Job Application

[blue17]

Okay so I applied at 3 places locally. First one about a month ago, next one about 3 weeks ago, and the other one 2 weeks ago. I haven't received a call from any of the places....to my surprise. It's the winter holidays so I thought atleast one of the companies would be interested.

The last place I applied to said they were 'hiring on a continual basis' when I dropped off my application...so I expected a call. Two weeks later (today) i haven't been called at all, so I am a little disappointed.

My mom suggested I go over to the store and of ask whether they are still hiring, show my face to the clerk.....that kinda thing. Give them the impression that I am looking, committed, and available.

I don't really know much about job hiring procedure and everything, so I'm wondering if I should bother doing this. Is it a waste of time to ask about whether they are still hiring even though I submitted my application weeks ago? Or might they actually TAKE NOTICE that i went over there and perhaps keep me in mind when they need more workers? Thanks in advance.


P.S. - These are just minimum wage jobs, so it's not like they're looking for anyone with a degree or anything.

 

[stickboy]

you're going to have to apply at a lot more then 3 places. Print up 30-50 resumes and drop them off all over town and you should get a couple calls.

 

[Abbott]

Originally posted by blue17
The last place I applied to said they were 'hiring on a continual basis' when I dropped off my application...so I expected a call. Two weeks later (today) i haven't been called at all, so I am a little disappointed.

My mom suggested I go over to the store and of ask whether they are still hiring, show my face to the clerk.....that kinda thing. Give them the impression that I am looking, committed, and available.

First of all, you said that these are low-wage jobs, so the turn-over is probably very high. I think that any place that say that they are "always hiring," just say that so you would turn in your application regardless of whether or not they are really hiring at all. Why would they want that? Because that way, they can more easiliy undercut the job security of the current workers, making them easier to replace because of having a bunch of applications on file.

I know that sounds cynical, but I believe it's true because:

A) very few companies stay in a situation where they actually keep hiring and hiring for a significant period of time, and that can only happen in a time of explosive growth, which cannot carry on forever.

B) I used to work at a place where you weren't supposed to tell people whether or not we were hiring or not. I always broke that rule, telling the truth when people asked me.

About the "showing you face" thing:

Unless you actually talk to the manager, and assuming that he isn't turned off by you, it probably won't make much difference, especially in a larger store. In a small store, if you're a regular, you might be able to ask a clerk there because then the clerk might say to the manager "hey blue17 was in here again seeing if there was a job." In a large store where managers are busy, very few people will know who the regulars are or even notice if the regulars quit going, and the managers don't even talk to customers most of the time. So in larger stores, the clerk probably won't even mention you to the manager, since A) they often won't know if you're a regular or not, and B) it won't be likely that the clerk and the manager will both know you, the clerk will know the manager knows you, and vice versa.

BTW...how old are you?

I get the feeling that you're in high school since you've obviously talked to your mother and you're applying for these crap jobs.

If you're in high school, no point in working these crap jobs unless you really are dirt poor, because many of these will probably just make you depressed and jealous (like working Friday evening when others are out, or waking early on Saturday when everyone else sleeps in).

Just my $.02,

Ben

P.S. Stay away from Wal-Mart (just trust me) and fast-food joints. Those are positively evil. Retail pays crap too, but it's less gross than fast-food. Get a commision based job if you can, those should pay better (unless you're very bad at the job).

 

[blue17]

I'm first year college (commuting to school), and I have a lot of free time over winter vacation so I'd like to get some work in. I could use some money, but I think the main reason is I would rather be out doing something/meeting people instead of sitting at home the entire winter break.

My mom keeps nagging me to get a job, and she wants me to do desperate/stupid sh!t, but I told her it's pointless they aren't gonna care whether I show my face there or not. I just wanted to get a second opinion to make sure i wasn't wrong on this one.

The information about places saying they're hiring is really valuable. I figured since they said 'they are hiring on a continuous basis' meant i was a shoe in...but apparently not. The local Purdy's Chocolates had an ad in the paper that they were hiring. I actually wouldn't mind working there. Job seems easy....you're around girl co-workers a lot...sounds like it'd be fun. The only thing I'm worried about is they don't have any guy workers in there....so even if I was accepted, it might not seem 'manly' having a job there. Maybe I am too worried about what people think, but you guys get my point right? What would you think of a guy who worked at Purdy's?

 

[GlutusMaximus86]

Going to see the store and asking about the progress of your application is not a bad idea, at least in my situation. I applied to Kmart and hadn't heard from them in a week, so I go over there, walk up to customer service and told them I had turned in an application recently and was wondering what the progress of it was. They got the personel manager and a week later I had a job at Kmart. So it can help to show that you truly are interested in the job.

 

[OzyBoy]

I applied for a job the other day although only a temporary job, and i thought i stood no chance, i got it, i'm going to be earning over a thousand bucks next week and its not even hard work. Not to bad for someone that has just finished studying. **** all the minimum wage jobs i'm not setling for less than 20 bucks per hour.

 

[Abbott]

Originally posted by blue17
My mom keeps nagging me to get a job, and she wants me to do desperate/stupid sh!t, but I told her it's pointless they aren't gonna care whether I show my face there or not. I just wanted to get a second opinion to make sure i wasn't wrong on this one.

Why is she nagging you? Is she poor or does she think you're lazy? I hope it isn't because she wants to get rid of you (sadly, some parents want to do that).

Also, it's not totally pointless to go there every now and then. But if you do, you should talk to the person in charge of hiring (general managers at smaller stores, or HR managers at larger stores). Otherwise it would be pretty pointless.

Originally posted by blue17
The information about places saying they're hiring is really valuable. I figured since they said 'they are hiring on a continuous basis' meant i was a shoe in...but apparently not. The local Purdy's Chocolates had an ad in the paper that they were hiring. I actually wouldn't mind working there. Job seems easy....you're around girl co-workers a lot...sounds like it'd be fun. The only thing I'm worried about is they don't have any guy workers in there....so even if I was accepted, it might not seem 'manly' having a job there. Maybe I am too worried about what people think, but you guys get my point right? What would you think of a guy who worked at Purdy's?

I've never heard of Purdy's Chocolates, but from the name I would imagine that it's a specialty chocolate store. If I went to such a store and only saw one man there, I probably wouldn't think much of it, if any.

The only stores that, to me, seem particularly female oriented would be cosmetic type places (salons - hair, nails, waxing, etc., cosmetics departments in dept. stores) and women's only clothing stores (Lane Bryant, Vanity, Victoria's Secret, etc.). In those places some people may think it's a little odd if a man worked there, but I don't really think it'd be a big deal.

Ben

 

[Soma]

My mom suggested I go over to the store and of ask whether they are still hiring, show my face to the clerk.....that kinda thing. Give them the impression that I am looking, committed, and available.

Yes, do this. Your mom knows her shiet. On top of that, everytime you go there, dress proper, have your hair combed, give a GOOD impression EVERY time you go there.

Make a follow up call each week and ask to speak to the manager. Tell them who you are and that you went in, submitted your application, and you're following up to make sure it was received. Doesn't really matter what he says right then. What matters is that you're making yourself memorable out of the people who have already applied. Plus it shows you have initiative. Go the extra mile, it pays off. I once heard..."There is ALWAYS a market for the best of anything." How true that is.

Oh, when I was 16 I remember workin and one day this girl came in and asked for the manager. He wasn't there so she handed me a plain envelope with the managers name on it and asked me to give to him. i did. it was her application. I remember the manager being very surprised and wowed. He called her up, interviewed her, and hired her immediately even though there was a stack of applications already on his desk.

 

[blue17]

Originally posted by Abbott
Why is she nagging you? Is she poor or does she think you're lazy? I hope it isn't because she wants to get rid of you (sadly, some parents want to do that).Ben

She's nagging me because she wants me to do something constructive besides spending time on the computer. Now that school is over...and my soccer team is on break, I don't really have anything worthwhile doing :/ I don't know if I can stand 2 weeks off doing nothing...i really need to do something with my life.

Originally posted by Abbott

I've never heard of Purdy's Chocolates, but from the name I would imagine that it's a specialty chocolate store. If I went to such a store and only saw one man there, I probably wouldn't think much of it, if any.

The only stores that, to me, seem particularly female oriented would be cosmetic type places (salons - hair, nails, waxing, etc., cosmetics departments in dept. stores) and women's only clothing stores (Lane Bryant, Vanity, Victoria's Secret, etc.). In those places some people may think it's a little odd if a man worked there, but I don't really think it'd be a big deal.

Ben

Ya...now that I think about it, if I saw a guy working there I prolly wouldn't even notice it or give a damn. It's only when you actually actively think about it is when you might notice....but then again who cares. I guess i don't want to be teased by my friends, but big deal.

If i go to the other place which I applied....and ask to speak with the manager, what should i say? I just need an opening line or idea to get the ball rolling then i should be ok. Thx for all the replies.