Unfortunately, I don't have many friends in my area, but I'll definitely hit up the few I do have. Thanks for the tip!
Aha! That's not really a temp agency--that's a shell to avoid labor laws. Sign up with one of the nationals like Manpower. Try not to chuckle too much at the name . . ..
Actually, this one is Manpower...they outright told me their local branch only had jobs with that company. I might end up trying the one in a town about an hour away, since I spend a lot of time there and I've been trying to focus some of my job search there anyway (since I'm hoping to move there). Maybe I'll have more luck there.
Ask someone who owns one, or works for one? Your parents might well know someone. What is the area that you live like? I presume not a big city. Is it a town that serves a rural community?
I live in the greater Santa Cruz area, in California. Mid-size town. I'll definitely ask my folks, but I'm not sure they know anyone...
Can you drive? If you have a license, inventory companies like RGIS (I don't know what might else might be out your way) are always hiring. You go around to different stores and count their inventory, using the company's tech to scan things and type in numbers. It can be a lot of bending over, kneeling, and standing on step-stools, and you work a lot of nights, but you don't have to talk to any customers most of the time and they'll hire anyone who can do basic numbers and has reliable transportation to stores. That was my first job, and it's a good way to get experience to put on a resume. The physical part really isn't that bad, either - you generally don't have to lift anything, just reach the shelves. If you do have to lift something, it's easy to get a store employee to help out.
The work can be stressful as all get out -- but Daycare centers are always looking for people. Family run places tend be more flexible and willing to work with issues if you're good with the kids (and don't tend to carry what sort of education you have). I did that for years before my issues degenerated to the point I didn't trust myself to care for the kids anymore.
My knowledge of California basically covers Disneyland sorry. I meant more like why does your town exist? Is there a college there? Rural services? A hospital? As for finding out what local companies do when their receptionist calls in sick, you can always use Terry Pratchett's observation that you can get away with anything if you say it's for a school project, so call them up and say you're doing a project on what sickness costs the local economy, or something, and can you ask them some questions?
I have a lot of the same issues here. Have you considered working for yourself (freelance work, starting your own business, etc)? I just don't interview well. I can type really quickly but I can't convince a stranger of such. But if you work for yourself, you don't have to convince other people you can do stuff. You just have to know you can do it.
Wait, so did Kelly go belly-up around here or something? Because it's the other temp agency I know of in the area, and I think their office isn't too far from Manpower's. From what I understand Kelly offers temp work more in office settings and such.
Yeah. :P Also turns out they're almost exactly across the street from the Manpower office. Well, you gotta have your competition close. :P
First off Acey, the resume needs a little work with the formatting and content. I could offer some feedback if I had the original file (you could delete your contact stuff out of there and send me one with a fake name). Also if you wanted to exchange skype names or something I could chat with you while working on it and we can spruce it up a bit. I have a knack for resume writing. Not sure where I gathered the skill for it. Second - if you're trying to get entry-level work at retail or food service, a lot of places have online applications as I'm sure you're acquainted with after years of applying. Have you noticed that these online applications are giant personality tests? A lot of these tests are built with archaic psychometrics judging people's responses looking for neurotypical individuals who are outgoing/extraverted and honest. I basically have to lie on these tests. Don't answer truthfully or you won't make the cut. You have to appear like a people person and stuff. I know how to answer these because I kind of have a feel of what they're looking for and so for retail places I usually get an interview no problem. Try answering the questions as your ideal self. Third - the interview. God I suck at these. But yeah, eye contact, try not to look nervous or shaky, you have to exude confidence. Practice interviews are good. General advice: Sometimes, especially over the summer if you live in a college town when students leave to go back home, fast food places hold general interviews by groups and so they do group hirings which increases your chances of getting a position because they're just looking for bodies. When I'm looking for work I spend 4-5 hours a day applying for jobs. It can take close to an hour sometimes applying online because of those personality tests that you have to take. So even though I'm spending 5 hours applying for work, I only knock out about 5 applications. I can also spend that time walking around a mall or in a downtown area looking for help wanted signs. When I see a help wanted sign I go into the store and introduce myself (it's good to wear good-looking clothes when doing this to give a good first impression) and inquire about the job to see what they're looking for. Afterwards, I'll go home, make a custom resume for that particular job, then go back to that store and drop off my contact details. After dropping off the resume, wait a couple days. If you don't hear back call and inquire about the job. So custom-tailoring resumes is super important. Same with cover letters. It shows that you're not mass producing resumes and that you take the time to show these people why you want THIS job instead of of just /any/ job. Also, another good strategy is the diligent beggar strategy. Not the official name, but I had to go with something. This is where you find a place you really want to work at, a place where you would volunteer for free to work at that's how awesome this place is. Something that's probably going to be in line with a passion you have. What you do for getting this job is pester, pester, pester. I've been told by people that if you really want a job and you just keep going back to the place every week (I've heard from some people that you could go every day but I find that this could be excessive) and ask about a job. Get the owner's contact details and bug the owner. This shows passion, this shows commitment. Even offer to work for free as an intern. Sometimes an internship can lead to employment. I haven't personally had to fall back on the diligent beggar strategy yet, but I've heard good outcomes from it from friends and family members. What has worked for me is making sure I spend 4-5 hours a day looking for work. Committing to that amount of time making custom resumes for jobs I want, walking around looking for help wanted signs, and making follow up phone calls (which is super hard for me with my anxiety), I find that I'm pushing out 25-30 well-made applications a week which garner around 4-5 interviews afterwards. The more interviews I'm getting, the more practice. And then eventually, on your 5th, 6th or 10th interview you'll catch a break. It's strictly a number's game. The more jobs you apply to, the more chances of getting an interview, the more chances of getting an interview with someone who's willing to give you a chance. If 4-5 hours is too much time to spend a day, you can try splitting it up into 2 hour chunks. 2 hours in the morning, 2 hours in the evening. Much more doable if you have attention problems or anxiety or something. Hope this helps!
oh for interviews -- it's good to prepare questions that you want to ask in the interview to show that you're interested in that particular job. Again, like the resume thing, you want to prove to them that you want THIS job and not just any job, so it's good to research about the position you're applying for and see what skills you can bring to the table to that company and talk about that in the interview. Example: You want to work at Target and you found out that the one near your house is doing a charity run in a couple of months. "Oh I noticed you were doing a charity run in a couple of months. I actually am interested in putting that together. I could flyer for it and help make the flyers to hang up around town." Probably a bad example, but the first one I can think of on the top of my head.
I could definitely hit you up on Skype about the resume thing. I have edited the formatting and content a bit since posting that screenshot, but yeah. Part of why some of the content is kind of fluff is that I have NO paid experience AT ALL, except for very rare art commissions, so basically I have to kind of act like I've done more than I have. Those personality tests...I try to lie on them, to give the answers they obviously want, but it never seems to work? At all? I guess part of the problem is the brainweird mentioned in the OP--I absolutely feel like if I personally don't have a job, I am completely worthless. That only applies to me, in my mind, but it applies so hard that every rejection sends me spiraling down into tears and suicidal thoughts. I NEED a job, or I'm scum in my own eyes.
