Coles hiring 5000 more workers amid coronavirus outbreak
Coles has put out a call to fill 5000 new jobs across various departments. Find out what’s up for grabs.
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Another 5000 jobs are on offer at Coles, following the supermarket’s whirlwind recruitment of more than 7000 team members over the past fortnight.
The new jobs will include customer service and shelf-stocking roles in Coles supermarkets and liquor stores, customer service agents delivering online orders, and more than 100 trade-qualified bakers for in-store bakeries.
Coles chief executive Steven Cain said Coles was delighted with the response to the recruitment call-out.
He said Coles would continue to work with other major employers and unions to find job opportunities for businesses forced to reduce staff in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Coles is doing everything we can to support jobs and the economy through this challenging time, while also ensuring we can provide groceries for all Australians,” he said.
“We have been overwhelmed with the number of applications received from across different industries.
“To ensure we could act quickly, we streamlined our recruitment processes and assigned a dedicated team to fast-track applications sent by corporate partners like Australian Venue Company and Virgin Australia.”
Since the recruitment drive began, Coles has offered more than 6500 casual positions, as well as 430 part-time and 80 full-time management positions.
This included about 1700 jobs in Victoria, 2000 in New South Wales, 1800 in Queensland, 600 in South Australia, 700 in Western Australia, 100 in Tasmania, 90 in ACT and 100 in the Northern Territory.
Mr Cain said Coles had also opened three new pop-up distribution centres in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria in the past week, creating more jobs in their supply chain network.
“We are also looking to open additional distribution centres to help us move more stock to stores and will help create even more jobs,” he said.
Many companies were streamlining recruitment processes to get Australians out of Centrelink queues and into employment as soon as possible.
Hays regional director (NSW) Eliza Kirkby said they were currently using technology, such as video interviews and virtual group assessments, to help companies quickly fill roles.
“We’re doing it for a bank that needs a lot of telephone-based hotline support staff,” she said.
Ms Kirkby said recruitment firms had databases full of jobseekers ready to work, who already had been interviewed, had their skills assessed, references and other clearances verified, so were able to rapidly respond and fill vacancies.
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“If (the employer is) working with a capable recruiter that has suitably reference checked candidates, etc, you could be turning that around in a period of hours,” she said.
“We can have hundreds of jobs filled within hours.
“That’s not an unusual circumstance.
“When customers are needing temps, it’s a shorter period of time than that – call centres that might have urgent requirements can call at 7am and need someone to start at 8am that day.”
Jobseekers can join this database via hays.com.au.
Public sector recruitment was also being sped up, with Government Services minister Stuart Robert announcing earlier this week that more than 1500 new workers would start at Centrelink on Monday.
“Services Australia is rapidly redeploying existing staff to call centres and to processing, and hiring staff as quickly as they can,” he said.
“The Prime Minister announced 5000 extra staff for Services Australia.
“More than 1500 new staff are currently being trained and will start to come on board from Monday.”
‘I’M GRATEFUL TO HAVE A JOB RIGHT NOW’
Jenny Dunworth was stood down after a decade serving as a Virgin Australia flight attendant.
“It was upsetting but extremely necessary given the current climate,” the 33-year-old from Caringbah, New South Wales, said.
“We’re living in a surreal world and nothing is more important than keeping each other safe.”
Ms Dunworth is one of thousands of Australian airline staff grounded amid the coronavirus outbreak.
“I was feeling so many different emotions in the past few weeks,” she said.
“The crew I worked with were more than friends - they’re family. And we went through so much together on a weekly basis.”
After years instructing nervous flyers on how to wear a life jacket, Ms Dunworth was thrown one by supermarket giant Coles to keep her afloat just one week later.
“I saw a job post on social media. I applied and was immediately accepted,” she said.
“I’m grateful to have a casual job right now, if only to keep my sanity.”
’IT WAS SO GOOD’
Before the COVID-19 outbreak, Canterbury’s Zoe Giagoudakis was refereeing basketball, working at the YMCA cafe and training to be a Body Pump fitness instructor.
Within about a week, all three jobs were on pause.
“Once YMCA closed I didn’t have anything else so I was just looking for a new job,” she said.
“I applied for Coles then two days later I was working for Coles.
“They contacted me and said ‘you have got this position and can start work in a couple of days, come in and we will train you on the job’.
“It was so good.”
Ms Giagoudakis, 18, started as a customer service officer on the check-outs last Saturday.
“The first few days were very busy but it’s started to slow down a bit,” she said.
“The odd thing comes along where you have to ask for help but apart form that it’s pretty easy.”
She said she was able to transfer her communication and customer service skills from her cafe job into the new job, making for an smooth transition.
She was “super grateful” to have a job at Coles Malvern, Victoria, and not have to worry about her income before she resumes her Bachelor of Commerce at Melbourne University next year.
“You have to take a hold of any opportunity you have,” she said.
“If you see an opportunity in the news just apply – and follow it up as well.”
‘I’D BEEN TRYING TO GET INTO COLES FOR A WHILE’
Hospitality worker Emma Vost had wanted a job at Coles for a long time so when she found herself out of work following new shut down laws, she took the opportunity to get a foot in the door.
Her employer since November, Coffee Guru, was forced to reduce staff when they transitioned to a takeaway-only service.
“I have been a barista since I was 16-years-old,” she said.
“I had been trying to get into Coles for a while and all this happening actually gave me a bit of a boost so I’m not complaining.
“They seem like a really good company to work for so I am quite excited to get started.”
The Coomera resident picked up a night fill role at Coles Pimpama, Queensland.
“I applied last week then the next day I got it, I was fast-tracked through.
“I know the area manager so that probably helped me a little bit.
“I thought I was going to have at least a couple of days’ (wait) but straight away I was in.”
Ms Vost, 21, believes she is a good fit for the job as she brings her good work ethic, polite manner and ability to listen and follow instructions.
“You can still bring in skills from hospitality to retail and I think that’s really good,” she said.
Her advice for other people who find themselves unemployed during the pandemic is to stay calm.
“Just believe in yourself and something will come up,” she said.
“It’s easier said than done but it’s better not to stress and just keep looking.”
“All you can do is stay positive in times like this.”
‘I WAS LUCKY’
The demand for workers to put stock on supermarket shelves has not been lost on shelf-stacker Claudia Schwarzkopf.
“Especially with my first shift, the (baked) beans aisle was down to empty, I thought, ‘Wow, it’s scary.’... People would buy so much,” she said.
“I would stock it, and at my next shift, it was empty.”
The 18-year-old was looking for a second job to complement her swim-instructor income during a university gap semester this year when she applied to Coles, as friends had said it was a good place to work.
She started at Coles St Agnes, South Australia, two weeks ago then lost her hours at the swim centre this week when it was forced to close.
“I didn’t actually think it would come crashing down so quickly, with the job (losses), I didn’t expect that to happen,” she said.
“I was lucky when I applied, they said they were looking (for staff).
“It has replaced my income (as a swim instructor). I’m lucky I’m one of those people who has a job at the moment.
“I love working there – I look forward to every shift I have there, everyone is so nice, it’s a great atmosphere.”
‘MUM AND I ARE ON DIFFERENT SHIFTS’
After four years as a personal trainer, Sorell’s Nick Richards is using his strength for a new purpose – lifting stock and filling shelves at Coles.
Mr Richards’ first job had been with the supermarket and he had worked there for nine years so when his small business had become unfeasible he was welcomed back with open arms.
“It feels good to back – it’s like I never left,” he said.
The 27-year-old put his resume in last Monday and got the job on Wednesday.
“I didn’t have an interview, not sure if anyone else did,” he said.
“My mum is the bakery manager so that and having the previous experience helped out.
“Mum and I are on different shifts.”
Mr Richards had previously worked at Coles Sorell, Tasmania, in the bakery but was now in a night fill role.
“The sleep pattern is different,” he said.
“So far I have been working pretty much every day.”
He had always been open to the idea of coming back to Coles as he had left the company on good terms, and he was very grateful to be able to walk back into a job so quickly.
“There are a lot of benefits to working at Coles – you have got a secured income, you have got a good work environment,” he said.
“I personal trained a lot of people and there is a lot of other people doing it tough.”