s t e p # 2 : job*

So you need to find a job.

I didn't have much trouble finding my first one - actually my first one wasn't quite a job and I wasn't looking. Dad needed the lawn mowed and was willing to pay $10/wk for it to get done - he came and asked me, I said yes. It wasn't a well-paying job by any stretch of the imagination and I knew that. But I didn't need much and I knew it would only be for the summer, or at least until I found another, better job. And I had been doing it 100% free of charge, so anything was better than nothing. Sometimes I could even get away with doing it just once a week and then it was $10/mow.

My second job I didn't look for either, it came to me. A couple at our church (idk if you'd remember them by the time you read this, but they were at RBCL, our church in Louisville), Isaac and Sharon Idé (eeh-day), had a baby and needed a babysitter. They had told Mom but then a few months after that they sent out an email and asked for a babysitter from the church. Mom got back to them and told them I was interested (I was) and Sharon talked to me about it - in fact, it was two Sundays from last Sunday that she talked to me about it. It's not helpful to you at all to tell you what she talked to me about, but she mentioned the days I'd be working, the hours I'd be working, and (last Sunday) the pay. I start work July 16th and I work about a year, until Sharon finishes up what she's working on (I'm not sure if she's planning on quitting her job or putting Martyn in day care or just staying home and letting him fend for himself while he works, idk but she'll only need me for about a year).

When you want to get a job, you have to apply. The first thing to do is google the place you want to work - if it's someplace local, you don't have to specify what location. If it's a chain like Burger King, you'll need to google "burger king louisville ky" or wherever you're living. It will say what hours they're open, so look at those to see when you need to call them. It will also list their phone number, and you'll want that so you can call them. You probably want one as close to home as possible, and if that's the case, be very specific about location (so that instead of saying "burger king louisville ky" you say "burger king crestwood ky", that kind of thing) so that you're calling the right number.

Make sure you call them when it's a good time - if it's someplace like Burger King, don't call during lunch hour. If it's someplace like Sweetness (that makes smoothies or teas), don't call around 3-5 because that's when school gets out and people will be craving something cold and sweet. The best times to call are probably around 10-11 (so after the breakfast hour but before the lunch rush) OR around 2-3 (so after the lunch rush but before school gets out). And if neither of those things work, depending on when they close you can call around 7:30-10.

Before you call, no matter WHAT mood you're in, SMILE. If you smile, people can usually hear that on the other end, even if they can't see you. It's weird, ik, but you really can tell if people are smiling on the other end and if they can tell, then they feel like you're a happy person and that you're happy in the moment. And make sure you say sorry when you inconvenience them and remember, THANK THEM! It's really important that you thank them for their time - don't just say "ok, thank you" and hang up. Say, "ok, thank you so much for your time". Even if they were rude. It will make them feel like they did a favor and that they're such great people for doing the basics. And it will make them feel nicer about you and you might even get a "thank you" back, bc if they're rude they'll probs feel bad for being rude bc ur so polite. Or they won't, but it doesn't matter. They might have just had a really bad day or it's their first time answering the phone so what is nervousness comes across as rude. Or they're just remarkably rude people, who cares? Be glad you're not the rude one and forget that you had to encounter that kind of negativity in ur life.

When they pick up, here's how the convo (on your side) should look like:

"Hi, can I speak to the manager?"
(usually it's the manager who picks up, so if she gets the manager say "hi there, blah blah blah. If it's already the manager, say)
"Oh ok, I just want to know if you guys are hiring [for the summer]?"
(if they say no)
"Okay, thank you so much for your time!" (hang up)

(and if they say yes they'll tell you what you need to do next. If they just say yeah we're hiring, say "Great! What do I need to do to apply?")

My convo with Sweetness went like this:
PERSON: Hi, welcome to Sweetness, how can I help you?
ME: Hi, can I talk to the manager?
PERSON: That's me!
ME: Oh ok. Um, (ugh don't say um) I was wondering if you were hiring for the summer?
MANAGER: Not at the moment, but I'll let you know if anything changes. Can I have your number?
ME: (gives Mom's phone)
MANAGER: Okay, great!
ME: Thank you! (should have said "so much for your time" but too late)
MANAGER: Bye, have a great day! *hangs up*

My convo with Starbucks was a lil more helpful and went like this:
PERSON: Hi, thanks for calling Starbucks, how can I help you?
ME: Hi, can I talk to the manager?
PERSON: This is she.
ME: Okay! I was wondering if you were hiring for summer.
PERSON: Yeah, we're always hiring! Just fill out an application online and we'll contact you for an interview!
ME: Great, thank you!
PERSON: Yeah, have a great day!
(and then I hung up bc I forgot to say you too and I was too excited to finally get somewhere so maybe don't do that when you call ppl)

idk what your first application will look like - I think for Sweetness you have to go into the store and pick up an application form, so you might have to do that, depending on where you work. For Starbucks I had to go online and it was a huge pain bc I didn't realize that making an account on the website is different from making an "account" for applications. So if you're having trouble bc they're saying you haven't created an account, then either you haven't created an account or you've created an account for the wrong thing.

After you create an account (IF you're applying online - if you're not, you can skip this entire thing) then you'll go through and you'll list your full name, middle name, last name, dob, whether you've worked here before, what days you're willing to work, whether you're willing to work holidays (I didn't check this one, but you probably should since I'd be totally willing to work St. Patrick's Day and defs Black Friday, yk? Just not Christmas or Thanksgiving), who referred you to this company, etc. You'll go through like 13 sections (I had 13) of questions and look over their dress code. At the end, they'll say k great thanks, and tell you that they'll contact you over email if they're interested and that if they don't get in touch within 60 days of your application, you can reapply (for eg I applied on May 20th, so if I wanted to reapply, I'd wait until July 21st). Don't be too concerned about some answers - like don't give too much thought into whether or not you'd be willing to work holidays or whether or not you'd be willing to work on Saturday - because this doesn't determine when you'll actually be working, it's just a rough estimate to see how available you are and how convenient it would be to hire you. So make sure it's not like "I'll only work Thursdays in the early morning and that's IT" bc then they won't consider you. But don't feel like if you say you'll work Thursdays overnight that you'll actually be working Thursdays overnight. If you want to switch hours, it's totally fine, this isn't a legally binding document. It's just an application.

After that you just wait for them to get in touch with you. When you get to career jobs and you hear "we'll get in touch with you" you know it means they're not interested and you should find another place to interview, but when it's entry level don't worry about it - they'll get in touch. Also, don't feel like that means you can't interview anywhere else. Jess interviewed at Sonic and Rally's in the same week, and both offered her a job. You don't have to interview one at a time, I would highly recommend you find 2 or 3 companies you're interested in working for and call them all. Interview with them all. You want some wiggle room to decide what job you want to take and which one you're the most interested in depending on which ones are interested in you.

I'll come back and update again after they've interviewed me bc I'm assuming that, like me, you have no idea what to expect when it comes to either job hunting or interviewing. I'm actually kind of nervous but excited about interviewing. I got some really cute pants at Target (dress slacks, not like ripped jeans lolol) and a cute top to go with it and I can't wait to show it offff lol

Here are some links that kind of helped me understand what went into asking for a job:
How to Apply for a Job
How to Ask About a Job Vacancy over the Phone

ik, it's WikiHow, for goodness' sake, it's not even professional. But it helped me get a feel for what was being asked of me, and even if it's not profesh it can still be informative. If you need more info, ask Mom. For example, here's what I would ask Mom before I get an interview:

- what days would be best for you to drive me to an interview?
- do I need a list of places I've worked before?
- do I need any references?
- what should I say/avoid saying?
- do I need a resume?

But you can also feel free to wing it. You're sixteen for goodness sake. People don't expect you to have it down pat. If you do, they'll notice and be impressed. If you don't, they won't notice bc they don't expect anything better. So just chill out, take a deep breath, and you got this. Go for it.

Update: I asked Mom on Saturday, May 18, 2019 about what to say and when blah blah blah and she said just call them up, say hi can I speak to the manager. Once you have the manager, say hey there I wanted to know if you were hiring for summer? and if s/he says no, you say ok thank you for your time and go pursue a different place where you say the same thing. If they say yes, they'll probably tell you to come in and pick up an application in which case you go in and pick one up, bring it home and fill it out. Then you take it back and give it to them and idk what you do next bc she only got as far as them telling me to come pick up an application. So I'll reupdate as soon as I know what else to expect. I'm planning on calling Sweetness tmrw, Monday May 20, 2019 and doing the whole thing. Just make sure you don't call them during rush hour bc they won't have time for you and will be rlly impatient and kind of mad at you. The rest of it should be good tho.