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05-31-2007, 07:41 PM
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#16 | | Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Threads: 38
Posts: 302
| For past "work experience" use some volunteering or other non-traditional work experience instead of listing nothing. | 
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05-31-2007, 10:26 PM
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#17 | | Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Threads: 11
Posts: 466
| Well, when it comes to using non-paid experience as work experience, how appropriate is it to use experience that isn't related to the job that you're applying to? Sure, I could explain how I have worked with kids struggling in school, but how much would most employers care??
Hmm, I should try applying to Gymboree or Baby Gap or something... Well, about applying to kids places, would babysitting convince them of ability to work in that sort of environment... I suppose clothing stores look more for sales experience, though... | |
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05-31-2007, 11:16 PM
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#18 | | Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Threads: 30
Posts: 629
| I'm in a similar situation. I've held jobs before, but mostly under the table in my old country (which has rampant unemployment, esp. for immigrants - which I was there as well). So I can't put that on my resume.
The small non-profits orgs I used to work for before getting to college are all disbanded, and getting a job on-campus (it is now illegal for international students in the US to work off-campus) has turned out to be too complicated schedule-wise and with the large pool of international applicants clamoring for the same job with less heavy courseload.
I've found it easy to get jobs before - most of my under-the-table gigs came about naturally with me just dropping in and getting hired on the spot - but now, I find myself completely stripped of a resume and without any realistic way of conveying the circumstances of the lack without sounding like I'm making justifications or trying to avoid my potential new employers to contact my old ones.
Hopefully I'll figure something out. This is my last quarter at a school with a quarter-system, which has made it impossible to work over the summer (as I only have a month and a half free, and this is when going back to my old country where I'm limited to the small town where my parents live or random living at friends houses). It's an impossible situation.
You have a far better shot - remember that you have SOME experience, even if it is not official wage labor! Emphasize this experience. Emphasize your grades. Just call up or visit random stores, businesses and organizations, and present yourself professionally and confidently. Most of the time it is exactly this social competence skill that keeps otherwise accomplished, but non-experienced kids, to land on-the-spot-hire jobs. | |
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06-01-2007, 12:33 AM
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#19 | | Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Threads: 1
Posts: 749
| It maybe your local economy. Does it have high unemployement rate? My D was hired on the spot. If it's not for the fact that she is only 16 she could have her pick of jobs. For example, she loves books and music, would love to work at Borders and was hoping to interview there but there is a minimum requirement age like 18 to work there. | |
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06-01-2007, 01:00 AM
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#20 | | Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Threads: 11
Posts: 466
| Thanks frrph, for the advice, and I feel your pain about the quarter system... Who will hire anyone for such a short period of time.
No, it doesn't seem that unemployment rate is particularly high...
I am actually not sure what the problem is... I have noticed that no one in the top 10% of highschool was able to find a job in our area... Its quite shocking, actually...
And its particularly difficult being on the quarter system. In addition to the shorter time available to work,a s frrph mentioned, we get out later than semester, so it becomes difficult to find a job when most college kids are already back in town...
Has anyone on the quarter system been able to find a summer job in their home town AFTER school ended? | |
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06-01-2007, 08:26 AM
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#21 | | Member
Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: AZ
Threads: 13
Posts: 532
| The only summer job I was able to get once was a temp job (couldn't fit it in my summer school schedule though). I'd reccommend signing up with a temp agency if you're looking for a summer-only job. Also, employers may be telling you no because you have no experience, but it also could be that they know you will only be there for a summer. | |
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06-02-2007, 12:38 PM
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#22 | | Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Threads: 10
Posts: 670
| My boyfriend used to be a manager of a temp agency and they wouldn't even hire me due to my already set in stone summer hours (9-5 internship MWF, 9-7:30 TTh with my internship until 2:30 and then classes). Sucks that most internships that pay won't hire freshmen. >.< | |
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