Finding a job.

[Joshlespaul1952]

I'm in college, and I find I have a lot more free time than I expected to have... ergo, I've been trying to get a job, you know, like CVS, Target, et cetera. No go. I apply and I never hear back from them. All around me, my friends seem to be getting jobs. I'm applying online, and I feel like that may be one reason: my application just gets lost in the system... is there anything I can do to achieve better results? Thanks.

- Josh

[jrjones]

Go somewhere that doesn't have 10 million people applying. I worked at a local feed store when I was going to college. Great job, great (flexible) hours, and honest hardworking people to work for who understand the value of a dollar.

[Jesus freak]

If you have a car and dont mind putting miles on it, Pizza delivery can be a pretty Good gig. Sometimes I make 45-70$ (in 6 hours) on top of my hourly wadge. YMMV no pun intended!

[Ed Reed]

Just to mention a few pointers. I own a business and I have people asking for jobs all the time. Here's things I hear that make me not interested at all.

1) The guy calls in the afternoon. (Work starts in the morning)
2) Guy asks "you need any help?", this is his entire conversation. (It would be nice to at least know the guys name)
3) Guy asks "what do you pay?". (Pay is based on performance not given on demand, you want better pay prove you are worth it)

I recently had a female call and ask if I was hiring, at first I was impressed thinking this is a single mom looking to support her child(ern). Wrong, she finished by saying "I'm trying to find a job for my boyfriend. She never told me her or his name. Oh yeah, it was in the afternoon.

So if you'd like a job. Show up in person, in the morning. Tell them your name. If they don't have any work for you and you really want to work there, try showing up again several times, in the morning, in person. Don't call.

[mattball826]

Originally Posted by Ed Reed

Just to mention a few pointers. I own a business and I have people asking for jobs all the time. Here's things I hear that make me not interested at all.

1) The guy calls in the afternoon. (Work starts in the morning)
2) Guy asks "you need any help?", this is his entire conversation. (It would be nice to at least know the guys name)
3) Guy asks "what do you pay?". (Pay is based on performance not given on demand, you want better pay prove you are worth it)

I recently had a female call and ask if I was hiring, at first I was impressed thinking this is a single mom looking to support her child(ern). Wrong, she finished by saying "I'm trying to find a job for my boyfriend. She never told me her or his name. Oh yeah, it was in the afternoon.

So if you'd like a job. Show up in person, in the morning. Tell them your name. If they don't have any work for you and you really want to work there, try showing up again several times, in the morning, in person. Don't call.

great advice for independent employer.

op has suffered what others do. you go in store of retail chain and they tell you to apply online. not many places left that do things the way they used to.

[pak1351]

look outside retail. I worked at fed-ex freight while in school. Seemed like they were always hiring new folks and paid about double what you'd make at Target, Lowe's, etc.

[DGTCrazy]

Call some HR reps at the various places you'd like to work and ask for an Informational Interview.

Treat your job search like a job. In other words, work a full day at finding a job. My college has an Alumni Association that has networking for jobs. check to see what your college has available.

Have a resume together, proof read, and memorized.

And while you may be "stuck" applying for some jobs On-line, ask for an appointment to see the manager. Ask for just 2 minutes. Dress great, show up 10 minutes early, and when you finally get to talk, look him/her in the eye, shake their hand, and tell them;

"I just wanted the opportunity to meet you, and to let you know I applied on-line. I'm the kind of person who, if hired, will help solve your problems because I show up on time, I work hard, and am willing to do what ever it takes to be successful. I ready to start today, and I look forward to hearing back from the company".

[axelicker]

Originally Posted by mattball826

great advice for independent employer.

op has suffered what others do. you go in store of retail chain and they tell you to apply online. not many places left that do things the way they used to.

True indeed!!! Unless it's a small independent business, and then they won't hire you because they already have friends and family asking for jobs.

[Joshlespaul1952]

Thanks so much, everyone! The problem I have is I live in a very small town, so options are limited. I'll start looking in the next town over. Thanks again!

[mannish]

my son goes to college for physical therapist asst & works part time at STARBUCKS. They treat him real good but he is a Marine and right or wrong those that served sometimes get preferential treatment.....Anyway I have had a few young & old musician friends work PT for Starbucks. So maybe they got something for you

[Mike9]

You live in a very small town - that means most people know each other. Community networking is no joke. Be honest - what skills do you have? My advice is to get a job attached to a trade. In the future the demand for plumbers, electricians and good carpenters will be even higher as fewer young people want to learn to do any of that.

[Stringbender11]

I wanted to add that talking to a manager in person is much better than leaving an application, IMO. The problem is many businesses (retail especially) get apps/phone calls all the time, but apps are just a piece of paper. So they cant put a face/personality to it. Often applications just gets tossed or put somewhere and forgotten.
If I were interested in applying at Target for instance, I would still ask to see one of the managers. And hopefully have just a minute to tell him/her about myself and why I would like to work there, rather than asking things like 'you guys hiring?' to some random employee. Oh and if you get an interview, SHOW UP ON TIME. I'm always amazed by people that blow off interviews or show up 30 minutes late.

The posts above by the small business owner and several other people are right on the money too, IMO. Good luck to you.

[mattball826]

bigger cities also have job days (job drive) or whatever is called. they host the job days at a hotel with many employers and recruiters. this is how my son found his job with costco.

today most new graduates are facing retail or food service unless they have a trade. companies are slimming work forces or hiring most lateral positions from other already employed persons wanting to hop the fence.

its not easy to walk in and talk to a manager either. they also refer you to the website application process.

[Tony]

Originally Posted by Ed Reed

Show up in person, in the morning. Tell them your name. If they don't have any work for you and you really want to work there, try showing up again several times, in the morning, in person. Don't call.

Bingo. I started my career in 1993, and have never once gotten a job where I didn't 1) apply in person, or 2) know someone on the inside already.

As previously stated by others... you may have more luck if you get away from the chains. They tend to have well-defined HR processes, which is what forces the local managers to send you to the websites to apply.

That said, however - when that local manager sends you to the website, there's no reason why you can't leave a resume and a great first impression. You might turn that local manager into the insider you need to get through the HR maze.

[Joshlespaul1952]

Thanks, everyone. To be honest, tomorrow morning I'm just going to head downtown and walk store to store. I need a job badly, and pride is no longer something I can afford to have.