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| Almost 1,000 apply for receptionist job in Manchester | Almost 1,000 apply for receptionist job in Manchester |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| When a Manchester hotel advertised for a receptionist on Monday, the owners were shocked to received almost 1,000 applicants in a day. | When a Manchester hotel advertised for a receptionist on Monday, the owners were shocked to received almost 1,000 applicants in a day. |
| They had only expected about 30 people to be interested. | |
| The UK's hospitality sector has been savaged by the coronavirus crisis, with many bars, restaurants and hotels struggling. | The UK's hospitality sector has been savaged by the coronavirus crisis, with many bars, restaurants and hotels struggling. |
| "It really is quite sad to see the amount of people that are looking for a job," the company said. | "It really is quite sad to see the amount of people that are looking for a job," the company said. |
| "On Monday we placed an advert for a receptionist role for our 20 Stories restaurant in Manchester," Carol Cairnes, director of people at the restaurant's owner D&D London, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. | "On Monday we placed an advert for a receptionist role for our 20 Stories restaurant in Manchester," Carol Cairnes, director of people at the restaurant's owner D&D London, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. |
| "The next day, James, our head of talent, went to look at applications and was amazed to find that in less than 24 hours we had 963 people apply." | "The next day, James, our head of talent, went to look at applications and was amazed to find that in less than 24 hours we had 963 people apply." |
| Normally for such a role they'd expect at that stage to receive about 30 applications, she said. | |
| "Going through the candidates who applied, we could see there were a lot of very talented and highly-qualified people that applied for the role, including some restaurant general managers." | "Going through the candidates who applied, we could see there were a lot of very talented and highly-qualified people that applied for the role, including some restaurant general managers." |
| Hospitality jobs have proved highly-sought-after as thousands of roles have been slashed by restaurant groups. | Hospitality jobs have proved highly-sought-after as thousands of roles have been slashed by restaurant groups. |
| In the last two weeks, popular chains such as Pizza Express and Azzurri have kick-started restructures of their businesses that are likely to lead to more than 2,000 job losses and hundreds of restaurant outlets closing. | In the last two weeks, popular chains such as Pizza Express and Azzurri have kick-started restructures of their businesses that are likely to lead to more than 2,000 job losses and hundreds of restaurant outlets closing. |
| Social-distancing rules have also led to businesses reducing staff numbers, as they have re-opened with less space, meaning they can cater for fewer customers at a time now. | Social-distancing rules have also led to businesses reducing staff numbers, as they have re-opened with less space, meaning they can cater for fewer customers at a time now. |
| Over-qualified applicants | Over-qualified applicants |
| Other businesses have reported similar experiences this week. | Other businesses have reported similar experiences this week. |
| Emily Pringle of Alnwick-based fragrance company Notes of Northumberland told the BBC that she received 583 applicants when she advertised a 16 hour-a-week retail job. | Emily Pringle of Alnwick-based fragrance company Notes of Northumberland told the BBC that she received 583 applicants when she advertised a 16 hour-a-week retail job. |
| "Most of the applicants were massively over-qualified," she said. | "Most of the applicants were massively over-qualified," she said. |
| "It's a very sad sign of the times. A large number of people have been educated to PhD level and applying for our job, which is telling about the current state of the job market." | "It's a very sad sign of the times. A large number of people have been educated to PhD level and applying for our job, which is telling about the current state of the job market." |
| In Swansea, Sarah John, founder of Boss Brewing, said that her firm had advertised for a bar manager two days before and were surprised by the number and quality of applicants. | In Swansea, Sarah John, founder of Boss Brewing, said that her firm had advertised for a bar manager two days before and were surprised by the number and quality of applicants. |
| "We would normally only get five or so responses, but have had 35 people apply already and the calibre of applicants is really high," she said. | "We would normally only get five or so responses, but have had 35 people apply already and the calibre of applicants is really high," she said. |
| Most of the applicants had worked at reasonably well-known businesses, but have either lost their jobs, or are still furloughed and worried about their future, she added. | Most of the applicants had worked at reasonably well-known businesses, but have either lost their jobs, or are still furloughed and worried about their future, she added. |
| "There have also been quite of a lot of people who said they would be happy to relocate to work," she said. | "There have also been quite of a lot of people who said they would be happy to relocate to work," she said. |
| "We're in Swansea and have had applications from people from as far as Manchester, Leeds and Cornwall." | "We're in Swansea and have had applications from people from as far as Manchester, Leeds and Cornwall." |
| Vacancies have halved | Vacancies have halved |
| Meanwhile, when a London pub manager posted an advert for a £9-an-hour bar job last week, he was so overwhelmed by the response that he took to Twitter to report it. | |
| Mick Dore, general manager of the Alexandra pub in Wimbledon, said: "I don't want to alarm anyone about the economy or anything, but I advertised two bar jobs at 16:30 on Thursday. We've had well over 400 applicants. Gulp." | Mick Dore, general manager of the Alexandra pub in Wimbledon, said: "I don't want to alarm anyone about the economy or anything, but I advertised two bar jobs at 16:30 on Thursday. We've had well over 400 applicants. Gulp." |
| He added: "We'd normally get a dozen or so sensible replies." | He added: "We'd normally get a dozen or so sensible replies." |
| Research by the Institute for Employment Studies this week found that the total number of live job vacancies across the country now stands at 433,000. | Research by the Institute for Employment Studies this week found that the total number of live job vacancies across the country now stands at 433,000. |
| That's less than half of the number in February, indicating that there's a long way to go in the recovery for the UK job market. | That's less than half of the number in February, indicating that there's a long way to go in the recovery for the UK job market. |
| "Without doubt, this is now the toughest jobs market in a generation, and there are no signs yet of a significant recovery," said Tony Wilson, director of the Institute for Employment Studies. | "Without doubt, this is now the toughest jobs market in a generation, and there are no signs yet of a significant recovery," said Tony Wilson, director of the Institute for Employment Studies. |