Exactly one week ago, I participated in a group interview for a cashier position at the ULTA Beauty store that is soon to be installed in my hometown. Ideally I would have liked to apply as a makeup consultant, but I feared that my lack of extensive background in the business would be turned away immediately. To my delight (a vast understatement, my friends), two days later I received a telephone call from the hiring manager actually offering to me the job I had originally intended to work toward. She wanted me on the team as a Prestige Consultant, as this particular company terms it, and all I needed to do was fill out the application so she could move me forward in the system. I was literally unable to squeak out a goodbye after so many "thank you"s, but moments after hanging up the phone I began to holler and dance about the house so raucously I scared my poor puppy half to death. Cloud nine right here, folks.
Now, I'm making this sound easy as pie, but I did a lot more behind the scenes toward finding the right place than one might expect. As with my first job working at Pizza Hut (uh...yum...), a ton of legwork preceded my employment. Here's what you can do to get yo'self a job, brah:
{PUT TOGETHER A RESUME}
This is the business representation of you as a whole. While you will more often than not need to fill out an additional application, you have the power to create a page that highlights your strong points and makes you look especially valuable to potential employers. Don't skimp on your resume - it's likely one of the key determining factors as to whether you're worth hiring.
{KNOW YOUR SEASONS}
Always be aware of when companies are primarily hiring. Some businesses have huge turnover, meaning they go through lots of employees and hire often (think fast food restaurants), while others may hire with more rarity as their employees stay with them longer. If you're looking for a summer job, don't wait until summer to apply! Start applying around March. And every time you go to inquire about a position, ASK when the manager plans on hiring. Act accordingly.
{DON'T BE A SNOB}
An increasing issue in these United States is complacency. People think they have to have THE job in order to be worth anything, but without background doing the hard stuff that nobody else wants to do, you can't build any sort of work ethic. Unless you're so secure you don't need to be looking for a new job anyway (in which case, why are you reading this?), you can't pick and choose where you'd like to work for the most part. Yes, there are places to which you may be suited better, but in entry-level situations, you're the one who needs to adapt.
{TAKE ACTION}
Apply everywhere you possibly can. And I mean that. I would estimate that I've turned in approximately 120 applications since I first started looking for a job two years ago. There's a particular job you're hopeful for, but the harsh truth is that a dream job is not affordable to the majority of the population under our country's current condition. Just apply, apply, apply. You have to start somewhere!
{BE PERSONABLE}
Even if you don't want to be. Everyone bears the capability of being friendly. Don't make excuses as to why you can't go up and talk to the manager. This is how you make a good impression. If you apply online, go into the store and introduce yourself, letting your potential employer know that you're interested in working for him. Trust me - it makes an impact. I do offer a quick warning, however; don't be pushy or obnoxious. Companies love enthusiastic employees, but it's just plain annoying if you won't leave them alone before you even get the job. Remember personal bubbles? Keep yours big and respect everyone else's.
{LOOK THE PART}
So you booked an interview! Congratulations. That's a big step. Apart from having your positive thoughts in mind and your social skills intact, your appearance does work either in your favor or against it. If you show up fresh out of the shower with a toothpaste stain on your t-shirt and tripping over your flip flops - and you aren't Chris Gardner - your odds of a second chance decrease by a landslide. Now, please don't go out and buy a Prada suit for your interview at McDonald's. But be clean and neat and presentable. Comb your hair, brush your teeth, be on time, and stick with conservative apparel. For some this may be hard - I know! I'm a clothing liberal - but well-tailored slacks or a skirt and classy shoes will do the trick. Girls, no Gaga bows or purple eyebrows. Unless, of course, your potential place of work is geared toward Digital Age Japanese teenagers. In which case, don't forget those rhinestones.
{STAND OUT}
Group interviews are awesome for a number of reasons. First of all, the pressure is dispersed over everyone present instead of hammering down on just you. Use this to your advantage and allow yourself to relax and be confident. Then, you can glean some of your ideas from other people in the group. Listen carefully to the question, think about your response, and then relate it back to what someone else said. This shows that you're paying attention and aware of what's going on outside of yourself. Thirdly, you have the opportunity to make a unique impression. Be different! Just do it in a professional manner.
{ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS}
At the end of my ULTA interview, the two managers asked us what questions we had to ask them. Immediately the other five women wanted to discuss benefits of employment and upcoming sales and makeup in general and...we got off topic pretty quickly. I asked my employers what they wanted to see from their staff. They were well-prepared and gave us a plethora of qualities that an ideal ULTA employee might strive for. My question showed them that I was willing to subscribe to their high standards, and their answer gave me the information on how I can succeed under their employment. Asking these types of questions launches a mutual trust between you and your future boss and helps him or her to see you as a hardworking and dedicated employee.
Once you've mastered these steps and landed yourself a position, always aim to improve. It's just as vital to maintain a good relationship with your boss as it is to get hired in the first place. You won't get anywhere if you leave a trail of fuming references. Make service your ultimate goal and watch the rest unfold beautifully.
Happy succeeding!
No comments:
Post a Comment