Hundreds interviewed for 86 Shrewsbury shop vacancies
Monday 20th December 2010, 10:45AM GMT.
A scramble for jobs at a new store in Shropshire has seen more than 300 people interviewed for just 86 vacancies, bosses said today.
The Range is due to open soon in Shrewsbury.
The interest in jobs at the new store was revealed today by Jobcentre Plus and Pertemps People Development Group, which organised interviews for every position.
A team from the company, which specialises in home, leisure and garden products, conducted the interviews over a two-day period at Pertemps’ Abbey Foregate premises.
Staff greeted the 320 applicants, prepared them for the interviews and provided lunch and refreshments.
David Garland, HR manager for The Range, said he was impressed by just how smoothly the process was completed.
He said: “It has been great working alongside Pertemps, who have been busy preparing candidates and providing interview facilities for us.
“Shrewsbury is a milestone for us, our 50th store, so it’s particularly important.
“There is no doubt that without their assistance we wouldn’t have been able to recruit the people that we have. Interviews covered the complete spectrum of positions, both part and full time, right up to store manager.”
The employment specialists also provided The Range with 25 clients for interviews as well as arranging work placements for 10 long-term unemployed which they hope will lead to job offers in the future.
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Fewer than 3.5 applications per vacancy – that’s not a scramble for jobs.
The report should be worded: “Just 300 people have applied for 86 vacancies.”
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It’s not 300 applications it’s 300 interviews. Please pay attention.
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Indeed. Still, not many people attend an interview these days and have a 28.67% chance of success.
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I think the text in this story has been changed since first publication. When I first read it, I swear it said in the main body that it was applications rather than interviews, and I remember thinking the same as Peasbody. (The headline says “apply” too)
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Thank you Davey – spot on. The story has changed since first published.
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Another gaffe by the Peasbody. Don’t know why he bothers
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How disappointing. My partner has been applying for job for 6 weeks since he lost his, we didnt hear anything of this store until we saw it in last weeks Chronicle.
We thought we were being pro-active by sending a letter to both the Head Office and New Store. Looks like he missed out again… :(
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sorry.. but if you sent applications via head office and the store rather than the advertised way, which is via the vob centre or Pertemps, then you have no chance as they see it that you can not follow simple instructions
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Actually, you will find that the Job Center, temping agencies and specialist job recruitment services will all advise you be proactive in sending out CV’s to a companies head office and to the HR manager at a new store.
What they have done is no different to advice that you get from experts so lay off the critisism ok.
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I am an employment advisor so what iv said is true.. employers look at the small detail in interviews and if you cant follow instructions you have no chance
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We didn’t see the advertisement, that is what I am saying.
My partner has only just signed on at the job centre and was not advised of these positions by his advisor, nor did we see them on their website.
We thought we were being pro-active (as we saw the chronicle article last week) and writing to Head Office BEFORE the posts were even advertised. Dont get snooty with me. You misunderstood what I said.
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sorry ‘no wonder’ – i’m glad you are not my company employment advisor. I would be far more impressed by a CV sent to me after some research rather than it coming from the agency/job centre.
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They were only there for the free lunch and refreshments!
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How condescending and ignorant is that statement! I was proactive-i contacted companies head offices directly and not only did it result in an amazing job i have been in over a year, but they actually created the position for me!
Shrewsbury lass keep up the good work and the right company will come along-it shows initiative and willing to not only learn but that you ACTUALLY want a job, not just attending interviews to keep benefits.
No wonder-i’m amazed if you are even employed!
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I totally agree with you and i’m talking as an employer.
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I think there are two angles to this:
1) The unsolicited resumé that one sends along to a company that one hopes to be employed by, when they are not currently hiring and
2) Responding to an advertised position.
In scenario 1 complete your research and send resumés to as many suitable employers as you wish. In scenario 2 much better to apply for the position in the way instructed in the advertisment.
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Thank you very much both.
As I have said above, “no wonder” MISSED by point completely. We hadnt seen these posts advertised and the first we heard of the new store was in the Chronicle.
We thought we were being proactive rather than waiting around for the jobs to be advertised. Perhaps they were advertised before he signed on though, as the interviews have now taken place.
We’re trying, just hope he gets something soon.
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I was unemployed until just this last week, and the Job Centre definitely pushed everyone they could toward this (I applied too), even having several sessions where the recruiters would talk to the applicants at the JC over the vacancies.
I’d estimate that easily over 1,000 people must’ve applied for those 86 jobs.
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JSA, when were these posts advertised? As my partner has been to two sessions and wasn’t advised of these positions.
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A few points: 1. Shrewsbury Lass – I think you were being proactive – keep trying, sometimes it’s being in the right place at the right time and it’s only by being ‘out there’ that the CV will find the right person. I’ve seen it happen so many times. 2. ‘no wonder’ – I do hope you’re not advising your clients on grammar and punctuation as well as employment.
3.One of our warehousemen applied to The Range in a different town (new start up like the Shrewsbury one) as it was a step up the career ladder. He got the job but couldn’t afford to take it as the salary wasn’t enough to support his family (wife, two kids).
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where is the shop going to be ?
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