[PaulineH]

Hi guys, Just advertised a vacancy on the jo centre website. Had well over 50 applicants for the job stareted interviews today,i go to their homes to do the interview and as usual i get the not answering the door when i turn up,or when i call to check address etc they make excuses abouth why they can't be in at the time they agreed a few days before.....Am i doing something wrong with the whole job advertising/interview process? Would like to hear how you guys do it..Thanks Pauline

[garyj]

Problem with advertising at the job centre is you get lots of people applying so they don't get their benefits stopped. You'll find you'll get a call from a nice articulate lady who asks all the right questions then hands you over to a complete drongo who doesn't want the job and isn't even capable of making a phone call.

It's not you doing anything wrong, its just the way it is advertising at the Job Centre.

[Denise l]

Do a telephone interview first asking full name address, tel no, etc Then ask for NI number how many years experience, do they drive, have a car and so on. married , any children. You can then get some sort of picture, ask how long they have been unemployed. Whittle them down this way and score them out of 10, then out of the ones you think may be good, arrange interviews. Hope this helps.

Denise

[Bedfordshire Oven Cleaning]

Problem with advertising at the job centre is you get lots of people applying so they don't get their benefits stopped. You'll find you'll get a call from a nice articulate lady who asks all the right questions then hands you over to a complete drongo who doesn't want the job and isn't even capable of making a phone call.

It's not you doing anything wrong, its just the way it is advertising at the Job Centre.

Spot on, I have 3 ads out at the minute for 'mobile' cleaners all over East Anglia. I specifically asked them to put a note on it to tell people to leave a message if I dont answer and I will call you back. Within 5 minutes the phone started, the same number rang and rang and rang, no message. Im not in the habit of calling back unknown numbers but on this occasion I did. The person neither had a licence or cleaning experience or the intention of travelling 'at our expense' more than 5 miles from home. My phone has not stopped for 3 days, even today and probably tomorrow, and I have sent 2 application forms out, out of god knows how many. And they probably wont come back.
Also people leave messages and when you call them back, they listen to you then decide its not for them, I can only imagine they phone and leave a message so they can put on thier forms which jobs they have applied for, carry on claiming with no intention of actually going any further.

Rant about jobcentre over.



Its hard work advertising on there. 

[Pristine Clean]

We advertise there. Yes its that bad but you do get a few that are ok.

Pay for adverts in your local paper. You find you get a better response in the quality of the applicant.

Keep a list of cleaners that telephone in. We get lots of those.

regards

Dave

[Londoner]

You don't actually imagine they go to the job centre to get a job do you?

You will become very disillusioned with the whole system once you start having to deal with these people. Work is a totally alien concept to them

[Bedfordshire Oven Cleaning]

You don't actually imagine they go to the job centre to get a job do you?

You will become very disillusioned with the whole system once you start having to deal with these people. Work is a totally alien concept to them

Generally the private or withheld numbers are calling from the jobcentre, not always but generally.
And I agree with what you say, they completley ignore what it on the ad and just ring regardless. Its hard work.
Gumtree is even worse!!
Am trying recommendations and asking if my current staff know of anyone who wants a job, but a bit cautious there too.
I advertise for full time jobs, fairly well paid and even when I do manage to get someone to start they seem to dislike being either mobile or a cleaner.

[PaulineH]

Thanks for the replies everyone i have tried advertising locally too and that has generated a very similar response. I think your all right when you say some of them just apply to continue gettin benefits and really have no intention of working, i do ask for basic info on the telephone but to be honest some dont even know their phone number postcode etc...Anyway must go the next interviews get under way in a couple of hours how many will be in when i get there is anyone's guess...Pauline 

[Londoner]

Advertise on the Polish community websites

[PaulineH]

Interviews over.....2 Cancelled today 1 because "he was doin summat in his house" and could i re arrange...err no and the other a girlfriend canceeled on his behalf just didnt want it.. 3 no answers when i ring door bell. And some quite interesting and amusing other applicants 1 young 17year old told me she's trying for a baby so her and the boyfriend can get a flat...Another asked if i could pick her up to go to work and take home after or pay more to cover busfares !!!!1 could barely walk the 10yards from her front door to the sofa and didnt understand the question "previous employment" on the application form!! But there is light at the end of the tunnel i found 1 gem amongst the shambles that applied she starts next week..... oh the joys of having staff ...Pauline   

[gordonswindows]

The Job Centre will provide you with an interview room free of charge. They will even schedule your interviews.

The JCP is a massive free resource and you should see them as a help to your business

Gordon

[Pristine Clean]

The Job Centre will provide you with an interview room free of charge. They will even schedule your interviews.

The JCP is a massive free resource and you should see them as a help to your business

Gordon

They don't do that any more, well not here anyway in Maidstone. They said they are too busy now. I use to use there free interview rooms. Advertised a job last week and asked if I could use their interview rooms and informed me no longer do it.

I will just add here, I like the idea of the Polish Community Sites - Never tried them.

We have plenty of staff but sometime a high turnover. Staff and employment is one thing I actually hate in the industry. I have not cracked it yet.


Dave

[PaulineH]

The job centre around here doesn't offer the free interview rooms either.  I suppose in the long run i have been quite lucky with staff i have a good team at the moment,but i do hate the whole advertising and interviewing, but i suppose it's just part and parcel of running a business..Pauline 

[dianegreenwood]

We use the following recruitment process.

1) They call my answering service and leave a message.

2) I call them and telephone interview them to find out:
What are they doing workwise at the moment? 
What have they done in the past? 
Full clean driving license?
Own vehicle?
Living within 10 miles of our base? 

3) If I'm happy with answers to above questions I send them an app form by email or post which they must return asap. 

4) If they return the app form, I ring and arrange a home interview.

Most don't pass the telephone interview and most don't return the app form.  I have never had anyone not in for the home interview but I've interviewed a couple of 'shockers'

I have got some fantastic staff through the job centre but also actively encourage current staff to recommend friends and family, which they do. 

Hope that helps

Diane

www.freshlymaid.co.uk

[Bedfordshire Oven Cleaning]

I held more interviews in Colchester today.
All from Jobcentre. 4 planned, 10am, 10.30, 11, 11.30.
10 am showed up fine, she seemed ok. Sat there until 12pm without another sniff.
One text to say she text me the other day to tell me she wouldnt come, sorry but no she didnt.
One I tried ringing, no answer, I will only try once.
And the other phoned to tell me she couldnt get a childminder!! Its term time and Im after full timers. How will she ........Oh whatever, wont waste my time there.


I am after 2 full time mobile cleaners in Kings Lynn area and 1 Colchester and 1 Bedfordshire/Cambs.
Good package, van fuel card ect...still struggling.
It just amazes me, they called me, not the other way around!! They applied by the hundred, but when it comes to it, they cant be bothered.

Rant over.

[Pristine Clean]

I held more interviews in Colchester today.
All from Jobcentre. 4 planned, 10am, 10.30, 11, 11.30.
10 am showed up fine, she seemed ok. Sat there until 12pm without another sniff.
One text to say she text me the other day to tell me she wouldnt come, sorry but no she didnt.
One I tried ringing, no answer, I will only try once.
And the other phoned to tell me she couldnt get a childminder!! Its term time and Im after full timers. How will she ........Oh whatever, wont waste my time there.


I am after 2 full time mobile cleaners in Kings Lynn area and 1 Colchester and 1 Bedfordshire/Cambs.
Good package, van fuel card ect...still struggling.
It just amazes me, they called me, not the other way around!! They applied by the hundred, but when it comes to it, they cant be bothered.

Rant over.

Yes I get that. We have similar packages, van, fuel card and mobile phone (OK its not an Iphone) fairly good rates of pay and more than what a lot of cleaning companies around here are offering. I've come to terms with it now. Its just the cleaning industry. But lets face it. Who wants to work evenings or early mornings - I know we have contracts during the day but most are before or after hours.

We need to make the industry more appealing.  Lets look at it, when you are at school and a teacher asks you what do you want to be when you grow up? Its either a commando, police, fireman or computer programmer. I have yet to hear anyone say "Cleaner"

[Denise l]

Yep, I have the same with the job centre but I did recruit someone in January from there who now is an absolute gem. From being part-time he and his wife are now my mobile cleaners, high standards, good recommendations now for more work. I treat and pay them well with bonus for good work.

Try putting cards in local shops, close to the place of work, that seems to work quite well.

I also use a local recruitment agency that if I keep them for 12 weeks on their rates they can then transfer to my books. Gives you time for a trial period of them and change them if no good.

Denise