Job application overload to local supermarket caused by ‘desperation’

The Hervey Bay Chamber of Commerce has suggested possible reasons why a local supermarket, set to open next month, received so many job applications.

The Hervey Bay Chamber of Commerce has suggested possible reasons why a local supermarket, set to open next month, received so many job applications.

The Hervey Bay Chamber of Commerce has shared some possible reasons why a local supermarket received “thousands” of job applications last month.

Set to open in mid-August this year, the Hervey Bay Fresh & Save supermarket is being established inside Stockland Shopping Centre, where the old Target store used to be.

Some of the crowd on June 16, handing in their resumes. Picture: Isabella Magee

On June 16 and 17, the company was overwhelmed by job applications after taking to social media asking those eager for a position with the store, to show up in person.

HBCC president Sandra Holebrook said a lack of career opportunities, such as those offered by Fresh & Save, may be one cause behind the queue.

Hervey Bay Chamber of Commerce president Sandra Holebrook believes Hervey Bay needs to offer more jobs such as those offered by Fresh & Save.

“To me, it’s a little bit of desperation (for a job in the area),” Ms Holebrook said.

Ms Holebrook also suggested technological advances, where job applications are now mostly an online process, is turning people away from applying.

“Also, the fact that it’s so disheartening when you apply online and you either never hear back or you get rejected,” she said.

“I think people want to go back to the more old fashioned wires, eyeballing the person they’re going to work for and see whether they can actually negotiate something as a quicker answer (rather) than sitting waiting for weeks and weeks on end.

“I do think a more personal approach to recruiting is needed.”