Applying for jobs and local businesses

Godot.

Okay, you will have to cut me some slack here me asking the following because I'm just a young'un :P

Do people ask for menial jobs by saying something like 'hi, can I speak to the manager/owner [person comes] Hi, I'm just wondering if there are any jobs/vacanies available?' I would be willing to go all around town asking local stores/busineses that question.

Or would I simply look daft because there's nothing advertised about the job in a local paper?

I have a CV made out.

mahamageehad

Sure if you don't try you'll never know! Waiting for something to be advertised isn't necessarily the only way of doing things. My second job I was handing out CVs to local businesses and one of the places I handed in my CV to had a vacancy within the week as someone left and the fact that they already had my CV on file put me on top of the pile and saved them the work of having to write job specs etc for a newspaper/website. Sometimes it's just a case of being in the right place at the right time.

Defo have your CV and possibly a short cover letter outlining why you want to work there and your availability. Have it in an envelope so it doesn't look sloppy. Make sure your CV is neat with no spelling mistakes. Ask politely if there's any positions available at the moment and then give them your CV. If there's not, ask politely if they would keep your CV on file in case something was to come up in the future. Even if they are very negative about it smile and be polite at all times, that's what will stick. Be confident as well, show that you are someone who could be relied on. If there is no manager available to talk to you ask one of the staff members nicely if they would be able to pass the CV on for you, but obviously being able to give it in person is better so they can put a name to the paper so to speak.

Just my 2c anyway.

jos28

Definitely give it a shot, nothing to lose. I work in a office that manages 3 retail units and I get at least 3 CVs a day in the post or by email. To be honest, they just get dumped, there are just so many of them. We do however keep the ones where the person calls in and introduces themselves and hands the CV in personally. The manager usually writes a comment on them (nice girl, very presentable etc) and we use those ones when looking for staff.

drdoon

Absolutely. That was the way it was done in the past. Go str8 to the man/woman and show initiative. Business owners love to see people with some pep in their step coming through the door. Who knows what you might bring to their business By the way, anyone got any sites that advertise local jobs? I mean offering local services and the like? :pac:

drdoon

If you have specific talents you could try doing some online work. There are a number of website out there that let people offer freelance services like www.elance.com, www.odesk.com, www.guru.com! Although the vast majority of these are for digital jobs. Try www.quidsin.ie too, it's a similar kind of site with programming etc. But also allows other types of jobs to be done including local jobs. I found it to be pretty cool and I have used two of the other sites