What is super impossible to do, and at the same time, kind of easy? GETTING EMPLOYED. When all those silly adults tell you about how hard it is to make it in the real world while you're stuffing your face with pizza and worrying about boys, rolling your eyes and thinking " yea I KNOW. But I'm only in high school right now, who cares? I'm going to go to college and get a job DONT WORRY MOM." Well I have discovered it is not all that simple. The co-op program I'm in has allowed me to discover, possibly earlier in life than I would have otherwise, just how hard the real world really is. In my professional opinion - I am very employable. For a lot of jobs I think! This past summer it took me a month and a half to get even a reply from a possible employer for a part time job and I applied every where I could think of for a summer job. And I mean EVERYWHERE. From the zoo to all the retail I could handle to packing up equipment at the Rogers centre after concerts. NOTHING. After emailing out resume after resume no one seemed to want to hire me. I live in Toronto. There should be summer jobs available. Granted, my resume didn't have much. Some babysitting throughout the years, emergency response team and some other little volunteer things. But boy am I capable and gung ho. So one day after feeling pretty down, I walk into a local take out food restaurant in my plaza and say to my mom "I'm just gonna ask if he needs anyone. It can't hurt." And it just so happens that he did need someone! I labeled myself kitchen bitch, I did dishes, cut vegetables, worked cash and cleaned up. I gained a lot from that job. And all I did was walk in and ask. So with this bootless endeavour of trying to get a co-op placement before February 7th, I have tailored and emailed my resume and cover letter out well over 100 times. I have asked everyone I can think of. I have walked up to the owner of the salon at which I get my eyebrows torn off and asked her if she needed anyone to do paper work, answer phones do computer work etc. She did. Currently trying to figure that one out. Walked up to some businessmen at lunch who sounded well connected, one ended up being owner of the restaurant with his own real-estate practise during the day. He seemed to be impressed by the way I just walked up and asked him if he had any opportunities which almost landed me a hostess position. After talking, it sounded like I would be getting an email soon enough. Hopefully something will come of that. Not to toot my own horn, but I have been told by many people that I am well spoken, and have great people skills. The problem with that is that being well spoken doesn't come out so easily in a resume. SO. If it is so easy for me to get possible job opportunities in real life, how come it is so painstakingly hard to do over the internet? It seems the only way to get a job is over the internet. It's always apply online or email us. But in my experience, that is not fail proof. Comparing my unemployed self and my skills to some that I know that are currently employed, I just can't understand it. People that look good on paper, but when it comes down to it, are just not as great as they appeared to be. Hopefully by February 7th, I will be able to happily say to friends "Sorry I can't, I have work."
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AuthorHalf Asian from Toronto living in Shanghai who loves oceans, chocolate, stupid looking small dogs, cereal, donuts and experimenting in the kitchen. Archives
January 2016
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