Two Things

[ArcticChicken]

Number 1: I am a cashier. At a grocery store. This, as many of you know, is mind numbingly boring.
It's gotten to the point where, towards the end of a shift, I will ask people 'Credit or Debit?' when they're handing me cash. How do I keep myself entertained, so I don't make stupid mistakes?

Number 2: I seek a new job, a (slightly) better job. Specifically, I want the Borders up the hill to hire me, so that I can get an employee discount, and thus be able to afford my reading habit. The problem? I don't come off so well in online applications. Any advice on how to make them hire me?

[Saydrah]

1. Engage yourself in your work rather than repeating patterns. You could try making a habit of commenting on something different with every customer- comment on the weather with one, compliment the next one on her hat, etc. That gets pretty tough when you have hundred of customers a day, but it does help to stop yourself from getting into an endless feedback loop of the same questions and responses with dozens of customers on end.

2. Why do you get poor responses to online applications? Do you have trouble passing the behavioral tests they give you? Is it education? Experience? Lack of references? It's hard to give much advice without knowing why you feel you do not present ideally in online apps- but a good general bit of advice with those is to call the store the morning after you submit your application, introduce yourself cheerfully and ask for the hiring manager, and say something like, "I just wanted to let you know that I submitted an application for your store last night, and I am looking forward to hearing further from you. I am available any time this week for an interview, and am thrilled to be applying at Border's Books, because I am a lifelong lover of reading and books."

[Kiwi]

I did math ALL day long, it wasnt fun but it stopped me going into brain dead mode. I would manually add up the bill as I scanned it, and then worked out the change manually in my head (as I did it through the till as well). I would count back change, do anything to keep my mind constantly working.

I would also discuss products with the customers (I worked in a craft store) so I would often dicuss their project or give them tips if they were new to the craft type. If you see a new type of product (new tissues or a new flavour of cracker) you could discuss that with them or a ask them what they are making for dinner, discuss recipies or lunch ideas.

Obviously you cant do this with every customer and you need to develop the skill of not taking any more time but start small and work your way from there

[blas87]

I have taken those "personality" tests for every store I applied at....and failed all of them. My answers were consistent (one thing they are looking for) but not the answers they wanted. I'm a bad liar.

There's no real way of acing those tests other than lying and pretending to be the perfect customer service robot, I love people, strongly agree, I love working with others, strongly agree.....etc etc.

[Boozy]

I live in a city known for being the headquarters of a major company, hiring dozens of people every single week. They use online application processes, including questionnaires. The HR department uses software to scan for keywords in online applications.

Despite being immensely qualified for several positions, I went 3 years without even an interview. Finally, I happened to meet one of the company's junior executives at a cocktail party. He told me what words to put in my resume. I got not one but two interviews within a week. The use of these keywords ensured that a human being, not a computer, looked at my resume.

My point is, online applications suck. :rolleyes:

The only thing I can think of is to ask a local employment agency if they know the secret. Or, if you're friendly with a Borders' employee, ask to see their resume.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Sometimes I work as a fortuneteller. When I worked a job where I had to say, run a register, wait tables, or take orders at Kinkos, I'd try to guess what what kind of person they'd be before they actually got down to the brass tacks of what they needed. I'd try to guess what their order would be, how they'd act, etc. I'd engage them in conversations..nothing heavy, just light, quick ones, ask them questions and try to answer in my head before they did. I'd try to subtley manipulate behaviors and comments. Basically, engage them in a cold reading while I was checking them out. When I was doing this regularly, not only did it make me more effective working with the public, but I was really on my game in an uncanny way when I was dukkering.

The intuition part of your brain gets very, very acute when it gets this level of exercise. Plus, if you are reading minute details of a person who is standing in front of you, you are far too engaged to get bored.

[ArcticChicken]

Why do you get poor responses to online applications?

I have very little 'real job' experience, and what I do have is pretty gappy i.e. I had a cashiering job for three month, then I moved to a different state, I had a job at B.Dalton over Christmas the next year, and I did some political canvassing the next year. I have NO professional references because I've never worked anywhere long enough to get them. Also I suck at those personality tests.

Thank you all for your suggestions.

[Saydrah]

If you have big gaps in your work history, try filling them in by accounting for it as 'a period of self employment' if you were doing anything- like lawn mowing or selling paintings or babysitting- for money, or 'took time off for education' or 'unemployed.' Some large retailers, for no reason known to man, want to know exactly what you were doing during those gaps, even if it's totally unrelated to your qualifications.

Also, you don't necessarily need to be remembered or have worked for a long time to get a professional reference- you could call any of your former employers and just say, hey, can I use you as a reference? Most will say yes based on the fact that they largely are asked just to confirm that you worked there and didn't steal anything or blow up the building- no glowing character recommendation necessary.

[Amethyst Hunter]

There's no real way of acing those tests other than lying and pretending to be the perfect customer service robot, I love people, strongly agree, I love working with others, strongly agree.....etc etc.

If I could set fire to every single employment application kiosk and never be punished for it - I would do it in a heartbeat. I HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE those goddamned things!!!! :burnup:

Not surprisingly, I have never been hired for any job that required me to apply using one of those wretched things.

[RetailWorkhorse]

I have taken those "personality" tests for every store I applied at....and failed all of them. My answers were consistent (one thing they are looking for) but not the answers they wanted. I'm a bad liar.

There's no real way of acing those tests other than lying and pretending to be the perfect customer service robot, I love people, strongly agree, I love working with others, strongly agree.....etc etc.

Had to do that recently. Took THREE of them, all the same bloody questions.

Felt sick as I lied. I seriously want to call up all three companies and tell them that test doesn't work well with me (Schizoid Personality. I'm not crazy, I just don't CARE much unless I really like my customers, which I tend to do).

[Lingering Grin]

Had to do that recently. Took THREE of them, all the same bloody questions.

Felt sick as I lied. I seriously want to call up all three companies and tell them that test doesn't work well with me (Schizoid Personality. I'm not crazy, I just don't CARE much unless I really like my customers, which I tend to do).


I'm the same, and I always pass em :confused:

I just hate how DEFINATE the questions are.

It's like "A lot of people make me angry"

...well...umm... SOME people make me angry, but I wouldn't say a LOT do... so... uhh... disagree... I think?