JAMES WARD: I LIKE BORING THINGS

Despite being told by Argos that:

A member of our team will aim to respond within 2 weeks to advise you whether we will be progressing your application

I still haven’t heard anything back regarding eight of the eleven job applications I sent off to Argos almost three weeks ago. And of the jobs that I did hear back about, I was unsuccessful with all three. I didn’t even get called for an interview.

I am not easily put off, however, and so today I checked the Argos Careers website and found another fourteen jobs at their Head Office:

• Buyer (Jewellery) (Ref:ARG1863-996)
• Credit Risk Analyst (Ref:HRG7255-1021)
• Site Finance Analyst – Bridgwater (Ref:ARG1499-1004)
• Commercial Analysis Manager (Ref:ARG1167-1007)
• Workflow Assistant (Ref:ARG1971-1018)
• Studio Team Leader (Ref:ARG9704-854)
• Design Production Co-ordinator (Ref:ARG2093-985)
• Pensions Manager (Ref:HRG1703-717)
• Assistant Merchandise Manager CRT (Ref:HRG2000-1012)
• Administrator – Merchandise Database Assistant (Ref:ARG9986-1016)
• Senior Buyer – Storage (Ref:ARG5057-1017)
• Assistant Buyer -DVD Set Top Boxes & TV Accesories (Ref:ARG1312-1000)
• Assistant Buyer (Upholstery) (Ref:ARG2038-1015)
• Merchandise Systems Co-ordinator (Ref:ARG1344-1013)

Although I am loathe to criticise my future employers, the application process on the Argos Careers website is slightly cumbersome. When you apply for a job, the first question is:

If you were introduced by an Argos or Homebase employee,
please provide their name, job title & location

It’s not an unreasonable question. They might even have a referral scheme where current employees are rewarded if they recommend someone who eventually gets the job. The trouble is, I imagine in most cases, applicants have not been introduced by existing employees, and yet the question is mandatory, bringing up an error message if you leave it blank:

I tried to answer every question as accurately and as honestly as possible:

Wish me luck:

: : : : : : : : : : :