Question of the day: What have you done to cut back on spending or to save money lately? (if anything)
The recession is tough. I've been through hell trying to get financial aid before I enter community college on the 23rd. I have a car that my mother purchased for me but it has problems I need to attend. And if you guys remember, I posted a thread a while back about my mission to get a job. well i still haven't found one, so I just wanted to know if you guys have heard about any places that might be hiring? It would really mean a lot to me
P.s. Being out of high school but still 17 years old until November sucks, too.
I hope I don't come off as a curmudgeonly old man (I am only 34 anyway) but here is THE guaranteed way to get a job. It's always worked for me, in any place/time/economy. And it won't matter that you're only 17. I've worked in restaurants, construction, offices, stores, etc. And I've run my own business. I know what employers are looking for, especially at entry level positions that you'd be applying for.
BY FAR the number one trait that employers need is reliability. That's it. Really. They know people can learn just about anything. But they don't want to bother with a new hire, train them, etc. only to see them leave two months later, or begin to show up late. You would be shocked at how often this happens. So. Here's what you need to do:
1. DRESS UP NICE
2. Walk around on the street with a resume (one page is fine).
3. Walk into every store/restaurant/company and ask to speak to the manager, tell them you are looking for work, very interested, can start immediately, want an application, etc.
4. Repeat until you have a job, which you will in less than two weeks if you do this.
5. Oh, and KEEP GOING BACK to a place after you've turned in your application/resume. Just keep showing up, until they either tell you to leave/not show your face around here, or they give you a job. Seriously. Just keep popping in to say "Hi. How's business? I still want to work here. Any openings yet? Need any help in the dishroom?" Just show your enthusiasm and commitment (which you obviously have) till they snatch you up. It also shows that you know the route to the job location and are able to get yourself there, repeatedly. (Believe it or not this has a big underlying psychological impact).
Going in person is much better. Don't just fire off resumes on email to companies that are saying they are hiring. Go to every store/restaurant in person, show your face, smile, be nice and DRESS VERY NICE. Comb your hair, take a shower, look straight and clean cut.
I currently work as the manager of a retail store, and you would be shocked at the amount of bozos who wander in here in an open chested flannel shirt with bed head asking for a job. It's like "are you serious, this is how you go looking for a job?"
Oh and if you end up with the lowliest of all jobs, dishwasher. TAKE PRIDE in your work! You will be loved by the staff, and you will likely quickly move up to prep cook.
And it doesn't matter if you take the bus. Usually the bus system is more reliable than a personal car anyway. I take the bus.
Good luck buddy. I can tell you'll get one soon. Good job for putting it out there on this board and asking for help. You'll get a job. Just dress up, take a stack of one page resumes with you--it doesn't even matter if you've never had a job before--put down you helped your uncle build a fence for two weeks one summer, put down that you're about to finish high school and go to college (these days community college is just as good as regular college--smart way to go), put down your one high school teacher who likes you, etc. It's much more the effort, token, and symbol of it: it shows you want the job. Employers at those types of jobs really only care about those things: how much you want it, and how reliable you will be. You're gonna knock em dead.
