What do i do now?

oooohhhh yes!!!!

I have just finished my exams so I’m going to hand out as many cv’s as I can. I have done up my cv and a cover letter but I’m just wondering what I do now,
Do I just go into the shop/pub/restaurant etc and hand in the cv to the person behind the counter or should I ask to speak to the manager.
Sorry about the stupid question but I don’t have a clue.

speedboatchase

If you go to a shopping centre for example, the information desk person should have a sheet of places that are currently hiring, this should help you save time (most likely their website has the same info). When you go in to any shops you're better off asking the person behind the desk if they're hiring and then hand over the C.V. And you should go on job websites that will let you break down your searches so you can apply for jobs that require little to no work experience

Berty

You can ask for the Manager but they will usually fob you off. I call them "The Gatekeepers".

They will also usually know if the manager is looking for people so be nice to them as well.

You can get the managers name in advance. As a Sales rep I find the managers name just inside the door, usually on the NO SMOKING SIGN. Its says Manager/owner: with the handwritten name next to it. - Score

Also if its a shop you can wander into the off licesne and get the name from the licquor(sp) license.

Ask for the manager/owner by their first name to distract the staff member into thinking you know them.

Have your CV in a A4 Envelope with your name written on it if they are not there.

Have brief cover letter in the envelope saying who you are, what you want, why you want it, what you can offer(live close by, work evenings and weekends etc) and your phone number and you can start ASAP.

oooohhhh yes!!!!

Thank you for your tips speedboatchase and Berty.
I don’t have much work experience and the only reference that I have I from my old school principal. Is this suitable? I also have a written reference from the company I did work experience for while I was in 4th year. So on my cv should I put references available upon request and if they ask for it give it to them then.
Is it better to put the cv in an A4 envelope rather than a Dl envelope?

Berty

oooohhhh yes!!!! wrote: »

Thank you for your tips speedboatchase and Berty.
I don’t have much work experience and the only reference that I have I from my old school principal. Is this suitable? I also have a written reference from the company I did work experience for while I was in 4th year. So on my cv should I put references available upon request and if they ask for it give it to them then.
Is it better to put the cv in an A4 envelope rather than a Dl envelope?

Meh' The A4 Envelope is harder to lose.

I don't think you need references at your age. Most of the time they square you up by the way your dress, your accent and some ask you what your parents do for a living.

Corruptedmorals

If you're going to out CV's into supermarkets and department stores- hand them into the customer service desk. Floor managers do not have a say in who gets hired- it's personnel managers who conduct interviews etc. If you hand it into a normal till it is likely to get mislaid and staff are often the last ones to know if the store is hiring.

Obviously small shops are different but that's how bigger ones work.

oooohhhh yes!!!!

Meh' The A4 Envelope is harder to lose.

I don't think you need references at your age. Most of the time they square you up by the way your dress, your accent and some ask you what your parents do for a living.

Ok thanks

If you're going to out CV's into supermarkets and department stores- hand them into the customer service desk. Floor managers do not have a say in who gets hired- it's personnel managers who conduct interviews etc. If you hand it into a normal till it is likely to get mislaid and staff are often the last ones to know if the store is hiring.

Obviously small shops are different but that's how bigger ones work.

Thanks for the advice.

Now all i have to do is print out loads of cv's.

Lockstep

Berty wrote: »

I don't think you need references at your age. Most of the time they square you up by the way your dress, your accent and some ask you what your parents do for a living.

QFT

Sad as it is, this is often the case. I always wear a suit, even when just handing in CVs.
Worked with a few people from some of Galway's less salubrious areas; they'd always put neighbouring districts for their address.

Just something to keep in mind as I always made this mistake when I first starred handing out CVs; keep it short. 1 or 2 pages max.

oooohhhh yes!!!!

Thanks for the advice everyone handed out 78 cv’s over the past few days and now I guess I just have to wait.

oooohhhh yes!!!!

oooohhhh yes!!!! wrote: »

Thank you for your tips speedboatchase and Berty.
I don’t have much work experience and the only reference that I have I from my old school principal. Is this suitable? I also have a written reference from the company I did work experience for while I was in 4th year. So on my cv should I put references available upon request and if they ask for it give it to them then.
Is it better to put the cv in an A4 envelope rather than a Dl envelope?

You don't have any work experience except from 4th year in school ? Many folks will not consider you for work when they see that, in the last place I worked in the lads who were interviewing 3rd level students for work experience thought it quite shocking that some of the applicants had never had a part time / summer job. I'd be of the same mindset to be honest. There are thousands of people looking for work as you know, having no experience is a huge disadvantage.

Ignore all that is you are still in school.

Berty

RoverJames wrote: »

You don't have any work experience except from 4th year in school ? Many folks will not consider you for work when they see that, in the last place I worked in the lads who were interviewing 3rd level students for work experience thought it quite shocking that some of the applicants had never had a part time / summer job. I'd be of the same mindset to be honest. There are thousands of people looking for work as you know, having no experience is a huge disadvantage.

Not quite. If you were looking for somebody to stack shelves in a shop you wouldn't bother with Grads or people who used to be in offices or salespeople because they will not bother hanging around and will be gone as soon as something better comes up.

Berty

Berty wrote: »

Not quite. If you were looking for somebody to stack shelves in a shop you wouldn't bother with Grads or people who used to be in offices or salespeople because they will not bother hanging around and will be gone as soon as something better comes up.

If I was looking for someone to stack shelves I'd like to see some experience on the CV, any job, something to show me that the applicant has performed in a job, gotten out of bed and been on time for work

oooohhhh yes!!!!

I’ve just finished my first year in college. I know that there are loads of people out there who have much more experience than me but I’m still hopeful. At least I’m out looking for work

As for not having work experience well it’s hard to get that if you can’t get a job. Why didn’t I try to get a job before now? Well I live in the country and it was hard to organise lifts in and out of town before I could drive.