New Charity shop for Shaw Trust opp Wickes

[proactive]

Not if they're not getting the help they need to get a job. I've done admin voluntary work for 3 different organisations, including the current one. I've only ever had one admin job that was paid - it was a government scheme to get me off unemployment statistics for 6 months (over 5 years ago now). I need the stability of employment (even though it would have to be part time and I would still rely on benefits to meet living costs to some extent).

I've never been in the place so I have no idea of what the circumstances are regarding remuneration or support in this instance.

 

[Lunar Scorpion]

Not just that.

Regular employment, paid or not, shows you have the self discipline to get yourself into work every morning. As someone who is now retired and no longer has this attribute, I recognise and appreciate it.

No it doesn't, some weeks I don't have any work at all, when I do it's usually one 3-hour slot. I've ended up missing it a couple of times, once because my sleep pattern is regularly screwed at least partly because I have no reason to stay awake most days and more recently because I had got confused about when I was supposed to be in (because of the irregular hours) and I'd missed it.

Even some volunteer application forms are too much for me, I haven't got a hope in hell of completing an actual employment application by myself without alcohol (and even then it took me too long to be able to submit it on time). I'm sick of getting work experience, I want an actual job - my job centre adviser said I could do work experience in their back office for a couple of weeks, 2 weeks then nothing (I said I'd be willing if there was the possibility of a job out of it) is not going to get me into a routine and I have had enough of work experience that doesn't involve a contract and financial compensation for my labour.

 

[Mikinton]

Regular employment, paid or not, shows you have the self discipline to get yourself into work every morning.

No it doesn't,

Then we might have to agree to disagree.

Having managed a few recruitment exercises, and had some input into the final selection, one of our considerations was whether a candidate had demonstrated the ability to get themselves into work in the morning.

 

[proactive]

one of our considerations was whether a candidate had demonstrated the ability to get themselves into work in the morning.

As an employer, when looking at someone who has little or no employment record (this may be because of their age, or because of health/other circumstances) it is a primary consideration. Being able to demonstrate motivation and commitment is often far more important than ability. The latter can be taught and nurtured providing the former exists.

 

[Mikinton]

As an employer, when looking at someone who has little or no employment record (this may be because of their age, or because of health/other circumstances) it is a primary consideration. Being able to demonstrate motivation and commitment is often far more important than ability. The latter can be taught and nurtured providing the former exists.

Here's an article that I found interesting. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/0c7ed03a-fbeb-11e5-8f41-df5bda8beb40.html

Most of these graduates have been told over and over again by prospective employers that they are extraordinary, and that their jobs are amazing. The Bain website is typical: “We need smart, innovative thinkers who aspire to incredible things. The learning curve is steep. But the work is exhilarating. And your career potential is infinite.”

When I was their age no one ever told me I was amazing or that the future was infinite, so I wasn’t especially disappointed to find I wasn’t and it wasn’t.

 

[Gramaisc]

If a learning curve is steep, doesn't that mean that things can be learnt in a short time?

 

[Lunar Scorpion]

Then we might have to agree to disagree.

Having managed a few recruitment exercises, and had some input into the final selection, one of our considerations was whether a candidate had demonstrated the ability to get themselves into work in the morning.

Yes, and this assumes that they have had the opportunity to do so - as already explained, my current circumstances tell you feck all about my ability to get out of bed every morning because I work on average less than one 3-hour morning or afternoon shift a week with no set pattern.

 

[Lunar Scorpion]

As an employer, when looking at someone who has little or no employment record (this may be because of their age, or because of health/other circumstances) it is a primary consideration. Being able to demonstrate motivation and commitment is often far more important than ability. The latter can be taught and nurtured providing the former exists.

I've always phoned on the odd occasion I've been late. I've already explained that not having any routine is the issue here, if someone gave me a job that was regular hours I should be fine, especially after the first few weeks once I've got into a routine. Making assumptions about my ability to turn up to work based on circumstances that I've explained aren't ideal for me and extrapolating that to a situation that is different and more suited to my needs is just plain wrong.

Also, most employers offer minimal training in how to do the job - they expect you to have the experience already. I do have that experience and the ability to do jobs that I have seen advertised, I just can't get a job because trying to apply for one is pretty much guaranteed to trigger suicidal thoughts in me.