Has anyone else had as much difficulty in landing a regular "non-dancing" job that is above the level of McDonalds? I can't seem to attract the interest of any employer, simply because I'm not experienced...but how can I get this experience?
Has anyone else had as much difficulty in landing a regular "non-dancing" job that is above the level of McDonalds? I can't seem to attract the interest of any employer, simply because I'm not experienced...but how can I get this experience?
Last edited by PhillyDancer1982; 07-12-2006 at 11:18 AM.
i was told to make a fake prior to job on your application along the same lines but a buisness that is now "closed"
Yeah I actually devised that idea while talking to my MBA-carrying roommate/friend Keith on the phone today. Keith is the one who keeps trying to get me networking(which keeps failing) and keeps telling me to strive higher than shitty temp jobs. I also told him this idea...I call it the Homework Theory...
You know how when you were in college, professors gave you homework and it was for nothing but practice, demonstrating that you know the material, and perhaps showing the teacher that you're trying & motivated? But it never actually "mattered" as far as counting towards your grade for the course? (Some teachers count homework assignments into the grade, but most only count your course grade from exams and sometimes quizzes). Well, I was thinking that maybe my friend Keith(he has an MBA, worked in Big 4 accounting firms, and is one of the people in charge of the political campaign that I volunteer for) could give me homework projects that resemble real-job projects/assignments. For example, using Microsoft Access to analyze & direct data...this kinda work would only serve to give me practice in utilizing Access & other programs used in finance type jobs, but it wouldn't actually be for a real job. So it'd build job skills. And then I could use Keith as a reference for the job project but not actually mention that the project was "homework" as opposed to a real-life job that counted for anything. If he told employers, "Yeah, Phillydancer1982 has participated in organizing payroll and through these kinda projects has demonstrated a great proficiency with Peachtree and Access"...technically he wouldn't be lying! Employers wouldn't think to ask "now is that payroll project completed for a voluntary at-will homework assignment, or for a real company?" because homework is just not something that is normally done by non-students!! Am I crazy, or could this possibly work?
Then there is also the theory of making my own company...it would only be a company in the sense of having a phone number set aside for it, a company e-mail, and "paychecks" that would be literally divied out with taxes paid on them. I could make myself and one of my friends the only employees of my "company." I would then give myself whatever job title sounds good, such as financial assistant. Then I could give my friend the cell phone with the "company's" phone number, and he could answer any incoming "business calls" concerning my job references during the day and confirm that yes, I am a financial assistant for this here company. And technically it wouldn't be lying, because the company would be a real tax-paying company...they just wouldn't know that the company has only 2 members, 5 if you count me, myself, and I.





I've gotten more girls I work with jobs at Blockbuster then anything else. They dont care if you havent worked anywhere resume-worthy before, as long as you answer the What Would You Do In This Situation questions right... and its an easy job.
Number of times Rickrolled on stage: 6
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Marasmus ... "Ladies don't fart. They butt-laugh."
Marasmus says, "Oh no, that wasn't gas, it was merely a rectal chuckle."
Marek says, "A friend of mine got punched in the face by a dominatrix stripper about two weeks ago and I thought of you."
Those questions must be rigged. I answered them like a mature and responsible customer service rep, as I have lots of experience, and they never wanted to hire me. Had more than enough experience, and way more competant then the people working there...![]()
Blockbuster fired me for fucking the assistant manager.
Then when we got married, our boss who had fired us was so happy for us and wanted to come to the wedding.
I'm sure that I could work at Blockbuster, but to be completely honest I am looking for jobs that are relevant to my major field, which is mathematics and finance. I've worked plenty of retail jobs in the past, but I am looking to go for something different. I really wish I could break into the corporate world, or at least a small insurance office, but apparently people view me as a "little girl" despite my professional manner and conservative dress. (Geez, did I really have to spend nearly $6K on a boob job and hair dye job to look somewhat near my age?? Probably.) Thank you anyway for the idea though.
Later today, I happened to be in the Warminster, PA area jobsearching and I decided to do something ballsy that is so unlike me. I went to the same Allstate office and made a complaint about what had happened a few years prior. I was wearing an all-black blazer suit with a conservative-colored turtleneck, yes in the middle of hot summer...how's that for professional dress? I went in, carried myself very professionally/sophisticated to the point that I was snooty, and told the lady what happened. She agreed that it was ridiculous and rude of the guy, but claimed that she didn't know which rep I was talking about, even questioned my ability to determine if I remembered the correct location(how dumb do these assholes think I am??). There WAS one other guy there, and I do not recall if he was the same guy who'd I'd spoken to earlier because he looked slightly older than I remembered but he could have been. Either way, the guy definitely heard my claim and my annoyed tone of voice so if it was him, he'd feel bad now. But they never said "let me make it up to you, do you want me to look over your resume" or anything like that, just "Sorry this happened." !!!! No one wants me!![]()
The best way I know of to break out of this vicious circle -- not being hired because you don't have experience and not having any experience because you've never been hired -- is to do some volunteer work that's related to the field you want to get into. You can contact a non-profit that does something related -- for example, one that secures insurance for poor families -- or do something finance-related for any type of non-profit, like managing their books or writing grants. Most non-profits are chronically broke and understaffed, and would looooooooove your help. Of course, you'll be working for free, but since you can support yourself as a dancer, that's OK. Do a really kick-ass job and then after a year or two, BOOM, you have experience to impress a potential employer. Plus, you did it all as a volunteer, which gets you warm fuzzy points.
I agree with Grace--do some volunteer work. I plan to do an unpaid intership while dancing once I graduate to get good experience.





My advice is depending on the job. I will go to differant places and voulteer. You can get lots of work experience this way! Or you can get a friend to pretend that they was your boss and lie.
If you want the present to be differant from the past, study the past.
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It is what it is, not what you want it to become, that's important -- at least for now. Today, remember that things worth having are worth waiting for!
The Stars
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Dont throw away the old bucket until you know whether the new one holds water.
Swedish Proverb
Definitely consider volunteer work OR temps specifically in the finance industry. My company in IL has used "accounttemps" several times. Do a google search for your area and see if they have a local office. I'm sure there are other agencies like that as well. You can specify that you'd like temp-to-hire. Even if you get a temp job or two, at least you'll get some experience under your belt.
Also - instead of looking at websites like careerbuilder, try to look directly on company's websites, like lawfirms (they need finance people too!), large multi-national companies, like Coca-Cola, Target (they have mini-"corporate offices" all over the US), etc. Many companies are only posting jobs on their own websites to save money. My company (a LARGE Fortune 100 company) does this. And you'd be surprised to find out how many multi-nationals have regional corporate offices all over the country .....maybe in your area. So you can also check that out.
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