First job

Wagon Christ

I'm 17 and I've just graduated from high school a year early and I need a job before going off to college. This would be my first job and I think I've narrowed it down to game retail stores. There's a Game Crazy and a GameStop right next to my house and I'm not sure which one I'd rather work at. Basically what's the differences between them for those who've had experience working there and how much money should I ask for starting? Specifically which of the two offer a better discount and which is friendlier? Thanks.

Anarchia

Why don't you just apply to both and decide based on whether one actually hires you? I was in the same position last year, but didn't bother getting a job because I got a really good scholarship for college. I got one for this year, and out of about ten or so places I applied to, only two contacted me and only one hired me. Don't start comparing until you have something to compare.

Dirge

Anarchia wrote: »

Why don't you just apply to both and decide based on whether one actually hires you? I was in the same position last year, but didn't bother getting a job because I got a really good scholarship for college. I got one for this year, and out of about ten or so places I applied to, only two contacted me and only one hired me. Don't start comparing until you have something to compare.

sound advice. You are not going to get every job you apply for.

matthias00

Yeah, apply to both. Whichever one actually hires you first is the one that you stick with.

Never just assume you will get a job you apply for.

captaink

I'll pile on, apply for both, don't assume you're hired.

Szechuanosaurus

In fact, expect not to get hired. Two applications isn't exactely hedging your bets and retail often (but not always) looks for experience. And this is assuming they're even hiring, which you haven't explicitly mentioned.

But having said that, act as though you do expect to get hired in all dealings with both shops, because you want to come across as eager and confident.

Quid

I had good references from previous restaurants and still needed several tries to get a job at a new one when I moved.

So yeah, dogpilin'.

laughingfuzzball

Any place that hires teens will have their pick this time of year. Apply everywhere (not just game retail stores), dress up whenever you pick up or drop off an application and whenever you interview, and behave professionally. Apply to places you especially want first, then wait a few days to apply elsewhere so that there's less of a chance of taking a job only to find out you could've had something better. A lot of places won't like that you don't plan on sticking around for long.

If you live near a corn-farming region, consider detasseling. It's hard work, but it's easy to get and they won't mind that you only want to work for the summer.