Can't Find a Part Time Job - Depressed

TassieJones14 on 04/03/2016 - 21:22
Last edited 05/03/2016 - 10:54 by 1 other user

Hi everyone,

I am a Uni student (2nd year) and I currently plan to move out from home and need a job to support myself. Unfortunately, I have applied for almost all the retail/hospitality places near where I live and have received no replies (and no luck).

Can anyone please tell me if what I am doing is wrong? I usually go on Seek.com.au or gumtree and look for compatible jobs. Once I find one, I just send my CV to the email they provide. In the email, I usually specify the reasons why I want to work there. I don't usually go into their physical store to talk to them. I have been repeating this for 6 MONTHS and still can't find a job.

I am ideally looking to work in a cafe/supermarket store/shops (anything retail or hospitality related).

Is there anything wrong with my technique? Do employees not care about applications submitted online, or is the job market for part-timers really bad (as my parents have suggested?). Is a better alternative visiting the store and giving them the CV?

Thanks heaps; any response would be greatly valued.

Education & Work

Comments

  • cycleri3 on 04/03/2016 - 21:26
    +7

    I'd recommend visiting the stores and asking. Many of the suburban cafe's are owner operated too so visiting will help. Keep trying, keep showing up at the stores and you will get one.

  • aussieaubs on 04/03/2016 - 21:43

    what suburb are you in?

  • the-mal on 04/03/2016 - 21:49
    +9

    I don't usually go into their physical store to talk to them

    In person is always better for these kind of jobs.

    Go at a time they're most likely to be quiet (ie not at lunch or just before closing).

    Dress nicely, ask to speak to them and give them your pitch. Have your resume with you. If they seem keen give them a followup visit or phone call.

    Basically the more personal the better. Email is the worst, phone slightly better, in person is best.

    • sparkles on 04/03/2016 - 23:40

      Agree. When I was at uni I got ongoing casual jobs through dropping my resume (however basic) into places in person. Be friendly, usually it's other employees who may say to the boss "they seemed nice". This will only work for smaller size shops, cafes etc, not the large places like Myer.

      Christmas casual job I got through the university employment service after an interview. Have you checked what might be available there?

  • CyberMurning on 04/03/2016 - 21:59
    +1

    apply online at coles, woolworth, david jones, myers, etc.
    usually near Christmas they will need a lot of casual staffs. then its up to you to be nice and hopefully they will keep you.

  • Ughhh on 04/03/2016 - 22:11

    I'm guessing you have 0 work experience? Most hospitality and retail stores hire a lot of Christmas casuals from October, now that the festive season is over, its 'letting go of casuals' time rather than let's hire more inexperienced people. Bad timing unfortunately. Try doing volunteering or obtain a certificate that allows you to bartender or be a barista.

    Is there anything wrong with my technique?

    Probably not, most likely the same technique used by the other thousands of people who are also applying!

  • rumbl on 04/03/2016 - 22:14

    Cafes, restaurants always needs staff. Just go to the ones close to you and ask. Even if the pay is crap, you get the experience and reference to put on your cv.
    I had trouble finding work after graduating, got a job at a shitty restaurant with no interview for 2 weeks and then found a ft job in my field.

    Oh and just show enthusiasm and commitment to learn anything and everything, they them that your a fast learner, eager fit in with others, etc.

  • [Deactivated] on 04/03/2016 - 22:25

    Big companies apply online. Walking in is meaningless. If they have an HR department then walking is is superfluous.

    Small businesses - walk in. The owner likely works M-F so go then. The weekend is the worst for cafes as they will be really busy. Fridays are good as it's right before the weekend when they will see how busy they are.

    If you have no work experience then what is on your resume?

    Have you tried applying for jobs on campus? Go through the union
    .
    What is your availability? Perhaps that is what is turning people off.

  • TassieJones14 on 04/03/2016 - 22:29

    I actually have quite a lot of work experience (comparatively). I've worked 2 years at Mcdonalds, 1 year as a debating coach/judge, 1 year delivering brochures. I've won numerous public speaking/debating awards as well and I put that in my CV.. so I feel like experience isn't an issue though…

    • pikapika on 04/03/2016 - 23:36
      +1

      "I don't usually go into their physical store to talk to them" - Yet you seem to have all these skills…And I see a contradiction..Go visit the store and have a talk.

    • TightBum on 05/03/2016 - 02:26
      +1

      I was in a similar situation when I was in 2nd year, don't give up! You'll get there if you keep trying.

      Guessing you are not getting to the interviews? Given your public speaking skills, I'd imagine you'd probably find the interviews quite easy. I notice that you said you send in your CV, does that include your cover letter? If not, start writing them, that's going to sell you way more ur CV will, as it's your chance to tell the employer how your skills match the role without them having to work that out by going through ur CV, ur CV should only really be a reference for them to check up on after reading ur cover letter.

      Go get urself a hospitality cert if u don't have one already along with ur RSA and might as well get ur RSG and food handling, you can do that with a coffee and bar course for a subsidised amount of money if you're an undergrad. It should only take u are few weeks (2? from memory) and will make a little easier for you to get a job if u want to go into hospitality, this is really the bench mark and at least show some interest you have for the industry. But you really have to hunt for those roles, make sure your resume and cover letter really address what they want and how you'd compensate for the skills you are missing. Really sell ur experience at McD and try and tie in your public speaking with communication and interpersonal skills. You have to really spell out how ur skills apply rather than have them work it out from reading your CV. Make it easy for them to think of reasons to hire you.

      Look at your uni job site and always apply as soon as they post sometimes they can be really crunched for time and hire you without even interviewing if u can sell urself well with the experience they need in your application. Do some volunteering at uni and network with the people around you, you'll find the people who seem to do a lot of voluntary work around uni end up getting paid positions, and they're generally really well paid for the work you have to do. Uni's also have career counselling and they can help you with job seeking, you paid for the services in your uni fees, you might as well use them.

      Don't know what ur major is but I highly suggest looking at getting some internship paid or not, if you're in a fairly competitive degree. I had plenty of casual jobs and made enough to sustain myself but if I could go back I would have focused more of my effort on internships than the positions which paid more and were easier to manage with uni. You can only do internships whilst you are at uni so make the most of it whilst you can, it will help once you graduate.

      Don't give up, effort and persistence is key! Hope this helps :). Good luck.

  • p1 ama on 04/03/2016 - 22:37
    +1

    This is going to be a little bit of a long post, so please bear with me here.

    I have applied for almost all the retail/hospitality places near where I live and have received no replies (and no luck)

    The problem is basically one of supply and demand. You happen to be applying in an industry which almost requires no skills (yes, it's harsh, but anybody can stack shelves and scan items at a counter) and you are applying in the same way that everybody else is.

    If you're in second year of uni, why should, for example, Coles hire you when there's some kid in high school who can do exactly the same thing as you at a fraction of the cost? If you put yourself in their position, would you hire yourself? What are you offering them to make it worth their while in hiring you?

    Once I find one, I just send my CV to the email they provide. In the email, I usually specify the reasons why I want to work there. I don't usually go into their physical store to talk to them.

    This is probably the reason why. Sitting around at home and sending a few emails a night is easy. If it was that easy to get a job, people wouldn't be unemployed. You really have to get out there and take some initiative. Go to the stores, ask to speak to a manager. Talk to your friends who have jobs, ask them how they applied.

    Something which you have over little kids in high school is life experience - use it! You can communicate better than them, present yourself better than them. As a staff member, you can be more refined than them, be more welcoming for customers, deal with people better…etc. All of these skills are important and because you're hiding behind a computer screen sending emails and not going out there and talking to managers, all of them just put you in the same box as all those high school kids and hey, if you're all the same, they're going to hire the cheaper one, no question about it.

    I have been repeating this for 6 MONTHS and still can't find a job.

    Something employers want is people who can take initiative. If something isn't working, you ought to change it. This is why some people find a job within a few weeks and others can't find one at all after a year. Yes, there are some lucky ones who try on their first go, but there aren't many. Most of us will face rejection at some point in our lives, we'll go back and change something and do better next time.

    If you're consistently getting rejected, you're either doing the wrong thing or you're trying to go to the wrong place. Just think of it as dating, if a girl keeps rejecting you, you're either continually approaching her wrong or she simply just doesn't like you. If it's the latter, you ought to re-evaluate where you want to work and apply for an industry which is more suitable for your skill set.

    I am ideally looking to work in a cafe/supermarket store/shops (anything retail or hospitality related).

    I can't, for the life of me, understand why a second year university student wants to work in a cafe, supermarket or shop. You're actually looking in the wrong place. You have skills. You need to use them. What's your degree in? If you're studying science, for example, have a look at places that might need lab technicians. If you're studying accounting, have a look at whether there are any accountants around your area who might need help with paperwork and stuff like that. If you're working in finance, take some initiative and write an email to some investment funds, I know someone who did this (out of the blue) and actually managed to get a sweet internship at a major investment fund for a few months. The point is, if you have the skills, use it.

    There's actually no point applying to an industry which won't use your unique skills and talents. Remember that everything will just boil down to the lowest common denominator, the lowest skills required to do the job for the least amount of money. Do you have more skills than 16 year old high school kids? Of course. You should use them - either by talking to managers at these places if you're that keen to work there, or by going to a place which will utilise the skills you've been learning at uni.

    Also, in terms of life, it's much better to have worked at places that are at least relevant to your degree, it will make getting a graduate job much easier (should that be the path you want to take) and it will help in terms of being able to present yourself as a candidate who has had experience in the field, who is taking initiative and who is keen to actually work in said field. Working in retail will do nothing for your resume long term.

    • TassieJones14 on 04/03/2016 - 22:44

      I appreciate this whole post very much! I also agree maybe looking at retail isn't the best way to go.

      I actually study Arts/Law at one of the better universities and I really want to apply for a legal/law-related job but the job market is so over-saturated. And really, what you said above applies to a law job as well - why hire a second year when there are thousands of penultimate law student? I kind of lost confidence (in looking for a law-related job there) and thus have taken a step backwards and gone for retail.

      • p1 ama on 04/03/2016 - 22:51

        I actually study Arts/Law at one of the better universities and I really want to apply for a legal/law-related job but the job market is so over-saturated.

        Have a look at paralegal. I know plenty of people who work at law firms doing non-law related things such as managing clients, reception, general office duties like photocopying and sorting documentation…etc.

        You can also have a look at some Arts related jobs. Tutoring high school English or writing skills is one that comes to mind. Research assistant at your university is another one. Have a look at working as a librarian or see if you can intern at a policy thinktank. There are so many options, literally, you just have to go and look for them.

        I kind of lost confidence (in looking for a law-related job there) and thus have taken a step backwards and gone for retail.

        You didn't take a step backwards, you took like 10 steps backwards, there are many, many jobs which fit in between law clerk and shelf stacker in terms of using your skills. I honestly think you need to just be a bit more creative and use some more initiative.

  • Sweet3st on 04/03/2016 - 23:41

    You really should be utilising your university employment service and jobs board. Lots of employers who are looking for uni students to recruit post there rather than SEEK, where they'll get a million replies.

  • juzz0 on 05/03/2016 - 00:54
    +1

    You haven't purchased a minion costume yet. Purchase a cheap white sheet, dye it yellow (DIY if you're disgusting, or with some cheap dye) and get some fabric for eyes from SPOTLIGHT/your local crafts store, should cost about $40.

    Advertise on Gumtree as 'KIDS PARTY MINION' for $50 an hour (or if your outfit looks really low rent - $30). You will get chased and kicked by four foot mini humans but you will be blessed with $$$ (which for a struggling uni student is all that matters).

    I know the struggle, I graduated with a B Comm a few years ago and I'm most of my way through a Masters of Finance program. As I only have a credit average and no relevant experience I have struggled to find a graduate job (I have sent out resumes and applications on SEEK and attended numerous university open days but alas). Upon finishing my Masters I'm contemplating moving from Sydney up to Queensland due to cost of living pressures (Outer Gold Coast as it's still close to Brisbane but has much more affordable rent: prices for a two bedroom apartment are $300-380 pw, a price you would struggle finding a studio in inner Sydney for) It's up to us to innovate and think outside the square (by dressing up as banana coloured demons).

    They also have lots of surf lifeguard roles up there and I have completed ten years of patrol service at my local club so I'm looking at that career prospect (I haven't been able to do anything with my degree. I was hoping a Masters qualification would differentiate me and improve my chances of an industry role but there is still a lack of interest from recruiters). I'm really depressed about it as I've lived in Sydney my whole life but this place is becoming development hell (every backyard is seen now as "untapped potential") and I really don't want to raise a family or set up roots in a place where $600,000 will only buy me a shoebox hours in traffic away from the beach. Dealing with body corporates is a nightmare, no space to play or roam, no dogs, no backyard pool days = no quality of life for my (future) children.

    I'm specialising in finance as I excelled in four unit maths I'm school and I had good results in my finance major in my Bachelors (I don't have some moral mission to pursue micro-finance and help out in the developing world), I also viewed it as a pathway to travel and work in places like London and New York but that's a pipe dream considering I haven't been able to secure a local job in the sector (now in my late twenties - GFC struck when I was a first year student but don't really blame that as apparently there has been an explosion in risk mgmt roles even though jobs have dried up).

    Best of luck to you. Might see you in a few years on the 'minions' circuit (or whatever ravenous kids craze is next!)

  • mmd on 05/03/2016 - 02:00
    +1

    I would suggest staying at home for as long as possible even when you find a job.
    Have you factored in other bills on top of rent?

  • Geekomatic on 06/03/2016 - 01:30
    +1

    Firstly, I'll start out saying that cafe's & such would rather pay jr. rates.

    I had my son (in uni) go online & get his license to serve alcohol. At least you can put your "advanced age" to use at a pub or bottle shop because you "have to" be old enough to work there (no jrs.).

    Immediately after he got it, he was offered tutoring at his uni. Great pay, btw…Maybe see if you are qualified to tutor the classes you've already passed?

    Good luck!

  • ms_caz on 06/03/2016 - 10:15

    Just letting you know that the Australian Electoral Commission just contacted me to update my details/expression of interest for employment at the next election. No date yet, of course, but I imagine it will be mid year. I did poll clerking last time and was paid about $300 for the day. It was a busy day and a great experience. They also have more extended positions, for example pre-polling clerking etc, over the time leading up to and subsequent to the election, which might be worth looking into. They are looking for people who have good communication skills and who are able to work well with others.

    Also noted that the Australian Bureau of Statistics were looking for census staff. The census will be mostly conducted online this time, but there still will be a need for supervisors, people to check and store materials, trainers etc.

    Both roles are short term but may be extended hours. Both roles would be great on a resume as they will show significant customer service skills and a high level of responsibility.

  • try2bhelpful on 06/03/2016 - 15:48

    Not sure if it is still around but when I was at Uni there was a mob that hired people to do stock taking. Usually it meant going into supermarkets etc in the dead of night and counting the stock on the shelves. Pretty boring work but the money used to be good. Might be worth lookin around to see if this is still available. The other opti0n is to see if the Uni has an employment board, that is how I got onto this. We would also work full time in factories over the holidays to save money for during the year; not sure how much of that is left now either. Certainly if you are looking for employment in Cafes etc talk to the people directly; they will probably just bin CVs because they can't be bothered replying. Best of Luck.

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