Best way to find a job? (in Off-topic)

So I've been actively looking for a job for about a month now, and after many applications and a couple interviews, I still don't have one. I'm a college student and I haven't had a job yet, and it's surprisingly difficult to even land a minimum wage job that doesn't require any experience.

So far what I've been doing is applying to major stores in my neighborhood like Best Buy, Longs, Sears, etc. and I check Craigslist a few times a day. Is there a better way to be doing things? Is there a hidden job market somewhere that most people don't know about that I can get into without much experience? Any help is much appreciated. Thanks in advance guys.

does your university have a department set up for helping students find jobs?

are you checking the local paper?

Persistence and ingenuity were the only ways I ever found to get a job...

You might try call center/telemarketing places.

Apply ANYWHERE and EVERYWHERE. Even jobs you don't want. Even jobs you know you don't have all the requirements to apply for. Sometimes, the person you'll give your resume to will not need anyone. But what about a co-worker? A family member? When you give your resume to someone, you give it to a couple people.

Also it's possible that an employee, in a company that needs no more will unexpectedly quit. Then you may be called. You may even be called to work in a position you did not apply to.

The key to getting your first job is brute forcing it. You can't be picky yet. The calls will come from unexpected places. It's gotta be a resume invasion!

Oh, and call potential employers back when you have no news for a week after sending your resume. They like that, and sometimes it's exactly at this moment that you will land an interview.

My two cents! Worked for me, several times :)

Good luck!

Yeah for the most part I've been applying at a lot of places, even for jobs I wouldn't like. I completely forgot that my college has a career center, so I'll be stopping by when my classes start up again.

Also, when I walk into a business and hand my resume to someone, should I always be asking for a manager? Or is it safe to leave it with the cashier or receptionist?

Manager is always best. (Bonus points for a firm handshake) But cashier is better than no one. Make a good impression on that person though, even if he/she is the lower on the corporate ladder.

Try construction, these sites always need young fit men to do grunt type labor your back may ache and your hands may blister but you can put money in your pocket until you can land something your education is geared for. Also these job more then not pay more than minimum wage.

get certified in the medical field. I could get a job tomorrow if i lost mine today =/

rave, the best way to get a job: find one that you really like, or even one that you detest, and pester the manager long enough to either a) he hires you or b) he calls the cops on you for trespassing

Consider bolstering your resume. Volunteering, Whmis, First Aid, alot of temp agencies offer courses like these for cheap.

Also in Canada the government has a job bank that can be visited online and has locations to help individuals become more valuable in this tight Job market.
Not sure if these are available where you live but worth a look.

Your school may have a job you can do. Check for intern jobs, etc. Even if you don't get paid, you get experience in the field you are learning, and you get to put something relevant onto your resume when it is time to actually get a real job that is related to your education. It is worth it in the long run. Check government jobs too, I got mine the only requirement was typing at 35 wpm. Good luck Rave.

for the best results, when you apply somewheres, always go in person and do it on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. A manager has no time on Monday and is gone on Fridays. Do your homework, call and ask who the manager is, when can you find them during business hours?(note that they could be on vacation during the summer). Be punctual, go in the morning. A good point earlier about a firm handshake, be direct, make eye contact, smile, let them know that you interested in new challenges. If its going well you can always talk about working during school part-time. When ending your first meeting, tell them you would like to give them a follow up call in a few(3) days to possibly set up an interview. You have to push them to show your determination. Body language is important by both parties, if a person you are trying to make first contact with sees you slouching and dragging your feet, you are not any good help. You might get the impression that they are not interested but by showing interest and even some knowledge in what youre pursuing would not hurt in commanding more time.

as for what jobs, you are a student and you still have options. Just dont rule anything out, the higher paying the worst it probably is. and if youve not had a job before, try everything. From Wal-Mart(from this point on referred to as wally world) to burger places, video rentals, working for the city in the summer. more: book stores, bars,clubs, restaurants.

try looking for jobs online? In Canada there is an online job bank(jobbank.gc.ca) as we call it. its run through the government and it has more listings than the paper. you must have something similar in your area?

if anything, get a shower, hair cut, shave and brush your teeth, even buy a new shirt.


personally since i was 16 ive been working. At places like Dairy Queen, working in the kitchen, the furniture department at wally world, i worked at the liquor store when i became of age for a few years. ive even worked at a car rental, i tried the call center(internet, collections, cell phones, road side assistance, car rentals) and computer stuff, 10 years later im working as a carpenter.

Apply for absolutely everything, but also send your CV everywhere you're interested in.

Find out if places you're interested in will let you do work experience. Sometimes you need to be in a place to get a job there.

BUt keep trying, even if you spend a fortune in postage. It's worth it.

Where can I find job listings for the government and/or construction? Also, how can I get certified in the medical field?

Thanks for all the help guys, I really appreciate it. I'll definitely put this information to good use. =)

i would also check with the university and see if their career center is open now. if ya wait until classes start there will be that much more competition.

If you're looking for a first job, go the easy route. Just apply for any waiter/bus boy gig at a restaurant. The first impression is what matters most for those jobs. You can also scour the market for stocker jobs. The turnover rate is high, and it's entry level (that was my first job). Stock jobs don't pay that high, and waiter jobs are tipped based, so the amount you earn depends on the quality of the restaurant. If you're looking for better pay, just visit your state's department of labor. They'll probably have an office near you.

And if you're just looking at getting something down for a resume, go to your college's career center and ask about internships. The pay is often horrid, but the work is typically easy, the hours should work with your schedule, and it's a guaranteed resume padder.

What the hell is a CV? Just kidding, JW. I Watch enough Doctor Who...

Does your university itself have work? School is starting up, and all I know is that food service where I went to college _always_ had work (because a lot of the work-stuff kids didn't want to do it, or couldn't). In summary, if you can't get a job at college food service place, then I am not sure what else is out there.

Mind you, a lot (read: almost all) of food service is proprietary now, run by national chains.

But those place still need workers. I started in garbage. *smile*

workopolis.com or whatever it's called.
Also I think there is a site called monster.ca that does the same thing (Canada only)

Thanks to all your advice, I just landed a job at my local grocery store! I walked in, talked to the manager, filled out a job app, talked to the manager about it, and he told me to come back the next day. So today is that next day, and I'm going to start work on Tuesday. Thanks for all your help everyone, I really appreciate it. =)

congrats Rave. keep looking for opportunities

Yay don't leave this one until you find a better one.

Somewhat related - Job Offer :)

lol that's just mean.