I know you guys think I’m incapible of making a decision without consulting the Teeming Millions. That is simply not 0100% true. I can make a decision, I just don’t trust it until it has been confirmed by wise and illustrious people that frequent these boards.
So I am done at my current job in two weeks. I start school the 28th of Aug. This is very exciting. What is not so exciting is the prospect of being unemployed. I’ve decided that I don’t want to work in office situations for the time being, I am tired of being chained to a desk (well, not literally,) and not seeing any people all day. So as dumb as it sounds, I want to do some retail crap. Not just any retail crap, but funky retail. I have suceeded to gain applications from both Urban Outfitters and the funky-ass music store in town. Both of these places are highly individualistic, very hip, very hard to get jobs at. I have no doubt that if I can get an interview at either of these places, I can get a job. I interview wonderfully. And I also have to doubt that I can do retail in my sleep, though the last time I worked a counter was when I was 17.
So how does one make their application stand out now-a-days in retail? I considered doing a formal cover letter/resume combo, but as these places are both very counter-culture, I don’t know if the standard corporate way of getting an interview (“I look forward to discussing my credentials with you in person…”) is the best tact. At the radio station, the tapes/resumes that got the most attention were the ones that had a clever hook. One guy had his resume in menu form, in a menu folder that you get in a nice resturant. Cute, but not appropriate for a radio gig. I don’t want to appear too desperate for the job, as appearing desperate is a sure sign of non-coolness. And coolness is a definate job qualification at both these places.
I considered doing my cover letter in press release form, attaching my letters of recommendation and quoting from them. Or formating my resume to fold up inside a CD case for the record store and taking out the CD bed to make room.
Too gimic-y? Should I just fill out the application and submit it, or should I try and take that extra step? And if so: what should I do to make my resume stand out? And, no, I will not sleep with anyone to get a job, nor will I include nekkid pictures along with a resume. I know you guys WAY too well. Help a Swiddle!
I took a second job at Gadzooks this summer. i just went in and applied. It was a pretty cool place to work, but they didn’t pay squat. It was also one big Orgy, and I wasn’t into that scene. I think that a resume and cover letter and stuff would scare them off.
I used to hire for a retail store. Believe it or not, the very best non-gimmicky way to make your application stand out is to fill it out in extremely neat handwriting–all capitals. I dunno why, but an application filled out in a stylish all-capital handwriting (or a technical-type handwriting) always made me give the application extra attention.
Unless specified otherwise, a different but still normal colour of ink stands out too. Dark green, dark purple - but not so dark it appears black. It’s subtle, but noticeable.
I don’t know what things are like in your neck of the woods, SewingNeedles, but around here retail is desperate for dependable help. The way to make your application stand out is not to misspell your name more than twice.
Mrs. Pluto works for the GAP. She started several years ago, walked in cold and asked for an application. She enjoys her work, enjoys working with people, enjoys the discount. The drawback is that the job doesn’t pay very well. That seems to be true for almost all clothing retailers, although she knows former co-workers who have gone to work for stores that pay a commission who are doing very well.
If that’s your cup of tea I’d run in and apply without worrying too much about standing out from the crowd.
I agree with what Green Bean has said, and in addition, having been the hire-er for a somewhat retail/goods and services store back in my day, when the hire-ee keeps calling incessantly to the point at which I don’t forget the name, and when I go through the applications bundle sitting on the desk, that name stands out. It also shows that you’re really interested in working there.
Years ago I applied at the nearby hipster hangout-Newbury Comics. Applied twice if I remember.
No dice.
Ended up knowing one of the girls who worked there through school and I pressed her on how she got the job.
Esssentially, she knew somebody who worked there. They put in a good word for her. Seems hipster hangouts usually hire via association.
Outside of the nekkid job interview, you could always try and go in and shmooze a bit with the employees. You know, ask about some pretentious band which you can concede that the rest of the uninformed universe isn’t hip enough to know, and work your way in from there.
You’d probably have a better chance of getting in if one of the employees could say, “I talked to this one, she seemed pretty cool…”
Other than that, I’m as clueless as the next record store groupie…
Go to the store you want to work for. Look at what the people doing the job you want are wearing. Wear that to the interview. Talk like them too. Shucks, when you have the interview make sure you look like you are coming to work.
You attach a lottery ticket to the front page of your resume.
Under the lottery ticket is a piece of paper that just says “This could be your lucky day!”
When you turn over the page you see another piece of paper that says “Because this is the resume of ______”
And then throughout your resume throw in funky things that you do like make an excellent cup of coffee, or sense of humour to smile at even the most trying customer etc,.
