A couple of weeks ago Steve Sewell, a mechanic and IT expert from Barrow in the Northwest, put himself up for auction on Ebay at the extremely low price of 99p. Despite his wealth of experience and fantastic interpersonal skills he still didn’t find anyone to hire him. Steve did, however, catch the attention of the UK media, going on to appear the Mail Online and Huffington Post.
Taskhub interviewed Steve to hear all about his experience and to find out why he thinks he’s only worth 99p!
Photo credit: Ebay
Taskhub: Why did you post on Ebay?
I suppose it’s just my sense of humour, but people do tend to scour Ebay and do a bit of window-shopping so I thought I may as well give it a go.
Taskhub: You said in your original Ebay ad that there was ‘some wear to moving parts’. Do you think it’s harder for older people to find work?
Definitely. Especially in IT where once you’re over 50 you’re pretty much ready for the scrapheap. It’s a young persons game now and if you leave IT for a bit it’s a real handicap getting back into it.
Taskhub: Before you listed on Ebay how else did you go about your job hunt?
I did all the usual stuff; sent out my CV, used contacts on LinkedIn and Facebook, using my network of friends and contacts.
Photo credit: Ebay/Steve131955
Taskhub: What was the best job you ever had?
Working in a computer shop was ideal for me. I really enjoy speaking to people and interacting with the public.
Taskhub: What did you expect from posting yourself online?
I was really clutching at straws but I thought it’d give me one or two shots at a job. You can find jobs in the strangest ways. In my town one chap sat on a roundabout holding a sign asking for work and he got a job! So I thought Ebay might get me somewhere.
Taskhub: Since the article came out in the press, have you had any job offers?
I’ve had one tentative job offer but it’s not definite. The attention that I’ve had has been impressive though; I’ve even appeared in the Mail Online!
Taskhub: Do you think that there is enough support for unemployed people?
There is plenty of support available for people but the problem is that there just aren’t any jobs. You can get lots of help with your CV and covering letters but it’s pointless if there’s nothing out there. For instance, I’ve never got a job through the Jobcentre, it’s generally always been through contacts or networking.
Taskhub: Are you worth more than 99p?
99 pence and change I would like to think!
Taskhub: How did your family react to your listing on Ebay?
Once the laughter died down they were quite positive and supportive.
Steve's story shows just what a struggle it can be for people looking for work, particularly as the job market is so dire right now. Ebay isn’t a good place to find work, as it’s principally a site for buying and selling products rather than services. However, there are new technologies and websites that are allowing people to connect in ways like never before. Taskhub enables you to connect with locals and find opportunities near you.
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