job hunting qurstion: making the best impression

[blueberry]

Hey there guys!

It looks like I'm finally getting off my ass and looking for employment. Being only 19 with reasonable amounts of work experience, I'm looking to go the server/waitressing route.

It's been a long time since I've been in a job that required me to flex my people skills which is primarily why I'm looking for work in the restaurant serving industry. That and also because I think if I worked at a popular enough place I could make more money with tips than I would at any other wage based entry level job.

So my question is this: when it comes to turning in applications, what's the best way to guarantee a good impression?

I know the best time to go in is between 12-4 on a weekday because it's dead time for a restaurant giving them time to pay you attention.

I'm wondering what the best procedure about going in to drop off an application is. Should I specifically ask if there's a manager on duty to introduce myself and hand in the application? Is that the standard way of going about these things?

And if so, what would be the best way to present myself? It's been a long time since I haven't been a hermit and I know I have great people skills hidden inside me somewhere but I haven't exercised them in so long that these kind of situations make me nervous. I need to get out of the strange alien from another planet mode and back into "isn't my human costume great?! hi!" mode.

any tips?

[Meg]

I would actually go in between 10am-12pm and 1pm to 4pm. Noon is really a bad time as its lunch time!

Dress casually neat, smile, make sure you give it right to the manager, shake his/her hand, thank them for seeing you even just briefly.

Afterwards, if you haven't heard anything back from them for a couple days, call and ask for the manager, tell them your name and that you put in an application recently, and that you were wondering if anyone has gotten a chance to look at it. Call back every day until they say "no, you're not what we're looking for" or "yes, what time is a good time for your interview?'

[Tristan]

Hello,

What I would do in your situation is go ask one of the non-management employees at the restaurant when the best time to come in is and if they have any advice on securing the position. A great way to do this is to be a customer there yourself. Go have lunch there with a friend, which will allow you to scope out the operations there. Use your server as a key source of intel about management likes dislikes and general tips for success. As long as you're not pestering them, they will usually be very willing to help you succeed.

Keep in mind that there are two phases to landing a job: (1) getting the manager to call you for the interview is the first success and (2) bringing your 'A' game to the interview to Wow management off their feet.

I say initially, leverage all your available resources to put your resume and application ahead of the competition in any way possible because at this point, you are just a number out of what may be dozens of numbers. Definitely a meet and greet just to hand off your application in person is a great way to attach a face with a name.

Good luck