Ginniajo asks:
“I have gotten several interviews but no hires, and I’ve been looking for a job for the last five months. My friend went down the road to Starbucks, applied, and had a job a week later. I’m wondering if this is because he offered to work all holidays and weekends, whereas I’ve been keeping sundays off and making room for my part-time job.”
Hi, Ginniajo! The short answer is it’s very possible that your availability is affecting your appeal to potential employers. While being qualified and having a great interview are big parts of getting hired, being able to show up when an employer needs you is critical. After all – it doesn’t matter how awesome you are, anyone can do the job better than someone who isn’t there!
Think about it from a manager’s point of view:
When managers have a choice between two equally qualified candidates, they’re likely to hire the one who makes their job easier (the one with the most availability).
You may want to consider whether one full-time job would cover your expenses as well as two part-time jobs, and, if so, consider looking for full-time employment that can replace your current part-time job. Letting an employer know that their schedule is your schedule can make a big difference in the number of job offers you receive.
About Amy White
I agree , be available as much as possible. Do weekends and Holidays, but if you can not be there on Sunday mornings because of chuch I don’t think that is right. I work at a church and can not get to a job until 12:00—12:30pm on Sunday that is only a couple of hours after most places open. Your religion should be considered first. Otherwise it is discrimination!!
About availability. I don’t drive and have to rely on a bus. I think it is stupid to pay for a taxi when you are working a minimum wage job or slightly above. I had this situation where I worked four days a week that I needed to take a taxi. This added up and it was money could have spent instead to pay off bills, or save it. Is this wrong? Should I say I’m available anytime and pay for a taxi and waste my money? It doesn’t seem a very smart thing to do. Any comments.
Availability does matter. A lot of employers look at your resume, see the conflict and put you in the “do not consider pile”. If you are applying for a part-time job, it is best to leave yourself open and negotiate after you get your foot in the door. I have never applied for a job where the hours are exactly as posted. Sometimes things change, employers shift teams around, and now they need someone for an off-shift that fits your schedule before your interview/hire date. You just never know.
Your availability is extremely important. A department store manager in Asheville, North Carolina just turned than an applicant application because the applicant is not available to work on Tuesday’s. The manager replied, “that doesn’t help us at all.” My advice is to make yourself available 24-7 to employers.
I worked for a retailer that posted the new work schedule one day before the new work week started. It’s not fair to any employee, that works for any company, to not know their work schedule until one day before the new work week starts. It’s difficult for them to plan anything with thier families or even get baby sitters for their kids. I call this retail slavery. It should be outlawed! Where are the retail unions or for that matter there should be a law against this type of practice. I will never work for a company that operates this way again.
Hi Bernard, when we asked our Facebook fans what would keep them from returning to a seasonal job they’d already had schedule shenanigans were way up there on the list, so you’re not alone in your frustration! Most companies try to get the schedule posted as early as possible to avoid last minute scrambles to cover shifts, so hopefully your next job will be different.
I really appreciate you telling me honestly where I maybe going wrong. Thanks.
No problem Cheryl, we’re here to help. Thanks for your feedback, and good luck with your job search.
So far, I’ve found more potential employment on Snagajob than on all the other job finding services combined. I have two promising interviews coming up this next week.
That’s awesome! Thanks for sharing the news, and GOOD LUCK! We’ve got our fingers crossed for you
They should put that on the computer that you fill your application out on:
Ever since I received my job through Snag-a-job, I made it a priority to make myself available to my employer. Most companies are flexible, but if you are too dogmatic on when you can’t work, chances are you won’t be hired. My managers have scheduled me for the morning shift and have been very generous in the hours they have given me. For working a part-time job, I have managed to work close to 40hrs every week and they have rewarded me with most weekends off.
Remember that most managers will work with your schedule, but be willing to make sacrifices and by being flexible, it will pay off and benefit you.
Ever since I received my job through Snag-a-job, I made it a priority to make myself available to my employer. Most companies are flexible, but if you are too dogmatic on when you can’t work, chances are you won’t be hired. My managers have scheduled me for the morning shift and have been very generous in the hours they have given me. For working a part-time job, I have managed to work close to 40hrs every week and they have rewarded me with most weekends off.
Remember that most managers will work with your schedule, but be willing to make sacrifices and by being flexible, it will pay off and benefit you.
That’s awesome advice Josh, and even better news – congrats on your job!
My availability is wide open and that doesn’t seem to get me an interview. As I fill out applications I look over the page I’m on before moving forward. So as far as I know, I don’t have any errors on my applications. Most of the places I fill out online, do have assessment tests. If you don’t pass that test, you don’t even get a call for an interview. The job market where I live is really tough. I go to places to fill out paper applications and they tell me they get as many as 60 applications in a week.
I would love to get a job soon. I sure could use one.
I am a student who is looking for work on the off shifts ,weekends and holidays. I am only in school Mon.-Fri. from 8:00am-12:00pm. I would think that I am asking for the shifts most people do not want to work. Where does that leave me ? It also seem to me that a lot of employers see someone looking to better themselves and there situation as a disadvantage because they will most likely lose that employee once they graduate instead of having that employee at their mercy for the long haul. Also, what is with phone interviews ???? Come on! Do they really believe that phone time is better than face time ? I think my resume gets pushed to the side because it is not a great indication of who I am. For example ; I have been in school for years. I’m sure they see that and and wonder ” What is her problem ? ” There is no room on a resume to say that I have been trying to finish my education while working, raising my children and putting them through college first. any feedback is much appreciated.
Hi Tina! You should start out by saying that, while you are in school, you would love to work nights and weekends. Many of those shifts are undesirable and it should make you stand out. If you feel like your resume is being pushed aside, check out all of our resume advice for ways to make yours shine: http://www.snagajob.com/resources/resumes-applications/. I think the best way to explain your unique situation is with a cover letter. Many organizations my not require one, but, it would be a great way to explain your situation before the interview. But, make sure when you write it you don’t make it sound like you are too busy to work. Also, I understand what you mean about phone interview. In a competitive market, each job opening is getting many, many applications and hiring managers can get extremely busy. Phone interviews are a fast way to get to know applicants, here are a few tips that may help: http://www.snagajob.com/resources/5-useful-tips-for-phone-interviews/. Good luck!
It seems hard to be able to work evening and on weekends when you have no one to look after your children, especially when it’s same day or last minute notice.
Many Retail Stores base their call back’s on your availability. (i.e Target/Best-Buy/Wal-Mart etc.) Its just best to say you have an open schedule and if changes need to be made let the interviewer know. Many Department Stores (i.e Ross/TJ Maxx etc) also go by it too, The only company’s that I feel don’t go by your availability would be food service restaurant’s. best of luck to you!
I want another job that is part time i have a perfect schedule work 8hrs sunday tuesday and saturday i need saturday afternoon 2 to 5 off and i can work after my other job for 4 hrs so dont over schedule i have hoildays off for my firstbjob do you think my future employer will work with my scedule i will always be avaliable in the evening
I was hired with the understanding that I can’t work weekends, its on my application and was discussed in the interview. I’ve been there 3 months now and the Manager is scheduling me on weekends. Can they do that? I was a hiring Manager once and was told we have to schedule them based on what’s on their application, because we hired them knowing what they could and could not work. Anyone know?
My availability is limited since I go to school. I really hate how most employers cannot understand this. Yes, my schooling comes before anything because I’m paying for it. Even the ones that offer flexible hours turn me down. I need a job to pay for stuff. What can I do to get them to work around me school schedule? I also have another job, should I let them know about that too?
This is so unfair to me. I go to school fulltime I cannot be available all hours of the day. And yet I need money to go to school, so tell me what jobs are good for fulltime students then?
Hi Mary! Is it a major problem that you are working on weekends? If so, explain to your boss the reasoning and that it was discussed during the interview. Let them know that if they really need you, you can step in, but would prefer to stick to the original agreement. But, if it’s not proving to be a big problem to work on weekends, wait a few more months until you’ve really established yourself to request the time off. Let me know if you have any questions!