What the ....

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bigbaddad

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
May 3, 2008
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calgary
:irked: First of i just finished 2 aquarium builds sump plumbing blah blah the next thing that happens is my boss knocks on my door after i finish setting it all up and gives me the bad news theirs no work very slow so i just spent all this money and im out of work.

I have 2 kids and a wife so this is a problem so i check out big als reopening in my area i get an interview and all thay want to know is do i have any expierience in retail wich i don't but they never asked me any important questions like my knowledge of fish keeping building water pressure etc.

So im im kind of thinking i did not leave a very good impression it has been a long time since i have had to deal with an interview i have been in construction for the last several years.

I left on a sour note i have been into several aquarium shops in my area and am often frustrated with their lack of knowledge because a know nothing retail clerk is better qualified than a hobbyist wich it specifically said they were looking for hobbyist i have only met few aquarium staff who could awnser any questions that i had and i want a start for my own company building tanks and selling fish.

The learning curve on how to get theire is becomong more and more frustrating i dont have a line of credit where i can simply access the funds to go do it and am now completely lost.
 
Well, your first step into sales is to sell yourself.
Don't wait to be asked about your personal knowledge. Find a way to tell them.
And if that does not work, just lie and tell them what they want to hear.
Human Resources Personnel are often as lazy and incompetent as the rest of us.
And a little ego flattery never hurts. Appeal to their ego, and desire to feel important.
Let them know how interested you are in this field. That you have a true passion for it. That you aren't just some construction laborer looking for temp work until you get a new contract, and will be a waste of their time to train when you're going to bail as soon as you get "real" work.
That you are a "diamond in the ruff." That they should take a chance on you and it would be the best risk they've ever taken.
That you'd stay and be worth the effort. Because this is what you really want to do, and would still do it even if your old boss called you tomorrow.
That this is your passion and dream, if only this person (oh' so powerful and important, WINK!) could please please give you a chance.
Go back to the places you were rejected. Beg, plead, flatter, lie, cheat, kiss butt.
And since you are unemployed and your time is free...beg hard. Volunteer if necessary. Let them try you out for free for a day or few. Then empress with your ability, and there you stay.
That has worked for me lots. Even when they are not hiring. Who would turn down free labor? And shows dedication to your dream. Who would work for free, unless they really wanted that job?
Retail schmetail. They can teach a monkey to stock shelves and run a register.
But they can't ever make someone care. That's what you have no one else does.
So go back and go back and go back till you prove it.
Or get a trespass warning.
What have you to lose?
 
And when you go back, be humble. Tell them you are good at fish, but not at interviewing.
Please PLEASE SIR! May I have another? For you are my King, and I your lowly servant.
WINK!
 
Just watch the attitude.
You have to seem to know it all...or enough at least.
But not seem like a know it all. If you know what I mean.
And relax. Know that you are THE MAN! And they will be lucky to have you.
But don't be a snot.

Sorry about running on and on...but manipulation is a delicate art.
Go get 'em Tiger!
 
yeah my wife works so it's not super tight as for the store i can't even find out to much about it yet theire not opening for a couple of weeks yet.

I do want the position but the pay is pretty low so im unsure if i'll even be able to take it by then.
 
Getting that retail fish job may pay more than the meager raise in the long run if this is the business you want to get into. Get the job, find out how things are done, who your competition is, develop info and contacts with vendors. Learn how and why they do things a certain way. This will be the intangible stuff you will need for your own shop. Learn from their mistakes. Develop good relationships with vendors and customers, they will be critical to starting your own store. Ofcourse dont tell them you only want onboard to collect intel and become their competition.
Also, try this approach, it worked for a friend of mine when a lsmall local store didnt hire him. He made up some fancy cards for his fish and pond maintennance business. He hung out at the store alot, asked them to circulate his card. I even went in an mentioned that I used his services. The store decided to hire him on to help service ponds and tanks that they already serviced, and he worked in the store. Competition is hard enough for little shops so they absorbed him corporate style.
Good luck.
 
Agreed. You are not getting just a job. You are getting an education subsidized by the employer.
Shhhh. Don't tell.
 
Thank's for the intel i think i might broaden my horizens and start a more serious search these replies have really lifted my spirit"s.
 
Well, I support the dreams and aspirations of all.
Mostly because I'm too lazy to do anything myself.
But good luck with yours.
 
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