Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Muz]

From what I've seen, most jobs come from contacts. I've got jobs I didn't want from friends and family when they could've hired better people

Also, from experience, the cover letter matters more than the resume. If you're searching at popular online job ad companies, they get like 2000 applicants. I put in 3 days of effort into a cover letter for a multi-billion dollar company for a position I didn't qualify and got a phone interview the very next day. On the other hand, I tossed in a sloppy email to a position I'm overqualified for in response to an email, and they didn't contact me back.

They only read your resume if they like your cover letter. And they only call you in for an interview after reading your resume. So both of those have to be convincing.

[Tylui]

Find a job you really want, and if they ARE hiring, go back every 3-4 days. If you feel like they're being pestered wait for a few extra days then go in again. From what I've seen employers will do the following:

1-4 visits: who the crap is this kid?
5-6 visits: resume is shitty...
7-8 visits: srsly again wtf this kid sucks ass why the fuck can't he leave me alone jesus christ fuck this
9-10 visits: wow, he's really dedicated. HIRE HIM!

[nenjin]

On the flip side of that...

With the economy so bad, some employers are getting down right hostile toward tenacious applicants. At least I've heard stories of employers getting more and more rude about the process, because they're getting so many applicants. So at least judge the reaction you're getting before you decide you're going to bug them until they hire you. When they're REALLY not hiring, tenacious applicants can come across as desperate, possibly cracked jobless people. Not only will you not get a job, you may get security called on you.

[Tylui]

Personally, when I check in I NEVER mention how badly I need a job. I usually keep it short and simple, and only if they are not busy like at all.

"Hey/Hi there/Hello- my name is <insert your name here>, and I was just checking in on my application. I'm really eager to start working here and I think I'd be a good fit." etc. w/ nice sincere smile.

Never say anything negative "I need this job" "I'm starving" "You're dumb if you don't hire me".

Also, you might try alternating calling and stopping in every few days. Breaks up the monotony/perception-of-desperation...

[Muz]

Don't sound desperate. Just point out clearly that you're willing to do the job and how you qualify for it. You have to stand out, but not in a negative way.

Also, on note of being persistent and annoying, it works. My dad has made had quite a few contracts handed to him because of it, but he has the charisma to defend why he's being so annoying too and a very good resume.

[Siquo]

I find it annoying that being annoying actually gets you anywhere in this world.

What I find more annoying is that "getting somewhere" is a good reason to be annoying, for a lot of people. Which, FYI, it isn't.

[ChairmanPoo]

it's not being annoying. It's being persistent

[Siquo]

Persistent people are usually annoying, although there's a fine line between the two.

The problem is that anyone who hires you, has obviously "gotten somewhere", or he wouldn't be hiring. The fact that he "got somewhere" is probably because he was annoying. So annoying people like annoying people and keep hiring and promoting annoying people, creating an annoying world.

But that's just my annoyance.

[Hyndis]

QFT!

[Nilocy]

Lowering expectations is generally one of the best things to do.

Worked for me.

[jmancube]

I agree with Nilocy. I ended up working as a custodian for a local school for the summer. It sucked, but money is nice

And if you end up getting a crappy job, it allows you to put that on an application for a better potential job.

[teloft]

The jobs I have been most satisfied with are the jobs I take part in creating.

for example my last summer job, I was building this database.  First I maid some new freinds, then thay told me about this company that had a problem.  I went and talked to the person at the company that cared for this problem, my new friends told me how to contact this person.  I had ability to solve there problem, so this person that cared about it was intrested in me.  In a timeframe of 5 months he was able to finance a deal where I was to do this job. But becouse of formalities, he had to make an ad in the paper and have applications, all I needed was to apply for the job in the ad then I would get hierd (but there was a bossibility that somone else with better qualification would also apply, then I would not have goten the job)

Now Im back at school, and there is a new problem at this company, and thay are eager to get me back.

I told them I would talk to them when I would finis my schooling.

[Renault]

In my case, try and turn in an application to the Shoe Department at Macy's, and then they'll ask you if you'd rather work in Loss Prevention on account of being small and inconspicuous. It's actually a pretty easy job, aside from the occasional runner who you sort of have to try to not get flattened by.

[forsaken1111]

A lot of stores hire additional help around the holidays. My first job was as a floor sales associate for EB Games. As soul-crushing as it was, it was a paycheck and opened some doors.

[Eagleon]

Just went for a group interview at a tiny little pet store. Figured I'd be talking to the manager for fifteen minutes, then off to the next person, then they'd call back the people they liked best.

Nope.

It was a massacre. They had a -party mixer- for demonstrating sales ability. I was bewildered. I kept thinking to myself, "This is one of the reasons I hated college. I have subsequently left said college. Why am I still there?" Everyone there had sales experience, was perky-blondish super-friendly (even the guys :<), and was in direct competition with me. I tend to make a great impression face to face. I have a good sense of humor, am fairly casual in the face of stress, and enjoy talking with new people. I'm -great- with animals, having owned them/bred them all my life. My left eye and corner of my mouth was twitching when I came out of there.

Wat.

Any general advice for these situations? This isn't my thread but I figure it might help the OP too if he gets in a similar fix.