Why can't I get a job

LegacyUser

I can't get a job anywhere. I apply for anything in reasonable distance that's retail/customer service related and I can't get anything. I need to work this summer, so I don't have to during the college term, but I can't get anything.

I have 1 years experience in retail with Penneys and a diy shop. I have experience in customer serevice, cash handling, payment processing, shop presentation, ect. It's ridiculous at this stage.

I see idiots I went to school with working full time, and in school they hadn't a clue. I'm in college atm, never missed a day, I have great grades, but employers don't seem to give a ****.

December2012

Did you reapply to Penneys and those places you worked in before?

johnnyskeleton

andlaksa wrote: »

I see idiots I went to school with working full time, and in school they hadn't a clue. I'm in college atm, never missed a day, I have great grades, but employers don't seem to give a ****.

Unfortunately many employers prefer people who will work full time and permanent positions to those looking for part time or temporary contracts.

This is because they can work to their employers schedule rather than the employees and dont have to constantly retrain staff. Retail and unskilled jobs also feel that college graduates are not a long term employment prospect.

Im not sure this will help your job search, but certainly dont feel bad that less qualified people are gettig retail jobs over you.

Maybe try to get an internship connected to your chosen career. It might not be as well paid (or even paid at all) but it will stand to you long term.

Ryan Mac Sweeney

Hi there
I have read your post. I am in the exact same situation as you. I graduated with a merit in Hospitality Operations FETAC Level 5 last December and since then I am finding it very difficult to seek employment. Since the beginning of the year I have handed out about over 50 CVs into about over 50 restaurants, bars cafes etc and I heard nothing back from them. I also had about eight interviees but each time they said that I was either unsuccesdful or that someone who was more qualified than myself came along and they then hired him or her instead. I am finding it very stressful and I even had to visit my GP almost 2 weeks ago to go on medication to help with my anxiety. My advice to you is to keep trying and do not give up until you are hired. Also OP metioned maybe you could apply for an intern scheme I know that maybe you might not paid that much but its worth a try. Also maybe see if your parents might know someone who is the manager and would they help you get a job.
Sorry for the long post.
Best Wishes

padd b1975

andlaksa wrote: »

I see idiots I went to school with working full time, and in school they hadn't a clue. I'm in college atm, never missed a day, I have great grades, but employers don't seem to give a ****.

Having read that blatant piece of snobbery , it's easy to see why you're struggling to get employment in a customer service role.

Maybe try for some warehouse work away from front of house...

Rachiee

There is no shortage of people with experience looking to do retail many if whom are looking for full time permanent house why would the take someone who wants just summer work. I it sucks but it's been hard to get summer work here for years.

FizzleSticks

This post has been deleted.

Unfortunately it's always been difficult to get summer work in many retailers/in general. It's much less appealing to employers when they know you'll be gone in a few months time and, no offense, with a lot of retail work, staff are a dime a dozen - even with previous experience. You'd make a much better prospect if they can keep you on once the college year begins.

pgj2015

don't say you are in college, say you are looking for full time work and then when college starts back in September, quit.

Wompa1

Work during the college year...then you will get hired. It's waste of money hiring somebody one for 2 or 3 months in the summer. Just when they are getting settled into the role, knowing where everything is in the store, stockroom tills they will be leaving. Not worth it.

If you want short term full time working in retail or customer service, land something in Oct-Nov leading up to X-mas.

rjpf1980

Don't say you are a college student. Simple.

LegacyUser

andlaksa wrote: »

I can't get a job anywhere. I apply for anything in reasonable distance that's retail/customer service related and I can't get anything. I need to work this summer, so I don't have to during the college term, but I can't get anything.

I have 1 years experience in retail with Penneys and a diy shop. I have experience in customer serevice, cash handling, payment processing, shop presentation, ect. It's ridiculous at this stage.

I see idiots I went to school with working full time, and in school they hadn't a clue. I'm in college atm, never missed a day, I have great grades, but employers don't seem to give a ****.

I'm sorry, but a few harsh lessons of reality:
- your previous experience isn't enough to count for any entry level job; what does count is permanency, which you can't /
Won't offer
- your attitude to retail etc is appalling. You seem to view it as beneath you. If you come across any way in interviews towards what you do in your post, I wouldn't hire you becauseof your attitude.

You don't hve a God given right to employment, but you sure do seem to think that way.

Sapphire

andlaksa wrote: »

I can't get a job anywhere. I apply for anything in reasonable distance that's retail/customer service related and I can't get anything. I need to work this summer, so I don't have to during the college term, but I can't get anything.

I have 1 years experience in retail with Penneys and a diy shop. I have experience in customer serevice, cash handling, payment processing, shop presentation, ect. It's ridiculous at this stage.

I see idiots I went to school with working full time, and in school they hadn't a clue. I'm in college atm, never missed a day, I have great grades, but employers don't seem to give a ****.

You are right. Employers don't give a sh!t about your grades. Why would they? Grades don't tell them anything relevant to how you would be as a worker.

I get that you might see front line retail as dead-end or lowly. You are after all, studying for bigger and better things. But one thing you need to remember is that an employer invests many thousands in that front line person and expects a return on that investment. So they want someone who is equally invested and dependent on the job - someone who needs the job to pay bills and rent. Students, unfortunately can be sometimes perceived as flaky employees, particularly if the employer has hired students in the past and it didn't work out too well. So you need to set yourself apart from other students. Consider your appearance. Dress formally -shirt & skirt or trousers when approaching the manger. If you have blue hair or facial piercings, consider removing them until you have sealed the deal (yes I know appearances shouldn't matter but in the workplace they do to a lot of employers) If you are female, keep make-up natural and subtle.

Hows your CV? is it well presented? Are you pounding the pavement handing in your CV to every shop? Are you introducing yourself to the manager of each shop when handing it over? Do you have a glowing reference from your previous employers? if so, print it out and staple it to your CV. Don't even chance that they might not bother to ring your referee, put it right under their nose.

Actually, you've missed a trick when writing off those girls from school as idiots. They could have very well been your gateway into guaranteed work outside of college hours. Very often casual or temporary work is given to friends of existing staff. A manager who hasn't the time or money for a formal recruitment process (which are expensive and not cost effective for a minimum wage vacancy) will just go to Mary* who has worked there for 5 years and who is a valued employee and ask her if she knows of anyone looking for a bit of work for the summer. Mary gets her student friend a job.

The vast majority of my summer work was through referral. Or networking as its called now.:p Any chance you could revisit your opinion on those 'idiots' and cultivate friendships with them or have you burned your bridges there?

zcorpian88

andlaksa wrote: »

I can't get a job anywhere. I apply for anything in reasonable distance that's retail/customer service related and I can't get anything. I need to work this summer, so I don't have to during the college term, but I can't get anything.

I have 1 years experience in retail with Penneys and a diy shop. I have experience in customer serevice, cash handling, payment processing, shop presentation, ect. It's ridiculous at this stage.

I see idiots I went to school with working full time, and in school they hadn't a clue. I'm in college atm, never missed a day, I have great grades, but employers don't seem to give a ****.

In the same spot as you OP. Can't seem to get anyone to throw me a bone, did a pretty much go nowhere Jobbridge internship to get some experience and on to my CV and they wouldn't keep me on after it...surprise, surprise.

Hard enough to get an interview on it's own for a position I can sustain myself on. Recently I was mad for a job in this banking call centre in town and they turned me down 2 days after it, was gutted, after I was delighted to get the interview and immediately started preparing and researching the job description, the products on offer and even arranged to get tips from 2 people I know working there, my cousin is even a team leader up there,

The day after I was called for interview I had a sudden family bereavement in the middle of my interview preparation, so I had that sinking in but refused to let it throw me until it was over, even had to miss the funeral because it landed the same day as the interview.

The interview went brilliantly and they were impressed with me, they were nice enough interviewers, but they rang me two days later and said "I performed brilliantly and sorry they were telling me on a Friday and a bank holiday etc. She also said I'd get feedback on "where I fell down on" when she returned from holidays, it's been a month now and still no phone call with this all important feedback. Pisses me off feeling like I almost have to say some sort of magic words to get a half decent job in town and I have to tap dance on the ceiling for them.

I can see what you're saying about kind of unworthy people you know landing full time jobs, had a similar thing happen to me last year, chap I went to school with, flunked his leaving cert, dossed his whole way through school, gave a load of lip to teachers and disrupted class constantly, when he got his LC results he just f**ked them away and went home, I had the misfortune of bumping into him on a night out last year, turned out he got a job in another call center around the same time I applied last year and I got rejected and he didn't! Really put me in bad form for the night. I really think some of these employers are high when they take on people and not know a person who is a waste of space when they see them.

B.A._Baracus

rjpf1980 wrote: »

Don't say you are a college student. Simple.

and bingo-was-his-name-o

Mate, lie on your cv. There is nothing wrong with it and there is ESPECIALLY nothing wrong with it if your current situation (lack of work history, college etc) don't look the best on your cv.

So in your cover letter state that you recently finished the college year and after a hard long thought you won't be returning and are now seeking full-time employment from here on out. Just wasn't for you. Blah blah.

Next up, blow the diy shop and pennys out. Mainly Pennys as you can say you dabbed in another department, eg if all you did was work menswear putting clothes out say you also worked till from time to time. Expand on things and write a little paragraph. eg, "Duties: [Pennys] My role was to
ensure adequate stock was displayed on the shop floor as well as making sure the products were perfectly displayed. Also that the various sizes of items was easily accessable (smaller sizes first) Apart from this my secondary role from time to time was to work tillpoint. Providing an excellent customer service on a one to one interaction" - thats just BS I made up on the spot. Sounds better than "Duties: [Pennys] Menswear and tillpoint" :pac:

Be creative and blow yourself out. Stick it all in the cover letter.