Nicole: Thank you for your advice. This Thursday I plan on going in to apply at locally owned stores and the fast food places that don't take online applications. One question, though: Is it really THAT bad to just call in? The problem is, I applied to 30+ places in two cities and it would literally take me all day to go into EVERY single one of them, talk to a manager, etc. It's not that I'm not motivated to get a job, it's just that I don't really have time to do all of that. Would it be best if I went in to the stores that I really would like to work at (ones closest to home etc) and then call in to the least desirable locations?

Also, I know moving out can cost a lot of money, so I'm definitely trying to be realistic about the numbers. I've been doing rough estimates of my monthly pay, checking out places to live and then doubling rent (to pay the initial deposit) and then making sure I would be able to pay bills etc for a few months before I move.

When are you applying?

When I worked in the restaurant business, we'd toss out any resume that was brought during lunch or dinner. If you apply in fast food, go at opening or 2-4pm.

If I was 18 or 19 and in a dead town, I'd probably start applying outside of it anyways. I wish I had lived in the city as a young single girl just a bit longer :)

Usually fast food places are easy to get hired on (with no experiences) or at least that just maybe up here in Canada. Go during the dead times for these places though, because it'll be easier to speak to someone which may give you a greater advantage for the job.

I also hate applying to jobs online ...I find them much harder to get because they have how ever many resumes going in all at once yous is bound to be missed. Always going in, in person I found is better because you can speak with someone or just go in and look good.

no need to go out and drop 30+ on a new pair of pants. If you have a 2nd hand store you can get a very nice pair for less than 5.

Good Luck!

I want to second the temp agency suggestion. When I applied, they gave me tests on typing speed, Office skills (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, etc), and other computer skills, so you want to make sure those are up to speed.

The great thing about a temp agency is that it gives you resume metrics (your typing speed, your Office skills, etc) and a wide variety of work experiences, mostly in office settings (which can give you office-type resume items, which are important if you eventually don't want to be working in food/retail/hospitality).

That actually sounds really good. Fortunately for me I type extremely fast (my career planning teacher stopped making me do the lessons when I was in her typing class because it was pointless...I browsed the internet and played solitare and passed lol). I also know how to use the 10-key pretty well, Word 2007, and Powerpoint. Not Excel, but I could probably teach myself. I'll definitely look into that, thank you!

I would third the temp agency suggestion.

I made a pretty decent amount of money temping when i was younger, and like another PP, I got my current salaried job as a contract to hire 10 years ago.

Stress your typing and 10 key (not everyone is good with a 10 key, a lot of peope don't even know what that is!) and organizational skills and make sure you act professional and mature.

When I was younger (in 2000), I would just call temp agencies from the phone book and just ask if they have available work. They would say yes and have me come on in for an interview. Then they find the jobs for you. It was so easy!

I don't know where you live but Robert Half International and Kelly Services are ones I worked for that are national. They have different divisions based on skillsets (IT, accounting, general clerical, Robert Half even has an executive branch for temp CEOs!) Check out their websites or give local ones a call for general clerical work. They are listed under Staffing Agencies, Contract agencies or Temp agencies. Check online or in the phone book.

Dress in your best conservative corporate wear for the interview....dark pants/skirt, button up blouse, no gym shoes, no jeans.

Good luck!

You never know what kinds of things agencies can call you for. It may not even require using a computer.

Once I was asked to come in and sort a bunch of packages into "east" and "west". Since I knew my US state geography down pat, that was easy. Another time I spent a week in a print shop cutting paper, running copies, and shrink wrapping materials. Another assignment for a few weeks was retrieving magnetic tapes from book cases, and filing them back.

At all comes down to being flexible and accurate, and available to work.

So true!

I had a job for a summer where myself and 4 other women sat in a room at a state agency, organizing the case workers crap off their desks to file it!!! These case workers literally brought us all the paperwork and other assorted junk they had in their offices and we had to sort through it all. It was quite a lot harder than sitting at a desk all day long where you can slack off on the internet, but I was only required to know how to read and be able to alphabetize things - no job experience was required.

I also recommend the temp agency. The good ones will test you on math, filing, typing, some of them will test on 10 key as well. Also, my sister is a real thrifty shopper, she makes almost 6 figures a year and still frequents Goodwill and the likes. She finds great work clothes, name brands and I have seen her find stuff with the original tags still on them. I am pretty sure you can find a nice pair of slacks and a couple nice tops. I have a pair of slacks that I found the same day as a nice black suit jacket, you can't tell they are just a little off on the color unless you have them about an inch from the eye. Trust me you want to dress to impress even if you know they wear jeans and t shirts all the time. Also, if you can find somewhere to volunteer take it, the best job I EVER had started as a volunteer opportunity. Shelters, hospitals, clinics, schools, military family programs and anywhere else you can think of have volunteer ops especially for young adults who need some work experience.

Another option might be to go to the State Unemployment office and see what job listings they have. They may have some entry level jobs that fit your skills. Good luck.

I was just wondering, about following up on applications/checking the status, how long should I wait? It's been about 10 days since I started applying. I was going to check on in Tuesday, which will be 11 days after applying. Did I wait too long or not long enough? I want to show interest but I don't want to be annoying or look like a slacker. Someone in this thread said about a week so I'm hoping I didn't miss my window of opportunity.

I don't think there's a magic number of days that you should wait. I normally gave it a week before I checked in so you don't come off as pushy. You just gotta remember that everyone has to start somewhere, and it seems impossible now, but everyone who is successful today had to start off with the dreaded "first job" :) I have worked everything from childcare (both in home and in a daycare setting), janitorial, clerical...the only thing I DIDN'T do was food service! So good luck and keep us posted!

I think about five days is right for retail: those positions tend to get filled pretty quickly. It's good to have a script in your head for when you call/stop by:

One, ask who you need to speak to: "I dropped off an application last Thursday. Who is in charge of hiring?". If you say "I was wondering what has happened with that application?", the person may just say 'I dunno. I don't think they are hiring" just to get you to go away. Find out the name of the person that really matters, and speak to them.

When you meet them, introduce yourself and offer to shake hands. You want this person to remember you.

If the hiring manager says "we haven't really had a chance to look at applications", I always liked to say "Would it be okay if I came back by next [five days aways or so] and checked again? I really would love to be considered". The worst that can happen is they tell you no, and if they tell you yes, you'll be more comfortable coming back by.

If they say 'We aren't hiring at this time", don't get discouraged. Remember that turnover in retail places is HUGE. So smile and say "I hope you'll keep my application on file and keep me in mind. I'd really like to work here." There's a good chance that SOMEONE will quit without notice in the next 2 weeks, and when the hiring manager takes the pile of applications out of the drawer, most of them will just be pieces of paper. You want him to associate your name with that nice young lady who seemed so cheerful and eager.

A few thoughts:

Trying to start as a server with no experience is difficult for many reasons, so trying to start in somewhere else on the chain usually has better results. Sometimes, a kitchen just needs an extra set of hands.

You might want to consider going in to various restaurants around town (during slow hours - show some respect and it'll get you far!) and asking for a minute or two of the manager's time. Without too much back story, explain that you're interested in working for them but you don't have any work experience, and that you'd be willing to start out as an emergency fill-in if someone is sick/doesn't show/need extra hands/so on.

Have some index cards filled out before hand with your name, number and "emergency dishwasher" (or something similar) written on it, so that you're prepared if they seem interested. Some places may be happy with the card, others may still want you to fill out an application. Some places may love the idea, others may be very quick to dismiss it...a lot of it will have to do with how it is run (mom & pop vs. corporate chain, etc)...

Of course, you have to actually be willing to pretty much be on call for a while. Perks to this include crash courses in various kitchens (I'm using kitchens as an example I'm familiar with, but I'm sure there are other fields of work that I'm overlooking for this method), which helps add to your realm of experience.

Anywhere that accepts one of these "cards" will likely assume that you're placing them elsewhere, which is okay - makes you a bit of a freelancer, a first-come, first-serve basis, and they'll understand if they call and you're not available. If that happens more than a couple of times, though, they may stop calling.

If you do get called in, be realistic about when you can be there, and stick to that time. No one expects you to do everything flawlessly, but work hard and listen to what you are told. You don't deserve to be walked on, but you will be low on the totem pole and may get yelled at (busy cooks can be like that, don't take it too personally).

If you work hard and do your best, you'll be the shining next-in-line to be considered for being hired on.

Sorry if this makes little sense...didn't mean to ramble on, but my post-New Year's haze hasn't lifted yet *grins* Don't be afraid to be a little unorthodox, it can get you far!

Three more quick points (I promise, I'm almost done!):
- I was hired on rather quickly, but the two or three shifts I worked as "emergency", I was paid under the table (I didn't have an hourly rate at that point, more of a "thanks for bailing us out! Here's $x)...there are mixed opinions on this, but my thoughts are that as long as it doesn't go on for very long and no one gets abused, it's not a big deal.
- Being clean is infinitely more important than what exactly you are wearing, though dressing nicely is always important. A nice, dark colored (super dark blue or black) pair of jeans with NO spots/tears/faded bits/NO GLITTER and a nice top (avoid spaghetti straps or T-shirts) will suit you well if you don't want to spend money on slacks that you'll seldom wear.
- Finally (!), your worth as a human being has nothing to do with any of these people. While it's nice to have an opportunity to work, remember that you are providing a service...keep your obligations, of course, but just because someone pays you does not mean that they own you/can manipulate you. There are great bosses and horrible bosses, just like employees.

Best of luck to you...sorry this is so long!