I don’t think I’ll stop being a customer service monkey until I finish university, but right now I’m rather desperate to break away from food service. I’d rather be a retail monkey than cater to impatient hungry people. I know retail isn’t all rainbows and kittens, but I am very convinced it can’t be worse than food service.
The problem is, I’ve only ever had one job, and I only got the job because my boss tends to hire anyone who shows up. I really think I just lucked out there. I want to leave not only because it’s food service, but because it’s a real inconvience. No busses run by, so I have to bike during the summer and have to borrow my mother’s car in the winter. (I pay her back for gas, of course). Besides that, I’m only getting paid seventy-five cents above minimum wage. I plan to move out next year, so that’s not cutting it financially, especially since I’ve had more than a year’s experience.
I didn’t do the job search thing very extensively last time, so I’m asking for tips from more experienced 'Dopers. I know most retail places have applications I have to fill out, should I always ask for that instead of opting to “leave a resume”? I’ve been told to catch the people “off guard”… does it really matter that they know my intention is to find a job? And currently, I have hot pink hair. Although it’s begun to fade to red, and it’s really more streaks than a full head of pink, will that REALLY put me in a disadvantage?
I’ve actually submitted my application and resume to a novelty shop at the mall close to home. They have a sign out that they’re hiring, and it would be my dream job (at least until I graduate) to work there. I simply just LOVE the place. But unfortunately, I think I might have made a bad impression . When I went in today, I asked who I could submit my application to, and the guy I spoke to said “That would be me”. I handed it to him and he looked at me, his body language was sort of saying “We’re finished now” so I turned to leave, but then as I was turning, he flipped the application over to look at my resume, and I was standing awkwardly so I turned all the way around and left. Was that rude and horrible? And later today, I had to go to on campus to run some errands so I turned my cell phone to silent. I missed a call, and the number was “Private” with no voice message. Do you think that could be them and I missed the chance and they won’t call again?! I know, thin possiblity, but I’m really hoping not. That is the one place where I think my pink hair would put me at an advantage than a disadvantage.
Any words of wisdom to help me get going on this?