Tips on finding first ever job.

The__Malteser

The__Malteser

The__Malteser

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Joined
24 Apr 2011
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Well, the time has come for me to venture in the job world. I'm 17, and have never worked in my life.

This summer though, I want to work. Not really for the money, but for the experience. I would like to work something PC related. I was thinking maybe a salesperson in a PC shop, if you know what I mean. That is probably the closest thing I can get to PC related work. I study computer studies at school and I know a fair bit PC wise (thanks to OCUK too :D) so I think it would be ideal and fun. In fact, this is my 'dream' job for this summer. I know a pretty well renowned computer store (present in the UK, but its a competitor) and I wish to work there, as its also pretty close to home.

Obviously, I wouldn't mind working in other computer shops either. What I did till now is send out e-mails to PC shops asking if there will be opportunities for work, and should I send over my CV via e-mail or if I hand over a hard copy in store. I know this sounded a but cheap, but I don't want to go in the store, give in a CV, and the salesperson present will tell me that they are nor accepting any :lol:

I also signed up to this website, its basically the local employment centre. I'll probabbly submit an application through there, and they basically get you jobs, but obviously, I'm not going to count only on them.

That is all I have done till now. Not much, but at least its a step forward! :P

What I don't know is, how to construct a proper CV. We had done this at school, some 3/4 years ago, but i kind of forgot. Can anybody give me a few pointers? I know I can just go on google, search for CV, and nick one off there, but I'm sure OCUK can help me get a better CV done ;)

Also, another thing, what other jobs do you suggest? Personally, I don't want to do the standard stuff. Pool boy/waiter/cleaner/bar man etc. If its the only thing available, sure, I'll do it, but they work long hours with not much pay. Also the hours they work is too much. Preferably, I would want a job where I work 5/6 times a week, 3/4 in the morning and 2/3 in the afternoon. ]

So OCUK, many of you have gone through this recently, and others, probably receive a lot of CVs and applications and stuff. How would you help me out with this?

Thanks. Any help is much appreciated.
 
OP:

If you are looking for experience then I am sure at the moment you will not find a paid job working with computers unless you want to sort network cables out of a huge box.

To be honest at your age get a job in a supermarket and spend some of your free time studying or buying computer parts to fiddle with and learn stuff.

Tough times out there these days.
 
EGuitarStar said:
OP:

If you are looking for experience then I am sure at the moment you will not find a paid job working with computers unless you want to sort network cables out of a huge box.

To be honest at your age get a job in a supermarket and spend some of your free time studying or buying computer parts to fiddle with and learn stuff.

Tough times out there these days.
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Fair enough. The thing is, I know of a guy 9friend of friend) who worked at the same place I am mentioning, being a year younger (or 2, and this was last summer) having 0 experience, so i said why not give it a shot? Not sure if his dad knew the owner or something, but you never know :P
 
Of course try your best, someone may take you on just for an extra pair of hands to do the odd job here and there but I am sure you will not expect to be paid. I own a service centre and I get people of all ages asking to work for free just to gain experience always have to turn them down due to the strict laws.

Wait a minute..... Your location says Malta but I am guessing you will be spending the summer here or something? Which city of the UK are you in?
 
Spam your CV to a bunch of places, walk in, ask if they're hiring, shove your CV in their face. Get out there and ask, honestly though a supermarket is probably where you'll end up.
 
EGuitarStar said:
Of course try your best, someone may take you on just for an extra pair of hands to do the odd job here and there but I am sure you will not expect to be paid. I own a service centre and I get people of all ages asking to work for free just to gain experience always have to turn them down due to the strict laws.

Wait a minute..... Your location says Malta but I am guessing you will be spending the summer here or something? Which city of the UK are you in?
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No lol. Live in Malta, spending it in Malta. Looking for a job here :P Never heard of anyone who does free work here mind. Thats why what you said was a bit O.o for me. I did do voluntary work, but that is for my A-Levels. Anybody who wants to go to Uni must do a project which involves 20 hours voluntary work. Totally unrelated to computing, but at least, some form of work.
Raymond Lin said:
Wait until this is closed and start another tbh lol
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Might aswell use it for a tad bit of info no? :P
 
I might have, but he stole it.

As for the OP, i have no idea. The only people who are 17 i know who have jobs are either waiters/waitresses or do something in shops. You can't hope for much more than that, and even then since they don't have to pay you minimum wage you can't really expect much. I just figure it's not really worth the effort for £4/h.
 
Skillmister said:
2cFWC.gif
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This I love!

Malt the only job tips I have for you are don't tell them about FM, writing your cv on the exploits in the Argentinian 2nd division might get you a job in the Argentinean 2nd division if you negate the words football manager, otherwise just lie that you've been a. traveling or b. have had appendicitis.

Note none of this worked when I was last looking for a job as I had no experience and hadn't passed my driving test so went to uni again.
 
What's been going on in this thread?!

Anyway, I think what you have done so far is fair given your limited experience. When I started work I just looked through local job papers (no internet then!!!) and applied for anything I thought might be reasonable. As it happened I went for a job for general office work and got my first job in IT instead as they needed someone and saw I was enthusiastic about computers.

My CV is pretty standard. Just has sections for personal details, then qualifications and skills. After that a few parragraphs for each job I have had and short bit about interests. Nothing fancy but so far doesn't seem to have let me down and has got me plenty of interviews over the years.

Andrew
 
I reckon it'd be hard getting a job you really want straight off the bat, without any experience. I applied to multiple unpaid internships first. Volunteering at the hospital, interning at the museum of art, etc. After gaining some work experience from that, I literally applied to every single job in a 20 mile radius :p

Even if I got interviews from places I didn't particularly want to work at, I went anyway to build my confidence. Every bit of practice helps.

You really can't be too picky if it's your first job... you've got limited experience. Your CV will look mighty bare, and there are probably other people who are heaps more qualified.
 
What really impresses me when I advertise for jobs is someone being prompt has researched my business and my competitros is smart and have brought their own pen! Obviously being on time help as great deal. If your up for it go to the shop and speak to the guy who is hiring dont just depend on a cv or application form. Yo got to look keen, look the part. Its a shame that you have done nothing other than school.

I started an apprentice office adminstraiter straight out of school, she is that good I doubled her pay and she had a good bonus at xmas. She puts to shame everyone else that has worked for me in a similar role. She is going to be a fantastic asset to my business and one that could easily do my job with training and experiance!

Jobs are out there but you have to stand up from the crowd.
 
Ok so, I was going to quote the more helpful ones, but all are helpful so I'll do it this way.

@PermaBanned
Yeah, and probably thats what I am going to end up with :P waiter, but you know, at least I tried for something better :P Hotels seem to employ a lot of students for the summer, because of the many tourists there are. There is a hotel close which I will apply for too :P

@pingwing
But I'm in the Bundesliga now, and won the Coppa Italia, and am Spain manager :P Surely I deserve a job a bit better :P Hey, I do earn over 40k/w there :P Also, never went to Argentinian second division. Was Serie B, Scotish Second Division, Argentinian PREMIER division, Serie A, Bundesling ;)

@ajf
And that is what I am hoping. They see that I am interested in computer stuff and maybe decide to take me on board. I'll accept even minimum wage, as opposed to a higher wage in any other place, to work there.

For CV, I have been searching on the internet for CV examples, but will probably do my own compiled from the best parts of different CVs that I found.

@Mangolia
:(

@LocalNative
Fair enough, that is why I also applied to the local job centre. Will submit my application, put in my preferences, and they will contact me with new jobs in the things I prefer to work as.

@wnb
Yeah, I understand. I think I personally am a bit brighter than the average teenager, and more of 'head on neck' if you know what I mean :P I'm hoping the employer can see this, and needless to say, I will try and show it :P

I do have an experience of an interview, as I had applied for a school where you need an interview. Out of MANY people, they had to chose a few and I was one of them :) I then decided not to go to that school but hey, still a good thing no? :P
 
First answer from a 'meh' place

Hi,

Thanks for your email.

Unfortunately we are not seeking to recruit any new candidates in the near future.

Regards,
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Second answer from the place I do want to work

Good Afternoon.

Kindly note currently there are no vacancies. However, should you be interested,
please send a CV including how you wish to work with us, and which positions
you are interested in, to **NAME** on **E-MAIL**.

Your details will be kept for reference once there are any vacancies. You
will be contacted if you are shortlisted to attend an interview.

Thank you.

Should you require any further assistance do not hesitate to contact me.

Best Regards,
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So not a rejection from the place I want to work :P Did my CV now, scanned all my certificates and stuff. Going to start on the covering letter so hopefully next week I start sending out applications.
 
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