How to get a job (or not)

[bhavv]

Yes I was the first point of contact when working on those roles

On the application form theres literally just two blank pages at the end to write a whole essay to sell yourself. I will try very hard with that.

But my printer decided to die midway through and wouldn't print the second equity monitoring form, so I'll have to stop by my job agency to print the rest off tomorrow (I tried going yesterday but closed on Sundays, and today was a bank holiday with no one answering the phone).

 

[brennan]

Have fun. I frikkin hate doing personal statements.

A good tip is to take a bullet point list of their job/person spec and explain how you meet them one at a time. Gives a neat presentation and ticks all the boxes.

 

[bhavv]

I have two great examples to include from back when I was last working.

- When meeting and greeting customers at the store entrance, one lady was amazed and commented 'Wow, you're really nice!'. *Blushes*.

- While working on the shop floor (stacking shelves), I noticed an elderly lady kicking her basket around because she couldn't carry it. So I asked if she needed help carrying it, to which she was very grateful and said yes. I carried the basket, walked and conversed with her while helping her shop through the rest of the store, then also carried the basket to the checkout and placed the items onto the conveyer belt for her.

If those examples don't get me an interview I will cry.

 

[bhavv]

Have fun. I frikkin hate doing personal statements.

A good tip is to take a bullet point list of their job/person spec and explain how you meet them one at a time. Gives a neat presentation and ticks all the boxes.

Yes it includes a full list of essential and non essential criteria for me to cover over two blank pages (I will type it up obviously).

On top of the above previous front of store and customer service examples, there's obviously computer literacy, telephone / forwarding calls, handling mail, minimum of A level education (got a degree), teamwork (music degree = 'this one time at band camp...').

Then for desirable criteria there's a qualification in customer service (I'm about to do one on the 21st-24th, and the interview for this is on the 28th so yay), and an interest in the arts because its the arts campus, so again music degree (minor but still)!

So I'll go get it all printed off tomorrow, then work on it for the rest of the week.

There was a third optional criteria I think I also met, but I cant remember it right now. Will get it all printed tomorrow and update.

 

[brennan]

If you have a degree and are applying to work that doesn't require it they'll probably ask you why. Have a line ready about knowing that you have to get in at the bottom and prove you have what it takes etc. etc. Or some other platitude.

The best advice I can give any applicant is to remember that applying for a job is a competition. You don't get a job by telling the employer you can do it, you get the job by convincing them you can do it ]better than the other applicants. The list on the spec will be the usual bland nonsense about needing good communication skills and so on. Think about how you can be outshining the opposition when you address each point. Use examples from your life experience of how you can be pro-active, learn from mistakes, deal with setbacks, generate positive outcomes save your employer money etc. etc.

 

[bhavv]

Yes I'm very interested in starting at an entry level job with the college and having an opportunity to work my way up with them.

I already had that in my mind, but didn't think of including it in the two page statement, but now I will.

 

[Birdjaguar]

Does working on a front of store customer service desk and as a greeter at the store entrance count as receptionist work experience?

I found a suitable vacancy that was just listed over the weekend at a nearby college for a receptionist that I want to apply for, but previous receptionist and customer service experience is an essential criteria.

In your letter and interview you should mention your work ethic and how important it is for you to be punctual, reliable and available in emergencies.

 

[bhavv]

I went to my job agency today to print off all the paperwork for the job (2 forms - application and equality monitoring, essential & optional criteria checklist for what to cover in the 2 page statement, and an information pack for applying to work at the college).

While I was there, a stroke of luck occurred. I was originally due for an interview to begin a work placement with Marks and Spencer on the 21st, but someone that was due for an interview today pulled out of it. I got given 2 hours notice from the job lady at the agency that I could go in today so I did.

Work Placement - 7th - 19th sept, mon, weds, fri x 2 weeks.
Customer Service qualification - 21st - 24th sept

Deadline for the college receptionist jop application - 16th sept, interviews on 28th.

So next week I will be able to add current employment to the top of the job section of the application, plus an employer reference (this was one of the essential criteria's too), plus the customer service qualification after that for the optional criteria.

I might just have a lucky chance of getting this job!

 

[sophie]

Also keep in mind that interviewers aren't stupid and they aren't mindless robots. They've been around the recruiting bush. They can tell when you're stretching the truth of your qualifications to fit their criteria. Don't do it. It just looks like you're trying to trick them into hiring you. They need to know why you're the only person who can do the job, not that you're some schlub in desperate need of a buck however it's going to come to them. Demonstrating that you understand starting from the bottom is an important part of a career while simultaneously declaring to them that "any old job will do" isn't going to do you any favors.

 

[bhavv]

To be honest I'm not even including the starting at the bottom thing, as a receptionist job is still a step up from my previous and current work experiences in retail.

I don't really need to explain why I'm going for a job that requires A levels if I have a degree unless they ask, in which case my reply would be because its much more challenging than continuing to work in retail and will make better use of my skills / allow me to develop my skills.

 

[bhavv]

So I got the application form checked by a job advisor as well as getting more tips to improve my CV / cover letter / statement in general.

I wont be putting in anything to do with 'starting at the bottom', but rather that I am keen to progress from my previous retail experience to a receptionist role, and that I would be interested in working in the education sector as I enjoyed my time at university and <give examples here>.

I've reached 2 pages of statement stuff in abiword and dont even think I'm halfway done yet :x

But theres no limit - 2 pages of A4 plus go onto additional pages if required, so its more like 2 pages is the minimum.

 

[Birdjaguar]

So I got the application form checked by a job advisor as well as getting more tips to improve my CV / cover letter / statement in general.

I wont be putting in anything to do with 'starting at the bottom', but rather that I am keen to progress from my previous retail experience to a receptionist role, and that I would be interested in working in the education sector as I enjoyed my time at university and <give examples here>.

I've reached 2 pages of statement stuff in abiword and dont even think I'm halfway done yet :x

But theres no limit - 2 pages of A4 plus go onto additional pages if required, so its more like 2 pages is the minimum.

I would suggest that you say everything important in the first half page so the reader can stop there and get the full story. All the rest can be supporting examples.

 

[bhavv]

I don't think that's necessary if two pages are provided, then they must be expected to be filled. The criteria list is too long to be covered in a single page with sufficient examples so its definitely a 1.5-2+ page thing, and since its a college they are likely to be expecting it written well like an essay.

The first page is all about my previous work experience and how it relates to hospitality and reception plus the example of helping the old lady carry her basket, then the rest is how I would like to progress to a receptionist role as I have many more skills to offer like I.T. and office program literacy, plus an interest to work in the education sector with the example of my participation in student choirs and orchestras (team work, interest in the arts, experience of working in an education institute criterias met). Then at the end why I had to leave employment in the past due to health, followed by how I have made a recovery this year and been actively searching for employment since as well as enrolling on a voluntary work choice program which includes up to 4 days of attendance per week for work focused and skills training appointments, e.g. They found me the work placement and customer services qualification im doing over the next 3 weeks (current employment, employer reference and qualification in customer services criteria all met and employment gap explained).

 

[Ironsided]

Don&#8217;t excel. Don&#8217;t improvise. Don&#8217;t be yourself. You are clearly not good enough to qualify being you. Listen to them. Let them tell you who you are - or rather, should not be. Don&#8217;t question the employer. He&#8217;s a hero. He&#8217;s a bro. He will take good care of you. Well, what you become when you are not you, but theirs. Be strong, but not too strong. Be kind, but not to kind. Be subordinate, very subordinate. Be good. Be like me. Be cool, but not too cool. I had a friend hook me up but if you follow my advice you can&#8217;t go wrong. I read it in a paper.
Can we close this thread now?

 

[Synobun]

Don’t excel. Don’t improvise. Don’t be yourself. You are clearly not good enough to qualify being you. Listen to them. Let them tell you who you are - or rather, should not be. Don’t question the employer. He’s a hero. He’s a bro. He will take good care of you. Well, what you become when you are not you, but theirs. Be strong, but not too strong. Be kind, but not to kind. Be subordinate, very subordinate. Be good. Be like me. Be cool, but not too cool. I had a friend hook me up but if you follow my advice you can’t go wrong. I read it in a paper.
Can we close this thread now?

Jumping in randomly with a sarcastic and blatantly wrong comment is not grounds for thread closure, no. Was there something you needed help with or legitimate advice to give?

 

[Ironsided]

No my post was meant to wake up those feeling far too weak for their own good and expose the smarmy sheit spat in their face in this thread.

 

[Synobun]

No my post was meant to wake up those feeling far too weak for their own good and expose the smarmy sheit spat in their face in this thread.

This is a Red Diamond thread. You can read all about what that means here.

 

[Ironsided]

It's ok Synsensa, your stapler is safe mate.

Moderator Action: The helpful link to the RD rules in the above post should have been sufficient notice that this follow up post (and the ones prior) were inappropriate for an RD thread. So, consider this a final notice.
Please read the forum rules: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=422889

 

[bhavv]

And so I clicked to think maybe there were more replies to me instead to find all that nonsense.

I thought that RD threads didn't carry the privilege of handing out mere warnings.

 

[Borachio]

Things are looking extremely favourable for you, I think, Mr Havv.

I wish you all the luck in the world.