Wetherspoons Work Trial - did I do well?!

Sounds good to me, you did your best. Other candidates are irrelevant, you can be the only person going for a job and still get rejected. Do you know how many they are planning to take on? You were friendly, asked questions etc. and doesn't seem like anything disastrous happened like you falling face-first into a plate of bangers and mash. From what you've said, the feedback seems positive, checking he had your number is good sign.

I didn't get the job

Did you get any feedback? Try to stay positive, at least you have some experience of work trials/interviews now and should be more confident next time. Keep trying you'll get something eventually

Sorry to hear it, they might have gone for the other person as they had experience.

As you're looking for your first job, try somewhere more accessible. I worked for Odeon as mine (well after doing waiting in a local pub), then Hollywood Bowl... pretty menial jobs but okay pay and hours.

I would try Next.
As far as I am aware they'll have plenty of xmas temps jobs coming up.
When I got a job there as a sales consultant, there were a few school-leavers with no work experience whatsoever, never mind references haha!

Just watch out for their pesky question-filter system when applying. So long as you keep sending applications your bound to get enough of the questions correct!

I used to work for Wetherspoons, although I quit a couple of years ago, before work trials had really come in. Knowing the company though the habitually pay-docking little pieces of excrement they probably brought work trials in because they wanted free, willing labour for an afternoon. However, all they really want in an employee is someone who is willing, compliant and tries their best; I saw some absolute idiots be taken on.

It sounds like you were pipped to the post this time because someone else had experience. If there are other Wetherspoons in your town, then try applying to them. There's no communication between different pubs, and so you can start afresh with them, knowing what you know from your previous work trial (just don't mention that you have previously had a work trial!)

Finally - try hospitality agencies. They only want bodies with a pulse, and often don't care if you don't have any experience - but working for an agency gives you a vast array of experience that you could never get in a "steady" job - I've more than lost track of all the venues I've worked at through agencies.

Volunteer at your local charity shop, for a couple of weeks. That will give you some retail experience and a reference.

A friend of mine did this, at first she was rejected by Holland & Barrat for not being a "suitable" candidate. She applied again after doing 3 weeks at a charity shop and got the job.

I was like you first, with no experience other than a weeks worth of experience in a mechanic workshop back in secondary school. Now I volunteer at my local charity shop, I'm yet to apply for jobs. Fingers crossed I should get a job.

I am definitely considering doing some volunteer work. I really do need a job right now so I'm willing to work for free if it results in taking a step further towards achieving this. I've applied for about five more jobs and two pubs have told me to hand in a CV and fill in an application. But as we all know, it's very competitive and they will almost always choose someone with experience, especially if they've been trained.