So I have applied to several places that have an online application process, and I wonder what my next step is. I know I can call them and inquire about my application status, but what about going in person and dropping off a resume with a cover letter? Would something like Best Buy or Circuit City even take them since they do their application stuff online?
And If I was to do so today (Friday), is it better or worse than doing it on Monday? I would assume the HR people might not get to it today, and it won’t be fresh in their mind come Monday. Should I plan on dropping it off on Monday or is Friday just as good?
People tell me to call after you apply, but what is the best time to do so without seeming obnoxious? One day, three days? A week and then every couple days afterwards?
I am not an HR professional - I have however been a manager and appied successfully to lots of jobs, so here is my 0.02. Someone may come along shortly to correct me -
It is always better to apply in person, first thing in the morning-ish (when yo are looking for a job, that is your job). Dress very well and come alone. Bring a few copies of your resume and address one cover letter per place (no generic ones). Ask for the manager by name (which you will have gotten by calling on another day). On the cover letter explain you will be calling on Wednesday, or Thursday (usually about three days later) to see if they have any questions. Then I would call about once a week. Be extremely courteous to the front desk/cashier person. Many managers will ask how you were before they arrived.
As for day of the week - I would think Monday would be the worst, most managers are busy dealing with the weekend stuff.
I am an HR person, although I don’t have experience with big box retail. I suspect Friday is not a good day to stop by. That’s a common day for payroll, which may be combined with HR in that type of business. Also, that is when the business is gearing up for the weekend rush of shoppers. Monday might not be a bad day, but Tuesday is probably better. Weekends, which it doesn’t sound like you are considering, would be bad. Lots of customers and salespeople working, but HR is probably not working, and if they are they are probably not happy about it.
Are you applying at stores where you don’t know anyone who works there? If you do know anyone who works at one of your local stores, it would work in your favor have them ask what a friend should expect when applying. Individual store management probably has its own preferences.
As far as dropping by, I don’t know if it will help you or not. The reason businesses adopt those online formats is so the stores can be focused on customers, not applicants. If you do decide to drop by, have copies of your resume and cover letter, but don’t be surprised if no one wants to take them. From an HR perspective it’s not helpful to have random pieces of paper from some applicants but not others. And from management and staff’s perspective, probably even less helpful.
Thanks for the tips so far. Any additional ones are always welcome. I work as a student computer tech at my university HR (only about 15 hrs a week, way too few), and I know we don’t take paper resumes and if somebody tried to turn one in, we would have to decline. Our format doesn’t allow it, unless you count throwing it away. So I definitely understand if they don’t take em.
I didn’t figure HR would be open on the weekends, and I am going out of town later today at any rate. A lady at my HR said to try dropping off a resume. UPS does the online thing, but her son got a job there by taking a nicely typed up resume and cover letter to the HR. They were so impressed, according to her, that they hired him on the spot. I figured it can’t hurt to type up 5-10 personalized resumes and apply in person (dressed up of course - though I don’t own a suit, a button up shirt and tie with khakis should be good, right?).
I don’t know anybody working (though myskepticsight (sp?) works at Circuit City here in Columbia (don’t know her personally though), and I had a classmate last semester that works at Best Buy (he doesn’t return his emails, so I don’t know managers name). I will call them today and get their names.
I should mention that this is a part-time job, so I don’t know if that has any effect on how I should structure these resumes. I didn’t put anything about contacting them, so thats a good idea.
I worked for Best Buy for a number of (too many) years. The toughest obstacle your going to face right now is this is a bad time of year to get hired by them. They just finished their Christmas season, had to get rid of a lot of temps, had a lot of temps beg to be kept on as part-time, and are working on a limited scheduling budget. Which means their current sales staff is getting 32 hours if their full-time, and 8-16 hours if their part time. Their not looking to hire, their looking to reduce staff. And their current staff is entrenched, nobody graduating, nobody leaving for school, nobody coming back from school.
Not to say openings don’t exsist. They’re just hard to come by.
The best thing is to go into the store and ask to talk to the Sales Manager or the Computer Department Supervisor and ask them directly if they are looking for bodies. If they aren’t then you know not to waste your time. If they are tell them your name, that you will immediately apply on-line, and you will check back with them in a couple days to make sure they received your app on-line. When they have a spot to fill they want it filled now and with as little hassle as possible. The easier you make it on them to get you hired the easier you will get in.
Oh, and if they have an opening in a different department take it. It’s very easy for them to move you to another department at a later time. In fact it’s easier on them. Computer Supervisor Bob would much rather grab an eager already hired car-fi sales person than going through the hassle of hiring someone from the outside.
One of my best employees ever was hired just to stop her annoying visits to check on how the hiring process was going. We had an opening and were interviewing. She interviewed, but we were “looking for better”. But every couple days she would stop and ask the receptionist how things were going. After her 4th or 5th visit, we hired her as it seemed the easiest thing to do.