Wanted: compassion for job seekers with families

HAVING been made redundant in January of this year I have been applying frenetically for every sort of a job, but to no avail yet.

I have made at least 150 applications and received two and a bit invitations to interview.

The first interview I did not succeed, the second interview is in a week’s time. And the “bit” of an invitation to interview lasted 12 minutes. I received a phone call on September 12 at 5.45pm. I was asked if I was still interested in a job (working in a department of a large multinational store that I had applied for three weeks’ previous).

The man on the other end of the phone told me to be in Cork the next morning — 16 hours later. I told him that I had three small children and I would need to make a couple of phone calls to organise childcare. I had no luck in sorting a childminder by the time he phoned back (12 minutes later), so the invitation to interview was withdrawn by a very sulky man.

I know that it is an employers’ market but surely a person is entitled to a little more notice than I received, is 24 hours too much to ask for?

Or even more than 12 minutes to arrange a minder for three children? I, for one, and my immediate family will not be darkening this company’s door again.

Hopefully, no other individual will be as cruelly treated as I was by someone who has no idea of “normal life” and the tasks that have to be completed daily.

Johnny Carlton

Ardmore

Co Waterford