Getting a job

[JeffistheAnswer]

Hey, I thought I was the only snobby teenager on here...

I'm 16 also, and I totally get your freedom crisis. It seems like we have different plans though. No job for me, no thanks! I'm getting a car, and like another poster said, a car is just total, udder, freedom. When I think of a car, I think of Jack Sparrow's little speech in the first "Pirates of the Caribbean" :

"That's what a ship is, you know. It's not just a keel and a hull and a deck and sails, that's what a ship needs but what a ship is... what the Black Pearl really is... is freedom. "

I have considered doing an SBI kind of business, but simply put, I don't really know where to start.

Originally Posted by escapeplan

If I were 16 today I'd work for a travel company as a rep and tour round socialising with loads of other young people and having parties.

It would teach me to mix, give me confidence, travel the world (paid for) and make loads of great friends in the real world.

I'd learn about cultures first hand and use that experience to set up a business in later life when I had a bit of experience in the real world

Can you really do this at the age of 16? This REALLY piques my interest, I've ALWAYS wanted to travel!

[persephonevii]

Originally Posted by JeffistheAnswer

Hey, I thought I was the only snobby teenager on here...

I'm 16 also, and I totally get your freedom crisis. It seems like we have different plans though. No job for me, no thanks! I'm getting a car, and like another poster said, a car is just total, udder, freedom. When I think of a car, I think of Jack Sparrow's little speech in the first "Pirates of the Caribbean" :

"That's what a ship is, you know. It's not just a keel and a hull and a deck and sails, that's what a ship needs but what a ship is... what the Black Pearl really is... is freedom. "

I have considered doing an SBI kind of business, but simply put, I don't really know where to start.



Can you really do this at the age of 16? This REALLY piques my interest, I've ALWAYS wanted to travel!

Yeah, probably. If you believe madly enough in it....

First, you say, "Okay, I accept. I'll be the Forum Slave."

Next you start work. You bring all your ingenuity, creativity and brilliance. You produce idea after idea, and you implement them well. Such that a year from now, the forum has become far, far more interesting and active and wonderful than it is today.

Then you say, "Steve, I resign."

At this point, Steve will say, "Please, please, pleeeeease don't go."

Then you say, "But you're paying me so little."

Steve will then say, "State your price."

So you state your price, and Steve gets sulky, because you're asking to double your salary. But he has no choice. He realises that he needs you now. In fact, you've done so much so well for so long, that he's forgotten how to run the forum himself, and has tied himself up in other projects.

So you double your salary.

Repeat steps and double again one year later.

ROFLMAO. Sooo that's office politics! Even Steve doesn't stand a chance.

Yup, be Forum Slave and before long you'll own this place.

As for job advice, are you parents pretty protective of you? The sheltering type? Mine were. My mother actively discouraged me from job-hunting as a teenager. She told me I didn't need no one or nothing except her. She just loved me too much... to both our detriment.

You should definitely make a go of the Ebay idea. Talk to that trusted relative. And you've got a mentor too! Making money then shouldn't be too hard, you've got someone to help you out with the money and someone to help you make the money, all you need to do is to make a move

As for other job-hunting advice... I've heard spamming the hell of local businesses with your presence annoys them to such a point that eventually one will crack and give you a job. Kinda like Chinese Water Torture. But then there is a fine line between spamming and stalking. You want to be annoying, not creepy.

[Mounds]

ALG has a good point regarding your lack of references. I never turn anyone away for not having job experience, at least for an entry level position. I actually think it's a bit of a myth that employers only hire those with job experience.
By the way, when it comes to the job interview... unless it's an extremely competitive position, it's a breeze. I remember reading somewhere that 90% of questions asked on job interviews are actually pointless. One reason is that your going to conform your answers to fit what the employer wants to hear. If your applying for a cashier job, you might talk about how good you are at math and about your people skills.
And then there's my buddy who I got an interview at a restaurant I was working at...

Employer: Do you have any weaknesses?

Interviewee: Let me think.... well, I'm lazy.

Honesty did not get him the job

[floslib]

Originally Posted by Mounds

Employer: Do you have any weaknesses?

Interviewee: Let me think.... well, I'm lazy.

Honesty did not get him the job

One of my jobs actually had a test question, that was blatantly testing people's honesty, and anyone with any sense knew it.

"What's something you have done that you shouldn't have, and what were the repercussions?"

If you answer truthfully, with something you've done wrong and what happened, you're probably in, otherwise, see ya later.

Oddly enough, a local competitor uses the same question but wants the canned answer about being a perfect angel. Go figure.

[Beuford]

Originally Posted by secrets0stolen

What I did do was hang out in the bathroom of the grocery store for a while I cooled down a bit.

I have never seen a bathroom at a grocery store before.

[Angela]

Originally Posted by JeffistheAnswer

I have considered doing an SBI kind of business, but simply put, I don't really know where to start.

{off topic aside to Jeff: you don't have to know where to start with SBI; the program itself walks you through the brainstorming process. You don't have to have any idea at all about what you want to write about when you get started -- it'll poke and prod you and inspire you. }

[escapeplan]

Originally Posted by Angela

{off topic aside to Jeff: you don't have to know where to start with SBI; the program itself walks you through the brainstorming process. You don't have to have any idea at all about what you want to write about when you get started -- it'll poke and prod you and inspire you. }

Trouble is that building a web business on the net is not the same as living your hobby. Your passion needs to be as much in the building of the website and business as it does in the activity or interest itself.

[Angela]

Originally Posted by escapeplan

Trouble is that building a web business on the net is not the same as living your hobby. Your passion needs to be as much in the building of the website and business as it does in the activity or interest itself.

Well, the SBI program is pretty good at helping people develop that passion for building the website and business -- and it's got a money back guarantee if it doesn't work out for you.

(And no, they don't give me a toaster if you sign up. )

[escapeplan]

Originally Posted by Angela

Well, the SBI program is pretty good at helping people develop that passion for building the website and business -- and it's got a money back guarantee if it doesn't work out for you.

(And no, they don't give me a toaster if you sign up. )

I know but I've always thought it strange that we hear so much about working with a passion, while also saying how good SBI is. I just think that unless you like writing and building a website this method doesn't help you live your passion. It helps you build a web business on a topic you could be really doing in the real world.

[Angela]

Originally Posted by escapeplan

I know but I've always thought it strange that we hear so much about working with a passion, while also saying how good SBI is. I just think that unless you like writing and building a website this method doesn't help you live your passion. It helps you build a web business on a topic you could be really doing in the real world.

In this day and age, if you're running any kind of business, for the most part, a website is going to be part and parcel of that business. SBI's a helpful way to do that, AND to distinguish what you're passionate about (and what might be profitable for you) in the first place. It's not the only way, by any means, but it's a helpful tool, low risk, and reasonable price.

[escapeplan]

Originally Posted by Angela

In this day and age, if you're running any kind of business, for the most part, a website is going to be part and parcel of that business. SBI's a helpful way to do that, AND to distinguish what you're passionate about (and what might be profitable for you) in the first place. It's not the only way, by any means, but it's a helpful tool, low risk, and reasonable price.

Interesting point about the web being a major part of todays business. But so is accounting, taxation, advertising etc...

Should the business owner focus on their passion or a website (assuming they have no passion for a website and writing).

Would you also suggest they do their own accounts and advertising?

Just throwing ideas into the pot...

[secrets0stolen]

Thanks for the replies everyone!

[Angela]

Originally Posted by escapeplan

Just throwing ideas into the pot...

I think maybe you're just looking for ways to make me wrong again, my jilted lover, because you don't like the cringey feeling you get when I talk about anything you think is business related.

As I mentioned, it's just a tool, one that I think works well. Use it or don't.

[escapeplan]

Originally Posted by Angela

I think maybe you're just looking for ways to make me wrong again, my jilted lover, because you don't like the cringey feeling you get when I talk about anything you think is business related.

As I mentioned, it's just a tool, one that I think works well. Use it or don't.

Couldn't be further from the truth this time Angela- to be honest it didn't even register with me as I was scrolling through that this was the business thread.

And since you mention it, I find it very refreshing that you acknowledge the need for computers, I think it makes a good discussion point for this section of the forum.

[Angela]

okey doke.

[Weena]

@ Angela: would you really recommend SBI? Could you tell me if they offer an option of shop/cart/inventory? I've been looking at website building companies and SBI seemed the cheapest. (Not willing to derail your thread SOS...but i am pondering on which way to go to expand my business a bit, i do not like eBay for their unreasonable fees and i am considering Etsy...but my own website could be nice as well).

[Mounds]

Hi Weena,

SBI wasn't a good fit for me. I honestly couldn't make it through the program. It made me feel these two emotions: + .
eBay is also on my s-list, the fees are crazy. Just when you think you've made a profit, they send you a bill for all the stuff you sold!
Etsy looks good, I'm going there eventually.

@JeffistheAnswer - Is your avatar an orb from the movie Phantasm? Looks strangely familiar

[Weena]

Originally Posted by Mounds

Hi Weena,

SBI wasn't a good fit for me. I honestly couldn't make it through the program. It made me feel these two emotions: + .
eBay is also on my s-list, the fees are crazy. Just when you think you've made a profit, they send you a bill for all the stuff you sold!
Etsy looks good, I'm going there eventually.

Thank you Mounds I will start with Etsy.

[JeffistheAnswer]

Originally Posted by Mounds

@JeffistheAnswer - Is your avatar an orb from the movie Phantasm? Looks strangely familiar

Nope, never heard of that movie. My picture is just our sun going through a bit of coronal mass ejection.

One more thing on the SBI. I think I already have an idea about what my passion is. If I were to wake up one morning knowing that I were working in anything entertainment-related , be it radio DJ, actor, producing a video/movie...I would be thrilled. So that's my interest, entertainment. And that's where I'm not sure about. Building a website based around that.

Although I would also love that travel rep job, but I don't think there are any of those around Reno...

BTW, sorry for derailing the topic a bit here!

[escapeplan]

Originally Posted by JeffistheAnswer

Nope, never heard of that movie. My picture is just our sun going through a bit of coronal mass ejection.

One more thing on the SBI. I think I already have an idea about what my passion is. If I were to wake up one morning knowing that I were working in anything entertainment-related , be it radio DJ, actor, producing a video/movie...I would be thrilled. So that's my interest, entertainment. And that's where I'm not sure about. Building a website based around that.

Although I would also love that travel rep job, but I don't think there are any of those around Reno...

BTW, sorry for derailing the topic a bit here!

That's my problem with SBI!- if you want to live your passion, it's probably better to delegate out the website building (if you want one to support your business) in the same way you would accounting and taxation.

As for the travel thing- do you have anywhere specific in mind?

[Mounds]

I was actually thinking about that for my own website. Building websites is not my strength. I could learn it but would the hours spent on making something functional outweigh the money i would give someone else for making something professional?

[escapeplan]

Originally Posted by Mounds

I was actually thinking about that for my own website. Building websites is not my strength. I could learn it but would the hours spent on making something functional outweigh the money i would give someone else for making something professional?

No one really mentions this aspect of SBI! Because it's something anyone can do, it's seen as a solution but it may not be the right way for you to spend time or the best way you can provide your customers with value. The website it would seem is now an important part of modern day business so I'd imagine getting it right counts for quite a bit.

There are plenty of good accountancy packages out there but most businessman/woman recognise the cost savings of delegating this. I'm surprised this isn't more often talked about. In many ways it's also easier to monetise your hobby/ passion without using a website depending on the business.

[James81]

Originally Posted by Mounds

I was actually thinking about that for my own website. Building websites is not my strength. I could learn it but would the hours spent on making something functional outweigh the money i would give someone else for making something professional?

It really depends on what you are doing.

For instance, if your website is mostly just information/text based, I could put together a wordpress site with high functionality and plugins that you want in under an hour. (PM me for pricing )

It's the programming aspect that takes the time...if your website runs a program with high functionality, it could take you some time to write the program. But you could outsource the actual writing of the program (i.e. find a programmer in India--because they are way cheaper--that will write the program you want), and you could easily add that program to your site on your own.

But for most intents and purposes, building the website is a piece of cake now that there are content managers out there.

[Zach M]

Originally Posted by secrets0stolen

Should I just go apply for the job anyway? And hope they excuse the fact that I look completely unprofessional because I just rode five miles in the country?

I biked to the interview for my last job. Carried interview clothes in my backpack and changed in the restroom before getting started. That's a minuscule obstacle.

BTW, it is awesome that you are getting all this support, secrets0stolen, and you definitely deserve it.

[Weena]

Originally Posted by Mounds

I was actually thinking about that for my own website. Building websites is not my strength. I could learn it but would the hours spent on making something functional outweigh the money i would give someone else for making something professional?

Hey Mounds, i found a fairly cheap and easy way to build a website with shopping bag option... any interest?

[JeffistheAnswer]

Yeah, I think I'll create a different form of income in accordance with my passion.

Originally Posted by escapeplan

As for the travel thing- do you have anywhere specific in mind?

Hmm, anywhere specific...New Zealand and Hawaii are places I'd really like to visit.