No Job Offers? Local Supermarket Rejects You

[Smurf]

God damn crap **** ****. Even the local supermarket turned me down. Grrrrr

 

[Evo]

Bad attitude dear?

 

[Smurf]

Bad attitude dear?

I knew that would be one of the first responses. No, I was perfectly pleasant each time. It's only AFTER the rejection that I use that language. (by the way, I vowed never to buy from that supermarket again - bastards!)

 

[mattmns]

Maybe you can try to get a job that uses the phrase: "Do you want fries with that?"

 

[TRCSF]

That's what unemployment is all about. There are people who spend years with that on their shoulders.

 

[Smurf]

Maybe you can try to get a job that uses the phrase: "Do you want fries with that?"

I would rather starve. But thanks. (besides, it's aaaaalll the way down town)

 

[Townsend]

God damn crap **** ****. Even the local supermarket turned me down. Grrrrr

Do you have any idea what the problem is? What position are you applying for? What positions are open? You do realize that most job are never advertised...are the supermarkets you applied at family owned?

The most important thing about applying for a new job is to fit in...do you fit in with the rest of the work force at those supermarkets? Perhaps you're over qualified? Some things to think about...

 

[Smurf]

That's what unemployment is all about. There are people who spend years with that on their shoulders.

Yeah, but I'm in university! I don't get welfare checks for going to uni!

 

[Townsend]

That's what unemployment is all about. There are people who spend years with that on their shoulders.

I am not saying this is true or false but I have yet to meet a single person who could not find a job if they wanted one.

Where did you say you were from TRCSF?

 

[Townsend]

Yeah, but I'm in university! I don't get welfare checks for going to uni!

Canada doesn't have finical aid?

 

[Smurf]

Do you have any idea what the problem is? What position are you applying for? What positions are open? You do realize that most job are never advertised...are the supermarkets you applied at family owned?

They weren't advertised, I walked in and asked to talk to the manager. They had a couple of positions open, they decided to hire 2 other students instead of me a few days after my interview

The most important thing about applying for a new job is to fit in...do you fit in with the rest of the work force at those supermarkets?

Why not, they hired other students.

Perhaps you're over qualified?

*scoff* And you're a commi.

 

[TRCSF]

I am not saying this is true or false but I have yet to meet a single person who could not find a job if they wanted one.

Where did you say you were from TRCSF?

Washington state. Once spent nine months looking for a job upon graduating with a BS in chemistry.

If you don't know a single person who couldn't find a job and not get one, you've never met anybody who's dealt with unemployment.

 

[Smurf]

Canada doesn't have finical aid?

No it does. I just don't feel like sinking farther and farther into debt if I can't even find a job now.

 

[mattmns]

How about a job at your school? It may be a bit late now, but you could still try.

 

[Smurf]

I am not saying this is true or false but I have yet to meet a single person who could not find a job if they wanted one.

A bit sheltered arn't you townsend? Even I have (granted I grew up in a 3rd world country - but that's besides the point!)

 

[Smurf]

How about a job at your school? It may be a bit late now, but you could still try.

I still havn't tried anything down town yet. (it's quite a walk away) I think I'll do that tomorrow.

 

[BobG]

The application process is a lottery - and I'm not sure you ever win if they just filed it away for future reference.

You need an interview to have a chance at the job. Best chance of that is lucky timing or a friend to recommend you (second method works best).

If you get an interview, you need some good interview skills. First, none of them cares about you or your hobbies. They're looking for someone to fill their needs. If you're smart, you'll scope out the place you're trying to be hired at before the interview (here's another place where knowing one of the employees can help). You should be pointing out the skills you have that seem most likely to applicable to the job you're applying for. It usually works best if you happen to have skills that would be the perfect solution for problems the place is having rather than pointing out the problems for the manager - he probably already knows his problems.

And don't try to emphasize how individualistic you are. Most workplaces require you to work with others and managers like conformists that will fit in with everyone else. Most people expressing their individualism either already have a job that they're not afraid of losing, don't have to work so who cares, or just go on very, very long frustrating job searches.

 

[Smurf]

The application process is a lottery - and I'm not sure you ever win if they just filed it away for future reference.

You need an interview to have a chance at the job. Best chance of that is lucky timing or a friend to recommend you (second method works best).

That's what it was at the last interview I got. Lucky timing. I planned to just drop off a resume and try to remember the manager's name. I hadn't expected to get an interview, so hadn't prepared myself mentally. I completely botched the interview.

 

[Evo]

I've never known anyone that couldn't find a job, unless they were unhirable.

Also, (separate from Smurf's issue) you should have a job offer before you graduate from University! If you haven't received an offer and it's getting close to graduation, you should probably start worrying. My experience is that companies proactively recruit people they want before they graduate. If they haven't...

 

[Townsend]

Washington state. Once spent nine months looking for a job upon graduating with a BS in chemistry.

If you don't know a single person who couldn't find a job and not get one, you've never met anybody who's dealt with unemployment.

I have met people who were getting unemployment but it was a choice they made.

I find it hard to believe that someone with a BS in chemistry couldn't find a job...or perhaps you couldn't find a job that you would accept?

 

[Smurf]

Well I'm not worrying too much about job offers out of university... you know... having only just started my first year... in all practicality it's just another year of high school (although with much more interesting subjects)

Plenty of time to get job offers when I'm head of my class in year 4

 

[TRCSF]

I have met people who were getting unemployment but it was a choice they made.

I find it hard to believe that someone with a BS in chemistry couldn't find a job...or perhaps you couldn't find a job that you would accept?

Unemployment isn't people who don't want to get a job. Unemployment is looking for a job and not getting one.

If you find it hard to believe then I'll have to agree with the person who mentioned the word "sheltered."

 

[Townsend]

A bit sheltered arn't you townsend? Even I have (granted I grew up in a 3rd world country - but that's besides the point!)

Yeah, I guess...

Let's see...been around the world twice...been to Singapore, Hong Kong, UAE(Dubai), Hobart SA, Perth WA, Bahrain, Mexico(many times), Hawaii(to many times to count), Every state west of the Mississippi and many east of the miss too.

I spent 17 years living in Southern and central California, and then 5 years in Minnesota and 5 years in SE South Dakota...

Yeah, I need to get out more...

 

[Smurf]

I have met people who were getting unemployment but it was a choice they made.

There are a lot of people like that, but not all of them are.

 

[Townsend]

Unemployment isn't people who don't want to get a job. Unemployment is looking for a job and not getting one.

If you find it hard to believe then I'll have to agree with the person who mentioned the word "sheltered."

I know the definition of unemployed...Unemployment is a check someone gets for losing their job.

What I say stands...getting a job is a very simple thing for most anyone who is employable...

 

[Townsend]

There are a lot of people like that, but not all of them are.

Of course but how many are there that really can't find work? A small percentage of the pop. at most...

 

[Smurf]

Yeah, I need to get out more...

I think I've been to more countries than you've listed there.

Now, I don't mean to say that you're not worldly, because obviously you are. Navy right? (He He I remember that thread where everyone was calling you a liar about that).

 

[Townsend]

I think I've been to more countries than you've listed there.

Now, I don't mean to say that you're not worldly, because obviously you are. Navy right? (He He I remember that thread where everyone was calling you a liar about that).

So how is it that a person is worldly and sheltered too?

 

[Smurf]

What I say stands...getting a job is a very simple thing for most anyone who is employable...

I CAN'T GET A JOB! I'M EMPLOYABLE!

 

[Smurf]

So how is it that a person is worldly and sheltered too?

You can be sheltered from more than one thing.

 

[Evo]

You'll find a job, getting a part time job in a college town can be tough. Like Bob said, you've just got to be in the right place at the right time.

Bob's post was excellent advice, btw.

 

[Townsend]

I CAN'T GET A JOB! I'M EMPLOYABLE!

Two supermarkets turn you down and you think that means you cannot get a job?



And I suppose I could be sheltered from the poverty of the world but I just don't see how I managed to miss it all these years. I have seen homeless people but I cannot say they are unemployed because I don't know the whole story.

 

[Smurf]

Two supermarkets turn you down and you think that means you cannot get a job?

Two? No, just one was a supermarket. And I've been looking for a job since I moved here... three weeks ago. (I'm starting to run out of moooonnneeeyyy)

And I suppose I could be sheltered from the poverty of the world but I just don't see how I managed to miss it all these years.

That's okay, I'm sure they're saying the exact same thing about wealth.

 

[Smurf]

You'll find a job, getting a part time job in a college town can be tough. Like Bob said, you've just got to be in the right place at the right time.

*sigh* it shouldn't be this hard to get a job.

Bob's post was excellent advice, btw.

Yeah, I know. How does one 'scope out' a business though? Keep in mind I'm not from town, I don't really know anyone.

 

[Townsend]

Yeah, I know. How does one 'scope out' a business though? Keep in mind I'm not from town, I don't really know anyone.

Walk around and talk to employees...find out about the company...what their motto is and stuff like that. Then try to picture the perfect happy little Joe's Supermarket employee and then make yourself that person.

 

[Evo]

How does one 'scope out' a business though? Keep in mind I'm not from town, I don't really know anyone.

Look them up on the internet.

 

[hypatia]

At this point, work is work, no matter where you find it. You may not like it, but do it until you find something better. Now Bobs advice was good, but I half to tell you, I just hired over 20 people for my son and I DID look very closely at their hobbies and civic involvement.
Nearly every one I hired is involved in things that showed me they went the extra mile.
I passed up people with 4 yr degrees for a layed off line worker from a factory. He was articulate, willing to learn and a team leader for Habitat for Humanity on Sundays.
The three collage kids we got for cashiers, belong to a group who adopted a strech of highway near me. I watched these kids pick up litter, schlep water and pull weeds all summer. They smile..and are people friendly.
The only person I hired only because he had a proven track record of getting the job done was a general floor manager.
I suggest putting in apps everywhere, even if you don't want to work there.

 

[JamesU]

God damn crap **** ****. Even the local supermarket turned me down. Grrrrr

you could be a temp. Or you can pick up on criminal activity

 

[TheStatutoryApe]

I'll have to agree with Evo and Townsend, I've never known anyone who couldn't get a job that was actually trying. Not to say that you aren't trying but it shouldn't take too much longer so long as you're looking hard enough. When I was your age it took me quite some time to find a job. It's normal if you don't have much work experience and like Evo pointed out you're in a college town so the employers have a whole slew of kids to hire from. You could try a temp agency. I have a friend that hasn't been out of work for more than a couple weeks at a time in years by working through an agency. He just picked up a job starting at $17.50 an hour through an agency. He's not in school and doesn't even have a degree.
It's not that hard to find a job.

 

[eax]

The only interviews I got was the ones I submitted more than one resume.

 

[loseyourname]

Come on Smurf, you've only been hunting for three weeks and you're already disheartened?

On a side note, I'm starting with AmeriCorps (the domestic Peace Corps) next week. It's not technically a job, but we do get a living stipend and a scholarship at the end of the service term. My workstudy award covers the money. Does Canada not have workstudy programs or do you just not qualify?

By the way, to the guy who got a BS in Chemistry and couldn't find work, you may have been looking in the wrong place. There were people at LACC finding employment fresh out of Analytic Chem that didn't even have associate's degrees. Not only has the chemical industry been so hot lately, but many found jobs with the city, doing water treatment or soil testing and other things. A chemistry degree is great to have for civic employment. I used to receive the ACS biweekly magazine (I forget what it was called) and they had a huge section in the back with job openings all over the place. Were you a member of ACS while you were in school? That might have helped, as they can do a lot to help place you in a job. Heck, I even found work one summer helping in a lab testing Alzheimer's treatments on rats, and I had only taken one chemistry class (it was through a program designed to get minorities research experience, though, so if you're white, you wouldn't have qualified).

The only time I've ever experienced any hardship because of unemployment was when frickin' Disneyland laid me off because DCA was doing so poorly and they decided to cut back on the entertainment department. I ended up moving to New Jersey and found work managing a chocolate shop. When I came back to SoCal I got a temp position at the LA County Museum of Natural History helping with the chocolate exhibit! Ah, chocolate. Then I went back into theme parks. It's a lot easier in the LA area, because if all else fails, the theme parks are always hiring, and they hire on the spot, interviewing you as you apply.

 

[BobG]

I'll have to agree with Evo and Townsend, I've never known anyone who couldn't get a job that was actually trying. Not to say that you aren't trying but it shouldn't take too much longer so long as you're looking hard enough. When I was your age it took me quite some time to find a job. It's normal if you don't have much work experience and like Evo pointed out you're in a college town so the employers have a whole slew of kids to hire from. You could try a temp agency. I have a friend that hasn't been out of work for more than a couple weeks at a time in years by working through an agency. He just picked up a job starting at $17.50 an hour through an agency. He's not in school and doesn't even have a degree.
It's not that hard to find a job.

I agree with Evo, Townsend, and StatutoryApe. Even being laid off from a construction job in a city ranked number one in the country in unemployment, I was able to find a job. Thankfully, I read the papers. When I read in the morning paper that a nightime gas station attendant was shot in the head and killed, I was there by 9 AM applying for the job.

Actually, that was my second job. A friend in the police department had hooked me up with the owner of a security company, so I made it through for awhile working two jobs as a security guard and a gas station attendant.

Admittedly, that wasn't that great a life. I joined the Air Force and got out of a town that still grows smaller every year.

 

[mh922253]

i think that is a very good point...and for me...unemployment is a job...!
dont you think so?

 

[DaveC426913]

That's what it was at the last interview I got. Lucky timing. .

Yes. Which is why you should keep looking. Someone who wants a job will make his own "luck". There are ways of increasing the odds that you are in the right place at the right time. For instance, being first in line two weeks from now when the manager fires the other student. Another reason to be civil at all times - don't burn your bridges.



BTW, if you've only been there 3 weeks and are running out of money, take that burger-flipping job to hold you over until you find something better.