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No experience, how can I get a job?

post #1 of 19
1/4/10 at 3:49am
Thread Starter 
I'm in my second year undergrad and I want to get a part time job. The problem is my resume basically has a couple minimum wage jobs like a grocery store and a fast food joint. Can I get a job at a respectable place without "real" retail experience? I was thinking of a men's formal clothing store, or even something like the apple store.

I'm pretty sure the only difference is simply that they want someone mature and who can act in a way that they want their store represented. How can I show them that I am that person? My job 2 years ago in Burger King doesn't exactly scream that. I know I should be well dressed giving the manager the resume but besides that what can I do? Should I write a cover letter describing my passion for style and electronics or is that too much for a sales associate job?

A.
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post #2 of 19
1/4/10 at 4:14am
sometimes you gotta give a little head to get ahead.
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post #3 of 19
1/4/10 at 4:23am
Work for free for a short period of time.
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post #4 of 19
1/4/10 at 4:59am
Internships and list time spent posting on styleforum as men's suiting consultancy.
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post #5 of 19
1/4/10 at 8:00am
Apply to loads, use knowledge gained from inevitable rejections and applying to so goddamn many to craft your application/cv into the perfect form to attract their attention. Discuss relevant skills/knowledge you have rather than experience, since you have none, "Service and customer relations skills from previous jobs in retail" "Knowledge of the area due to blah" and so on, you can use even somewhat fatuous examples to back these points up. Even stuff like being in a debating club or whatever at school if it backs up the "good interpersonal skills" and "team player" point and the fact you are in college makes you a "quick learner". Show you have some enthusiasm for that specific position, even though chances are you don't. Don't just list what you have done, you need to work out what each individual opening is looking for and tailor how you present yourself, your skills and accomplishments to that. If you can find a little something to put that attracts their attention and marks you out from the rest then that is good too. Remember what you have written if you get an interview because they may very well quiz you based on your answers.
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post #6 of 19
1/4/10 at 9:22am
In cases like these your bullshitting skills have to be off the charts.
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post #7 of 19
1/4/10 at 10:00am
I'm in the same boat myself, I might start looking for work experience. I don't get why I don't already have one, I'm an incredible bullshitter.
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post #8 of 19
1/4/10 at 10:21am
It's not who you know....it's who they THINK you know!
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post #9 of 19
1/4/10 at 10:32am
For the kind of job you're looking for you don't necessarily need experience.

If you want to work at a clothing store, as long as it's not a super high-end place, I would go in, well dressed, and ask to talk to the person in charge of hiring. Explain your situation, knowledge and interest in clothes, etc. It may even be an advantage that you haven't worked at some ubershit place like American Eagle. Try to talk to someone, if they are busy or not there ask when they will be available. Talking to and meeting someone is way better than just leaving a resume as who knows what might happen to it, and it's much easier to put a face to that resume if you've met the applicant.

They might ask you to fill out an application. If so, do it, but make sure you get a business card and follow up in the next week - no later.

If you just want to be a bus-boy or something like that you don't necessarily need any experience. Again, be well dressed, presentable, have a suitable, mistake-free resume done up (don't worry that it doesn't include much) and start handing it out. Always try to talk to the person in charge of hiring, and always get a business card and follow up with a phone call or email. Most people won't do this, even dropping a note saying nice to meet you I'm very interested in the position is going to give you a leg up.
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post #10 of 19
1/4/10 at 11:26am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ozymandias View Post
I'm in my second year undergrad and I want to get a part time job. The problem is my resume basically has a couple minimum wage jobs like a grocery store and a fast food joint. Can I get a job at a respectable place without "real" retail experience? I was thinking of a men's formal clothing store, or even something like the apple store.

I'm pretty sure the only difference is simply that they want someone mature and who can act in a way that they want their store represented. How can I show them that I am that person? My job 2 years ago in Burger King doesn't exactly scream that. I know I should be well dressed giving the manager the resume but besides that what can I do? Should I write a cover letter describing my passion for style and electronics or is that too much for a sales associate job?

A.

Yes. If you want a clothing store, dress the part (appropriate for the location) and be frank about your lack of experience in that particular field. But discuss what you've learned in other positions (no matter how irrelevant the previous job, you should be able to say a few things about customer service and attention to detail). You will get turned down a lot, but somewhere should be willing to take a chance on you especially if you come off as sincere and eager to learn.
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post #11 of 19
1/4/10 at 12:48pm
Those with experience and degrees can't find jobs, and I don't mean real jobs, I mean the sort you are looking for. Since the sales season is coming to a close it's going to be harder now to get a job than it was about 1 1/2 ago. Good luck.
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post #12 of 19
1/4/10 at 1:19pm
You won't get a job after college if you don't do an internship and/or bitch work.
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post #13 of 19
1/4/10 at 1:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Connemara View Post
You won't get a job after college if you don't do an internship and/or bitch work.

Unless you worked while going to college.
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post #14 of 19
1/4/10 at 1:27pm
there are a lot of sales jobs that are commision only, and they are essentially "feeder" leagues to real sales jobs. I'd hire (well, I used to hire, but now I do require more skills at the level I hire) a person who survived 2 years in a tough commision only sales job. and those jobs are pretty much open to anyone who is willing to try it out.
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post #15 of 19
1/4/10 at 1:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ozymandias View Post
I'm in my second year undergrad and I want to get a part time job. The problem is my resume basically has a couple minimum wage jobs like a grocery store and a fast food joint. Can I get a job at a respectable place without "real" retail experience? I was thinking of a men's formal clothing store, or even something like the apple store.

Sign-up here: http://www.volt.com/

Though this is the worst time to try getting a contractor job at Apple - post-Xmas they are down-staffing the holiday hires and thinking about which contractors to keep-on and which to employ directly.
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