Too afraid to hope...

[luckywife]

Wishing you the best with your interview today. Good luck!!

 

[luvindisneyworld]

Good luck.

 

[decker96]

Good luck!!!

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

Well, I just got home from the interview and I'm so glad I had no hope for this to begin with.

First off..it was a 'group' interview with about 6 other people. I hate those. They always make me even more self concious than normal.

Second off...Denise had told me on the phone last week when I first talked to her that they 'don't do seasonal/temp jobs'. WRONG-O! If they like you good enough and feel you are a 'correct fit for the brand', then you get to stay. If not..see ya later and don't let the door hit ya on the **** on the way out!

I felt so...embarrassed being there. I was the only fat person there. Not only that, but everybody else seemed FAR more qualified than I, which means I probably don't have a chance. There was a girl who is a fashion design major in college, a person who works for an ad agency and a girl who currently works in fashion for another store but would leave that store for BR in a heartbeat. Those are the ones I remember anyway.

After it was all over with, I talked to the store mgr and asked if there was any way I could get ANYTHING in writing (even if he just scribbled it in my notebook I took with me..didn't even ask for any sort of 'official' contract or anything)saying that it would be a perm pos instead of seasonal/temp. He said he couldn't and he wouldn't. I would just have to 'trust' him. I explained how I'm sure he was a very nice man and trustworthy, but I had to have something in writing because of how I'd gotten burned before when somebody told me to 'trust' them on this sort of thing.


SO...I'm guessing that I won't be getting a call back from these people. Oh well..*sigh*

TOV

 

[Serena]

What my store does is hire temp/seasonal people and then keep the ones they like.
It's like a probation period, they don't hire anyone full time right off the bat.

I'm sorry this didn't work out, but hopefully the next one will.

 

[legs22]

Have you tried applying at Target?

You could get a discount on Halloween candy next year!

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

legs--I worked for Target at one point and would never work there again. Kind of a long story.

What my store does is hire temp/seasonal people and then keep the ones they like.

That's what I don't like. I don't believe in sucking up to mgmt and if I didn't do that, I'd be out on my *** in January.

Oh well..I'm glad I didn't hope for anything. At least this way I didn't get hurt and let down.

TOV

 

[Serena]

TOV, sucking up to management? I didn't suck up to any management, I just did my job and did it well. I'm 40 years old, overweight and hadn't had a real job in forever. I accepted the temp job because I had no other choice.
I'm grateful they liked my work, but believe me there was no sucking up involved.
I needed a job, and I took what they offered, I went from temp, to part time, to full time.

I know you are disappointed, but maybe you need to rethink your attitude about it.

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

You were obviously at a place where you could accept a temp job and know it was ok financially if it didn't work out for you,Serena. I can't afford to do that. I have too much at stake and way too many bills to pay. I can't be worrying about whether or not a job will work out because I know the market sucks royally at the moment and finding a job is difficult. I can't afford to be out on my butt for months looking for a job when I have DS to support.

TOV

 

[Crankyshank]

You really need to get yourself over to the employment office and take advantage of some interview and skillset classes. I think you'll find that it will be to your advantage.

The economy is in rough enough shape that many retirees are looking for work, many F/T people are looking for extra money, and then you have college kids on break looking for some pocket money. There is no shortage of people looking for work. You need to be better, more positive, more accomodating, and over all more stellar than anyone else there. Making demands during an interview just isn't cool.

 

[Lucky4me]

TOV, if you are looking for a job in retail during the months of Oct. and Nov. they are ALL going to be seasonal unless they need to keep a few people and you work better than everyone else they hired.

imo, If you don't get a call, the reason will be that you pushed him on the subject. NO ONE gets that kind of promise. If they do-it's a lie. Next time I would not say or ask anything except when can I start. You can work out the particulars after you're hired.

Retail has a high turnover rate. If they don't hire you, there's always the next person in line. It's the same in the restuarant business. If you really want the job you gotta play by their rules.

Hang in there-there are probably hundreds of places you haven't applied to yet.

 

[Serena]

I had no security at all. My husband just left and I didnt know what I was going to do. But I did know that if worse came to worse, I would move in with my dad. He wouldnt like it, but I would have anyway.
Or my inlaws at the time would have taken me and my girls in. I was just grateful it did work out, because I didn't like either option if it didn't.

But I understand your point. I just figure I'd take what was offered and deal with the future when it came time.

 

[Lucky4me]

Another bit of advice. Never ever talk about 'getting burned' at another job or any negative past job experiences at an interview. It's a red flag for interviewers. They are well aware these things happen, but they don't want or need to hear about them. All they want to know is that you are ready and willing to work for them.

 

[Pooh Girl 71]

Constructive criticism is what this is....take it for what it's worth.

You have a really negative attitude. Maybe there are plenty of reasons, I do not know. I do know that is not an excuse to keep having this negative outlook. Someone mentioned a self fullfilling prophecy and that is what is in play here. You have to think positive!

Also, I don't know of any jobs, esp. retail, where you are guaranteed a permanent position. Any job you apply for right now is going to be seasonal. If they like your performance, they keep you if business needs demand it. You don't have to suck up to anyone to do a good job and be kept on. I've never kissed anyone's butt and I am successfully employed.

Have you considered going back to school for any type of training?

Good luck to you. I'd go to your nearest employment office and take advantage of the classes they offer on job search and interviewing.

 

[katerkat]

I've had 4.5 jobs since I graduated three years ago and I've had a 3-month probation for every one except a short stint as a secretary. (Uh, husband's military and we moved that often!) As a journalist and in retail. And, even though I was two months into my 3-month probation from the OK store, when we moved to WA, I had to start all over. (But I still got my six month review from when I started for the chain in OK.)

And, honestly, I don't consider it "sucking up" to do well at my job. Retail isn't exactly difficult work. (Not insulting those in retail - I'm one of you!) It's really not that hard to do a good job and be noticed for it.

 

[mom2grace]

TOV--Have you considered waitressing? The pay is a lot better than retail (especially if you work evenings), and it's generally a fun job. I waitressed at Chili's for a few years, it was pretty easy to pick up extra shifts too for extra bucks!

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

I've thought of that, but the money is just too unstable for me to even seriously consider it.

TOV

 

[mom2grace]

I wouldn't say the $$ waitressing is unstable compared to retail. Making $10+ an hour is reasonable at most "normal" restaurants, i.e. chili's, denny's, cracker barrel, etc. You also make about $2 from the restaurant.

I think you could conservatively assume you will make an average of 12% of each bill, so if an average bill is $25, you would make $3 from a table, and if you had 4 tables an hour you would make $12 an hour. And probably a whole lot more than that, plus the $2 an hour from the restaurant.

Do you know anyone who waits tables in your area? Ask them about it. Or, call a place you would not consider working at (in case you want to apply later) and ask questions about what their servers make.

Most also offer insurance, some offer tuition reimbursement after a period of employment.

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

But you don't KNOW you're going to be making that much per hr. You could just make your $2. It's far too unstable for me to even consider it. If I didn't have DS and various other bills, etc to worry about, I might think about it. BUT I realize that becoming a waitress/hostess is just too risky for me at the moment.

TOV

 

[1stNoel]

Hi TOV -

I'm sorry it didn't go well today. The good news is even though you may not have felt qualified to be in that interview group, your past credentials got you in and that's really GREAT! Seriously, good for you.

You have received some excellent advice here and I hope you consider it. As I've said before you cannot carry around these past experiences with "bad" managers. You have the let them go and enter these interviews with a positive attitude, letting the interviewer know only the good aspects of what you have learned in your previous positions.

Don't ever go into an interview with a list of what you want or make any demands. It's OK to ask questions about salary, benefits, etc., but don't ever act surprised or disappointed by what you are told. The interviewer has the responsibility of selling this job to you as well as making the decision on whether or not to hire you and how well they "sell it" can be a good indication of what kind of management skills they have. After an offer is made is when some negotiations can take place, but no employer will guarantee you permanent long-term employment, so don't ask.

You must open yourself up to accepting what is available and not hold out for a job that meets with all of your hopes and wishes. If you get laid off after the holidays, you will again be eligible for unemployment benefits. Take the chance, do your best, keep your attitude positive. You can do this!

Noel