NationStates Jolt Archive

So I'm a bit over a month into my 16th year of life. Sure I'm getting good grades, maintaining a 4.32 cumulative GPA and my latest semester of high school being a 4.5 GPA, and my rank is somewhere around 49 out of 1,024 in my class. Why do I mention that? Do I like to brag? No, actually I was hoping that'd help me in getting a job.

So I'm sick of using dad's money when I want to buy video games, because I feel naturally guilty about using other people's money for my enjoyment, and it takes the fun out of "owning" things.

So, I want a job.

So there's a relatively new shopping center close to where I live, which is a good way outside of the city already. It includes Best Buy, Gamestop, Barnes and Noble, a movie theater, Jamba Juice, Target, Kohl's, Sports Authority, Pet Co, etc. etc.

I'd like a job working with electronics and video games, so I applied to Best Buy and am going to apply at Gamestop soon. Buuuut, being 16 and with no employment or retail history, I'm pretty sure my chances of getting hired aren't all that high.

Anyone with info., knowledge, opinions on the subject?

I gave up on all the big stores and ended up collecting glasses in a bar down the street from where I live. The hours are crap, the pays ok but it has free drink and good company.

Pity you don't live in Australia; the govt. pays me to go to school.

Pity you don't live in Australia; the govt. pays me to go to school.

Yep, they do that over here, gotta love socialism.

So I'm a bit over a month into my 16th year of life. Sure I'm getting good grades, maintaining a 4.32 cumulative GPA and my latest semester of high school being a 4.5 GPA, and my rank is somewhere around 49 out of 1,024 in my class. Why do I mention that? Do I like to brag? No, actually I was hoping that'd help me in getting a job.

So I'm sick of using dad's money when I want to buy video games, because I feel naturally guilty about using other people's money for my enjoyment, and it takes the fun out of "owning" things.

So, I want a job.

So there's a relatively new shopping center close to where I live, which is a good way outside of the city already. It includes Best Buy, Gamestop, Barnes and Noble, a movie theater, Jamba Juice, Target, Kohl's, Sports Authority, Pet Co, etc. etc.

I'd like a job working with electronics and video games, so I applied to Best Buy and am going to apply at Gamestop soon. Buuuut, being 16 and with no employment or retail history, I'm pretty sure my chances of getting hired aren't all that high.

Anyone with info., knowledge, opinions on the subject?


I can help you.

Being 16, and having no prior work history, means one thing:

You dont know how to do anything.


This isnt so bad.

See, to a potential employer, your GPA doesnt mean shit to them except for one thing:

"Are you, or are you not, stupid."

Your GPA indicates your in the "not" category.

Now that the employer knows your not stupid, the only question is, "Is he a lazy bastard, like most 16 year old males?"

This is where you should add something to indicate you are not.

Now that he feels you arent stupid, or lazy, he will check to see if you have thumbs.

If all three requirements are met, you are perfectly capable of retrieving shopping carts, or pricing merchandise, or stocking a shelf, or maybe...just maybe....work the register.

All of wich are pretty much standard jobs at Best Buy, for a person your age!

Joy!

The upside is you get to have your own money that nobody can tell you what to do with.

I recommend beer, and pornography.

Welcome to the American work force!

We're sorry!

I can help you.

Being 16, and having no prior work history, means one thing:

You dont know how to do anything.


This isnt so bad.

See, to a potential employer, your GPA doesnt mean shit to them except for one thing:

"Are you, or are you not, stupid."

Your GPA indicates your in the "not" category.

Now that the employer knows your not stupid, the only question is, "Is he a lazy bastard, like most 16 year old males?"

This is where you should add something to indicate you are not.

Now that he feels you arent stupid, or lazy, he will check to see if you have thumbs.

If all three requirements are met, you are perfectly capable of retrieving shopping carts, or pricing merchandise, or stocking a shelf, or maybe...just maybe....work the register.

All of wich are pretty much standard jobs at Best Buy, for a person your age!

Joy!

The upside is you get to have your own money that nobody can tell you what to do with.

I recommend beer, and pornography.

Welcome to the American work force!

We're sorry!Aye, I knew my GPA didn't matter but I figured it'd do good for SOMETHING.

Aye, I knew my GPA didn't matter but I figured it'd do good for SOMETHING.


It is!

It shows your not stupid.

Wich sadly, most employers expect a young man of your age to be.

It is!

It shows your not stupid.

Wich sadly, most employers expect a young man of your age to be.
Heh, can't blame them.

Well, I need a job to start me off, to get some experience. It might be a long-shot applying for Best Buy and Gamestop, I'll see...

Heh, can't blame them.

Well, I need a job to start me off, to get some experience. It might be a long-shot applying for Best Buy and Gamestop, I'll see...


Well, just be cool at the interview, and dont expect to start out at the really cool positions.

Be prepared to collect shopping carts, and that kinda stuff.

Its gonna be crappy work, but probably not too hard.

All work sucks.
Its all about the paycheck.

Repeat after me, "Ya want fries with that?"

Practise saying that for a few days in front of the mirror with a bored shiftless look in your eyes.

You'll then be well-prepared to enter the teenage p/t workforce.




Though I'd suggest trying out at cafes first. The work there ain't as bad. ANd the pay can be slightly better.

I got my first job at around 22, but then I do have uni and post-grad degree. I avoided the "Do you want fries with that?" jobs ... thank God

4.5? Psh, switch to the real scale of 4.0.
Between those stores, Pet Co or Gamestop. Those are some lazy fuckers. The people in the Gamestop and EBGames here pretty much just stand around and talk about video games unless some one wants to buy something.
And I presume all you have to do at Pet Co is tand at the one of three counters to check out the 10 people in there all day, stock shelves, and clean cages - and know jack squat about animals.

This is where stuff like volunteer work comes into place. Shows that you actually like the idea of work and have some sense of dedication. Yeah, it's time consuming and they don't pay you but the people that do pay you will notice it.

Well if the retail industry over there is anything like it is over here - and surely it can't be overly different - then I wouldn't say you were off to too bad a start with that CV - throw in a few extra curricular activities like a sport or playing an instrument or something and you should be in.

I landed a pretty cushy job at a supermarket (collecting trolleys and working the checkout lol - not that bad, means I basically get paid for doing nothing) and all I had was two weeks work experience organised by my school and much the same CV as you - I was 16 when I got it too.

So basically yeah, throw in a few physical activities or something and you should be fine. And wear something fairly smart for the interview, which with any luck shouldn't be too harrowing.

A lot of retail stores have this huge "community service" thing, so if you have some volunteer experience you could use that to show them that you are a "good worker"

My first thought when I saw your grades though is that you could probaby tutor some younger kids and make pretty good money and then have time just to play video games.

Are you pretty good at math? Kids who need help usually need help in math, and parents are scared to help them. If you can make your services known I am sure there are some kids struggling with Algebra and the like whose parents would pay you to make the problem go away.

You are in high school, nigh any job you can get will not give a damn about how awesome you are in school. These are jobs that people who rank 1000 out of 1024 in their classes will have for the rest of their lives. What's important to do right now is to impress any interviewers with your character, personability and other intangible good qualities.

I had a steady job when I was 16 nut then because of my age and the need for staff cutbacks I was axed. Now almost a year a later with retail experience and applications to dozens of shops I still have no job. Thank God I get paid to go to school

4.5 GPA? How the hell does that work?

Man, I wish my school had grade inflation...:(

4.5 GPA? How the hell does that work?

Man, I wish my school had grade inflation...:(
sometimes the Advanced placement classes are on a 5.0 scale

I remember having a 4.0 one semester then getting moved up to AP Physics for the second semester and jumping up to a 4.9 or something crazy, and my car insurance rate went down, even though I was still making straight A's :confused:

sometimes the Advanced placement classes are on a 5.0 scale
That makes it 10 times more retarded because advanced placement should be inline with colleges which I believe are on at least a 4.0 scale.

That makes it 10 times more retarded because advanced placement should be inline with colleges which I believe are on at least a 4.0 scale.
yeah, I know.

I thought when I transfered to AP Physics that we would get harder work, learn new stuff, but what it really meant was "here is a ton more homework to keep you busy"

I got my first job at around 22, but then I do have uni and post-grad degree. I avoided the "Do you want fries with that?" jobs ... thank God

Wow, I've been working since I was 14. Picking strawberries, then KFC, then the Army, and now KFC again while I'm in university. And to think, if I'd spent those 10 years in the Army I'd be halfway to retirement :(

many stores hire teenagers. you have as good a chance as anyone.

apply to as many of the stores as you think you could stand to work in. its likely that youll get a couple calls. if not, go in and ask about it, being eager to work is a plus.

when you go in for an interview DRESS NICELY. see what the employees are wearing there? wear something like that. be well groomed. get a haircut today. go in with your hair combed and teeth brushed. tie your shoes, dammit.

be polite and act interested. the interviewer knows its all about the paycheck but let him know that you would really like that paycheck to be from THIS store. act a bit confident but not cocky.

dont pretend to know stuff you dont know. sometimes its a plus to not have worked for someone else because you wont have developed bad habits. emphasize that you are a team player and will always show up on time and never skip work. and that you are a hard worker.

when you get the job, work hard through the probation period. they weed out the losers pretty quickly. if you keep to your tasks, come to work neat and clean, and are never late theyll keep you until you get sick of working there.

sometimes the Advanced placement classes are on a 5.0 scale

I remember having a 4.0 one semester then getting moved up to AP Physics for the second semester and jumping up to a 4.9 or something crazy, and my car insurance rate went down, even though I was still making straight A's :confused:
That's goofy as all hell. It's like the coaches that ask you to give 110%, or people who think you can be at the 100th percentile.

That's goofy as all hell. It's like the coaches that ask you to give 110%, or people who think you can be at the 100th percentile.

they do it to weed out the smart slackers who will take 4 years of nonchallenging classes and end up with a 4.0 gpa and be top of the class. with AP being 5.0 potential classes, only the smartest, hardest working kids get the top spots.

they do it to weed out the smart slackers who will take 4 years of nonchallenging classes and end up with a 4.0 gpa and be top of the class. with AP being 5.0 potential classes, only the smartest, hardest working kids get the top spots.
Transcripts can speak for themselves. Colleges don't just look at your GPA, they look at what courses you've taken. They also look at AP test scores and SATs. Why bother making up some new scoring system for grades, when you don't need to?