing if you have the right approach to a job but I think it's nuts. It doesn't take into account whether a person can be trained to do a job in the way the company wants. It's just really annoying to be turned down for a shop job when I've worked quite well in shops before. But it's OK ...today I'm in a great frame of mind and am convincing myself that it's their loss ;)

Twisted Scottish Bastard said...

That seems a strange way to filter prospective employees.

I too have worked in retail, and it's people skills that are among the most important. How you can evaluate those by an online survey beats me.

Best of luck next time.

Lucia said...

How ridiculous! I hope things move in the right direction soon. This might be me in a couple of years. Gulp.
x

Plummy Mummy said...

Thanks TSB

Lucia - guess you need to start planning now what you are going to do when your kiddos go off to school. I love the latest photo on your blog btw.

Sarah said...

Do a book keeping course, you can then work from home, doing hours that suit you. You could also work for a company part time

Plummy Mummy said...

Hi Sarah
Good advice. I've looked into the local college who do an accountancy course but I think I will have to go further afield for book-keeping.