Getting a job

[Sun Flash]

Write a CV and go into shops and ask either "hey, do you have any job applications?" or "Could I hand my CV in here?" It'd be a good idea to do it asap, seeing as christmas is coming up, they'll be looking for extra staff.

I felt exactly like you, feeling weird just going in and asking. But my only advice is just push yourself to do it, slap a smile on your face and plough through and just ask. I feltv proud of myself afterwards because I dreaded having to ask.

If it helps, pick up something inexpensive and buy it, then ask about applications, that's what I did for applying in a GAME store, I preordered Fable at the same time. Multitask!

If you need help writing CVs, google is your friend and re: above, add everything you're good at, even videogames and playing online shows teamwork. Remember, you are AWESOME.

Also, some chain stores do applications online, so be sure to check out the websites.
That's what I've been doing (I'm 17 too), mainly to fund University. Now I'm just waiting for replies.

Good luck

 

[Jonluw]

Just make a CV and hand it in, ask them if they have any positions available, its nearly Christmas so you should be in luck.

Since it's nearly christmas, I suppose I might have better luck in a videogame store or something similiar than in a grocery store...

I do have a CV, I'm afraid it's shit though. I keep wondering whether I should include my basic Ju jitsu training and musical skills in it...

Incidentally, and completely unrelated: I am actually trying to watch Kurokami these days.

Yeah, include it. Shows you can follow instructions, work dilligently and can operate in a social environment, blah blah blah.

Worst case scenario work at a McDonalds or something, its not great but its something to put on your CV for work experience next time you go job searching.

And sorry to dissapoint, I actually came up with this name before I heard about the anime, I've no real idea what its about but I plan on watching it too sometime. =]

Yeah, I'm not really expecting anything better than a job at McD.

I see. So you just called yourself Black god without knowing about the anime. That must have been fun, finding out that you had an anime named after you. I will be on the lookout for anime called Jonluw

I think my main problem is that I don't know how to contact the staff to ask for the manager. In a grocery store, it is easy enough, just asking someone who is stocking the shelves, but in a record store or something, where all the employes are behind the counter, how do I do it? Do I just get in line, and ask for the manager when I get to the counter instead of buying anything, or do I go through some other procedure?

God, I feel like an idiot asking these questions...

 

[rabidmidget]

It's not that hard, simply walk in (preferably not at rush hour, holding up a queue doesn't make a good first impression), politely ask to speak to the manager and then when they come out, ask them if they have a job available and offer them your CV.

Go to enough places and eventually you'll find a vacancy.

 

[rabidmidget]

Just make a CV and hand it in, ask them if they have any positions available, its nearly Christmas so you should be in luck.

Since it's nearly christmas, I suppose I might have better luck in a videogame store or something similiar than in a grocery store...

I do have a CV, I'm afraid it's shit though. I keep wondering whether I should include my basic Ju jitsu training and musical skills in it...

Incidentally, and completely unrelated: I am actually trying to watch Kurokami these days.

Yeah, include it. Shows you can follow instructions, work dilligently and can operate in a social environment, blah blah blah.

Worst case scenario work at a McDonalds or something, its not great but its something to put on your CV for work experience next time you go job searching.

And sorry to dissapoint, I actually came up with this name before I heard about the anime, I've no real idea what its about but I plan on watching it too sometime. =]

Yeah, I'm not really expecting anything better than a job at McD.

I see. So you just called yourself Black god without knowing about the anime. That must have been fun, finding out that you had an anime named after you. I will be on the lookout for anime called Jonluw

I think my main problem is that I don't know how to contact the staff to ask for the manager. In a grocery store, it is easy enough, just asking someone who is stocking the shelves, but in a record store or something, where all the employes are behind the counter, how do I do it? Do I just get in line, and ask for the manager when I get to the counter instead of buying anything, or do I go through some other procedure?

God, I feel like an idiot asking these questions...

Yes, do exactly that, after waiting in line and asking the employee, just step aside, out of the line while you wait for the manager to come and try not to do it at rush hour, when they're really busy (example: lunchtime at a fast food resturant)

 

[Jonluw]

Write a CV and go into shops and ask either "hey, do you have any job applications?" or "Could I hand my CV in here?" It'd be a good idea to do it asap, seeing as christmas is coming up, they'll be looking for extra staff.

I felt exactly like you, feeling weird just going in and asking. But my only advice is just push yourself to do it, slap a smile on your face and plough through and just ask. I feltv proud of myself afterwards because I dreaded having to ask.


If you need help writing CVs, google is your friend and re: above, add everything you're good at, even videogames and playing online shows teamwork. Remember, you are AWESOME.

That's what I've been doing (I'm 17 too), mainly to fund University. Now I'm just waiting for replies.

Good luck

Should I really add "playing videogames"? I just deleted that part from my CV... It felt weird when my CV said I had experience with bow and arrow, videogames, and model-painting.

 

[Kurokami]

Just make a CV and hand it in, ask them if they have any positions available, its nearly Christmas so you should be in luck.

Since it's nearly christmas, I suppose I might have better luck in a videogame store or something similiar than in a grocery store...

I do have a CV, I'm afraid it's shit though. I keep wondering whether I should include my basic Ju jitsu training and musical skills in it...

Incidentally, and completely unrelated: I am actually trying to watch Kurokami these days.

Yeah, include it. Shows you can follow instructions, work dilligently and can operate in a social environment, blah blah blah.

Worst case scenario work at a McDonalds or something, its not great but its something to put on your CV for work experience next time you go job searching.

And sorry to dissapoint, I actually came up with this name before I heard about the anime, I've no real idea what its about but I plan on watching it too sometime. =]

Yeah, I'm not really expecting anything better than a job at McD.

I see. So you just called yourself Black god without knowing about the anime. That must have been fun, finding out that you had an anime named after you. I will be on the lookout for anime called Jonluw

I think my main problem is that I don't know how to contact the staff to ask for the manager. In a grocery store, it is easy enough, just asking someone who is stocking the shelves, but in a record store or something, where all the employes are behind the counter, how do I do it? Do I just get in line, and ask for the manager when I get to the counter instead of buying anything, or do I go through some other procedure?

God, I feel like an idiot asking these questions...

Its actually kinda refreshing, you seem to be the courteous type.

Anyway I don't know how busy the places you go to are, I'm generally able to just wait until they're waiting for more customers to come through, even if you can't however there's nothing wrong with asking the person at the counter, generally there are atleast two people working the counter in popular places so it won't hold traffic if that's what you're worried about.

If you're very worried about that though, its also possible in some cases to apply online.

And good luck finding that anime! =]

 

[The Salty Vulcan]

Yeah, I'm not really expecting anything better than a job at McD.

Hey there! Don't talk smack bout MiccyD's! Believe it or not but if you put down in a resume that you've worked at McDonald's, it goes a LONG way. In the workforce, McDonald employees are like the Roman Army. The job may be shitty but it would be worth it in the long run.

I think my main problem is that I don't know how to contact the staff to ask for the manager. In a grocery store, it is easy enough, just asking someone who is stocking the shelves, but in a record store or something, where all the employes are behind the counter, how do I do it? Do I just get in line, and ask for the manager when I get to the counter instead of buying anything, or do I go through some other procedure?

Pfft. Just ask any employee. Doesn't matter where you are in the end your gonna be asking the same question. Hell you could be in the goddamn Sahara and it wouldn't make a diffrence. Just relax and do what you gotta do.

God, I feel like an idiot asking these questions...

At one point everyone feels like an idiot. In the end your getting the answers you want so its no biggie.

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

Go to every damn store in your local shopping area. Ask for casual work. Done.

 

[natster43]

I actually got hired for my first job yesterday. I got it at one of the Gamestops in the mall in my town. Just go to a store ask people if their store is hiring and fill out an application.

 

[Jonluw]

Yeah, I'm not really expecting anything better than a job at McD.

Hey there! Don't talk smack bout MiccyD's! Believe it or not but if you put down in a resume that you've worked at McDonald's, it goes a LONG way. In the workforce, McDonald employees are like the Roman Army. The job may be shitty but it would be worth it in the long run.

I wasn't meaning to say anything bad about working at McD. What I meant was that I wasn't expecting any office work, or a job that pays a lot to the hour.

 

[SenseOfTumour]

Yeah, I used to smarten myself up, shirt n tie, and get out there with a ton of CVs and just ask around the stores I was interested in (when it comes down to it, no sense applying for a job you think you're going to hate), and then at the end of the day, go home and fill in the application forms I'd collected.

Don't ignore places like starbucks, McD's etc either, if you've got the enthusiasm, then you can get decent training, and so long as you stick a job out for a reasonable period, it will look good on a CV. Not many bosses would reject someone for starting their career at Burger King, they might for having big gaps in their employment history, or for not having any jobs before the age of 20 however.

I bloody hated approaching people and asking too, but in the end, the staff will usually be approachable, if they're any good at their job in the service industry.

In the end, it gets easier, and don't let a hundred rejections knock you down, back in the 80s I was unemployed for nearly a year, and I still have a 6 inch high stack of rejection letters in my wardrobe as a reminder not to give up.

 

[Jonluw]

Unless you have some special talent (music, computers) I would say just go to fast food places or convenience stores and say "Are you guys hiring?".

That simple..

I do play the bass and trombone... Maybe I should try my luck at the local music store as well.

 

[Jonluw]

Yeah, I used to smarten myself up, shirt n tie, and get out there with a ton of CVs and just ask around the stores I was interested in (when it comes down to it, no sense applying for a job you think you're going to hate), and then at the end of the day, go home and fill in the application forms I'd collected.

Don't ignore places like starbucks, McD's etc either, if you've got the enthusiasm, then you can get decent training, and so long as you stick a job out for a reasonable period, it will look good on a CV. Not many bosses would reject someone for starting their career at Burger King, they might for having big gaps in their employment history, or for not having any jobs before the age of 20 however.

I bloody hated approaching people and asking too, but in the end, the staff will usually be approachable, if they're any good at their job in the service industry.

In the end, it gets easier, and don't let a hundred rejections knock you down, back in the 80s I was unemployed for nearly a year, and I still have a 6 inch high stack of rejection letters in my wardrobe as a reminder not to give up.

Actually, dress code has been bothering me. I really don't know what to wear. Right now, I'm wearing a pair of jeans and a sweater that I think is rather nice. I don't think a shirt is an option, for two reasons: 1. The temperature is at somewhere between 0 and -5 Celsius at the moment; a shirt would be very cold (This also means that I'll be wearing a rather nice coat in any case). 2. No one really wears shirts around here, except for in the summer, when they're worn either because they're chilly, or because they're cool (See what I did there?).

 

[The Salty Vulcan]

Yeah, I used to smarten myself up, shirt n tie, and get out there with a ton of CVs and just ask around the stores I was interested in (when it comes down to it, no sense applying for a job you think you're going to hate), and then at the end of the day, go home and fill in the application forms I'd collected.

Don't ignore places like starbucks, McD's etc either, if you've got the enthusiasm, then you can get decent training, and so long as you stick a job out for a reasonable period, it will look good on a CV. Not many bosses would reject someone for starting their career at Burger King, they might for having big gaps in their employment history, or for not having any jobs before the age of 20 however.

I bloody hated approaching people and asking too, but in the end, the staff will usually be approachable, if they're any good at their job in the service industry.

In the end, it gets easier, and don't let a hundred rejections knock you down, back in the 80s I was unemployed for nearly a year, and I still have a 6 inch high stack of rejection letters in my wardrobe as a reminder not to give up.

Actually, dress code has been bothering me. I really don't know what to wear. Right now, I'm wearing a pair of jeans and a sweater that I think is rather nice. I don't think a shirt is an option, for two reasons: 1. The temperature is at somewhere between 0 and -5 Celsius at the moment; a shirt would be very cold (This also means that I'll be wearing a rather nice coat in any case). 2. No one really wears shirts around here, except for in the summer, when they're worn either because they're chilly, or because they're cool (See what I did there?).

Ok, style. No jeans. Get some nice slacks. Also, if its too cold go for a shirt and sweater combo with a nice jacket. Bring a folder with you that holds your resume. It makes you look more professional.

 

[xmbts]

Hiya escapists.
but I feel sort of weird just going in, asking for a job, when the store does not advertise any open positions. Is this how people normally get part-time jobs?

Plenty of people just walk into stores and ask if any jobs are available and if they get a yes then they usually apply online.

But I'm not sure if places do it differently where you live, but people ask employees about work all the time if it makes you feel better.

 

[Dragunai]

Hiya escapists.
[sub]I figured you might be able to help me out here[/sub]

Here's the thing: I'm seventeen years old. My mom is telling me I really need to go get a part-time job, and quite frankly, I agree; I should have gotten one a long time ago. Trouble is, I have no idea how you do this. My mom says to just go to a few random stores and ask if they need some part-time help; but I feel sort of weird just going in, asking for a job, when the store does not advertise any open positions. Is this how people normally get part-time jobs? Any help is appreciated.

So basically: Have you had/do you have a part time job? If so, how did you apply for it?

Step 1: walk into store
Step 2: "Do you have any vacancies?"
Step 3: ???
Step 4: profit

If they say no reply with, ok thanks anyway.
If they say yes cry out with joy and run through the streets naked.

Failing that take your CV to them.

 

[Jonluw]

Yeah, I used to smarten myself up, shirt n tie, and get out there with a ton of CVs and just ask around the stores I was interested in (when it comes down to it, no sense applying for a job you think you're going to hate), and then at the end of the day, go home and fill in the application forms I'd collected.

Don't ignore places like starbucks, McD's etc either, if you've got the enthusiasm, then you can get decent training, and so long as you stick a job out for a reasonable period, it will look good on a CV. Not many bosses would reject someone for starting their career at Burger King, they might for having big gaps in their employment history, or for not having any jobs before the age of 20 however.

I bloody hated approaching people and asking too, but in the end, the staff will usually be approachable, if they're any good at their job in the service industry.

In the end, it gets easier, and don't let a hundred rejections knock you down, back in the 80s I was unemployed for nearly a year, and I still have a 6 inch high stack of rejection letters in my wardrobe as a reminder not to give up.

Actually, dress code has been bothering me. I really don't know what to wear. Right now, I'm wearing a pair of jeans and a sweater that I think is rather nice. I don't think a shirt is an option, for two reasons: 1. The temperature is at somewhere between 0 and -5 Celsius at the moment; a shirt would be very cold (This also means that I'll be wearing a rather nice coat in any case). 2. No one really wears shirts around here, except for in the summer, when they're worn either because they're chilly, or because they're cool (See what I did there?).

Ok, style. No jeans. Get some nice slacks. Also, if its too cold go for a shirt and sweater combo with a nice jacket. Bring a folder with you that holds your resume. It makes you look more professional.

I think I have an okay pair of black linen slacks. But don't think it would look sort of silly applying for a job in a grocery store wearing

Spoiler: A coat like this

With black slacks, a shirt, and my father's leather folder. I might as well put on a fedora, just to complete the image...

They would take me for a 40-year old. (I am often mistaken for being over 20 when I wear my normal clothes)

 

[RIOgreatescapist]

My parents are forcing me through university before i get a job. They believe that it's for the best and I'm not complaining either.

 

[Beartrucci]

I'm currently working at my first job. I didn't know if they wanted people or not and you had to apply online so I did, filled out the online questions and what not, attached my resume before sending it off and sat there twiddling my thumbs. After about three weeks I was just about to give up hope then apply again because I'm a stubborn ****, but they called me in for an interview.

A good tip for part time jobs is to not put down that you play for lots of sports and stuff if you do, no matter how active it makes you look. It just means that you won't be available to them during the week, and they would rather the kid they can rely on whenever they roster him on or call him up to fill in someone's shift.

 

[adderseal]

I was a postman over the summer before heading off to uni, just applied through the Royal Mail website. For national companies it'll be all online and automated, but for small businesses and shops you have to go in and ask.
The bottom line is that jobs don't fall into your lap, you have to get out there and ask around, do research, check out websites, that sort of stuff.