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Please help: Why can't I get hired by anyone?
Ladies, I badly need your help. In August I resigned my retail job at a high-end chocolate boutique because it was a hostile work environment. I very much want to continue my career in retail because I excel as a salesperson and love customer service. But for over 5 months I've applied for sales positions at companies like Bloomingdales, Williams-Sonoma, Crate & Barrel, Tiffany's, Nordstrom's, Tumi Luggage to name a few. I've only gotten a few interviews and the end result is that nobody has hired me.
I'm frustrated and demoralized beyond belief. Yes, the job market is horrible and competition, even for part time, seasonal jobs, is cutthroat. However, since 2003 I've had seasonal jobs on and off at Williams-Sonoma, Crate & Barrel and Tiffany's all of which I've left in good standing. I was at the chocolate shop from Oct. 2010 to last August. I have a B.A. from an Ivy League school. I''m an excellent interviewer, always doing research on the company beforehand and articulate, poised and well-dressed. And I always ask for a realistic wage, never over $12/hour
Why don't retailers want to hire me? Am I overqualified or underqualified? Why am I a bad fit? I'm tearing my hair out and am desperate for an answer. DH is very frustrated and wants me to abandon my dream of a retail career for a while. He's pressuring me to find a job in another field. It doesn't help that DH's unemployment benefits ran out last week.
I'm making plans to consult a career counselor about what job direction to take. But in the meantime, it would be great and much appreciated if you would give me your feedback and advice. If someone wants to look at my resume, I can make it available.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Re: Please help: Why can't I get hired by anyone?
Keep your chin up girl. First off: I am very sorry that you had to quit your job due to a hostile working environment. No one should ever have to go through that in the work place.
The economy is bad and instead of college aged people fighting for those holiday positions, you are now fighting not only college aged people, but all of those people that have been laid off from a job in the last 6 months to a year. Majority of people that are laid off from their jobs end up going into some sort of retail position to make money to hold them over until they can find a better job.
All you can keep doing is continue to keep looking and interviewing for jobs. Good luck!
Maybe they're worried you won't stick around? You have a college degree from a prestigious university and from your post it sounds like you've hopped around retail a lot, and haven't really stuck around. Have you worked anywhere for more than a year? The degree would make me think you want something more "professional" than retail.
I totally agree. You need to find a way to communicate in your application/interview that this job really is your end goal.
Thanks for the feedback.
It's true that I've hopped around retail a lot. But bear in mind that several of these jobs were seasonal where I worked from November to December in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2009. These jobs had an fixed end date after the holidays, not just for me, but for all my fellow seasonals.
Despite my prestigous degree, I truly want a retail career. Ultimately I want to get into management, but I have to get established as a sales associate first.
I will work on my cover letter and applications to make it clear to retailers that my goal is a sales position for the long haul.
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Yes, I would consider taking it off my resume to reach my career goal. But what do I say in an interview if I'm asked about my education?
Thank you!
Well don't lie about it. If they ask, say you have a BA. If they ask where it is from, tell them. I just wouldn't advertise it.
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Since you have retail experience and a degree, why not apply directly to management positions? I think you're more likely to get hired for those than for an entry-level retail job.
Otherwise, I agree with leaving off your school. You could include something like 'BA in ___" to be honest without being totally honest.
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Interviewer: What about education? How much did you complete?
You: I do have a bachelor's degree in (subject), which was a great experience, but I really I want to pursue a career in retail because of X, Y, and Z. I've gotten the opportunity to do seasonal work at stores A, B, and C, which only helped solidify my decision.
I don't think it is you. Keep looking, you will get hired eventually. I think it's just a tough time for retail right now and they're doing with the staff they have, despite the decent black Friday
I understand the desire for a retail career, my dad and sister spent most of their careers working in retail and both are college grads. In fact, my sister worked for Tiffany for over 20 years, making waaaaaay more than minimum wage. She started as a seasonal employee so maybe focusing on finding a seasonal job for now be a good start to get in with a high-end retailer. The more experience you have the better so I'd also consider department stores, even if that's not where you ultimately want to be.
I think this is the way to play it, and it might be a good time to mention your interest in management later down the road.
I actually think I remember your story. As I recall, the hostile work environment was basically you not getting along with your coworkers correct? And that you felt the managers spent too much time chatting with each other in the breakroom so you "blew the whistle" to the district manager?
My guess is that the people you are hiring with have called your former place of employment or they know people who work there and are checking you out. I'm assuming they didn't give you the best recommendation. That would be my thought. Also do you bring up the "hostile work environment" in the interviews? That's typically a huge red flag for potential employers.
I had the same problem not once but twice. I also am a college graduate with my teaching certificate and as everyone knows there are hardly any jobs out there especially in the teaching field. I had subbed for three years and also during the summers tried to get jobs at retail stores, I had interview after interview and never got the job. I have been told I'm overqualified, basically because they think I will find something better and then leave. It is expensive for the company to hire and train someone only to have them find something better and leave. I finally found a job at Tjmaxx where I worked in the summer and then also worked nights while I taught days.
Recently we moved so my DH could go to school, there are no opportunity in town to substitute teacher or get my own classroom so I again was on the job hunt for three months. I had been told by several people while I was searching that I shouldn't put on my resume that I have a college degree because that might help me get a job.
Yes, you're right, that's me. I never mention in interviews the hostile work environment that was my last job. Doing so would be very stupid. When asked why I left, I say that while I enjoyed the position I didn't want to sell chocolate for a career and wanted a job and future with the company I was interviewing at.
I was assured by my former managers and it's company policy (written in the employee handbook) that when prospective employers contact them that they only give the dates of my time with the company. If they have lied to me and are badmouthing me to potential employers there is very little I can do about it, right? I left the company with 2 weeks notice and my departure wasn't ugly.
Yes, you're right, that's me. I never mention in interviews the hostile work environment that was my last job. Doing so would be very stupid. When asked why I left, I say that while I enjoyed the position I didn't want to sell chocolate for a career and wanted to a job and future with the company I was interviewing at.
I was assured by my former managers and it's company policy (written in the employee handbook) that when prospective employers contact them that they only give the dates of my time with the company. If they have lied to me and are badmouthing me to potential employers there is very little I can do about it, right? I left the company with 2 weeks notice and my departure wasn't ugly.
Where do you live? I know where I live if you walked into a retail store asking for $12 an hour they would laugh at you, probably for days and days. In my neck of the woods store managers don't even make $12 an hour.
If that wage is typical where you live, I agree with PPs that they probably assume that you are unemployed from some other fabulous Ivy League-type career, and you will jump ship as soon as another opportunity comes along.
If you have the experience like you say, applying directly for management or assistant management seems reasonable.
This is very true - but many years ago I found out that my old employer was saying untrue/negative things about me to prospective employers. I was told this after they decided to hire me after the first person they hired did not work out. Because they worked in the same field I was discussed in an off the book/out of the office manner. They did actually tell me what was said which is why I know it was not true. Interestingly enough I was employed with them for 4 year after they offered to hire me to "see how it goes."
Are you getting any second interviews? Are you sending thank you notes following your interview? I too have applied to many jobs and have not had a significant response.
Also, someone in another post asked where you lived and stated that maybe that is why you are not being hired - due to the $ you are asking for.
Good luck!!
No, I'm not getting any second interviews and always send thank you notes promptly. I never ask for more than $12/hour. So far none of my interviewers have asked for my references. Still they can find ways to contact my last employer. Also I filed an unemployment benefit claim with the Dept. of Labor because I had to resign due to a hostile work environment. My employer found about it. My claim was declined so my employer won and I lost. It's quite possible they hate me more than ever because I tried to make they pay for what they did to me. But I was encouraged by my friends in retail to do so.
Thanks for your good wishes in my job search.
You are welcome. I am in a similar hostile environment and I know how difficult it can be. You may want to try to lower your asking $/hr by a dollar or two - and see what happens. Or put negotiable. I have been in retail on the side for many many years. I always low-balled my asking pay. At my current job I was offered more than they paid after they asked what I was looking to make.
When you fill out applications do you look presentable as well? I don't hire at my retail job but they do look at what you are wearing, if you are presentable, if they appear over eager and if they are able to engage in conversation.
Compared to your last job is the pace of the jobs you are applying to equal or close to it? I went from a very very slow store to a super fast paced store. Maybe they are looking at that as well.
Perhaps hiring manager noticed that you never stayed on anywhere after your holiday work and they were hesistant because of this? Like maybe they thought if you were so incredible at your job they would have asked to keep you on? Just a thought. I have no doubt in my mind that you are an excellent worker---but maybe it's not evident because you were not hired on longer term by companies you have worked for in the past.
1) You've only had seasonal employment in this field for the last 7 years or so. That raises red flags for HR managers
2) You're asking for $12/hr, which is at the upper-range for sales associates for many of these companies. I'd lower your expectations
3) I don't know your backstory, but not getting along with coworkers does not = a hostile work environment.
Let me correct you. I had a full time job From October 2010 to August 2011. Your statement that I've only had seasonal employment for the last 7 years is false.
Secondly, after I blew the whistle on my managers laziness, incompetence and unprofessional conduct there was immediate retaliation. Our operations director had a meeting with me and launched a 20 minute tirade about my lack of professionalism and incompetence. I know for a fact that my 2 managers slandered me. They said that I was rude and inattentive to customers and that clients came into the store to complain about how I had mistreated them. This was the first time I'd heard about these "incidents". If these problems actually happened, why didn't my managers address the problems with me immediately? Because they never happened. The managers fabricated this stuff to make me look bad. My grievances and concerns were never addressed during this meeting. It didn't help that the only reasons that these 21 year old, completely inexperienced girls got the job was because the operations director was best friends with their mothers. Nepotism, pure and simple.
It became immediately clear to me that I had no allies in management. And the atmosphere in the store quickly became toxic. My managers froze me out, refused to talk to me day after day (not even a Hello and Goodbye), refused to let me ring up clients and wouldn't let me take part in store projects.
I reached out to a friend who has worked in luxury retail for 30 years. After telling him my story he urged me to file an unemployemt benefits claim with my reason being a hostile work environment. I knew my chances were slim, but filed a claim anyway. I don't regret it. Those managers made my life Hell after I did what seemed like the right thing -- to call them out on their incompetent, unprofessional conduct. I got depressed and this resulted in a strain on my marriage. My doctor, husband, family and friends all urged me to resign for the sake of my health and marriage. So I resigned and don't regret it for a second.
Since you get some interviews but aren't being hired, I'm wondering how you may be coming across in interviews. I get nervous around interviews and have learned a lot by practicing with friends. Having a friend give you honest feedback on how you answer interview questions is priceless.