Can't find a shitty paying job!

[Anonymous]

The title says it all. I'm currently at home with my young kids, due to the fact that my daycare costs are more than what I actually made. We're a young family and my husband is employed full time with a regular 9-5 M-F job but is also an evening grad student. Some days, he's gone from 6 am- 10:30 at night when he has class. I recently began to look for a job in the evenings. I thought it would be so easy that I would get hired on the spot. Since bars and restaurants are open to 2 am in Va, I sought out waitressing work. I've never waitressed before but figured someone would be willing to train me. I set off to the first place. It was advertised as a restaurant but is also a nightclub with a dj. After meeting the manager, I was told to come back the next evening so we could talk in depth. I showed up 10 minutes early, he never showed. I had an employee call him and he said he was running late--2 hours late. I spoke to another manager and told him despite my lack of experience, I was very good with people and willing to work Thurs, Fri, Sat and Sun nights until close. He seemed genuinely interested. A week went by. No phone call. Finally, I called back again. The first manager told me to come in that weekend for an interview. I cancelled my Saturday plans and met him at dinner time. We talked for over an hour. He said the "girls" that serve drinks are supposed to meet a drink quota each night and the sales are regularly reviewed by the owners. Pushing top shelf liquors is expected. He said he would talk to the other two managers and would call me that night with a decision after 9 pm. He never called.
I recently set out to try a place that will likely train me. A chain restaurant. I called to ask if they were hiring. A manager said they were hiring for all positions and the application was online. I did ask if my non-experience was an issue, and there was dead silence for 5 seconds. He didn't directly answer but told me again to fill out the application online. The application was 12 pages long. I thought once corporate saw on the application that I had no experience at all, they would not forward the application to my local restaurant. Why would they?
Yesterday, I tried a third place. I walked in, dressed in black dress pants and a button down shirt. I asked to speak with the manager. After meeting, I was told that I could be a minimum wage kitchen worker to start off and then possibly at some point down the road, become a waitress. He told me to come back tomorrow (again) and bring a resume. WTF?! A resume...for what?!!
I was baffled. At the first place I went to, I was told by a bartender working there that I would be hit on a lot. He told me I was attractive and that I should have no problem getting a job. I'm fit, have excellent references, considered attractive and willing to work when others wouldn't want to (giving up weekends). I can't find a night shift job from 9 pm-5 am because I have to get some sleep so getting off at 2 am is a better fit. I don't know what else to do. What am I doing wrong? I didn't think it would be this difficult. I live too far outside DC to work anywhere in the city but my suburb has a lot of restaurants.

[Anonymous]

Waitressing 101- you start on lunches because they are the crap money. You need to work you way up to dinners/nights because that is where the money is. Plus everyone wants to work Frid/Sat night because that is the best money.

[Anonymous]

Thanks PP. I'd love to do lunchtime, but I can't afford to pay for daycare at this time. I appreciate the insight.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, PP, I would just keep trying other places. It's a pretty tough market for all kinds of employment, and in my experience, it's actually harder to get a job that you're overqualified for than one that you're perfectly qualified for. They will be worried that the second you find something that is a better fit with your experience, you'll be out the door and they'll have to hire someone to replace you. It is a safer bet to go with someone who is unlikely to leave for something better. This is where persistence will pay off. Eventually, you will find someone who is willing to take a chance on you.

And for what it's worth, that first place actually sounds a bit more like a strip club than a "restaurant" to me.

[Anonymous]

Try a place like trader joes. They pay surprisingly well and have later night shifts and weekends obviously. They prefer college graduates and mom types that can help sell their brand. Otherwise, can you take on an extra kid to babysit or help a mom out with drop off etc. for some extra cash? In your position, instead of a low paying job and the extra stress, I'd look to cut expenses or take in a college student that needs a room to rent etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, PP, I would just keep trying other places. It's a pretty tough market for all kinds of employment, and in my experience, it's actually harder to get a job that you're overqualified for than one that you're perfectly qualified for. They will be worried that the second you find something that is a better fit with your experience, you'll be out the door and they'll have to hire someone to replace you. It is a safer bet to go with someone who is unlikely to leave for something better. This is where persistence will pay off. Eventually, you will find someone who is willing to take a chance on you.

And for what it's worth, that first place actually sounds a bit more like a strip club than a "restaurant" to me.

Thanks. I've already began compiling a list as of 7 am. I will call these place today and if they're hiring, I'll venture out to them. The first place was not a strip club, but they are trying to be an "upscale" lounge. Their decor and clientele were pretty tacky though if you asked me. I wouldn't pay $12 for a drink anywhere though since I typically pay that for a meal at one of my local restaurants!

[Anonymous]

Before you venture out to them (and I"m assuming drag your kids out), make sure they don't want you to apply online. Many chain places will only accept applications online. And as odd as it sounds, yes a lot of places will want some kind of resume. My friend's teenager just applied for a summer job at McDonalds and had to submit his work experience, etc.

[Anonymous]

Waitresses at upscale places can make a lot of money on weekend nights - its going to be harder to find a job at a place where tips are going to drive up the pay. I wouldn't call these places shitty pay places, as I know bartenders who only work weekends and make a lot of money. If you want a basic paying job, look someplace that doesn't have a lot of weekend evening business first.

[Anonymous]

OP - what is your skill set? Do you have a degree? How about work history? I have a friend who works at a call center at a hospital on the weekends. She makes decent side money (about $13 an hour). You can also get evening and weekend positions at hospitals doing various things.

[Anonymous]

In the restaurant that I worked at everyone started at the bottom and worked their way up to waitressing. If you really want to waitress you may need to do this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Try a place like trader joes. They pay surprisingly well and have later night shifts and weekends obviously. They prefer college graduates and mom types that can help sell their brand. Otherwise, can you take on an extra kid to babysit or help a mom out with drop off etc. for some extra cash? In your position, instead of a low paying job and the extra stress, I'd look to cut expenses or take in a college student that needs a room to rent etc.

Also, OP, it's not waitressing but UPS is almost always looking for part-time employees and they have good wages and benefits. A friend's son is working there while in school.

[Anonymous]

How about a place like the Container Store? They always get written up as one of the best places to work and I know they have a lot of parents working there. Perhaps you could get a weekend shift.

[Anonymous]

Look at teller jobs at the local banks

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for all the suggestions. Trader Joes is a 35 mile drive for me. The container store is in Maryland. Well, there is one in Va but it's more than 40 miles from me. UPS was a good suggestion but the hours don't work with the schedule I can work. We can't rent a room in our house as we have a 3 bedroom house and no spare bedrooms (when we have a visitor they sleep on our sleeper sofa in the living room!). We have no basement to rent out. As far as childcare, we have dogs (one of which is considered a "guard" dog but its not a pit bull although he is great with kids so that scares people off and makes too much liability). In addition, I often have to go places in the daytime (appointments, running errands, etc) and some people aren't comfortable with me bringing their kids places. Today, for example, I have to visit the bank, go to the grocery store and I have one afternoon appointment. It's honestly exhausting just bringing my own kids. I prefer not to visit the grocery store on the weekends due to the crowds. I'll buy my stuff for the 4th of July today. I do not have a college degree but was a career nanny for nearly eight years. I am currently studying towards certification and will hopefully pass the exam this fall. I'm not in school as we can't take on any additional debt. My certification will allow me to work within the next year and I can be semi self employed. I'm going to keep applying for jobs and will tell restaurants I'm willing to be kitchen help if that leads me to something else. I've always been a good worker so I know I can prove myself. I will keep an open mind. Thanks everyone, your suggestions have helped

[Anonymous]

I worked for years and years as a waitress and no one comes in and starts on weekends. People kill for Thur, Fri, Sat bc that is where the money is, so thinking you are doing a favor for ppl by being open to those nights isnt the correct logic. Start in kitchen or lunch. Lunch on Saturdays maybe? Since you have kids. I honestly would try and find kitchen work at a type of place you would love to waitress at and put in a few months and make it very well known you want to waitress.