Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine

Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: PeterWithesShin on July 23, 2013, 02:40:24 PM

Title: Gis a job, I can do that
Post by: PeterWithesShin on July 23, 2013, 02:40:24 PM
Quote
Reporting to the Community Relationship Manager and Head of Marketing, the Fan Squad helps the marketing and communications department interact with customers and promote Aston Villa FC and related products and services on both a match day and non-match day at community events across the city of Birmingham.

As the Fan Squad interacts directly with fans/community members, there is a responsibility to represent the club with esteem and uphold its values.

As such you must have a very energetic personality, be driven to work at a fast pace, and really enjoy enthusiastically engaging with people to succeed in this popular part time opportunity.

The position is based on a zero hours contract and hours from week to week can vary as determined by home fixtures and the scheduling of events.

The Fan squad are required to have a good level of weekday availability and full availability on weekends (evening work does occur but is limited)

Personal specifications/ qualities

Customer Service Experience (preferably in an events based environment or brand ambassador capacity)

Proven ability to engage people in conversation in a relaxed and enthusiastic manner

An understanding of the most effective method of interacting and communicating with people in different situations

Strong influencing skills

Strong attention to detail

A calm and composed demeanour

Confidence and resiliency along with strong interpersonal skills

Full, clean UK Driver's License

Salary

Exceeds National Minimum Wage Per Hour

Location

West Midlands - Across the City of Birmingham

Deadline

12/09/2012

How to apply

Please send your CV (and Cover Letter) to the following email address: Fan.Squad@avfc.co.uk

http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/JobDescription/0,,10265~3321872,00.html
Title: Re: Gis a job, I can do that
Post by: Chico Hamilton III on July 23, 2013, 03:35:33 PM
Quote
Deadline

12/09/2012

Strong attention to detail required, they say?
Title: Re: Gis a job, I can do that
Post by: Chipsticks on July 23, 2013, 03:43:26 PM
If this was in 4 years time and I'd finished my degree and looking for a full-time job this would be perfect for me. Grrrr.
Title: Re: Gis a job, I can do that
Post by: OCD on July 23, 2013, 03:45:16 PM
Yeah, they require
Quote
Deadline

12/09/2012

Strong attention to detail required, they say?

Yeah, they require it because they don't have it.
Title: Re: Gis a job, I can do that
Post by: adrenachrome on July 23, 2013, 03:51:32 PM
Yeah, they require
Quote
Deadline

12/09/2012

Strong attention to detail required, they say?

Yeah, they require it because they don't have it.

Also, seeing as the salary is above minimum wage, time travel abilities are likely part of the requisite skill set.
Title: Re: Gis a job, I can do that
Post by: UK Redsox on July 23, 2013, 03:51:33 PM
There's at least one requirement on there that means Mr Shin would not get the job
Title: Re: Gis a job, I can do that
Post by: danlanza on July 23, 2013, 03:51:52 PM
It's a bit over the top just to be the new Mascot. ;)
Title: Re: Gis a job, I can do that
Post by: UK Redsox on July 23, 2013, 03:54:36 PM
If the Aston Villa "Fan Squad" is anything like similarly named groups that I've seen in the USA, the job just involves firing t-shirts into the stands from a giant air gun.
Title: Re: Gis a job, I can do that
Post by: lovejoy on July 23, 2013, 03:55:32 PM
Seriously, if the benchmark is "exceeds minimum wage", its not going to make you rich is it?
Title: Re: Gis a job, I can do that
Post by: UK Redsox on July 23, 2013, 03:55:56 PM
It's a bit over the top just to be the new Mascot. ;)

Another Hercules hasn't been sacked has he ?
Title: Re: Gis a job, I can do that
Post by: Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air on July 23, 2013, 03:58:52 PM
A calm and composed demeanour ?

When anywhere near the Villa ?
Title: Re: Gis a job, I can do that
Post by: GarethRDR on July 23, 2013, 04:02:50 PM
I'd have applied 5 years ago, the job would probably have paid £20k a week under MON.
Title: Re: Gis a job, I can do that
Post by: danlanza on July 23, 2013, 04:11:49 PM
It's a bit over the top just to be the new Mascot. ;)

Another Hercules hasn't been sacked has he ?
He is just about still here. Rumours on Twitter saying Spurs are guaranteed to get him in a mega treble your money deal. 8.50 per hour.
Title: Re: Gis a job, I can do that
Post by: PeterWithesShin on July 23, 2013, 08:21:08 PM
There's at least one requirement on there that means Mr Shin would not get the job

Depending on who you ask it would be anything from one to all of them.
Title: Re: Gis a job, I can do that
Post by: Ad@m on July 23, 2013, 08:36:58 PM
What's the deal with zero hours contracts? I just don't get why anyone would sign up for one.
Title: Re: Gis a job, I can do that
Post by: Dave Clark Five on July 24, 2013, 07:17:33 AM
What's the deal with zero hours contracts? I just don't get why anyone would sign up for one.

Depends on circumstances. Such a contract may be given to a person who has drawn his pension (perhaps a few years early) but wants to keep working on particular projects, maybe at a higher rate than in the full time role they previously had but without the luxury of such things as sick pay.
Title: Re: Gis a job, I can do that
Post by: SashasGrandad on July 24, 2013, 11:16:08 AM
If the Aston Villa "Fan Squad" is anything like similarly named groups that I've seen in the USA, the job just involves firing t-shirts into the stands from a giant air gun.

When they tried that before the shirts didn't get very far only a few made it to the upper tiers. Perhaps they should advertise for a few javelin throwers.
Title: Re: Gis a job, I can do that
Post by: UK Redsox on July 24, 2013, 12:03:17 PM
If the Aston Villa "Fan Squad" is anything like similarly named groups that I've seen in the USA, the job just involves firing t-shirts into the stands from a giant air gun.

When they tried that before the shirts didn't get very far only a few made it to the upper tiers. Perhaps they should advertise for a few javelin throwers.

Were they the same people who shot Santa out of the sky ?
Title: Re: Gis a job, I can do that
Post by: Mister E on July 24, 2013, 12:43:20 PM
If this was in 4 years time and I'd finished my degree and looking for a full-time job this would be perfect for me. Grrrr.
It's not full-time though.
Title: Re: Gis a job, I can do that
Post by: Ad@m on July 24, 2013, 01:05:35 PM
What's the deal with zero hours contracts? I just don't get why anyone would sign up for one.

Depends on circumstances. Such a contract may be given to a person who has drawn his pension (perhaps a few years early) but wants to keep working on particular projects, maybe at a higher rate than in the full time role they previously had but without the luxury of such things as sick pay.

But that then makes it a hybrid of being self-employed and being employed, but taking the worst bits of each.

The majority of advantages of being employed stem from the security of having a steady base level of income.  With a zero hours contract you don't get that.  It just seems to put the employer in a far too dominant position.
Title: Re: Gis a job, I can do that
Post by: Dave Clark Five on July 24, 2013, 10:21:03 PM
What's the deal with zero hours contracts? I just don't get why anyone would sign up for one.

Depends on circumstances. Such a contract may be given to a person who has drawn his pension (perhaps a few years early) but wants to keep working on particular projects, maybe at a higher rate than in the full time role they previously had but without the luxury of such things as sick pay.

But that then makes it a hybrid of being self-employed and being employed, but taking the worst bits of each.

The majority of advantages of being employed stem from the security of having a steady base level of income.  With a zero hours contract you don't get that.  It just seems to put the employer in a far too dominant position.

At a certain stage of a person's career, he/she may decide to cut down their working hours. It all depends on the contract you sign up to.
Title: Re: Gis a job, I can do that
Post by: PGW on July 24, 2013, 10:31:02 PM
What's the deal with zero hours contracts? I just don't get why anyone would sign up for one.

Depends on circumstances. Such a contract may be given to a person who has drawn his pension (perhaps a few years early) but wants to keep working on particular projects, maybe at a higher rate than in the full time role they previously had but without the luxury of such things as sick pay.

But that then makes it a hybrid of being self-employed and being employed, but taking the worst bits of each.

The majority of advantages of being employed stem from the security of having a steady base level of income.  With a zero hours contract you don't get that.  It just seems to put the employer in a far too dominant position.

At a certain stage of a person's career, he/she may decide to cut down their working hours. It all depends on the contract you sign up to.
This sort of arrangement suits me - i worked 37 years at a well known local chocolate factory and took redundancy at 53(6 years ago) plus a healthy pension i soon got bored and had to find me something to get me out of bed in the morning and found a part time job for 20 hours a week which was great but a year ago that was cut (NHS cuts) but i now just work as a bank porter covering sickness / holidays etc istill contribute to the NHS pension and pay me some beer tokens for my efforts.

If i was 35 then not for me but at my age perfect!!!
Title: Re: Gis a job, I can do that
Post by: Salsa Party Animal on July 24, 2013, 10:31:11 PM
Just change the job for Stephen Ireland and he can do this on new contract. He probably won't notice the different :)
Title: Re: Gis a job, I can do that
Post by: Top Cat on July 24, 2013, 10:40:52 PM
If the Aston Villa "Fan Squad" is anything like similarly named groups that I've seen in the USA, the job just involves firing t-shirts into the stands from a giant air gun.

When they tried that before the shirts didn't get very far only a few made it to the upper tiers. Perhaps they should advertise for a few javelin throwers.

Were they the same people who shot Santa out of the sky ?

We sit in Lower Trinity and the chap who sits in the row behind us was desperate to catch one but they came nowhere near us. I emailed the club and had a lovely reply saying there would be a t-shirt waiting for me at North Stand reception next home match we had. The chap was very grateful but I don't know if he ever wore it.
Title: Zero hours contract - for shame
Post by: Hillbilly on July 30, 2013, 01:21:37 PM
http://fcbusiness.co.uk/jobs/detail/jobcode=171/title=fan+squad+position+at+aston+villa+football+club (http://fcbusiness.co.uk/jobs/detail/jobcode=171/title=fan+squad+position+at+aston+villa+football+club)
Title: Re: Zero hours contract - for shame
Post by: dave.woodhall on July 30, 2013, 01:22:17 PM
http://fcbusiness.co.uk/jobs/detail/jobcode=171/title=fan+squad+position+at+aston+villa+football+club (http://fcbusiness.co.uk/jobs/detail/jobcode=171/title=fan+squad+position+at+aston+villa+football+club)

Do you by any chance follow Dave Conn on Twitter?
Title: Re: Gis a job, I can do that
Post by: Hillbilly on July 30, 2013, 01:43:31 PM
http://fcbusiness.co.uk/jobs/detail/jobcode=171/title=fan+squad+position+at+aston+villa+football+club (http://fcbusiness.co.uk/jobs/detail/jobcode=171/title=fan+squad+position+at+aston+villa+football+club)

Do you by any chance follow Dave Conn on Twitter?
Busted. The original thread title was too subtle for me. I passed over it thinking it was another Bent/Ireland/whoever thread.

On topic, it's not a surprise but it's sad to see a business that sees fit to pay huge sums to Stephen Ireland can't spring a few bob for a proper contract.
Title: Re: Gis a job, I can do that
Post by: dave.woodhall on July 30, 2013, 01:48:50 PM
http://fcbusiness.co.uk/jobs/detail/jobcode=171/title=fan+squad+position+at+aston+villa+football+club (http://fcbusiness.co.uk/jobs/detail/jobcode=171/title=fan+squad+position+at+aston+villa+football+club)

Do you by any chance follow Dave Conn on Twitter?
Busted. The original thread title was too subtle for me. I passed over it thinking it was another Bent/Ireland/whoever thread.

On topic, it's not a surprise but it's sad to see a business that sees fit to pay huge sums to Stephen Ireland can't spring a few bob for a proper contract.

It's not like it's a proper full-time job, though. They work matchdays and when there's an event so there will be times when there's weeks without anything going on. Dave's a great writer but he doesn't half see things in terms of clubs being run by the equivalent of Victorian mill owners.
Title: Re: Gis a job, I can do that
Post by: Hillbilly on July 30, 2013, 02:31:58 PM
http://fcbusiness.co.uk/jobs/detail/jobcode=171/title=fan+squad+position+at+aston+villa+football+club (http://fcbusiness.co.uk/jobs/detail/jobcode=171/title=fan+squad+position+at+aston+villa+football+club)

Do you by any chance follow Dave Conn on Twitter?
Busted. The original thread title was too subtle for me. I passed over it thinking it was another Bent/Ireland/whoever thread.

On topic, it's not a surprise but it's sad to see a business that sees fit to pay huge sums to Stephen Ireland can't spring a few bob for a proper contract.

It's not like it's a proper full-time job, though. They work matchdays and when there's an event so there will be times when there's weeks without anything going on. Dave's a great writer but he doesn't half see things in terms of clubs being run by the equivalent of Victorian mill owners.
Agreed he can overdo it. But zero hour contracts have the stench of the mill owner. No matter how it's dressed up, it's despicable, lazy management. As a writer on the finance and administration of football, he's right to draw attention to it.
Title: Re: Gis a job, I can do that
Post by: dave.woodhall on July 30, 2013, 03:50:00 PM
I can't see how it could be done any different. It's a part-time casual job, no different to, say, stewarding at Edgbaston.
Title: Re: Gis a job, I can do that
Post by: Navin R Johnson on July 30, 2013, 07:34:02 PM
Managementspeak is destroying the language.   Why does every communication have to be composed of words which are only included to create an impression of professional expertise?

Why can't things be said in plain zero-bullshit English?

Yesterday I received a begging letter from a food charity.   It contained the sentence "anything you should see fit to generously give will be lovingly hand cooked and crafted by our dedicated volunteer's into an appetizing, healthy and nutritious repast."   Ignoring the split infinitive and the redundant apostrophe, why couldn't they say "You give it, we'll cook it"?

Why can't Villa say "we have a job vacancy promoting the club and club merchandise.   This is the pay.   These are the hours.  Airgun marksmanship an advantage but not essential.  If you fancy it please get in touch"?
Title: Re: Gis a job, I can do that
Post by: Ad@m on July 30, 2013, 10:31:27 PM
What's the deal with zero hours contracts? I just don't get why anyone would sign up for one.

Depends on circumstances. Such a contract may be given to a person who has drawn his pension (perhaps a few years early) but wants to keep working on particular projects, maybe at a higher rate than in the full time role they previously had but without the luxury of such things as sick pay.

But that then makes it a hybrid of being self-employed and being employed, but taking the worst bits of each.

The majority of advantages of being employed stem from the security of having a steady base level of income.  With a zero hours contract you don't get that.  It just seems to put the employer in a far too dominant position.

At a certain stage of a person's career, he/she may decide to cut down their working hours. It all depends on the contract you sign up to.
This sort of arrangement suits me - i worked 37 years at a well known local chocolate factory and took redundancy at 53(6 years ago) plus a healthy pension i soon got bored and had to find me something to get me out of bed in the morning and found a part time job for 20 hours a week which was great but a year ago that was cut (NHS cuts) but i now just work as a bank porter covering sickness / holidays etc istill contribute to the NHS pension and pay me some beer tokens for my efforts.

If i was 35 then not for me but at my age perfect!!!

Do you not feel permanently 'on call'? I would've thought a genuine part time job with guaranteed minimum hours would be preferable.

To be fair I'm sure these contacts do have a place but I dare say they're currently being horribly abused in the name of the financial crisis.

Title: Re: Gis a job, I can do that
Post by: placeforparks on July 31, 2013, 02:05:57 PM
if people are interested in zero-hour contracts, then it is a hot issue with the guardian at the moment.

http://www.theguardian.com/money/2013/jul/30/zero-hours-contracts-explained
Title: Re: Gis a job, I can do that
Post by: Ad@m on July 31, 2013, 03:13:45 PM
if people are interested in zero-hour contracts, then it is a hot issue with the guardian at the moment.

http://www.theguardian.com/money/2013/jul/30/zero-hours-contracts-explained

I know. Agreeing with the Guardian on a matter of principle makes me feel dirty!
Title: Re: Gis a job, I can do that
Post by: mal on July 31, 2013, 04:29:49 PM
if people are interested in zero-hour contracts, then it is a hot issue with the guardian at the moment.

http://www.theguardian.com/money/2013/jul/30/zero-hours-contracts-explained

I know. Agreeing with the Guardian on a matter of principle makes me feel dirty!

It shouldn't - it's when you agree with the Daily Mail you need to worry. Zero hours contracts are another evil import from America, land of the free. I love the idea that you can sign on to or off the rota at will - in my experience if you sign off it for a week that's you at the bottom of the pile only to be used again in extremis. Not that I would sign one for love nor money.

Villa know exactly how many times you will be needed as a basic figure (19 x homes) and so the contract should guarantee 120 hours between the known set dates with the possibility of additional working on any other dates arising. It would be nice for a business that pays some of its staff obscene wages to think that it would be a bit better than minimum wage too. Why not offer a guaranteed £25K for attendance to all available matches and offer it to students who can demonstrate an affiliation to the club and/or financial hardship?
Title: Re: Gis a job, I can do that
Post by: Ad@m on July 31, 2013, 05:17:01 PM
if people are interested in zero-hour contracts, then it is a hot issue with the guardian at the moment.

http://www.theguardian.com/money/2013/jul/30/zero-hours-contracts-explained

I know. Agreeing with the Guardian on a matter of principle makes me feel dirty!

It shouldn't - it's when you agree with the Daily Mail you need to worry. Zero hours contracts are another evil import from America, land of the free. I love the idea that you can sign on to or off the rota at will - in my experience if you sign off it for a week that's you at the bottom of the pile only to be used again in extremis. Not that I would sign one for love nor money.

Villa know exactly how many times you will be needed as a basic figure (19 x homes) and so the contract should guarantee 120 hours between the known set dates with the possibility of additional working on any other dates arising. It would be nice for a business that pays some of its staff obscene wages to think that it would be a bit better than minimum wage too. Why not offer a guaranteed £25K for attendance to all available matches and offer it to students who can demonstrate an affiliation to the club and/or financial hardship?

I try not to agree with either the Mail or the Guardian.

You're absolutely right in your post though.  Zero hours contracts just prey on people desperate for work.
Title: Re: Gis a job, I can do that
Post by: cheltenhamlion on July 31, 2013, 06:31:15 PM
Bollocks to the students. Its a genial older guys gig.

I nominate Frank and John Holder.

But definitely not Trevor Cunting Fisher.
Title: Re: Gis a job, I can do that
Post by: Dave Cooper please on July 31, 2013, 10:38:23 PM
It would be nice to know the amount of people who are on these zero hours contracts and the average amount of hours they work, because I assume they will never be counted in any unemployment or benefit claimant statistics because even if they do next to bugger all work in any given week or month they aren't technically unemployed or entitled to any benefits.

I can understand why some companies need to employ some staff on these contracts, football clubs for instance, they will need more stewards and catering staff for big games than for a league cup game against Rochdale, but Sport Direct and the like employing up to 90% of their staff on them? Companies turning over billion and making massive profits exploiting desperate workers? Who'd have thought it.
Title: Re: Gis a job, I can do that
Post by: TheSandman on July 31, 2013, 11:15:47 PM
Trevor Cunting Fisher.

Who?
Title: Re: Gis a job, I can do that
Post by: dave.woodhall on August 01, 2013, 12:11:13 AM
if people are interested in zero-hour contracts, then it is a hot issue with the guardian at the moment.

http://www.theguardian.com/money/2013/jul/30/zero-hours-contracts-explained

I know. Agreeing with the Guardian on a matter of principle makes me feel dirty!

It shouldn't - it's when you agree with the Daily Mail you need to worry. Zero hours contracts are another evil import from America, land of the free. I love the idea that you can sign on to or off the rota at will - in my experience if you sign off it for a week that's you at the bottom of the pile only to be used again in extremis. Not that I would sign one for love nor money.

Villa know exactly how many times you will be needed as a basic figure (19 x homes) and so the contract should guarantee 120 hours between the known set dates with the possibility of additional working on any other dates arising. It would be nice for a business that pays some of its staff obscene wages to think that it would be a bit better than minimum wage too. Why not offer a guaranteed £25K for attendance to all available matches and offer it to students who can demonstrate an affiliation to the club and/or financial hardship?

That's over £1,000 a match.
Title: Re: Gis a job, I can do that
Post by: PeterWithesShin on August 01, 2013, 12:33:40 AM
Blimey, that's nearly as much as Dave pays us! 
Title: Re: Gis a job, I can do that
Post by: PeterWithesShin on August 01, 2013, 12:33:57 AM
A millenium.
Title: Re: Gis a job, I can do that
Post by: mal on August 01, 2013, 12:45:46 PM
if people are interested in zero-hour contracts, then it is a hot issue with the guardian at the moment.

http://www.theguardian.com/money/2013/jul/30/zero-hours-contracts-explained

I know. Agreeing with the Guardian on a matter of principle makes me feel dirty!

It shouldn't - it's when you agree with the Daily Mail you need to worry. Zero hours contracts are another evil import from America, land of the free. I love the idea that you can sign on to or off the rota at will - in my experience if you sign off it for a week that's you at the bottom of the pile only to be used again in extremis. Not that I would sign one for love nor money.

Villa know exactly how many times you will be needed as a basic figure (19 x homes) and so the contract should guarantee 120 hours between the known set dates with the possibility of additional working on any other dates arising. It would be nice for a business that pays some of its staff obscene wages to think that it would be a bit better than minimum wage too. Why not offer a guaranteed £25K for attendance to all available matches and offer it to students who can demonstrate an affiliation to the club and/or financial hardship?

That's over £1,000 a match.

Fair point Dave. Might be a bit rich. But then unlike a certain Stephen Ireland they would actually be working for it while also working at something else. I was considering a total payment for say the one year only that would cover all their course fees, after tax.  All academic now if you'll excuse the pun:
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/aston-villa-axes-zero-contract-job-5392868
be interesting to know what the salary level is if they still employ some people
Title: Re: Gis a job, I can do that
Post by: dave.woodhall on August 01, 2013, 01:49:20 PM
If they didn't use corporate bollocks language and called them casual vacancies, which is what they are, nobody would have said a word.
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