Career Option: Record Store Employee
 

I applied for a job like this about a dozen times during high school and college...got an interview once. I must not have looked "cool" enough.

What a great job though: Listening to music all day, getting advanced copies; getting free CDs; helping people discover great new bands. And you don't have to dress up to go to work. Sweet!

But...it's retail. And you wouldn't make squat, unless you're a manager. But it's still retail, so you would have to work retarded hours. And then I'd have to deal with people that want the newest Juvenile or Christina Aguilera CD...and I'd feel a need to smack the shit out of them.

Maybe one day, when I'm rich and don't really need the money, I can go and do a job like this. :)

Not that I'm paid a whole lot right now (public service/mental health jobs never are), I've thought that I wouldn't mind moving on to something less stressful (and dangerous, she points out as she types with one hand) ...

I occasionaly practice "So, do you want coke and fries with that ... and how do you feel about those fries?"

Only the fact that the fast food industry doesn't pay as well keeps me from exploring this option.

Actually, I do have some other ideas, but there are certain other challenges attendant to attempting to start a crafts-based home business. There are parts of this that I'm able to pursue now, but working full time it's hard to devote the time necessary to this.

A couple of months ago, a career counselor told me that I needed to figure out what it is that I want to do and stick with that. I dunno though...I have an educational background in one field, and 10 years experience in another, though they are somewhat connected (psychology and customer service--yep, DEFINITE connection there).

I might actually see if I can pick up a record store gig as a second job for the holiday season. It'd be fairly easy work, and I could use the money.

Working in a bookstore is more fun. You have more interesting conversations with the customers, and the books are much easier to straighten and alphabetize since they don't have those big plastic contraptions on them.

I'm much more familiar with music though. Besides, bookstores have that air of snootiness. ;)

Well, there's always Border's...where you can do either. Too bad Gene's Books was drtiven out of business by the chains and Amazon.

Not much snooty about Border's...unless you're illiterate. If you wanna know what it's like to work at Border's I can hook you up with Gwennie, who's been working for them for about a year.

Hmmm...that's an interesting idea Mags. And that could work...they have a location down at Rittenhouse Square, which would be easy to get to if I pick it up as a second job.

it's a touch late to get trained for the Christmas season, but you could try.

You're probably right...this isn't 1999 anymore, where stores were clamoring for folks up to the day before Xmas. They were mentioning the other night on the news how a lot of places are picking up few if any seasonal workers b/c of the economy.

I was just thinking...I haven't had an interview with a regular company (i.e. not a staffing firm) since this time last year. Man, that sucks. In that time, I've probably applied to 150-200 jobs.

Very few companies wants to hire someone they might be expected to be loyal to in even some miniscule way or worse yet pay benefits to. They certainly have no planning horizon beyond the next quarter's "numbers"....or whenever the value of the golden parachute package maximizes for the MBA who's been delgated to drive to company maximizes, whichever comes first. We certainly can't expect them to take on a long-term high-risk proposition like actually hiring someone.

After all, the only purpose of business is to maximize stockholder value.

They're still taking apps for the Xmas season, plus for permanent positions at the new store about to open (Broad and Chestnut...*thinks*...that must be the old HMV store).

I put that app in on Monday, and to be honest, I don't think I'm going to get a call. Granted it's only been 2 days, but with Xmas fast approaching, I would think that they're trying to get people trained in a hurry. If I don't hear from them by Friday, I'm writing them off.

why dont you call them?

~james

I certainly wouldn't expect them to chase you....they're too damn busy.

Hmmm...that's a very foreign concept to me. I've never done that before...only when I've had an actual interview. With a job like this (book jockey), I figure that if they're interested, they'll call me.

Not that I'm that lazy or uppity, but that just seems rather...bold, I guess. What the hell though...it can't hurt.

well, my understanding is that it shows them youre really interested in the position. ive actually been quite successful using the 'hassle the manager til they hire you' tactic. its how i got the job i have now. :)

~james