Mathew asked on our blog:
What's the best way to approach a store manager for a job?
Hi Matthew - Great question! Walking into a business can be scary, but by being prepared it can really set you apart from your competition.
First, practice what you want to say. The more prepared you are, the more confident you will come across.
Find an employee working at the store you are interested in and ask for the manager. When the manager comes to you, shake his/her hand, introduce yourself and ask if they are hiring. Dress as you would for an interview; this is important. You don't want to come across as unprofessional (and you never know, you could get interviewed on the spot!).
Bring anything you would bring to an interview to the store. If they tell you that they are not hiring, then ask them to keep you in mind when a position opens up. Be sure to leave your resume.
Avoid going into the store during peak hours. This means only go in between 2 – 4 p.m. in restaurants and before 4 p.m. in retail stores. Avoid busy holiday seasons as well.
Good luck with your job search! When inquiring about a job in person, follow the same advice as if you were following up from your application in person.
About Kim Costa
Kim,
As a non traditional student exiting college in a few weeks I find it extremely difficult to find a job or career. I have two questions I would like to ask that would be of great benefit to me if you could answer the following questions:
First question (This may be a silly question) “Can a person use college coursework as experience on a job application?” In other words when the employer asks for years of experience in the particular field of employment, “Can the candidate use this information on their prospective job applications?” Second question,” Do you have any advice for obtaining simple employment for a an older person with little or no skills in the IT field?”Thank you for the advice.
Sincerely,
Richard Perriman
Hi Richard! Great questions. Try listing the college courses as “Relevant Experience”. This way you can show that you have a background on the subject, even if you have no direct experience. Try explaining this in a cover letter.
Are you looking for jobs in the the IT field? If so, try volunteering at an organization where they may need IT help. This will get you experience and also give you valuable references. Good luck and let us know if you have any other questions!
Hi I was wondering if it was okay to ask a manager the status of an application…..on a weekend. I was also, looking for a job at a hotel a front desk position, but I can’t seemt o find any. Someone mentioned that they don’t always post whether or not they have positions and you should call. Well, what do you think? Also, how should I go about it thank you.
Kelli
Kim, I’m 65 and a retired truck driver. I just want something to do besides sitting on my backside. I can’t drive truck anymore but I do have some have some idea of the trucking industry works. I also have some office skills, I managed a 300,000 shoe store, I’ve done payroll, and other weekly reports. Thank you