Getting a Job. Help.

[PhunkyPhazon]

Also job hunting, and I have a question. Is the contacts section on an application really that important? They always want at least three people, and I only know one person that would be at all decent to put on there. Would it really hurt my chances if I just left that blank?

 

[Doctor VonSexMachine]

Spell check your resume.
Apply to everything you see, and try craigslist. There is a lot of shit to wade through, but there are legit jobs too. I know you said you were going to be picky, but the more experiance you have the more likely you are to be hired at a store that has tons of people wanting to work there.

If they hire you, it'll be a pretty cake job. File games, clean the store, sell product, close shop. Rinse and repeat. However, I wouldn't recommend working at Game Stop right off the bat, even though you're probably a game enthusiast and enjoy the environment. My first job was a bagger at a nearby Publix and that was probably one of the best jobs I had. Fast advancement, weekly pay, decent work hours (especially for persons under 18), and hot moms and their daughters from sun-up to sun-down.

Game Stop, being usually small storefronts, will generally have a small staff and a real low turnover rate. The opportunity for advancement is probably very low, the hours will be super-weak, and the novelty of working where most everybody within your age range goes to shop and (mostly) loiter will wear off really fast.

This guy has good advice. My first job was at a grocery store as well, and I was able to advance while in high school, which gave me decent wages when I really needed cash in University. Plus, that experience helped me get my first job in my field - my new boss told me so.

Also job hunting, and I have a question. Is the contacts section on an application really that important? They always want at least three people, and I only know one person that would be at all decent to put on there. Would it really hurt my chances if I just left that blank?

I've never had someone call my references, and I am rarely asked for them. If you only have one, just put them. But you might want to volunteer to bring that number up. Some McJobs look highly at references when hiring teens because they don't want to waste time on a complete shit head.

 

[Insanum]

When you're going into an interview, Dress smartly, Be confident. You're not going in for a test, your going in to say "Im awesome, and you want me" with your body language. If you "Umm and Ahh" through the interview, you'll lower your chances.

 

[Shoggoth2588]

You're 15 and have no experience in the work force. The odds of you getting a gamestop job are very slim. Just apply to every place you can think of. Don't discriminate against a place you don't like shopping at [though I guess there are certain exceptions like Victoria's Secret] The best thing you can do is start doing online applications RIGHT BLOODY NOW because it takes about a month to get any response whatsoever. I'm working at a Blockbuster: applied in early June, got an email about it 3 weeks later and, didn't get all of the interviews out of the way and get started working until late August/ early September

 

[8bitmaster]

I applied there along with about 5 other places about 2 weeks or more ago. I am 19 and still can't get a job. Lame.

 

[someotherguy]

Honey, I am twenty and folks won't give me a job. And you are fifteen and legally cannot operate in a business where "M" rated games are sold. Legally, you cannot touch them. Tough cookies kid. It is next to impossible to get a job as a teen. The unemplyment rate of teens is a whopping 85% in the US.

In otherwords, good luck.

Not legally allowed to touch? As far as I know, there are no laws against this, There was even a recent article on the escapist talking on this issue, which I believe claimed there where no such laws against. Next, if I recall, I had a friend who was aged 16 and worked at a gamestop, so i'm sure the games there have little to no factor of him working there. He won't be playing them, he'll simply be checking people out who provide enough money and proof of age.
Rant on M rated games over.

 

[Romblen]

A good rule to follow is to always dress one step above the position you're applying for. In this case, just wear something decent. It doesn't need to be formal, just nice. When I applied to my last job, I wore one of my nicer jeans and a plain white shirt. Don't wear jeans with holes in the, don't wear shirts with words on them, especially something crude.

Make a resume before you go, even if the employer doesn't require it. Worst case scenario, you can't remember a detail for your application and in front of the management. This would make a terrible first impression, which would probably eliminate any chance you had for getting the job. A resume will help you make a good first impression. Oh, and memorize your SSN, since you don't want to forget that, but you don't want to put it on a resume.

 

[Angerwing]

Don't lie about your age. Seriously. That will bite you in the ass, severely, and will never work.

 

[Lexodus]

[sub]FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, DON'T ASK ABOUT BATTLETOADS[/sub]

 

[Miumaru]

I already help people at Gamestop, now if only I was to do inventory and get paid for it...
I applied once but nothing came of it, but my gamestops (2 both walkable distance) seem to never change staff.