Thread: Just an observation really

On how tough the competition for work is at the moment. We advertised for an accounts administrator/office admin person and had 270 applications in 4 days. There were lawyers and seriously intelligent academics in the mix - felt very sorry for people whilst reading dozens of totally over qualified people for this post

Wow.

Just out of interest - did you consider the ones who are clearly overqualified? (not that I'm thinking about myself of course )

That's amazing, are you paying over the odds ? Am waiting for a new contract as mine finishes at the end of this month. Would look beyond but market isn't favourable as your response shows.

Xaulleo, I'm afraid not. I wanted someone who had the right skill set for this role. When I said 'overqualified' I meant lots of qualifications, but not related to this role.

Lizs - £8 an hour, 31 days paid hols per yr. I thought this was about right for someone with the right experience.

It is mad out there - I applied for a role p/t 2.5 days per week and there were 300 applicants for that role too which was mainly office based.

Wish I could have applied Ginny - but would have to move 90 miles away from my hubby and kids if I got the role xxx (hmmmm not a bad idea)

Sporty, you come live with me in the week and your DH can live with my DH.

I've had the same problem - I've applied for a heap of teaching posts and not yet had an interview - the letters always come back with 'lots of applicants...' in there somewhere! Plus, of course, I'm not a newly qualified teacher so cost more to employ, but I have not had my own class for 7 years having had a career break to have Al.......

I'd work for newly qualified rates - except we are not allowed to do that in education, so I really am over a barrel!

On the other hand, being a TA has advantages......no child care costs, no parents evenings, no reports to write........

my hubby was a chef and applied to be a care home cook as he wanted more time at home as he only got mondays off and was at work very late, they said he was over qualified. We found it really hard to find work so in the end set up our own haulage company instead ...

The trouble for me was finding someone that really wanted to do this job, not just because they're desperate to do anything to pay the bills. Applying for a job when you are clearly qualified to do something in a non-related field (and all your experience backs this up) might suggest to a potential employer that you'll make this job do until you find something in the field that you really want to be in.

Kerry, is this yet another ridiculous public sector waste example? It's obvious you want to be a teacher and if a school can employ a more experienced person for the same money then it's a no-brainer!!