Ive worked as a passenger service agent for various airlines at manchester airport (nearly 2 years experience) and I lived about 8 miles from the airport but my employers had no problems with that. I worked overseas for 5 summer seasons and a few winter seasons for the top UK Tour operators (4 years in total experience). Where I dealt with the typical things overseas staff deal with complaints, lost luggage, drunken guests, robberiespolice visits, hospital visits (from broken legs, kidney failure, TB, drunkeness, assults, etc...), suspected rape victims, been assulted myself, not forgetting delays like a 72 hour delay and team leaders who refuse to help but only critise but all the time I learned to keep my cool, oh yes I worked to sale targets, monthly targets easily walked the streets of an Italian resort weekly carrying upto 10,000 euros in my workbag.
In June I completed a HNC Travel and tourism course as well, so with 5 years travel experience and a travel education as well travelled around Europe as well USA and China I would think I would have a decent chance to get a position within the travel industry? NO CHANCE!
I live 5 minutes drive or 30minutes walk away from Glasgow International airport but Ive constantly applied for passenger service agent jobs at the airport, have been told Im experienced but because I dont drive they think I cant make a early start or as one job was a 10am start I wouldnt make it either (manchester I lived 8 miles and had many 3/4/5 am starts and only 1 time in 2 years i was late but it wasnt due to my fault), so no chance of work at airport.
Another company told me I had the experience but I didnt have done enough travelling, that company is still looking for staff nearly 6 months on. The best one was I didnt have experience at all in travel, mmmm what have I been doing for the last 6 months????? Best excuse is the companies who tell you to to go get experience, but tell me where is the experience??? If the experience was there to be taken the thousands of people who get told that excuse, have been given the same excuse to many jobhunters for a long time, I think its time for companies to start given people chances. Yes I know we are in a recession and times are hard, but companies still advertise the need for staff, there is thousands of people nationwide waiting to give you 110% commitment.many people will be more appreciative if companies are honest.
I am passionite, honest hard working, computer literate (20 years), 5 years work experience who just wants to work. My current thoughts for the future, well ive been trying to get work for nearly 7 months and out of the 7 months applying for work (about 86 jobs and rising) only one has given myself a interview, many have told me the no experience excuse and the rest dont even acknowledge you or they offer you contact info and dont have the courtesy to return a reply. So my current thoughts for the future I dont think ill have a job this time next year either. Please I just want to work pay my bills and way things going ill have £0 left in my overdraft within the next few months.
Companies give people a chance
Paul you’re not alone and this is not the only industry feeling this way. As an employer I turned down people for interview that I would of loved to of applied 12 months before. My wife with 18 years experience in her field is still with out a permanent job after 10 months, things changed round her so much in December. In one interview she was up against someone with 32 years experience and to whom it meant if they got the job it would be an 11,000 (almost 40%) pay cut. But some pay is better than no pay.
hi nick, yeah its true all industry's, im actually not had a travel industry job since june 2008 nearly 15 months on, i went to college last summer but still actively seeking work and I know and appreciate there lots of people more experienced in myself. The passenger service agent position I went for last year at glasgow airport they gave the positions to people with no experience but they did admit to me if they took me on I would have saved the company £10,000 in training as I was already capable of using check in systems right away, it was just I didnt drive even though i lived very close to airport.
The thing that has annoyed me is ive listened and took alot of advice from people with 20plus year experience if i did certain things you would get a job alot easier than the route i orginally was taken but 15months on nothing has worked.
Its also I dont seem to be able to even get a simple part time job like working in a supermarket, or shop to get money to live on until something better arrives. I was even told by a famous diy store who use a very biased and unfair pyshcometric system that i dont have the mental strength and be able to cope selling paint, bathrooms and kitchens.
im sorry if im sounding aggresive i just want to work and earn my keep, just need a lucky break which ive not had for a very long time...
appreciate your comments
Paul
I feel for you and thousands of others. I have been in the same situation a few times. Now with my own business, I can see both sides of the story. Honesty is a rare commodity, so is work ethics and time keeping. Yes times are hard which means that the companies are employing people at the minimum wage. I have been let down by staff members in the past who tols me that they could do the job. Now I have hired a temporary inexperienced staff member who came for work experience and i liked her work ethics, hard working mentality and her personality. I offered her a part time job and even though she is studying travel and Tourism and works only on Saturdays, she is a fast learner and everything that an employer would want.
So Employers do give a chance but they want people to fit in within their organisation with similar work ethics. you just need to find the right company. Please do not be disheartened. I know that it is easy said than done but there are millions in your position including myself. I have not given myself a salary for a year and am living on my savings. Have faith and determination but never give hope. I wish you the best of luck and hope and pray that you soon find a job. Ragards
thank you lamozy, need all the luck i can get, i went for an interview at local supermarket because my situation is got that desperate and they they told me that im ideal qaulities butt im too qaulified to stack shelves, i just had to burst out laughing. Ive actually not had a job since june 2008, its the longest ive ever been unemployed, been given until end of the this year to get a job by the job centre or ill have my benefits stopped and thats also when my bank said they'll hit me with a court order as well.
Yeah its hard times, im just so terrified of the next few months. but thank you for your kind words just need a person to give me a break, ive nver let anyone down and anytime i cant do something I at least try then be honest with the person involved, fingers crossed.
still unemployed I have 5 interviews in a row, 1 i was actually given the wrong job information, i had to laugh, another told me I had great travel experience but ive only been to one continent (ive been to North America, Europe and asia) another thought my hometown was a concerning (he didnt like my hometown as it had a reputation of hardp people, ), one was straight forward no fair enough and the last was i got 99% on the test but my sales werent strong enough, i can put up with that.
I actually dont know what a actual job feels like anymore as its june 2008 since i had a proper job, my favourite saying from people "im sure something will crop up very shortly" 17months on im still waiting.
but thank you to all who have given me positive comments, its appreciated.