Managing and Directing Others: MSS

Not every agency staff would be in the same aisle and one or two of them were not trained in Merchandising.

I needed to explain what needed to be completed and allocate other agency staff to aisles.

We had a team meeting, which the Sainbury’s Store Manager and I co-ordinated, where he explained what tasks needed to be completed in which aisles. I asked if my team was happy with those tasks, and I answered questions that they gave me. One of them mentioned that they had not done merchandising before. I explained that I would show them when we went down to the shop floor. I allocated aisles to each of the agency staff and we went down to the shop floor.

I showed the colleague how to merchandise and asked if she was okay with it and she said she was. I monitored and supported her until she felt comfortable with merchandising. I answered further questions from my team and helped and supported them. We completed all tasks by the end of each shift.

Skills Used

• Managing and Directing Others
• Communication Skills
• Decision Making
• Initiative
• Problem Solving
• Results and Target Orientated
• Teamwork

Results and Target Orientated: Oxfam

Around Christmas, Oxfam was extremely busy, and with only two of us volunteering, it was even busier. The shelves were running out of donated products. The other volunteer was not a fan of using the till.

Whilst I was on the till, I needed to price and merchandise donated products onto the shop floor quickly, without compromising the excellent Customer Service.

Before opening the shop, I walked around with a pen and a piece of scrap paper and took note on what donated products I needed to sort, price and merchandise. The most required donated products that were required on the shop floor were ladies clothes and bric-a-brac. I picked up a large pile of ladies clothes initially and started doing quality checks before I priced them. When it hit 9am, I opened the door to let customers in and served them around the sorting of the ladies clothes. Once I had checked the quality of the ladies clothes and pricing them, I asked the other volunteer to steam iron them. when I had the chance, I took several of them from the clothes rail in the stockroom and merchandised them onto the correct rails, in size order. Afterward, I gathered lots of bric-a-brac, which I priced and merchandised attractively.

I managed to get donated products merchandised, which were sold very quickly.

Skills Used

• Results and Target Orientated
• Analytical Thinking
• Communication Skills
• Customer Service
• Decision Making
• Initiative
• Note Taking
• Organisational Skills
• Problem Solving
• Teamwork

Decision Making: Hobbies (Postage Stamps)

My target was 75% for my GB QEII Christmas postage stamp collection. I had collected more than 75% of the for my collection.

I needed to decide on what postage stamps to collect after the GB QEII Christmas postage stamps.

I knew what I had for my GB QEII Christmas postage stamp collection, so I had a look at the other postage stamps I had to see how many GB QEII postage stamps I had in general. I organised them into years of release from my most recent Stanley Gibbons catalogue. I look at what other countries I had postage stamps for and how many of them I had. I asked my philately friends on Facebook on what they thought on a new postage stamp collection. The responses came back conclusive.

In the end, I decided on expanding my GB QEII Christmas collection to collecting GB QEII postage stamps in general, as I had lots more of them. I then set targets year on year, which I successfully achieved.

Skills Used

• Decision Making
• Analytical Thinking
• Being Well Informed
• Communication Skills
• Initiative
• Organisational Skills
• Results and Target Orientated

Problem Solving: Tesco

Occasionally, some of the stock would run out and we need more stock on the shelves to pick for customer orders.

I needed to let a Team Leader or Manager know about the stock running out.

When I got to the product, I clicked a tab on the AMT (scanning machine) to send the tray away and continued with the job at hand, picking the correct products for customer’s orders. When I walked past a Team Leader or Manager, I let them know that we were out of stock of the product on the shelf.

The Team Leaders and Managers thanked me for letting them know and when the AMT took me back to the location later in the shift, there were more products on the shelf.

Skills Used

• Problem Solving
• Analytical Thinking
• Communication Skills
• Initiative

Top 8 Job Search Weekly Posts

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5. Job Search Weekly: w.b. 02/09/19 (1 view)
6. Job Search Weekly: w.b. 14/10/19 (1 view)
7. Job Search Weekly: w.b. 23/09/19 (1 view)
8. Job Search Weekly: w.b. 29/04/19 (1 view)

I Attended Retail Asset & Solutions & Here’s What Happened

Why did you attend Retail Asset & Solutions?

I attended Retail Asset & Solutions after I applied for a vacancy

Where and when was the sign up with Retail Asset & Solutions?

The sign up with Retail Asset & Solutions was at 12:30 at Tesco Hazelwick, in Three Bridges.

Who attended Retail Asset & Solutions?

There was the Recruitment Manager, three others and myself who attended the sign up with Retail Asset & Solutions. One of the other three I recognised from somewhere, and we had met at another recruitment agency.

What did you do at Retail Asset & Solutions?

The Recruitment Manager went through a slideshow, explaining more about the position, like what we would be doing, what our hourly wage would be, etc..

We filled out a short form with personal information, as the Recruitment Manager took pictures of our Right to Work documents.

How do you think it went at Retail Asset & Solutions?

I felt that it went really well, even though it only lasted approximately 30 minutes. I feel that’s sign ups for you.

What will happen next?

We should receive a response in the next five to seven working days, and if we were successful, we would receive a presentation to go through, followed by a short and easy quiz.

How do you develop your blogging ideas?

I have generally come up with my own ideas, especially from my job search, requesting permission where necessary. Here’s a list of thing I blog about:

• Weekly job search tasks (bottom of this contents page)
• Job interview questions that I have answered (this contents page)
• Job interviews (with permission) (third title of this contents page)
• Agency sign ups (fourth title of this contents page)
• Networking events (with permission from organisers and attendees) (This contents page)
• Company Hunts (second title of this contents page)
• CV Drops (second title of this contents page)
• Anything from job search and career books (with referencing)

From there, I try to do a spider web (brainstorming) format. For example, from job interviews, I take note of all interview questions and answer them on my blog as posts. Then I attempt to ask similar interview questions to answer.

For networking events like Purple Networking with permission from the amazing organiser, Stuart Ritchie, I ask the attendees if they would be prepared to be named in my Purple Networking blog. From there I ask the regular attendees if they would be prepared to complete a Q&A session on networking. The next stage that I haven’t completed yet, but I would consider doing. From there, I would ask if the attendees would be interested in completing other Q&A sessions on things like Customer Service, Recruitment and Warehouse. This would depend on what their job is and what company they work for.

I am not going to lie though. Sometimes I have had writer’s blog and ideas block, where I have had to complete some research on what I can blog about, like I mentioned on my Blogging Ideas posts that I published on Monday 30 September 2019 at 12:00.

Weekend Plans

Saturday 21 September 2019

Initially, I will go through all of my e-mails from job boards, and apply for any suitable vacancies I find from these e-mails.

I will then go through Indeed for suitable vacancies, and apply for any suitable vacancies I find from these e-mails.

When I get home, I will handwrite as many blog posts as possible, ready to be typed and scheduled on my blog for Monday 30 September 2019 onwards.

Sunday 22 September 2019

Initially, I will go through as many of the national newspapers as I can that I have at home.

But for the majority of the day, I will handwrite as many blog posts as possible, ready to be typed and scheduled on my blog for Monday 30 September 2019 onwards.

Career Part 2

Who were your favourite co-workers?

My favourite co-workers were those who didn’t slack on the job, who communicated effectively and helped others when required.

What did you like most about them?

My last answer answers this question, like it did the last question.

What was your least favourite job or project?

My least favourite job or project during my career was my job search.

What was it about it that you disliked so much?

There were several things I disliked about doing my job search. Here are just some of the reasons why I disliked my job search, starting with the most frustrating:

• Lack of communication from the companies I applied to.
• Recruitment Agencies claim they have jobs available, but actually don’t. I have found that they only want the numbers on their books.
• Lack of face-to-face interaction.
• Applications are repetitive
• Most job applications have to be made online, rather than in person.

What was your least favourite company, employer, or organisation?

I wouldn’t say I dislike employers, nor would I badmouth or disrespect them. So, my next answer will give a general outline of what I was not a great fan of when I worked for two or three companies, who will stay anonymous.

What was it about it that you disliked?

I wasn’t a fan of being constantly told that I was wrong, or that I needed to speed up with the task at hand. I pay attention to the quality of my work NOT the quantity.

Who was your least favourite Manager?

as I have mentioned before, in Part 1 of the Career questions, I don’t use favouritism, and I would not badmouth them, no matter what.

What was it about that person that you disliked?

Please refer to my previous answer. Thanks!

Who was your least favourite co-workers?

My answer to this question would be the complete opposite to what I answered in my first two answers above.

those co-workers who slacked on the job, who didn’t communicate, and didn’t help others when required to do so.

What was it about them that you disliked?

My last answer answers this question, like it did the last question.

 

Thursday & Friday Plans

Thursday 19 September 2019

First thing I will be doing tomorrow is going through my e-mails from job boards to see what vacancies they have sent me. I will then go through all of the suitable vacancies and apply for them.

I will look on Indeed for suitable vacancies, which I will apply for.

I will also be finding out what job fairs, networking events, etc. there are available in my local area, and book tickets for those I’m interested in.

In the evening, I will be planning as many blog posts as possible, ready to be typed and scheduled.

Friday 20 September 2019

First thing I will be doing is going through my e-mails from job boards to see what vacancies they have sent me. I will then go through all of the suitable vacancies and apply for them.

I will look on Total Jobs for suitable vacancies, which I will apply for.

I will then look into free or funded courses for warehouse work, so it makes it easier for my to find suitable employment.

 

Career Part 1

What was the best decision you ever made in your career?

The best decision I made in my career was getting as much overtime as possible at Tesco in different departments.

What did you learn from it?

I completed over 50 hours of overtime and during the overtime, I worked in Replenishment, as a Loader, as well as doing extra as a Personal Shopper.

I learnt new skills, like how to replenish shelves correctly and how to be quicker at my job, without compromising the quality of my work.

What was the worst decision you ever made in your career?

I feel that the worst decision I made in my career was to isolate myself after I was made redundant from Streetwise at the end of February 2019.

What did you learn from it?

I was kicking myself, blaming myself because I didn’t know what I did at Streetwise to make me redundant.

I learnt not to kick or blame myself for something that was beyond my control. I also learnt to just get on with my job search constructively and methodically.

What was your favourite company, employer, or organisation?

I never put any employers into any form of order of favourites, as different employers and companies have different pros and cons.

Comparing Tesco (afternoon shift), Staffline for Hermes (night shift) and Streetwise (morning shift), I preferred the morning shift at Streetwise.

As I have mentioned earlier in this blog post, I completed more than 50 hours of overtime at Tesco, gaining more skills and experience.

What did you like about it?

For the early shifts at Streetwise, I found I was more productive first thing in the morning. After the shifts, I would have the rest of the day to myself to cook, to complete housework and do blogging.

As for completing more than 50 hours overtime for Tesco, I gained the skills and experience I needed, as well as get great satisfaction for doing an amazing job.

Who was your favourite Manager?

Even for employees, Supervisors and Managers, I don’t use favouritism.

I won’t mention who or what company they worked for, but the story comes in my next answer.

What did you like most about them?

They encouraged me when I was having a bad day (I rarely had a bad day, but we all do sometimes), or when it was very busy.

I Attended a Job Interview with Lidl and Here’s What Happened

Why did you attend a job interview with Lidl?

I attended Lidl for a job interview, after I applied for a job at Lidl in Horsham, which will open on 07 November 2019.

Where and when did the job interview with Lidl happen?

The job interview happened at their Crawley branch in Three Bridges. It should have commenced at 13:00, but it started at approximately 13:20, after I was asked to complete a store walk, where I had to take notes (both positive and constructive) about the Crawley store.

How do you think it went?

I feel that it went extremely well. Very informative.

During the job interview, they mentioned about the same vacancy in the Crawley store and asked if I would be interested in it. I said that I would.

When I was asked which of the two stores I would prefer to work at, I said that I didn’t mind, and explained that it would take about the same time to get to each of them from where my house is.

What will happen next?

I will be informed either way, along with feedback from the job interview within the next 72 hours (3 days).

If I am successful, they will inform me that I have a day (well, half day) down in Southampton between 09:00 and 14:00) for a Welcome Event on 04 October 2019, where I will meet Managers and other successful applicants. I will be having a free lunch whilst I’m down there, an the travel will be paid for by Lidl.

With thanks …

First of all, I would like to thank Filip and Steve for taking the time to interview me for the Horsham vacancy that I applied for.

I would also like to thank the colleagues at the Crawley store for talking to me during the store walk.

It looked busy, and lots of fun.

Notes

In the new Horsham store, which will open on 07 November 2019, there will be 72 employees, including:

• 1 Manager
• 4 Deputy Managers
• 6 Shift Managers
• 6 Nigh Shift employees
• The rest would be Customer Service employees.

I Completed a Company Hunt in Horsham, and Here’s What Happened (Part 1)

Why did you complete a Company Hunt in Horsham on Thursday 05 September 2019?

I completed a Company Hunt in Horsham on Thursday 05 September 2019 because I needed to go to further afield to complete my job search. And, as I had a few pounds to spare and a 50% off discount card for train tickets. The full price of the ticket was £7.60 and I actually paid £3.80.

Where in Horsham did you visit?

Initially, at 08:30, I visited Foundry Land (et al) and Parsonage Way (et al) for the first part of this Company Hunt in Horsham.

I then had lunch with a relative just after midday, before attending First Recruitment Services (Recruitment Agency)  at 13:00 to sign up with them.

By just after 13:30, I started working up one side of West Street, leading up to Middle Street and East Street. I then crossed over to the other side of East Street and completed East Street, some of Middle Street, and started on Swan Walk Shopping Centre.

When I got into Swan Walk Shopping Centre, I completed a few companies, but my back completely gave up on me.

A good night sleep did the job.

Who did you visit in Horsham and what did they say?

I will complete the industrial estate companies in this first list in alphabetical order, so it is easier to read.

1. Advanced Medical Equipment Ltd (Foundry Court), there was no response.
2. Aerospace Chemical Supplies (Jubilee Industrial Estate), they had no vacancies available, but suggested that I ask again in about 6 months.
3. Alexander (Foundry Close), they had no vacancies available.
4. ASL (Foundry Lane), there is a possibility of vacancies, and I passed my business card to her.
5. Breathe (Foundry Court), they advised me to take a look at their website.
6. CEF (Foundry Close), they were unsure of any vacancies and asked for my business card, which I duly gave.
7. DocEx (Personage Way), they had no vacancies available.
8. Eriks (Parsonage Way), they advised me to take a look at their website.
9. Express Car Parts (Parsonage Way), they had no vacancies available.
10. Eyre & Ellison Electrical Distributors (Parsonage Way), they had no vacancies available.
11. Falcon Energy Limited (Foundry Close), they had no vacancies available.
12. Ford Aviation (Foundry Court), they haven’t had any vacancies for the last 7 years or so.
13. Graham (Horsham Trade Park), they advised me to take a look at their website.
14. Horsham & District Laundry (Foundry Close), they had no vacancies available.
15. Horsham Plumbing & Heating Supplies Ltd (Parsonage Way), they had no vacancies available.
16. Horsham Sheet Metal (Mulberry Trading Estate), they had no vacancies available.
17. Howdens Joinery Co. (Foundry Lane), they asked me to send them a CV via e-mail.
18. Line Up Aviation (Foundry Court), there was no response.
19. MCMS (Foundry Court), they advised me to keep an eye out on Indeed for jobs with them.
20. Metricell (Foundry Close), there was no response.
21. PMA Motor Factory (Parsonage Way), they asked me to send them a CV via e-mail.
22. Principle (Parsonage Way), they were unsure if they had any vacancies available, but I was advised to take a look online.
23. QHS (Foundry Court), they had no vacancies available.
24. Robert Jessop & Partners Ltd (Foundry Court), there was no response.
25. Redwood Financial (Foundry Court), they had no vacancies available and have just taken somebody on.
26. Rouden PipeTek (Foundry Close), they were unsure if they had any vacancies available, but I gave them my business card.
27. Salts (Foundry Lane), there was no response.
28. Screwfix (Horsham Trade Park), they advised me to take a look at their careers page.
29. Smiths Metal Service (Foundry Close), they had no vacancies available, but I gave them my business card.
30. Southern Coachworks (Foundry Lane), they require a Panel Beater and have asked applicants to pop in to see them.
31. Southern Counties Glass (Foundry Close), they had no vacancies available, but I gave them my business card.
32. Structured Communication (Foundry Court), there was no response.
33. TC Branding Group (Jubilee Industrial Estate), there was no response.
34. Toolstation (Horsham Trade Park), they advised me to take a look at their website.
35. Topps Tiles (Horsham Trade Park), they advised me to apply online and attach my CV to the applications I make.
36. Trafalgar Cleaning Equipment Ltd (Foundry Close), they asked me to send them a CV via e-mail.
37. Trimbio (Mulberry Trading Estate), they asked for a CV via e-mail.
38. Veolia (Parsonage Way), they advised me to take a look at their website, as well as Indeed.

Now, I will complete Horsham Town Centre in this second list in alphabetical order, so it is easier to read.

1. Betfred (West Street), they advised me to take a look at their website.
2. Brewhouse & Kitchen (East Street), they asked me to send them a CV via e-mail.
3. Brock Taylor (East Street), they had no vacancies available, but they asked me to send them a CV via e-mail
4. Cancer Research (West Street), there are two vacancies available, and it showed that applications must be made online.
5. CEX (West Street), they advised me to apply online.
6. Claire’s (West Street), they had no vacancies available, but they advised me that there are 2 positions available at their Crawley branch, where I would need to hand a CV in.
7. Clarks (West Street), they had no vacancies available, but advised me to take a look at their website.
8. Closs & Hamblin (West Street), vacancies are available and it said to apply via e-mail.
9. Costa (West Street), but advised me to take a look at their website, or take a CV instore.
10. Cote Brasserie (East Street), they asked me to send them a CV via e-mail.
11. Cotswold Outdoor (Middle Street), They were unsure if they had any vacancies, but they advised me to take a look at their website.
12. Dixey.CB Optician (West Street), they had no vacancies available.
13. DR.EX (Middle Street), they do have vacancies available, and they asked me to send them a CV via e-mail.
14. Evapo (Middle Street), they asked me to send them a CV via e-mail.
15. Flight Centre (West Street), they had no vacancies available.
16. Fone World (West Street), they asked me to send them a CV via e-mail.
17. Gerry Weber (Swan Walk Shopping Centre), they will be closing at some point during October 2019.
18. Giggling Squid (East Street), they asked me to send them a CV via e-mail.
19. Greggs (West Street), they advised me to take a look at their website.
20. Hamptons International (Middle Street), they had no vacancies available.
21. Horsham Bureau de Change, they advised me to take a look at their website.
22. Horsham Mobile Phone Repair Centre (West Street), they had no vacancies available, but they they advised me to take a look at their website.
23. HSBC (West Street), they were busy.
24. Holland & Barrett (Swan Walk Shopping Centre), 10-hour contract (Saturday and Sunday) and 30-hour contract available, they they advised me to take a look at their website.
25. Jessops (Swan Walk Shopping Centre), they will be closing on Sunday 22 September 2019.
26. Jigsaw (Middle Street), Supervisor position available, they they advised me to take a look at their website.
27. Jones Bootmaker, Weekend staff required, CV in person.
28. Kokoro (Middle Street), they have full time a part time kitchen and hall positions available, send them a CV via e-mail.
29. Laura Ashley (Middle Street), they had no vacancies available.
30. Mapp & Weston (East Street), they asked me to send them a CV via e-mail.
31. Marthas Barh (Middle Street), they had no vacancies available.
32. Millets (West Street), they had no vacancies available, but advised me to take a look at their website.
33. Moshulu (Swan Walk Shopping Centre), Weekend work available, apply within or send an e-mail.
34. Nandos (East Street), they asked me to send them a CV via e-mail.
35. Non Stop Party Shop (Middle Street), one vacancy is available, and you can either get an application form instore, to call them or send them an e-mail.
36. O2 (West Street), they were busy.
37. Pandora (Swan Walk Shopping Centre), they had no vacancies available, but advised me to take a look at their website.
38. Pizza Express (East Street), they advised me to take a look at their website.
39. Poundland (West Street), they asked me to send them a CV via post.
40. Pret A Manger (West Street), they advised me to take a look at their website.
41. Robert Dyas (West Street), They have advised me to print an application form from their website, fill it out and post it back to them.
42. Rockafellas (East Street), they had no vacancies available.
43. Rush Hair (West Street), they asked me to send them a CV via e-mail.
44. Ryman the Stationers (Middle Street), they had no vacancies available, but advised me to take a look at their website.
45. Savers (West Street), they advised me to take a look at their website.
46. Sharps (West Street), they had no vacancies available.
47. Specsavers (Middle Street), full time Optical Assistant position available, CV instore – FAO Matt.
48. Tapi Carpets (West Street), they suggested that I called HR to enquire about vacancies.
49. The Edinburgh Wooden Mill (West Street), Store Manager position available, and said to apply via e-mail.
50. The Works (West Street), they were busy.
51. Thomas Cook (West Street), they advised me to take a look at their website.
52. Thorntons (Swan Walk Shopping Centre), they had no vacancies available.
53. Timpsons (Middle Street), they advised me to take a look at their website.
54. Toni & Guy (Middle Street), they asked me to send them a CV via e-mail.
55. Topshop Topman (Middle Street), Supervisor position available, CV in person, accompanied with availability.
56. Vape Store (West Street), they asked me to send them a CV via post.
57. Vision Express (West Street), they asked me to send them a CV via post.
58. Wagamama (East Street), they do have vacancies available, and they advised me to take a look at their website.
59. Wakrefields (West Street), they had no vacancies available.
60. Wakefields Jewellers (West Street), they asked me to send them a CV via e-mail.
61. Waterstones (Middle Street), they had no vacancies available.
62. Whibley’s the Jewellers (Middle Street), they had no vacancies available.

What will you do next and when?

Coming To Your Computer Screens Soon!

Top 25 Most Viewed Key Competencies Posts

Here is a list of the top 25 most viewed Key Competencies posts.

1. Communication: Unemployment (9 views)
2. Communication: Blogging (7 views)
3. Organisational: Staffline (5 views)
4. Flexibility: Oxfam (5 views)
5. Customer Service: Premier Inn (4 views)
6. Communication Skills: Hobbies (Postage Stamps) (4 views)
7. Communication Skills: Tesco (4 views)
8. Organisational: Premier Inn (3 views)
9. Teamwork: Streetwise (3 views)
10. Organisational: Tesco (3 views)
11. Communication Skills: Education (College) (3 views)
12. Conflict Resolution: Unemployment (2 views)
13. Problem Solving: Hobbies (Postage Stamps) (2 views)
14. Teamwork: Staffline (2 views)
15. Communication Skills: Staffline (2 views)
16. Customer Service: Oxfam (2 views)
17. Initiative: Staffline (2 views)
18. Communication Skills: Streetwise (2 views)
19. Flexibility: Hobbies (2 views)
20. Targets: Tesco (2 views)
21. Flexibility: Unemployment (2 views)
22. Flexibility: Tesco (2 views)
23. Communication: Charity Fundraising (1 view)
24. Customer Service: Revive (1 view)
25. Problem Solving: Unemployment (1 view)

M&S closure puts 450 jobs at risk

i, Wednesday 18 April 2018, Number 2,308, p40

Why did this article catch your attention?

This article caught my attention because Marks and Spencer has planned to close its distribution centre in Hardwick, near Warrington, which will cause 450 employees to be affected.

What does this mean for the 450 Marks and Spencer employees?

This means that the 450 Marks and Spencer employees will have to claim Universal Credit (unemployment benefits), which will most likely cause financial difficulty.

However, they will also be affected mentally and physically.

Who else would this affect?

This would cause a dominoes effect. The following are who would be affected by this.

Marks and Spencer stores – Stores would have fewer quantity of products

Customers – With fewer quantity of products possibly arriving at stores, customers may have less to purchase, and lose out in the process.

The Government – With 450 employees being made redundant at Marks and Spencer distribution centre, that will be 450 fewer people paying taxes and claiming Universal Credit at just over £300 per month, until the Marks and Spencer employees have found alternative employment. It works out that, 450 people claiming Universal Credit at £300 per month, that equates to £135,000 per month.

I am one of the 450 affected Marks and Spencer employees. What can I do to seek alternative employment?

The majority of supermarkets require you to complete a lengthy online application, but one supermarket that I know of doesn’t. Morrison’s requires a paper-based application form to be completed, accompanied with an updated CV. There might be other smaller supermarkets that don’t deal with online applications, so have a look around your ideal location.

There are also plenty other companies who deal with distribution, so why not complete a Company Hunt to see what companies are out there, whether or not they have any vacancies, how to apply, and who to apply to.

You can then follow up with CV Drops (Part 1 and Part 2).

Key Employees at Marks and Spencer

• Simon Marshall MCIPD, Head of HR – South East
• Darren McCabe (FCIPD), Head of HR – Food Group
• Emma Helm, Recruitment Manager – Food Group, Clothes & Home Supply Chain and Logistics
• Gabrielle Johnson (MCIPD), Senior Talent Acquisition Manager
• Tamsin Terry-Lush, Head of Senior Talent Acquisition
• Holly Edwards, Recruiter
• Carl Cornish, former Head of Region
• Katie Dolby, former Womenswear Commercial Manager

To find out who else works for Marks and Spencer, check out LinkedIn!

Thursday’s plans (18/07/19)

Tomorrow, I will be going through my e-mails and LinkedIn messages and notifications.

I will then look on the company websites of those companies who I spoke to today, via the Company Hunt, to find if any of them have suitable vacancies.

Following this, I will check out Indeed for suitable employment, before I do the same for Total Jobs.

Then, I will have my mind set on planning blogs and scheduling them for the remainder of this week and for the week after next. This is going to be exciting.

Job Search Tough Love

Following on from my blog post for Christina‘s Question of the Day for yesterday, I explained that I would publish a blog post from a LinkedIn post published by Steve P Brady, giving more information.

As promised, here’s that blog post

There are some of both lists I do do.

I generally don’t tailor my CV, but I feel that it does need to be altered for every job I apply for. However, I do feel that it does need to be changed completely, so it is based more on Warehouse based work.

I go to a networking event once per month with Stuart, et al. I have found that there are other networking events around, but they’re generally further afield. Not easy when you don’t drive or have no money to get to the locations.

I believe I am an all star, but I will double check.

I do ask for help when I feel that I require the help, but I don’t always get the responses I am looking for.

For job boards, I do use job boards, but I do prefer to be outgoing and attempt to get a job on foot, no matter on what the weather is like, or what mood I’m in.

With thanks …

I would like to thank Steve for giving me permission to share his LinkedIn post!

How to build a pallet successfully

The simple steps of building a pallet

 

[VIDEO ABOVE] How to build a pallet correctly

 

Initiative: Charity Fundraising

I was planning a Tombola for Save the Children, but had no prizes.

I needed to gather prizes for the Tombola in my own time, around my education.

I asked Save the Children’s Manager in my lunch break on how to go about getting the prizes I required for the Tombola. Save the Children’s shop Manager handwrote several letters, confirming that I was collecting donations as prizes for a Tombola. When she had completed those handwritten letters, I started visiting companies who I thought would donate products for me to gather prizes before going back to college for my education.

It took a few attempts to get enough prizes for the Tombola, but I managed to collect several donations for prizes for the Tombola, including £50 worth of Lush soaps.

Skills Used

• Initiative
• Communication Skills (verbal and listening)
• Flexibility
• Organisational Skills
• Results and Target Orientated

Initiative: Tesco

I completed overtime and found out where I could put my name down for more overtime.

I wanted to get as much overtime as possible and I needed to put my name down for it as soon as possible , without clashing with my normal hours.

I found out what overtime was available from various departments and put my name down, making sure that they did not clash with my normal hours. Then I confirmed with the department Managers and took notes to remind myself of when I had overtime.

I completed 50 hours overtime, which included working two lots of 14 consecutive days with only one day off in the middle.

Skills Used

• Initiative
• Flexibility
• Communication (verbal and listening)
• Note taking

Organisational Skills: Revive

Several donations arrived over a short period of time. However, there was not alot of space in the sorting area.

I needed to get the stock out as quickly as possible onto shelves and clothes rails.

I accepted all of the donations, dealt with the Gift Aid and thanked the customers for the donations. I opened each bag of donations when I had dealt with the bag before and sorted them into separate piles, ready to sort further. I then checked what stock were on the shelves and clothes rails, followed by the sorting of the new donations, including putting clothes onto hangers, steaming clothes, carefully price the clothes and bric-a-brac and carefully placing them onto shelves and clothes rails.

All of the donations that were received on that day successfully went out onto the shelves and clothes rails. Further donations from the overstock went out onto the shelve and clothes rails too.

Skills Used

• Organisational Skills
• Communications Skills (verbal and listening)
• Customer Service
• Initiative
• Note taking
• Result and Target Orientated

What have I done in March 2019?

Good morning ladies and gentlemen. Hope you are all well?

I did much more in March than I did in February. Here is what I did during March, so have a look:

Teamwork: Revive

As a volunteer at Revive, there was always alot to do, which included getting donated products priced, steamed (for clothes) and onto the shop floor quickly, ready for sale.

I had to work as part of a team to complete all tasks by deadlines.

I was asked to put donations onto the shop floor whilst other volunteers were doing the steaming and pricing. I picked up several products at a time and placed the products in the correct places on the shop floor. I also dealt with customers during this process, which I did not mind.

Not only were all the tasks completed quickly and effectively, more products were sold, making a profit. I helped towards improving the good working environment and we learned new skills from each other, as well as gaining and developing socially.

Skills Used

• Teamwork
• Communication Skills
• Organisational Skills
• Initiative
• Multitasking
• Excellent Customer Service
• Results and Target Orientated

CV Drop (Manor Royal): 26/03/19

Why did you do a CV Drop on Tuesday 26 March 2019?

I completed a CV Drop on Tuesday 26 March 2019 because I planned this CV Drop when I completed a Company hunt on Friday 22 March 2019.

With me actively seeking alternative employment, I found before that this is the best way of getting results … JOB INTERVIEWS and a JOB that I enjoy.

Since the Company Hunt, I have send a couple of e-mails with my CV attached and will be sending a few more at some point today or tomorrow.

Who did you visit on this CV Drop?

I liaised with the staff with different job titles, but the companies who I attended were:

• Tile Giant
• Andrew Page
• Mr. Clutch Autocentres

I demonstrated excellent customer service and communication skills to those employees who work for those companies.

After I completed the Company Hunt, I decided to continue completing Gatwick Road for both a Company Hunt and a CV Drop.

Was there anything suggested to you?

I did have a couple of employees suggest that I could sign up to agencies and do temporary employment until I found something more permanent.

I am not too keen with agency work, but I would consider it on a temporary basis, as long as the agency knows that I am and will be looking for permanent employment.

What will you do now?

I have a few things to deal with, which include:

✎ Write and attach my CV to the last few companies I attended on Friday 22 March 2019

✎ Penciled in a Company Hunt for Thursday 28 March 2019 and blog about it

✎ Penciled in a CV Drop for Friday 29 March 2019 and blog about it

✎ Research who deals with the recruitment at each company

Conclusion

I believe I successfully accomplished this task I set out to do, as I received the relevant information from various companies on Gatwick Road in Manor Royal.

I was logical in how I went about this. I started just before Subway.

I believe I was energetic and enthusiastic when I asked about vacancies, which I took accurate notes on.

Related Blog Posts

• Researching a Prospective Employer / Company Hunts
• CV Drops

What are your priorities?

Professionally, I want to make sure that I work for a company who communicates to the highest standard, who also keeps to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Health and Safety.