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Topic: Time to Get a Part-Time Retail Job
| Author | Message |
| mae | Posted – 11/12/2007 8:54:41 PM | show profile I'm an associate editor at a respectable consumer magazine, and I've been working in magazines since I graduated from college about 8 years ago. I make OK money, but I crave financial freedom. I desperately want to pay off my credit card debt and student loan. So, I'm contemplating taking on a part-time retail job at a mall or maybe waitressing at nights and during the weekends. Most of these job ads I've come across require a resume and even references. This may come across a little silly (and perhaps a little sad), but I'm stumped. Obviously, you want to include only relevant experience, but mine is over ten years old. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. |
| junecleaver | Posted – 11/12/2007 9:43:03 PM | show profile Unfortunately, I don't have any concrete advice. But I've known a few teachers who have had to do the same thing. Do you know any teachers, or have a way to ask a few teachers how they get retail jobs with no recent retail experience. Perhaps there's a mediabistro-like site for teachers ... |
| recovering_jersey_girl | Posted – 11/12/2007 9:56:54 PM | show profile Not silly at all...I had to do the retail thing a few years ago when my car's transmission died unexpectedly. The things you want to emphasize is that 1. You're prompt 2. You're good w/ numbers 3. You're good w/ people and 4. You can be counted on to go the extra mile. Truthfully, I found that the less I said about my edit job, the better. I landed a job with a generic application statement. I did, however, use my current boss as a reference. So long as he/she can be tipped off to address the four points above, you should have no problem. And remember, it's only temporary! |
| recovering_jersey_girl | Posted – 11/12/2007 9:58:11 PM | show profile Oh gosh, I meant: The things you want to emphasize ARE.... Clearly, it's been a long day! |
| westsidestory | Posted – 11/12/2007 10:07:34 PM | show profile Look in your local newspaper for temporary "holiday" or seasonal jobs - they do tend to crop up. Generally the gigs are from around Thanksgiving until the end of the year - but a few weeks will give you some recent experience you might parlay later into a longer lasting part time gig. Holiday help jobs can also be hilarious. One Christmas I worked as the intercom/phone person in a very famous toy store during their late evening hours ("Customer Roderick, please return to the Barbie counter...") One day I may use those six weeks for a sitcom. Talk about comedy gold. |
| writesonwater | Posted – 11/12/2007 10:15:46 PM | show profile Playing down your editorial responsibility is a good idea. Don't lie -- you'e gainfully employed, that looks good. Those four points are exactly what they want to know about you. Three references. If you can, find someone from your work world you can confide in -- that's one. Two others -- maybe one from back then in the retail or restaurant world, if you know anyone? or anyone responsible who can tell them you are those four things. That's what I would do. |
| catlondon | Posted – 11/13/2007 11:12:36 AM | show profile I often work retail during the holidays because I enjoy the extra money and because, get ready, I enjoy the work. The stores I've worked at were often staffed by a lot of part-timers who had good day jobs--I worked at a kitchen supply store and most of the part-time employees were hobby cooks and others who just liked being around the stock. Try to target a store where you might enjoy the merchandise and perhaps benefit from an employee discount. |
| jcpatterson | Posted – 11/13/2007 11:26:20 AM | show profile While you may not exactly want to "play up" your day job, don't forget that it is tangible proof that you are responsible and can hold a job with some authority. That makes you a good risk to hire, especially for a temp/holiday job where people might take their positions more lightly and be less reliable. Be honest with your potential part time employer, emphasizing your time to be able to take on this commitment, your desire to work hard, and whatever interest you really have in the work. |
| gimmemags | Posted – 11/13/2007 1:23:40 PM | show profile I've been contemplating this myself as of late. I've just been feeling like my salary doesn't do enough to guard against emergencies. However, I remember working retail back in college and time is an issue. As a copy editor I can't really guarantee when I'm going to get off work because I stay until the issue is closed. I can't tell an employer I'll start at 5:30 because if something comes up I could be at work an extra hour. How have other people found extra jobs that work around a time issue? I haven't found any decent freelance work that could be done from home in months. Arrrgh! |
| recovering_jersey_girl | Posted – 11/13/2007 2:19:03 PM | show profile Gimmemags, you might have to limit your retail work to days when you're not closing an issue (weekends, maybe?) |
| mae | Posted – 11/13/2007 6:45:51 PM | show profile Thanks! I'm so grateful for all your sound advice. I'll take the plunge and start sending out resumes =) Too funny. I've always had really good luck with magazine jobs ... hope that translates to retail jobs. |
| caitlinkelly | Posted – 11/14/2007 9:19:55 AM | show profile Consider making a one-sheet, simple resume listing the transferable skills you bring from edit work to retail: 1) multi-tasking easily and calmly 2) excellent working closely with people in hectic environments (ie. closings and holiday shopping); 3) can easily and quickly put a wide range of customers at ease (it's what journos do); 4) get along well with others (magazines are a team environment as is retail). If you are pleasant, (let alone friendly and outgoing), calm and graceful under pressure and 100% reliable, you will likely find a retail job and be valued there. Not everyone making those wages will share a professional's work ethic -- some will, others' behavior can be shockingly slack. |
| SFElisaW | Posted – 11/19/2007 7:42:49 PM | show profile I've worked part-time at my favorite sports retailer for almost five years. I started when I was self employed, and actually kept with it a few half days a month when I had a full time job because it was fun interacting with people. You never know where it may lead - last week I got an assignment from the PR team to do some work at my regular hourly rate for my day job (which is 10 times higher than what I'm paid for working retail.) I find there is something very relaxing and refreshing about helping people and exchanging money for items. The key is to work a store where you like the people and the products. As for experience, I had to know about the sport and I said I had scooped ice cream at Baskin Robbins and sold popcorn at a movie theater some 10+ years before. Two of my colleagues have PhDs, one has a law degree. Most people are doing it as either a retirement gig or discounts on products but also just because it's fun. |
| aoscruggs | Posted – 11/20/2007 10:36:44 PM | show profile Caitlin, thanks for excellent advice I'm in the same position as the original poster and I've been sending out a resume without much luck. Caitlin, your advice sounds right on! I'm going to work on it tonight, and I'll let the board know who it goes. |
| caitlinkelly | Posted – 11/20/2007 11:51:45 PM | show profile aoscruggs, we journos have very transferable skills for retail...although it might not seem like it. We have to make a wide variety of strangers feel at ease with us in minutes, which is a large part of sales. Anyone can fold shirts or remove a sensor but not everyone is skilled at selling -- which is based on listening carefully, and responding thoughtfully to, your customers. They often respond to it with gratitude as good service is rare. |
| reporterwriter | Posted – 11/21/2007 8:56:52 PM | show profile I held a few part-time jobs in succession while settling into freelancing after a long editorial career, including mid-level management. It wasn't hard at all to get the jobs. I looked for less than 20 hours a week, primarily in the evenings and on Saturdays, and never got turned down. The jobs were office receptionist, theater usher, truck rental agent and recreation leader. None would make a person rich, but all paid the credit cards and then some. My tips to you: don't undersell yourself (retail can pay horribly poorly!), look for hours that are too few or at odd times that not everybody wants, look for jobs that aren't suitable for students, and enjoy the ride! I had a lot of fun with these jobs, which never followed me home. |
| QiSoftware | Posted – 11/23/2007 9:26:52 AM | show profile Do you have an established blog? If you do, why not use your blog to earn a bit of income? Regina Thomas qisoftware.com ------ qblog.qisoftware.com |
