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So, with school coming back, I dont like being broke for a whole 9 months. So I have been applying to jobs. Not an acceptence among the 7 or so I applied to.
I think a big problem is being a full time student, not many are willing to work with my schedule, and I'm not one work study so I cant apply on campus where they are willing to work with my schedule. And my lack of reliable transportation(I have to take the bus, Im on campus 60 miles from my car)
Another problem is my experience, I have only ever worked in food, even my internships have been in food(Meals of Wheels) But I dont want to work food again, I know if it comes down I can apply to Taco Bell, but I dont want my resume to be nothing but food, especially since I'm graduating university in spring.
I just need suggestions on how to sell myself to employers.

You can always try retail. They typically have need for part time help and can be flexible with scheduling. Also retail is good experience because the work is all over the place as far as what you're doing day to day.

Also try to talk to management in person and dress nice. Those 2 things go a long ways

 KingCracker wrote:
You can always try retail. They typically have need for part time help and can be flexible with scheduling. Also retail is good experience because the work is all over the place as far as what you're doing day to day.

Retail has been where I have been applying actually. And he reason I do want it is the experience TBH of doing more then Cashier or Flip burgers

 hotsauceman1 wrote:
So, with school coming back, I dont like being broke for a whole 9 months. So I have been applying to jobs. Not an acceptence among the 7 or so I applied to.
I think a big problem is being a full time student, not many are willing to work with my schedule, and I'm not one work study so I cant apply on campus where they are willing to work with my schedule. And my lack of reliable transportation(I have to take the bus, Im on campus 60 miles from my car)
Another problem is my experience, I have only ever worked in food, even my internships have been in food(Meals of Wheels) But I dont want to work food again, I know if it comes down I can apply to Taco Bell, but I dont want my resume to be nothing but food, especially since I'm graduating university in spring.
I just need suggestions on how to sell myself to employers.

The easiest way to get a job? Know somebody. I can't think of a single person I know that didn't have some sort of an "in" to get the job they have or that got them started.

Unless you're just looking for relatively low level work, just sending out applications will be an excruciating exercise. When I was out of school, and with two degrees mind you, I sent out probably 300 job apps. I got responses on maybe 50 (even just saying "no thanks") and interviews on about a dozen, and one offer, and that was with some inside references.

Not having a car and only being able to work part time is going to put a crimp in most employers needs. I'd suggest searching campus employment, nearby things like book stores that may be ok with weird hours and typically have a somewhat bohemian atmosphere anyway, or see if there's any internships nearby (especially any that can dovetail into a job).

If you don't have good connections, Vaktathi has it right - all you can do is shoot out applications like a manic. Shotgun and see what sticks.

You are in a really bad spot as you got no mobility, no experience and are relatively unflexible time-wise on top of being rather young (iirc). Really do try to force yourself into a job at the university, it's a great place to network.

Transferable skills - you're experienced dealing with a very demanding public. No really - think how you saved the day on a couple of occasions. How did you "upsell" extras like more drinks, side orders or desserts?

If you want a job, you need to look like you're in the job already - dress smart, confident, learn the lingo and background.

If you feel like you can make a good impression and have the time, ask to go and see someone to talk about the position.

Get a good CV and tailor it to the post. Yes, every one - it helps to have a huge and very generic CV document that you never send out, but can build a CV from. Go through the skills list on the job ad and provide evidence that you've done as many as possible.

Happy hunting!

Since you're studying and need something close by I'd suggest going to ask in person (along with a copy of your CV ands a cover letter) rather than just applying online/by post,

And doing it on foot should give you a good idea of where you can reliably get to

(nothing is going to hurt you more than getting a job, and then getting sacked for not showing up as the bus was late... that looks bad on any CV, and leaving stuff off a CV can come back to bite you too)

It also means the managers will get to see you and see if your 'face fits'

other than that just keep trying

Temp agencies might be a good place to go. Where I work, we have gotten several people that way.

 Sigvatr wrote:
If you don't have good connections, Vaktathi has it right - all you can do is shoot out applications like a manic. Shotgun and see what sticks.

You are in a really bad spot as you got no mobility, no experience and are relatively unflexible time-wise on top of being rather young (iirc). Really do try to force yourself into a job at the university, it's a great place to network.

23
Cant really do on campus work, You have to have a special type of financial aid to do it(Work Study) and non-work study jobs tend to require ALOT of experience I dont have. One, for a student job, requires experience in an office enviroment, one requires payroll experience.

Are you making sure you're presenting well?

Does your college have a career service department? If so, might be worth checking out.

Do you know any friends who deal in illegal drugs/weapons/etc? If you can figure out their sources you can always kill the guy you know and inherit a profitable business.

 Peregrine wrote:
Do you know any friends who deal in illegal drugs/weapons/etc? If you can figure out their sources you can always kill the guy you know and inherit a profitable business.

Selling pot CAN be reasonably profitable, and it's probably less a bad thing in CA than in most places...

If you get caught on campus doing that it is Automatic Expulsion.

Changed my mind, that's not what good people would say.

Apply at Sears or some place that's not Walmart. Maybe a big and tall clothiing store? Less preposterous than you might think.

 OrlandotheTechnicoloured wrote:
Since you're studying and need something close by I'd suggest going to ask in person (along with a copy of your CV ands a cover letter) rather than just applying online/by post,

And doing it on foot should give you a good idea of where you can reliably get to

(nothing is going to hurt you more than getting a job, and then getting sacked for not showing up as the bus was late... that looks bad on any CV, and leaving stuff off a CV can come back to bite you too)

It also means the managers will get to see you and see if your 'face fits'

other than that just keep trying

What is a "CV" Cover Letter? Resume?

 hotsauceman1 wrote:

 OrlandotheTechnicoloured wrote:
Since you're studying and need something close by I'd suggest going to ask in person (along with a copy of your CV ands a cover letter) rather than just applying online/by post,

And doing it on foot should give you a good idea of where you can reliably get to

(nothing is going to hurt you more than getting a job, and then getting sacked for not showing up as the bus was late... that looks bad on any CV, and leaving stuff off a CV can come back to bite you too)

It also means the managers will get to see you and see if your 'face fits'

other than that just keep trying

What is a "CV" Cover Letter? Resume?

Curriculum Vitae. British for Resume.

Network, network, network

I spent quite a bit of time looking for a "real" job. I found several decent jobs out of college by just applying around a lot and doing well in interviews, but nothing permanent that really fit my career path. Eventually, a buddy of mine with the same major got hired on at a great company. I applied, my buddy gave them a good word, I did well on the interview, and I still work there and don't have any plans to leave anytime soon.

The lesson to learn is you 1) need to have something to get your foot in the door (either a great resume or a good recommendation, usually), and 2) you need to be able to present yourself as someone they'll want to hire, both in any interviews and your first months working there. It's very simple, really, there's no magic to it. Doesn't necessarily mean it's easy.

 DarkLink wrote:
I spent quite a bit of time looking for a "real" job. I found several decent jobs out of college by just applying around a lot and doing well in interviews, but nothing permanent that really fit my career path. Eventually, a buddy of mine with the same major got hired on at a great company. I applied, my buddy gave them a good word, I did well on the interview, and I still work there and don't have any plans to leave anytime soon.

The lesson to learn is you 1) need to have something to get your foot in the door (either a great resume or a good recommendation, usually), and 2) you need to be able to present yourself as someone they'll want to hire, both in any interviews and your first months working there. It's very simple, really, there's no magic to it. Doesn't necessarily mean it's easy.

Well Out of College, Im Planning to go to City Year for a year. Help kids, then see about a job.

Coming from one of the more liberal colleges in southern CA it should be a cake walk for you to get a job and blend in seemlessly with the rest working world.

I can't possibly see why you might be considered a difficult hire.

Do they have Costco down there? Because if I wasn't stuck in with the fed, I'd go work for Costco.

Use internet. Painting cartoons, photo stocks, writing texts, programming, design, monitoring something - many things to do.

 Supertony51 wrote:
Network, network, network

See, everyone tell me to "Network" but dont tell me what that Means. Make friends? join a Frat? What?

Having a network is basically knowing people who can get you a job.

Let's take an example. Three days ago I went to the Canon Europe Event, in Paris. I talked with some representative of Canon France, and he finally gave me his email address to get my resume.

 LethalShade wrote:
Having a network is basically knowing people who can get you a job.

Let's take an example. Three days ago I went to the Canon Europe Event, in Paris. I talked with some representative of Canon France, and he finally gave me his email address to get my resume.

So ask people for refrences?

Basically, yep.

 hotsauceman1 wrote:

 Supertony51 wrote:
Network, network, network

See, everyone tell me to "Network" but dont tell me what that Means. Make friends? join a Frat? What?

Not exactly, but its not far off either.

Hang out socially with people who are connected. If you are in college, be friends with your classmates. Especially the ones who are getting prestigious internships. Once you start working, be friends with your boss(s) as much as can be helped. If he gets promoted/gets a job at another company you'll have a connection there to get in the door if you ever need one. Prove yourself to be a good worker on top of it of course. Friends in interviews can backfire too. "He's a great guy, but he can be a bit of a slacker." isn't something you want them to say.

Its not an exact science for sure. But make friends is probably the best description of it.

The two best ways to network is through social organizations and charity organizations. Basically where people go to cultivate other interests when not at work.

This can be fraternities, this can be toastmasters, this can be technical or interest focused meetups, this can be soup kitchens and other volunteer work. It is called identifying something and going to it and introduce yourself to people. If they see you working hard when doing volunteer work or being socially functional and able to speak about a subject at an event, you make good impressions.

Hell, I was at college tailgating this weekend and gave hot dogs to any college students who stopped by. I met 3 students who were graduating this year, who were articulate and knowledgeable with majors in my industry. 2 of them were looking to be in my City when they start looking for work. I gave them my name and my company and said call me if you want an interview for winter break work and full time-post graduation. My company potentially gets candidates, they get a job, all because we went to the same university and they made an effort to talk to drunk alumni in the parking lot. That is networking.

As for work, public schools always need college educated people to work with handicapped kids and other kids with disabilities, learning and physical. There are positions guaranteed by law. Usually pay pretty good as well. They also can be part time if you can manage a schedule to make school hours available.

Huh...........So Target the drunk alumni? Got it.
My problem is I had some friends who got he prestigious internships at like google, but only promised to help their Frat brothers(I hated the idea of fraternity, people that will only be my friend if I be their bitch for 11 weeks). And those same people tended to be insufferable people who gave me gak because I didnt want to go party everyweekend.
Should I focus on Linkdin at all?