Of course jobs are hard to come by these days, but that also means positions are getting filled! It's all about HOW you go about looking for jobs. Always remember that theres never a second chance to make a first impression...unless alcohol is involved but thats a whooollle nother blog lol.
So, first thing's first: your "look" is key. Don't show up at McDonalds for an application in heels and a business suit...and don't expect to get a secretary job wearing skinny jeans and tennis shoes. Yes,brands are popular with people of your generation but the people that will be hiring you are probably cut from a different cloth. Be safe, simple, and comfortable. A plain shirt like a polo is always good and a nice pair of khaki pants will probably do the trick in most instances. The only exception to that would be if your applying for a position in a particular clothing store. In that case, you'd want to adjust your "presentation" to fit the style or brand of the store.
For younger women, many first time jobs are in a mall or retail clothing store. Those places usually require you to hand deliver your application so your first impression is all you can rely on to sell your application.Use as little make-up as possible. Make up is supposed to enhance your beauty, not cover your flaws. Absolutely avoid glitter and ridiculously outrageous colors on your face unless it fits the image of the store your applying to. Stick to a basic skin-tone color pallet and you should be just fine. For women of color, I suggest Milani cosmetic products. I love their cream-powder foundation and their whole line is custom-made to fit your complexion and compliment your features. You can find it in CVS or Walgreens...probably Wal-Mart but I usually get mine from Walgreens because it's closer to my house. Another great tip as far as make-up goes...try your best not to over-do mascara, eye liner, and lip gloss. Smudge proof make-up is awesome if you dont use too much. More than enough make-up can lead to caking and maybe even smudging for those of us with oilier skin, even if your make-up is smudge proof. Again, enhance you features, don't display your make-up. The more natural your make-up looks, the better you look.
For young men, have your hair under control. You don't need a fancy hair cut but look presentable and clean. If your hair is locked, pull them back and brush the edges of your hair line. I'd suggest Murray's Hair products...usually does the trick for coarse hair.Cut your facial hair...you dont have to cut it off but trim yourself up. Use common sense: no "golds" and cover excessive tattoos and vulgarity. Let's not forget to mention...no one wants to see your behind! Wear a nice belt and cover your underwear. Tucking in your shirt is optional but if you're looking to get hired, tucking it in would do more good than harm to your chances of getting considered for the position.In other stores such as Foot Locker, Old Navy, etc... your application or resume is reviewed before they get to see what you look like or get a feel of your personality which is a little more difficult. But not impossible to pull off :)
There are pros and cons to applying for jobs online. It's convenient, fast, less nerve-wrecking, and is perfect for those who have trouble speaking when nervous lol.BUT be careful of over-doing it. By putting an application in online, your name is put into a pool of billions of people looking for that same job. They don't know what you look like, how optimistic you may be, how great of a smile you have, or anything else about you regarding your personality. They try to get a feel for you based on a standard personality test but those are both annoying and inaccurate...no ones going to admit they have issues taking directions or they wouldnt be applying for a job, right? So if you're truly eager to start making money, have an equal balance of both online and in-person applications. Try putting in 5-6 online applications in the morning maybe 4-5 days out of the week, then in the afternoon go out and apply for positions in person. That's between 20 and 30 applications a week. This is a great strategy to use when job hunting because your incresing your odds of getting hired. Instead of applyin for 5 jobs a week and getting 1 call, apply for 30 jobs and get maybe 6 calls a week! That's almost a call/day from people who would like to hire you. If there is an option to apply in person or online for any particular job, go in person. It'll show the hiring manager that your eager to work and gives them a chance to put a face to a name.What you put in is what you will receive, so apply, apply, apply. You can never look "too hard" for a job. Infact, many are starting to refer to job-hunting as a job, Although they're being sarcastic, they are right on the money.
I'm sure many of you have heard that the early bird gets the worm. YOU need to be THAT bird lol. Wake up early-ish...no later than 10...and get started! You're not doin anything else so, why not? Use your "free time" wisely and to your advantage. There are 24 hours in 1 day...youre usually asleep 8-10hrs out of that time so now you have about 14 hours...let's say you take roughly 2 hours of "me-time" which includes getting your day started(shower,hair, etc.) and lunch/leisure...you have half of the day, a whole 12hrs to better your life. Get out there and put in the same effort you would if you were employed. Hiring managers will acknowledge your effort and charisma! Don't show up looking beat up and miserable because you've grown accustom to waking up at 12. Look like you want to be there. Look like your exstatic that it's whatever hour of the day!...even if you're really not lol. Make sure your alert and actively listening to people when they speak to you. If your look is right and your enthusiasm is what they're looking for, be prepared....research the position or company that you're applying for.
Most companies are excited when an applicant comes along that doesnt need training. Look at what the job requires of you and apply to jobs that fit what your interested in. Dont just randomly click apply to just anything that says "NOW HIRING" because you may get the job for the simple reason that no other idiot wanted the job. Know what you're looking for and then figure out what they're looking for. If they need someone who's drug-free and you enjoy recreational "happy time", don't apply or clean up ur act. In many cases, people tend to get frustrated and panic about not being able to find a job and end up applying for something they really dont want to do. Stay patient and be cautious of what you apply for because you just may get it!
Hopefully those tips work in your favor. Keep the blog topics flowin :) I'll be sure to deliver as much info as i can from my brain to your screen lol.love yall!!and keep reading!
Until next time,
-deena ^_^
So, first thing's first: your "look" is key. Don't show up at McDonalds for an application in heels and a business suit...and don't expect to get a secretary job wearing skinny jeans and tennis shoes. Yes,brands are popular with people of your generation but the people that will be hiring you are probably cut from a different cloth. Be safe, simple, and comfortable. A plain shirt like a polo is always good and a nice pair of khaki pants will probably do the trick in most instances. The only exception to that would be if your applying for a position in a particular clothing store. In that case, you'd want to adjust your "presentation" to fit the style or brand of the store.
For younger women, many first time jobs are in a mall or retail clothing store. Those places usually require you to hand deliver your application so your first impression is all you can rely on to sell your application.Use as little make-up as possible. Make up is supposed to enhance your beauty, not cover your flaws. Absolutely avoid glitter and ridiculously outrageous colors on your face unless it fits the image of the store your applying to. Stick to a basic skin-tone color pallet and you should be just fine. For women of color, I suggest Milani cosmetic products. I love their cream-powder foundation and their whole line is custom-made to fit your complexion and compliment your features. You can find it in CVS or Walgreens...probably Wal-Mart but I usually get mine from Walgreens because it's closer to my house. Another great tip as far as make-up goes...try your best not to over-do mascara, eye liner, and lip gloss. Smudge proof make-up is awesome if you dont use too much. More than enough make-up can lead to caking and maybe even smudging for those of us with oilier skin, even if your make-up is smudge proof. Again, enhance you features, don't display your make-up. The more natural your make-up looks, the better you look.
For young men, have your hair under control. You don't need a fancy hair cut but look presentable and clean. If your hair is locked, pull them back and brush the edges of your hair line. I'd suggest Murray's Hair products...usually does the trick for coarse hair.Cut your facial hair...you dont have to cut it off but trim yourself up. Use common sense: no "golds" and cover excessive tattoos and vulgarity. Let's not forget to mention...no one wants to see your behind! Wear a nice belt and cover your underwear. Tucking in your shirt is optional but if you're looking to get hired, tucking it in would do more good than harm to your chances of getting considered for the position.In other stores such as Foot Locker, Old Navy, etc... your application or resume is reviewed before they get to see what you look like or get a feel of your personality which is a little more difficult. But not impossible to pull off :)
There are pros and cons to applying for jobs online. It's convenient, fast, less nerve-wrecking, and is perfect for those who have trouble speaking when nervous lol.BUT be careful of over-doing it. By putting an application in online, your name is put into a pool of billions of people looking for that same job. They don't know what you look like, how optimistic you may be, how great of a smile you have, or anything else about you regarding your personality. They try to get a feel for you based on a standard personality test but those are both annoying and inaccurate...no ones going to admit they have issues taking directions or they wouldnt be applying for a job, right? So if you're truly eager to start making money, have an equal balance of both online and in-person applications. Try putting in 5-6 online applications in the morning maybe 4-5 days out of the week, then in the afternoon go out and apply for positions in person. That's between 20 and 30 applications a week. This is a great strategy to use when job hunting because your incresing your odds of getting hired. Instead of applyin for 5 jobs a week and getting 1 call, apply for 30 jobs and get maybe 6 calls a week! That's almost a call/day from people who would like to hire you. If there is an option to apply in person or online for any particular job, go in person. It'll show the hiring manager that your eager to work and gives them a chance to put a face to a name.What you put in is what you will receive, so apply, apply, apply. You can never look "too hard" for a job. Infact, many are starting to refer to job-hunting as a job, Although they're being sarcastic, they are right on the money.
I'm sure many of you have heard that the early bird gets the worm. YOU need to be THAT bird lol. Wake up early-ish...no later than 10...and get started! You're not doin anything else so, why not? Use your "free time" wisely and to your advantage. There are 24 hours in 1 day...youre usually asleep 8-10hrs out of that time so now you have about 14 hours...let's say you take roughly 2 hours of "me-time" which includes getting your day started(shower,hair, etc.) and lunch/leisure...you have half of the day, a whole 12hrs to better your life. Get out there and put in the same effort you would if you were employed. Hiring managers will acknowledge your effort and charisma! Don't show up looking beat up and miserable because you've grown accustom to waking up at 12. Look like you want to be there. Look like your exstatic that it's whatever hour of the day!...even if you're really not lol. Make sure your alert and actively listening to people when they speak to you. If your look is right and your enthusiasm is what they're looking for, be prepared....research the position or company that you're applying for.
Most companies are excited when an applicant comes along that doesnt need training. Look at what the job requires of you and apply to jobs that fit what your interested in. Dont just randomly click apply to just anything that says "NOW HIRING" because you may get the job for the simple reason that no other idiot wanted the job. Know what you're looking for and then figure out what they're looking for. If they need someone who's drug-free and you enjoy recreational "happy time", don't apply or clean up ur act. In many cases, people tend to get frustrated and panic about not being able to find a job and end up applying for something they really dont want to do. Stay patient and be cautious of what you apply for because you just may get it!
Hopefully those tips work in your favor. Keep the blog topics flowin :) I'll be sure to deliver as much info as i can from my brain to your screen lol.love yall!!and keep reading!
Until next time,
-deena ^_^
u sound old lol :) nice write up sis.
ReplyDeletelmao i was thinking the same thing when i was re-reading...i was like eww wheres my "deena-ness"...trying to slowly but surely turn my blog into a teen advice column instead of a journal i guess...
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