How can I get experience in working for retail/sales, if no one will hire me?
Asked by Andrew
I want to get a job for a supermarket or for a Petsmart store, but I have no experience in working in retail/sale. I've applied for a job for stores before, and I guess they didn't want to hire me because I have no experience. These stores were hiring at the time. How can I get a job in retail/sale, if no one will hire me?

Best Answer:
make sure when you fill out the application you are very careful to make sure you spell everything correctly and fill it out completely. Also, make sure you fill it out a neatly as possible. I have managed several retail stores, if the applicant could not follow directions on the application I would not even check references or call the person back for an interview. Also, make sure you are properly attired when you pick up and return the application. If you do not hear back from the company in one week, call and ask to speak either to personnel or to the store manager. Tell them very politely who you are and why you are calling. The nicer you are and the moreyou look like others that allready work there the better. If you do get an interview, make sure you show up a few minutes early. Know some stuff about the company and know why you want to work there. Not because you need the money or "you think it would be neat". give a real reason, such as working at Starbucks because they do things to help the community, such as giving away used grounds and giving day old pastries to the homeless shelters. Investigate the company you are interviewing for and have some interesting information for the interview. Make sure you stand out for positive reasons, not negative. If you are applying for Petsmart, for example, you can talk about your experience with animals. Pets, shelter work, ect..
I would not suggest asking for the manager until they have had a chance to review your application. That is why I said give them a week to call you back before calling them. Managers are very busy and sometimes it takes a while to check references. oh, and make sure your references are goign to say good things about you.
Answered by mocristy

Call local businesses in your area ahead of time and ask if they are hiring. If they are, fill out your application and ask if you can speak to the manager. This shows high interest in the position and makes the manager more aware of you therefore giving a higher turnout for recieving the position.
Answered by lizards

Keep applying. Retail stores do hire people without experience. Maybe at the times when you applied, someone else applied who did have experience - that won't always happen. Good luck.
Answered by Judy

it is christmas time.. the best time for retail store to do the extra hiring.. try dept stores instead that will get you the expierence you need to go to the other stores.. but all retail do hire with experince.. and sense it christmas season.. better start putting in them appilications now
Answered by vis

That is a real Catch 22 situation Andrew. All I can suggest you should make a few "Employment Wanted" posters and see if you can place them on a window in several shops or other places that are frequented by many people.
Answered by H-man

You gotta remember that there are a thousand young people just like you with no experience also going for those jobs. There are only two ways to beat the others. Either #1 Be a pretty blonde haired girl (sorry no shot for you there) Or #2 Be persistant and bug them at least every other day for the job. People who just drop off applications and never follow up might as well just drop them in the trash can on their way out. Its the people that bug the stores to hire them that get hired.
Answered by peilthetraveler