Student Daughter finding sat job hard

Ripata_2

Well my Daughter is at college from 9 till 3.30 and yes she has breaks for lunch and then once college finishes she has to do 2-3 hours of training every night,she is a ladies pro sportswoman after all.I know im doing the right thing for my Daughter.Yesterday i gaver out some cv,s and in a Department store i spoke to the manager and he said how nice it was to see a parent keen to help their child!!!

pboae

I may well say the same to you if I spoke to you, but I might be thinking something quite different. I really can't believe that your daughter cannot spare 10 minutes once or twice a week. If she wanted to find the time, she could. So either she doesn't want to, or she doesn't need to, because you are so keen to do everything for her.

But as you say, you know you are doing the right thing. Which is presumably why your job search for her as been so very sucessful.

Nomad25

I agree with your posts pboae and by the way that linked thread is so funny, as well as informative for job seekers.

Anyhoo BTT, I would not give a job to a young person whose mummy had done the leg work. I want them to ring, write or visit - I know it's scary, but it shows they have a backbone.

Oldernotwiser

I have to agree with pboae; if doing all this for your daughter was the right way to go about things then surely you'd have seen success by now? Why ask for advice and then keep rejecting it saying that your way is best? I know you mean well but it's really not helping your daughter to find a job or develop useful social skills.

jamie00353

Hi

I'm a retail General Manager for a large retail chain. I don't want to go into specifics, only to say its been mentioned in this thread already!

I thought i'd post some advice here. Now having read some of the points made earlier - and the reaction they received - I just wanted to make one thing clear...i'm offering advice on how to get a part time job. I recruit lots of part time students and this is what I look for. Please don't shout down the response!!

Firstly, I would NEVER EVER hire (Or even interview) anyone who's mother handed me their daughters cv. Argue all you like, but there are good reasons for this. Firstly, I want mature candidates who have initiative to stand on their own too feet. First impression is everything! Mothers may want to help, but first impression is that the daughter/son cannot be bothered!

I appreciate your daughter is away but that is no excuse! Your daughter should apply via post in thiscase. Print CV's on nice paper and in a good quality envelope. The cost of this will be worth it! I guarantee you'll get a response this way

Handing out photocopied CV's shop to shop is terrible! I want people who want to work specifically for my store. Each application should have a specific letter of application to that store. It takes time but again this will pay off. You may apply to 50 stores, but you should prepare each one individually with their own letter of application etc addressed to the relevant person

Phone up the store and ask for the name of the manager.All mail addressed to me gets opened by me. CV's dropped into the store may never get past the bin! Spend time and do research!

Look where you are applying to. If you have zero high street experience, you may struggle in fashion stores. Students are fighting for the same jobs and you may have to face the fact that you may not get your first choice! I started working in KFC when I was a student. It was hard work but looked great on my CV.

High street retailers look for flexibility - If you have limited availability this may count against you. My advice is apply for stores that recruit lots of people - Mc Donalds etc. They will be willing to be flexible and pay good money!

Hope this helps.

melancholly

jamie00353 wrote: »

I want people who want to work specifically for my store.

i don't mean this in a negative way - i'm quite interested;
if you get someone contacting you telling you that working at a till/customer service/shelf stacking etc is what they have always wanted to do, and you particular store is where they see their future, then they present you with a CV showing that they are studying all week in something like, i dunno, random example here = chemistry, do you believe them? i'd think it would be really obvious that 16 year olds want a job and for their first one, aren't all that picky. they're not necessarily picking a career, just something for extra money and trying to come across as if their lifetime ambition is working in your particular branch of this particular chain has to be really transparent?!

obviously i'm making it extreme, but do you see what i'm saying?! i don't expect many people asking about saturday jobs in a retail environment to be able to show their passion for the job - and if they did, wouldn't be a bit scary?

(i also want to point out that the OP is asking for application forms, not going into shops and handing in the CV - i think there's a really really huge difference between the two! going in on a child's behalf is overdoing it, but making some phone calls is long way back from that in my view)

duchy

I'll try and answer this.
I used to work as a manager for an international leisure company and recruited for part-time staff as well as fulltime. Essentially part-timers were 6th formers and students so the age group we are talking about.
Most of them had ambition and wanted to get on and they honestly made the best employees because they were motivated. Sure they didn't see their long term futures with the company but they fell into two distinct groups-those who wanted to work, had commitment and work ethic and those who couldn't be bothered-were consistently late, lazy and unfocused. We didn't get teenagers who felt they were too good for the job -but we certainly did in the second group. Passion not for the job as an occupation but a passion for doing things well and having money in their pocket.
So next time you turn your nose up at the kids working in a local leisure centre, cinema, bowling centre etc-bear in mind they are often the teachers, accountants and doctors of the future (all professions our employees went on to study and qualify in)
Actually the OP is taking CVs in-according to her later posts. That's how I read the part about her conversation with the store manager anyway.

melancholly

all my friends were 'till tart's when i was a 6th former! they didn't 'love' the job, but they certainly wanted the money and were enthusiastic and responsible in their roles and definitely enjoyed the company of other people working there. i temped in offices, often hating the place or sometimes the people, but needed money so smiled and worked hard to get a reputation for that with the agency. i certainly wouldn't look down on anyone working in any job, partly because i've had it done to me, but also just because it's a horrible thing to do anyway.

i can understand that in a major career move you have to demonstrate udnerstanding of the company and a real desire to work there - i guess i just can't see that expecting part time student workers to show the same thing is all that realistic (or necessary to get a reliable employee!).

i guess i can't see it as plausible that people looking for clearly stop-gap jobs need to be judged for their real desire to work in that place doing that job - a desire to work hard, yes, but a specific passion for that position, unlikely!

Lokolo

Allssoooo im going to butt in here, but I worked for Dominos Pizza when I was doing A Level, and when I finish uni (3 weeks wooo) I am going bck for the summer because it was such a good job.

My boss is quite happy to have me back because I am a self motivated worker and I get along with everyone. Weird really, never would have thought anyone liked working in a pizza delivery store

foreign_correspondent

I think we are all wasting our breath here - the OP only wants to hear the following advice...

"It makes a really good impression on potential employers when you contact them, or visit their store with your daughter's CV on her behalf. There is no way this will create the impression that you are more interested in your daughter gaining work that she is, or that your daughter cannot be bothered, or find the time, or does not have the skills to do it herself. Infact, many employers will actually ask mums to write references, as they know that they are so well placed to provide an objective overview of their child's strengths and abilities."

Yes this is obviously total carp, but is is what the OP wants us to tell her.

Carry on as you are!

But, just in case you really do want some advice, as so many people have already said on here... I want to see anyone applying for any job is keen, motivated and concientious, even if the job is 'only' shelf stacking.

A mum bringing in a CV or making phone calls would not make a good impression with anyone sensible who is looking for staff.