So I'm biting the bullet and applying for retail jobs...advice please!

In My Humble Opinion
21

[QUOTE=Tracy Lord]

  1. It’s acceptable to apply for multiple jobs at the same time, right?

  2. And say at the interview, “hey, I’m applying at a few other places, so I’ll get back to you within a week”?

  3. Would it be better to put my GPA on my resume, or leave it off? It’s a 3.4, which is respectable but not outstanding, and I feel like putting it on gives a slightly unprofessional vibe. But it’s not like I’m dancing around my being a college student either. If you were hiring for middle-to-upscale shops in a small tourist town, what would you think?
    [/QUOTE]

  4. Accectable and anticipated.

  5. Probably not for retail, they’ll want to hire quickly. Maybe a few hours, not a week. When I worked retail, we generally had someone starting within days of hiring them - if we had to sit around a week waiting for an answer, we’d pick the next candidate. You may be able to get by with stalling for a day or so. With a professional career job, certainly. Everyone expect you to think carefully over “do I want to make a committment here.”

  6. No GPA, not pertenent to retail.

You live in a small town. All these shopowners and managers know each other. You don’t have an obligation to them, you do have an obligaton to yourself not to earn the reputation as “fickle.” When I managed retail (a gazillion years ago) I’d go to the mall meetings, and I lived in a big city and worked in a big mall, and the managers would all gossip about staff that “bounced around.”

 "Did you hear that they hired that Kari girl over at Musicland?  You know, that girl that didn't show up for her opening shift down at the Gap."  
 "Gawd! I can't believe anyone would hire her after that, didn't the mall, like, fine them for not opening on time!  They must not know it was the same girl."
22

As an HR person I can understand the resentment of a new hire leaving right away. Nevertheless, for a part-time retail job held by a college student new to the workfore, I think this can be done successfully if it needs to be. Don’t just disappear over lunch. Explain your delight at being offered another, better opportunity that you hadn’t expected and offer to give as much notice as you can, up to 2 weeks. The second employer, if they are really worth a darn, should be willing to give you 2 weeks to start. If they aren’t, that means they are limiting their search to the currently unemployed and if that’s the case, how desirable is the job likely to be?

For a regular, full-time job this is still the best way to approach it if you have to, but the odds and level of resentment go up the more the company has invested itself in getting you hired.

23

Thanks for the advice so far, especially about how to handle that I’m applying for more than one job at the interview.

For what it’s worth in the other topic, Ashland is a tiny town with exactly three chains: Blockbuster’s (1.5 miles from downtown, and everyone goes to the independently-owned movie rental place a block away unless it’s a new release), Subway’s (across from the university, a mile from downtown, and only for the daily specials), and Starbucks (right next to the Shakespeare Festival theaters so the actors can get a cuppa between shows). Everything else is independently owned and relatively specialized. Lots of boutiques, bookstores, and restaurants, but no corporations. I think we chase them out with pitchforks and torches if they try to settle.

24

[QUOTE=Evil Captor]
Thanks for the nice Horatio Alger story. Unfortunately, there’s no relationship between what you’re talking about and what I’m talking about. You’re addressing what to do when you’ve got the job. I agree that making an effort to get along with others and to be helpful is a good thing once you’re working. Just don’t misunderstand the nature of the job market and your role in it while you look for work. If employers have no responsibility toward you, and here in the US that’s the general principle in play, you have no responsibility for them.
[/QUOTE]

I’m addressing the whole process, from applying onwards. Being positive at the job interview, even if the job doesn’t look promising, is very worthwhile.
You seem very cynical about employers and I wonder if it affects how well you do. If an employer gets the feeling that you think he’s lying scum and just out to get you, then that certainly affects your chances of employment.

I also get satisfaction from how I behave, even if others behave badly.

25

[QUOTE=Tracy Lord

  1. It’s acceptable to apply for multiple jobs at the same time, right?

  2. And say at the interview, “hey, I’m applying at a few other places, so I’ll get back to you within a week”?

  3. Would it be better to put my GPA on my resume, or leave it off?[/QUOTE]

  4. Yes.

  5. Do not mention this unless they ask.

  6. Do not mention this unless they ask.

26

[QUOTE=Tracy Lord]
Thanks for the advice so far, especially about how to handle that I’m applying for more than one job at the interview.

For what it’s worth in the other topic, Ashland is a tiny town with exactly three chains: Blockbuster’s (1.5 miles from downtown, and everyone goes to the independently-owned movie rental place a block away unless it’s a new release), Subway’s (across from the university, a mile from downtown, and only for the daily specials), and Starbucks (right next to the Shakespeare Festival theaters so the actors can get a cuppa between shows). Everything else is independently owned and relatively specialized. Lots of boutiques, bookstores, and restaurants, but no corporations. I think we chase them out with pitchforks and torches if they try to settle.
[/QUOTE]

I live there summers- you’re right that there are almost no chains. The city has some sort of a limit on how many drive-through businesses can exist, and banks have bought up the rights to the vast majority of those permits. In the last five years, I think Ashland has driven a McDonalds, a Pizza Hut, and a Dairy Queen out of business.

I don’t know where you usually spend summers, but if it’s in Ashland, the jobs to have are in the restaurant industry. If you can get in now and establish some sort of presence in a restaurant waitstaff, you’ll be in good shape- tourists usually tip fairly well, and the prices are high enough that even with mediocre tippers you’ll do well. Add that to the high minimum wage and no tip credit and you’ll be in good shape. In any case, I know many high-school kids who get jobs in restaurants and shops there, and college students should have an easier time, especially if you can work shifts that students tend not to like.

If you’d rather have perks than high wages, the Festival will be hiring ushers and bartenders in the near future, and that comes with tons of comp tickets and a wonderful boss (I’ve worked there in the past, and it was a good experience).

Oh, and as to what you actually asked:

  1. Of course! The businesses probably assume that you are. Don’t bring it up in the interview, and try to act as if you’d prefer to work for whoever you’re interviewing with at the moment.
  2. Try not to say that unless they actually ask. A week is probably longer than they’d like to wait, but a couple days should be no trouble.
  3. I have no opinion; refer to the others in the thread.
27

Radawna’s fabulous, isn’t she? :slight_smile: My roomie works at the Festival, but I’m moving out of the country in August, and I don’t think they’d be interested in someone who’d be skipping out in the middle of high season. Plus the season’s started (it’s preview week) and I’m fairly certain they’ve done their hiring through the April opening.

I have mixed feelings about restaurant jobs – for some reason, I feel like they’re worse than retail because you’re not selling a product so much. In a store, you’re the intermediary between the customer and their purchase, but in a restaurant, you are the product, because you’re part of the experience. That makes me nervous. But I may be making a bigger deal about it than it warrants. :slight_smile:

28

[QUOTE=Siege]

As for you, Seven, please do me a favour and don’t ever apply for a job at a company I work at. The IT department I work in recently hired someone we thought was a bright young man. All three of us liked him and thought he’d be a good fit. Unfortunately, he failed to turn up on his first day. He also failed to turn up for the rest of the week. When he finally returned my call which asked him what was happening, he told me he was “pursuing other opportunities” one of which paid more and would get back to him. After discussing the situation with my colleagues, I called him back and wished him luck with those opportunities because he was no longer working for us. I still kick myself for not asking what companies he was talking to so I could call them and let them know our experience with him. We were also tempted to call the company he had been working for and letting them know our experience. Because of his unprofesssional attitude, not only did we lose the time we spent preparing for him, we also lost our second and third choice candidates and the time spent interviewing them.
[/QUOTE]

Give me a break.
Some schmuck doesn’t show to work after you hire him and you want to stalk him and ruin his life? Grow up. No. I hope I never do work for you. It sounds like you run your department like a jr high school.

As for the rest of you. Answer me this.

You are offered a job. You wait a few days and then accept it. You start work.
A few days later another offer comes in the door that is much better then offer one. Better money, better vacation, doing a job your prefer over the first one. It has more room for advancement and is not as far a communte in the morning.

All you people are saying you wouldn’t take it?

If so, you are liars or fools.

29

[QUOTE=glee]
I’m addressing the whole process, from applying onwards. Being positive at the job interview, even if the job doesn’t look promising, is very worthwhile.
[/QUOTE]

I don’t agree with this. If you apply for a tech job only to arrive and find the employer, in an attempt to cut costs, has the IT department cleaning toilets as well. You need to tell them right away.

“I misunderstood about the job duties. I don’t think it is for me. Good luck. Have a nice day.”

30

[QUOTE=glee]
I’m addressing the whole process, from applying onwards. Being positive at the job interview, even if the job doesn’t look promising, is very worthwhile.
You seem very cynical about employers and I wonder if it affects how well you do. If an employer gets the feeling that you think he’s lying scum and just out to get you, then that certainly affects your chances of employment.
[/quote]

I don’t accept jobs with people I think are lying scum. That doesn’t change my understanding of the nature of the job market. Furthermore, there’s a certain basic adversarial quality to the employee/employer relationship which employers and the people they’ve brainwashed sufficiently thoroughly woudl like to deny the existence of. But it’s there, just check Dilbert for a healthy expression of it. Having a good attitude is one thing. Being a goggle-eyed Pollyanna is another.

31

[QUOTE=Evil Captor]
That doesn’t change my understanding of the nature of the job market. Furthermore, there’s a certain basic adversarial quality to the employee/employer relationship which employers and the people they’ve brainwashed sufficiently thoroughly woudl like to deny the existence of. But it’s there, just check Dilbert for a healthy expression of it.
[/QUOTE]

Wow. I’m really glad none of my employment experiences so far have been like this. Clearly I’ve just had awesome bosses/work environments, where we worked with each other to get the job done instead of against each other to…

…uh…

…I got nothin’.

What about the employer/employee relationship makes you think there is an inherent antagonistic quality to it?

32

[QUOTE=Seven]

All you people are saying you wouldn’t take it?

.
[/QUOTE]

Take it? Very likely. But I would be honest and tell where I was currently employed that I got a better offer and thank them warmly for the opportunity. Just not showing up is fucktard behaviour.

33

[QUOTE=DrDeth]
Take it? Very likely. But I would be honest and tell where I was currently employed that I got a better offer and thank them warmly for the opportunity. Just not showing up is fucktard behaviour.
[/QUOTE]

I guess I missed where I said to bail on the first job and just not show up.

34

I worked part time retail over the Christmas season. Everyone was so busy telling me it was a difficult time in the store because they were doing this huge addition and it WAS Christmas and we are so busy that no one had time to train me. So I just hung around, watched what everyone was doing then tried my best to figure things out myself.

I’m with the positive attitude side.

Most of the full time people who worked there bitched and whined about the managers; management; hours; stock, etc. etc etc all the time, so much so, I wondered why they bothered working there.

It was difficult, didn’t pay all that well but the customers were nice. And even when they probably weren’t the nicest, I chalked it up to a bad day.

Oh, if you’re going to be on a sales floor, some unsolicited advice: you can never spend too much on comfortable shoes!

35

[QUOTE=Tracy Lord]
I have mixed feelings about restaurant jobs – for some reason, I feel like they’re worse than retail because you’re not selling a product so much.
[/QUOTE]

I’d suggest avoiding ANY job that involves both the general public and food. Hungry people are insane.

If you have the option, sell something you genuinely like, to people who really WANT to buy it.

I did a stint at Bath & Body works one Christmas, and it was a lot of fun. In six weeks I think we had 2 really obnoxious customers, and that’s all - and even they weren’t that bad. Helping people buy stuff that you like yourself is a good time.

36
  1. Apply for many jobs at once. And accept all calls to come in to interview. If the times conflict, call to reschedule later, but accept the initial time, or someone else will get that slot. They always are in a hurry to do interviews and will off the earliest slot to the next person on their list.
  2. Do not tell them you are looking elsewhere. If a job is offered and you still have interviews coming up, try to reschedule to fit them in. If nobody budges, of course, you’ll have to gamble on the sure thing vs the doubtful interview. Unless the latter is your dream job, or a lot cleaner (selling sweaters instead of manure).
  3. Don’t mention your GPA until asked. Most people in retail are not academically impressed. They tend to believe in the power of on the job training.

Your best bet, and I know your mother won’t approve, is to lie. Say you did that type of work before, for a few months, in another town, at a fictional store, maybe for a relative. I’ve found most small retailers never check references. They especially hate to call competing stores.

37

[QUOTE=glee]
You seem very cynical about employers and I wonder if it affects how well you do.
[/QUOTE]

A search of EC’s posting history will reveal a number of… rather unique opinions on the nature of the employer/employee relationship. Including (off the top of my head) a thread where a lot of sympathy was given to a hotel employee that was fired for ignoring her work and instead composing diary entries ridiculing her employer, and another thread where he suggested that it was unfair to fire even an incompetent, unreliable worker whose misbehavior was disruptive to everyone else in the office, because it might negatively impact that person’s future.

So yeah, “very cynical” sounds like a pretty fair assessment, and it doesn’t surprise me in the least to see him advocate taking an adversarial approach toward one’s employer—which, if you intentionally seek it, you will surely achieve.

38

I have to agree that working in a restaurant can be very good money it is not for everyone. My daughter did it for a while (TGIFridays) and eventually just got sick and tired of customers, bad tippers and the general work environment.

I was a cocktail waitress for exactly 2 nights and let me tell you I sucked at it.

Good luck with your job search and please pop back in and let us know how you’re doing.

39

[QUOTE=Seven]
I guess I missed where I said to bail on the first job and just not show up.
[/QUOTE]

You didn’t but the post you replied too did “unfortunately, he failed to turn up on his first day. He also failed to turn up for the rest of the week.”. And part of your reply was “Some schmuck doesn’t show to work after you hire him and you want to stalk him and ruin his life?”

And you failed to include any mention of “But I would be honest and tell where I was currently employed that I got a better offer and thank them warmly for the opportunity.”

So, in effect you *did *condone “to bail on the first job and just not show up.”

40

[QUOTE=DrDeth]
You didn’t but the post you replied too did “unfortunately, he failed to turn up on his first day. He also failed to turn up for the rest of the week.”. And part of your reply was “Some schmuck doesn’t show to work after you hire him and you want to stalk him and ruin his life?”

And you failed to include any mention of “But I would be honest and tell where I was currently employed that I got a better offer and thank them warmly for the opportunity.”

So, in effect you *did *condone “to bail on the first job and just not show up.”
[/QUOTE]

Wow. Not only did you put words in my mouth, you packed an entire book in.

Would you like to add anything else I’d like to add?

If I condone not showing up for work why would I call the guy a schmuck?

Go back and read what I’ve posted.

At first I say

Then I say

I think it is great so many people will only hold one retail job and never quit for fear of wasting their employers time or feelings, but I’m not one of those people.

We need to remember we’re talking about basic retail jobs. Retail jobs are a different animal than office and tech jobs.