Dear Lifehacker, I am currently 15 and I want to get a part-time job. Ideally I’d like to work in a smaller store like EB Games where I already know all the stock. How should I write a resume and apply for the job?
My own experience with EB Games suggests that knowing the stock isn’t always a high priority for hires, but that personal niggle aside, there’s a few basic ways to approach a retail resume.
First and foremost, you’ve got to be willing to put in a bit of time to call/email/visit (depending on the store or stores) and face a fair bit of rejection. Part-time staff aren’t looking for a long-term career; you’re just trading your time and presence in return for money, and in return most retail stores are after at least a basic level of competency in their store staff.
Knowing the stock isn’t necessarily a bad thing (and if you are asked about it, being able to show you know at least some basics about what you’d be selling is a plus), but be wary of being too keen on the particular store. While Apple hires on the basis that it really wants its staff to be enthusiastic fans, that’s an exception. Most stores would look on a fanboy or girl as a potential liability; your job in EB would be to sell games, not necessarily either gush about your own tastes or correct those of other customers.
EB Games also isn’t a small concern, so it would be well worth checking the company’s web site for any contact details related to hiring. Depending on your location, it may be that the closest store is fully stocked for part-time staff, but one a few suburbs away may be hiring. They may also have a stock form for prospective employees to fill out, rather than expecting a resume.
Lifehacker’s written about perfect resume writing in the past. You should make sure it’s readable, not just accurate, ensure it hits the right points, and keep it relatively brief; you might think that a bulky resume shows experience, but for most interviewers it’s just a pain to read.
Finally, if you don’t get that particular job, don’t be too despondent; there are many factors that go into whether one candidate or another actually gets hired. Also, you’re 15, and while the money from a part time job would be sweet, getting the most out of an education that’s yours free for the taking right now could bring you in a lot more cash in the long run.
Cheers
Lifehacker
Any other readers — perhaps those who have worked directly at EB or a similar outlet — got any tips on scoring a job there?
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