Ever worked for any of these?

[AUdisfan]

I'm a SAHM in need of a weekend job. So far, I've found the following places in our area that appear to be hiring:

Books-a-Million
Ulta
Bed, Bath and Beyond
Cracker Barrel
Dress Barn

I also wanted to look at Home Depot and Lowes since I have several years experience working in a garden center and the busy season is coming up for those.

Does anyone have any experiences/opinions on working for these companies?
Any other ideas on good places to look for part-time weekend work?

 

[N.Bailey]

Since your children seem to be fairly young, I'd imagine you're not too old to work in the restaurant business (waiting tables ONLY - the other jobs don't pay). Of course, weekend work in this arena would entail evenings and perhaps not the daylight hours that you're hoping for (which you may not get regardless of where you decide)? Only being part time, you probably won't be working the busiest sections of any restaurant, but I'd bet, hour for hour, you'd make triple the money.

My guess is, of those that you mentioned, you probably would be starting at minimum wage or slightly more. I really don't think you can expect much more than that.

 

[puffkin]

I work PT for Bed Bath and Beyond. I got the job this summer when I got laid off from my FT job. I am still there until I get a perm FT job in my field. I hate hate hate BB&B! Some of these things may not bother you, but they bother me:

1. LONG hours. They will only schedule you 6 or 8 hour shifts. The 6 hours are much harder to get. I work another job so I would prefer shorter shifts.
2. LATE nights/EARLY mornings. If you close you will be working til at least 11:30-12. Floor people do all the stocking, which you do after the store closes. There is a receiving crew but no stock people. If you open you can be there at 6-7 am. And yes, many times they will have you on til 12 the night before then bring you in at 6 am. Arranging daycare is next to impossible.
3. Your number one goal is customer service however they don't allow you to do customer service. You get an impossible list of tasks to accomplish every shift and then get yelled at if you don't finish them. Every time a customer asks for help, it takes away from task time. But if you avoid the customers you get yelled at too. It is a vicious cycle.
4. The store is incredibly inefficient. You will spend 3 hours setting up a display on managers orders and then two days later the display will be changed out. You will topstock 40 coffee pots and two days later those 40 pots will be top stocked in a different location. Nobody is on the same page and so much time is wasted. And don't even get me started on the cashier thing....biggest time waster ever.
5. Every single manager I have worked with is a jerk. They have this inherent attitude that they are so much better than everyone else. It really is disgusting.
6. The employee discount is 20% which is the same as anyone can get using a coupon.
7. You will get paid slightly more than if you work at another retail establishment. BUT you will work a lot harder. My friend works at Babies R Us and cannot believe the stuff we have to do.

I am counting down the days until I can quit! Hopefully in the next month or two.

 

[AUdisfan]

Thanks guys!

Puffkin- That's the kind of info I'm looking for. I wouldn't mind early mornings, but would hate late nights. I will def put BB&B and the bottom of the list.

N.Bailey- I think I'm still young enough to wait tables. The problem here is there are all these cute young college girls to compete with. But I do think I could make the most money in the shortest amount of time waiting tables.

Any more suggestions?

 

[minnie1012]

My husband is a manager at Home Depot. Being a manager there is just awful but part timers seem to like it. I think they pay pretty decent for part time. The downsides are:

If the store is overhours for the week the part timers hours are cut first.
They are open long hours. My husband has to be in at 5:00AM for opening shifts and nights he closes he is there til midnight or 1:00AM. If you are a cashier you might not have to be in that early or that late but anything on the sales floor you will.
They also don't give employees a discount.

If you have more specific questions based on part timers I can ask him.

 

[wdwfan16]

I'm a SAHM in need of a weekend job. So far, I've found the following places in our area that appear to be hiring:

Books-a-Million
Ulta
Bed, Bath and Beyond
Cracker Barrel
Dress Barn

I also wanted to look at Home Depot and Lowes since I have several years experience working in a garden center and the busy season is coming up for those.

Does anyone have any experiences/opinions on working for these companies?
Any other ideas on good places to look for part-time weekend work?

I would pick the one that you would be most likely to use a store discount. If you are working on your home then HD or Lowes would be a good choice.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Have you considered being a companion for an elderly person in your area? Usually pays well, and often off the books...

 

[N.Bailey]

Thanks guys!

Puffkin- That's the kind of info I'm looking for. I wouldn't mind early mornings, but would hate late nights. I will def put BB&B and the bottom of the list.

N.Bailey- I think I'm still young enough to wait tables. The problem here is there are all these cute young college girls to compete with. But I do think I could make the most money in the shortest amount of time waiting tables.

Any more suggestions?

Well, if you choose waiting tables, you probably will be working with a lot of younger people. This might even include high school students (depending on the policy of the restaurant). For the most part however, young kids want money, but they don't always want the work that goes with it. Waiting tables is NOT easy work. I think most managers in this type of business believe that for the most part, as long as one can perform the job at hand, older people tend to take it much more seriously.

Do you have a Ponderosa in your area, or a similar type restaurant? I'm speaking specifically of a restaurant where you go in, place your order, and then are seated, but one that still accepts tipping. While people don't normally tip as high in these types of restaurants, you're able to wait on more tables (I've waited on sections that consisted of 11 tables at a time and have actually went outside my specific section picking up more tables on MANY occasions - this happens when you're on shift before others are scheduled, or if you get busy after others are let go early, or if a customer requests a table/booth that's no one is picking up at that particular time), plus, if you're stiffed, you don't notice it as much. I never worked for Ponderosa, so I can't give you particulars, but I have worked in this "type" of restaurant when I was ummmmm, college age (lol). As for waiting tables itself, it doesn't get any easier than this (though you WILL run your butt off keeping up with them all).

Here is where I worked. Unlike Ponderosa, most everyone does order a meal from the menu. I made REALLY good money here.
http://hosss.com/

 

[PolyndianPrincessJes]

I worked at Ulta. When you start, you really can't tell them when to schedule you. They'll schedule you when they need you. It's a decent company (I prefer Sephora, but we didn't have one locally then). I imagine a lot of places are like that to begin with, but once you establish yourself as a responsible employee, you can have more say over your schedule.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I would work wherever I am least likely to spend my paycheck.

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

My husband is a manager at Home Depot. Being a manager there is just awful but part timers seem to like it. I think they pay pretty decent for part time. The downsides are:

If the store is overhours for the week the part timers hours are cut first.
They are open long hours. My husband has to be in at 5:00AM for opening shifts and nights he closes he is there til midnight or 1:00AM. If you are a cashier you might not have to be in that early or that late but anything on the sales floor you will.
They also don't give employees a discount.

If you have more specific questions based on part timers I can ask him.

haha minnie, fiance also works as ASM @ HD. And like you said he had to be up 4AM the past 2 days and Fri he will be closing so he will be home like midnight or 1.
He seems to get along with everyone and works with a nice group.
I would look into being a cashier since you probably won't have to be their really late at night.

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

I would pick the one that you would be most likely to use a store discount. If you are working on your home then HD or Lowes would be a good choice.

Don't know about Lowes, but HD does not give employee discounts.

 

[bumbershoot]

I would work wherever I am least likely to spend my paycheck.

That's been my criterion, too, at some points in my life.


Don't know where you are, OP, from your location, but if you have a Trader Joes in your area, they treat their employees very well. When I've thought of working part time in the past, I couldn't, because DH was working weekends, and they require at least one weekend day, but since you are specifically looking for weekends, it's worth looking into!

Actually, grocery stores could be a good idea. Not always easy to get the hours you need, but it's solid work, and if you can find a union store, your benefits will be good. I had a friend who worked as a cashier, had full insurance while working part time, and paid nothing for the premiums. Had Lasik done with nothing OOP (while I paid in full). Worth looking into!

 

[golfgal]

I have to agree with looking into being a waitress but do it at a nicer restaurant where you will actually get descent tips to make it worthwhile. Along with that they are more apt to hire a more mature server then a teenager. I had a friend that did this when our kids were all young. She would work one weeknight and either Friday night or Saturday night and would bring home about $800/week in tips. She worked at Red Lobster, not fancy but high enough meal cost that the tips added up.

 

[AUdisfan]

Have you considered being a companion for an elderly person in your area? Usually pays well, and often off the books...

That's a really good idea I hadn't thought of before. (I can't believe I'm taking advice from a Bama fan.) I can sit and listen to older people talk about their lives and the past all day long. It really fascinates me.

I would work wherever I am least likely to spend my paycheck.

This is why it might not be a good idea for me to work at Ulta.

Minnie1012- If you have a chance, ask your DH if he thinks I can get just weekends @ HD.

Bumbershoot - Thanks for the grocery store idea. We don't have a Trader Joe's, but I will look into some of the others. They are building a Publix, but I need something before it's supposed to open in May. P.S. I'm Molly too!

I really appreciate all the input. It's so helpful.

 

[AUdisfan]

I have to agree with looking into being a waitress but do it at a nicer restaurant where you will actually get descent tips to make it worthwhile. Along with that they are more apt to hire a more mature server then a teenager. I had a friend that did this when our kids were all young. She would work one weeknight and either Friday night or Saturday night and would bring home about $800/week in tips. She worked at Red Lobster, not fancy but high enough meal cost that the tips added up.

Wow! That's good money. We have Red Lobster, Olive Garden, etc. I definitely agree about working at a nicer place.

N. Bailey - Thanks for the idea about Ponderosa type places. We have 1 or 2 places like that.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

...(I can't believe I'm taking advice from a Bama fan.)...

Here, we are all Disney fans. Besides, I am not a typical Bama fan. I have no ill feelings for Auburn.

 

[minnie1012]

haha minnie, fiance also works as ASM @ HD. And like you said he had to be up 4AM the past 2 days and Fri he will be closing so he will be home like midnight or 1.
He seems to get along with everyone and works with a nice group.
I would look into being a cashier since you probably won't have to be their really late at night.

Haha my husband is closing tomorrow night! At least I get the TV to myself : )

 

[minnie1012]

Well, if you choose waiting tables, you probably will be working with a lot of younger people. This might even include high school students (depending on the policy of the restaurant). For the most part however, young kids want money, but they don't always want the work that goes with it. Waiting tables is NOT easy work. I think most managers in this type of business believe that for the most part, as long as one can perform the job at hand, older people tend to take it much more seriously.

Do you have a Ponderosa in your area, or a similar type restaurant? I'm speaking specifically of a restaurant where you go in, place your order, and then are seated, but one that still accepts tipping. While people don't normally tip as high in these types of restaurants, you're able to wait on more tables (I've waited on sections that consisted of 11 tables at a time and have actually went outside my specific section picking up more tables on MANY occasions - this happens when you're on shift before others are scheduled, or if you get busy after others are let go early, or if a customer requests a table/booth that's no one is picking up at that particular time), plus, if you're stiffed, you don't notice it as much. I never worked for Ponderosa, so I can't give you particulars, but I have worked in this "type" of restaurant when I was ummmmm, college age (lol). As for waiting tables itself, it doesn't get any easier than this (though you WILL run your butt off keeping up with them all).

Here is where I worked. Unlike Ponderosa, most everyone does order a meal from the menu. I made REALLY good money here.
http://hosss.com/

My cousin made great money as a waitress at the Sizzler. She started working there when she was in her 40's. Now she manages one.

 

[minnie1012]

Minnie1012- If you have a chance, ask your DH if he thinks I can get just weekends @ HD.

He said they would.