Job hunting advice

Hi there! Sometimes it can take a while to get a job. If you have gotten an interview, this means that the potential employer who interviewed you liked something on your application. What I would suggest is that you try applying to similar positions, and make sure that you tailor your resume to the position(s) you are applying to.

To how many jobs per week do you apply (on average)?

Do you have a friend or do you know somebody who is working in a store, or a place where you would like to work, and could put in a word for you or provide you with a referal?

 

Okay. Have you tried speaking with some of the employees in some of the stores you would like to work for?

When you apply to a position either in person or online, do you also submit a resume with your application?

 

Ask one or two people, if they would be willing to spare a couple of minutes to talk with you about the store, and what some of their positions look like or what some of the responsibilities are. Showing interest and doing a bit of 'homework' on the different stores can go a long way in getting in.

You have found part of the answer to why you haven't gotten any responses. Submit a resume with every application that you fill out/submit, and make sure that it is not a generic resume (i.e. do not submit the same resume to every store you are applying to. The chances are that it will not give you the results you are looking for).

Remember, you are applying to highly competitive positions. A general application form might not give you the opportunity to stand out among the other applicants. A well written, and tailored resume, will.

Every employer, when looking for who they would like to interview or hire, asks themselves:
Why should I interview and hire this applicant over another?
What makes them better than somebody else?

In other words, use your resume to convey why you are the best person for the position/employment opportunity you are applying to. When you submit the application with your resume in person, and as part of your introduction, tell them why you are applying to the position(s) you are.

 

What are you mentioning on your resume at the moment?

When you read through a job posting, do you feel that your resume conveys the skills you have for a position you are applying to adequately? What does your current job look like? What do you do?

 

If you feel that you can apply for positions that are higher than your average entry level positions, have you tried applying to those? (that is if I understand you correctly)

Start with your current job then. Take note of your responsibilities and skills that you are using at the moment. The skills you are using at the moment, and those that are related or useful for another position/job become your transferable skills.

Your transferable skills could be for example: customer service skills, interpersonal skills, time management and organizational skills, being able to work under pressure or in stressful situations, being able to do calculations, being able to provide information, etc... Concentrate on those skills when you try to write your resume so that you match the skills you have, and have used, to the skills that a potential employer is looking for.

If you were asked which skills have you used on your current job? Which ones would you list?

 

Start with these skills then. You have customer service skills... would you say that you have provided professional and friendly customer service? If so, say that on your resume.

In addition, have you provided information, helped customers to find merchandise, or made recommendations on purchases? If you have, mention that as part of your customer service skills as well.

Having organizational skills is good! Could you elaborate on that? Can you give an example of how you have used your organizational skills? Similarly for working under pressure?

 

You have an example of providing customer service, and making a valuable recommendation right here!

In your resume skills' section or Highlights of Qualifications section you could explain your skills and experiences in the following way:

• Made recommendation to customers on their purchases such as for cake decoration tools thus addressing customers' needs and ensuring customers' satisfaction with their purchase

• Provided information on merchandise, and helped customers to locate products or the items they were seeking

Now, when you provide customer service and information on products/merchandise, you also engage in continuous learning. So you could include right under the point mentioned above:

• Engaged in continuous learning on existing stock and new products on the sales floor, while organizing products on shelves

• Utilized well developed presentation skills when organizing products on shelves or on display units making it easier for customers to find products

While it might be nothing special, it is related to providing customer service and knowing the products/merchandise.

 

Yep, you can include all that on your resume. This is the reason why I have asked you about your skills, and what you have done or are doing.

You want to make sure that your resume highlights the skills that an employer is looking for. Due to space constraints (say for example if your resume is a page long) you won't be able to provide a lot of details, but you should provide one or two examples with the most important skills, giving the potential employer an opportunity to imagine you working in the position you are applying for.

When you explain your examples, make also sure to be succinct and use key words from the job posting so that when a potential employer is scanning your resume, they can see that you fulfill what they are looking for.

For example, you could also mention some of the skills in the following way:

• Recommended products to customers after assessing their needs and wants
• Provided merchandise information, and helped customer to locate merchandise
• Engaged in continuous learning, thus ensuring that customers are provided with up to date information
• Utilized well developed presentation skills in organizing and displaying merchandise on the shelves

As for the 'results' ... it can be anything. It can be "helped 'X number' of customers;" "ensuring that customers' needs are met" or the very fact that you have received positive feedback as a result of the service you have provided. Again, due to space constraints you won't be able to provide a result for every skill you have used to complete a responsibility/duty but try to provide one or two results - just enough to start providing a picture of what you have done and accomplished.

In addition, try to make it personal. Do you like providing customer service? If you do, mention it. Give them the reason as to why you like providing customer service.

This is how a potential employer can see that you are a good fit for a position that they want to fill, and you give them a reason to invite you to an interview.