[hamster-bamster]

I need a seasonal job to tide me over - my state disability has run out and I do not have a professional job yet - phone screens lined up, but that is all. For professional jobs, now it is almost a dead season (many companies close for the holidays), but for retail, it is THE season.

I am a project manager, so I have put together a lightweight resume - just one page, instead of 2.5 ages of my professional resume - that highlights transferable skills (organization skills, accuracy and attention to detail, clear communication, multi-tasking, customer service, professional demeanor, team worker etc.). My plan it to go to Kinko's to print many of those out in color, put in a folder, and go to several shopping centers, from one store to the next, asking if they need help for Christmas.

I know that I would look far better in person - I engage with people easily - so this method is preferable to submitting applications online for me, but I wonder if this low tech store-to-store walking is even practiced these days. My childhood friend got get first job in retail going store-to-store, but... it was not in this century.

Opinions?

[unaluna]

I think stores now have computers set up in store where you fill out an application. At least the macys here did, ten years ago or so. Also, do you still have a car? I have worked at temp agencies like kelly services - you can use your excel etc there. They test you online at their office. Plus they do have tech placements.

[hamster-bamster]

I do have a car. I will go store-to-store for Christmas jobs tomorrow - I think I know what you mean by the computer in-store, because I remember seeing something like this at Apple store. Then on Friday I will do Kelly services and Manpower.

[CosmicRose]

Absolutely people still go store to store or place to place asking for applications, this is often the best approach. Many companies have so many online applicants or screening processes that are automatic online that it is more difficult to actually land the job or interview process online. So definitely go into the stores and ask if they are hiring. Often times they will make you ask the manager themselves.

[hamster-bamster]

I will go store to store! Online, my application to ToysRUs has been rejected already, so I will stop doing that and print out nice resumes for talking directly to managers.

[Little Lulu]

Best wishes hamster. Working is good for the soul, as well as the pocketbook.

[Perna]

With your skills, I would look around for a friend who works at a store that might be hiring and see if you can get in easily on their coat tails. I remember my first job back in that previous century you refer to was from a store owned by a friend of a friend of my parents. Just update that by looking for people you know who already work retail to see if they're hiring, etc. Then when you walk in wherever (often there's a "corporate" hiring thing and they assign you to the store these days I think, not all stores have their own employment departments anymore?) you can say, "Joe works for you all and I would like to too." Just make sure any friend is well liked, LOL.

But if you want to target a particular shopping center near you, I'd go online and find those stores' site or the Mall's site, etc. and learn all you can about who might be hiring and how and if there's any online applying possible, that sort of thing -- get an idea of types of stores and where you might like to work more/less, etc.

[hamster-bamster]

I think the online thing is working against me!

I walked into a local bookstore and inquired. Locally, it was "yay, we very much need seasonal help!" and an expression of interest and enthusiasm on the face of a local manager gal. And the gal took down my email address.

But then she sent me a link to apply, and the link is on a centralized website that apparently staffs bookstores nationwide. Until I figured out how to narrow down the search, it kept offering me positions in Ohio. So OK, I applied, what do I do now, since I have the email address and the name of the gal who seemed to like me in person? Should I shoot her an email?

I am just afraid that in a pile of resumes in a nationwide database mine would get drowned, whereas in person: "Oh, I know this bookstore so well, have lived here since last century" etc. - just chatting up a bit works locally but not globally.

So - should I send an email to the manager of the local bookstore, and if so, when - tomorrow or after the Thanksgiving holidays?

[CosmicRose]

That's weird, she should have done more than take down your email and give you the store link, she should have handed you an application to fill out on the spot, then you should have handed it back to her after taking some time to sit down and fill it out like fifteen minutes later. You should also carry around with you copies of your resume into every store you go to, so that when you hand them back the application you hand them your resume along with it. Stay away from the online application because you're right, you will get lost in the database.

Yes I would email her back. I don't think it matters when, but I would do it ASAP so that she knows you're really persistent. Also, if you can, go back to that store and ask for an actual application. If she asks why, say the link she gave you took you to the store's national online application for all of Ohio or whatever that was about.

[unaluna]

No wonder they need seasonal help! They dont know their hiring system is carp! Opportunity?

[hamster-bamster]

So Nordstrom invited me to a group 1-hr long interview. Unfortunately, it is not the closest Nordstrom to me, but it is something. The woman from the bookstore wrote to me unprompted saying that she would be on the lookout for my resume on Monday. Nordstrom group interview (I wonder what exactly it entails...) is on Wed. Hopefully next week something will work out for me. The Nordstrom job is in the back office - with merchandise inventory - so I take it that I do not need to dress up... right?

[CosmicRose]

Always dress up. You dont have to go in there wearing a suit but definitely go in wearing your best professional looking clothing, dress in office attire with a good shirt and pants. I'm thinking like a white turtleneck shirt and gray pants *just as an example. Nordstrom is a good company to work for. Group interviews consist of them asking each of you questions, I always have a hard time trying not to steal the other persons answer to the same question so I dont sound like a parrot. I hate group interviews.

[hamster-bamster]

thanks for educating me - I have never gone to group interviews.

[hamster-bamster]

Got an interview at the bookstore on Friday. I hope it works out.

[hamster-bamster]

I got the job at Nordstrom! It is just seasonal, but it is a fun job, running around all day long fulfilling orders. I won't be with customers - I will get the orders online and will be finding the merchandise necessary for fulfillment.

Tomorrow is an interview at the bookstore. But at least I have one job already so the stress level went DOWN!!

[CosmicRose]

That's great wow congratulations! Makes me want to look into a job like that because I hate dealing with customers but dealing with merchandise is something I would enjoy!

[angelene]

Congratulations!

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by CosmicRose

That's great wow congratulations! Makes me want to look into a job like that because I hate dealing with customers but dealing with merchandise is something I would enjoy!

Me too! The way the manager explained it, it is like running around on a treasure hunt all day long. I told him that my FitBit would be soooo happy!

[unaluna]

Oh that DOES sound like fun!! You're basically shopping all day? I can dig that! And then the attention to detail - makes a programmer's heart happy, don't it? Clothes and perfume and housewares - oh my!

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by hankster

Oh that DOES sound like fun!! You're basically shopping all day? I can dig that! And then the attention to detail - makes a programmer's heart happy, don't it? Clothes and perfume and housewares - oh my!

exactly! he even said it - " shopping all day", in those very words.

[hvert]

That does sound like fun! I live near a major catalog distributer that hires warehouse pickers during the holidays. Some people take the jobs just to keep the weight off at Christmas!

[hamster-bamster]

I was thinking that, too. Exactly that thought. I know some companies have FREE gyms - well this job is not a FREE gym because I would even get PAID.

[unaluna]

I cant wait to hear how its going. You are very inspiring