Have you been wondering why is it difficult to get a job in the hospitality industry or any other industry? or why most people fail when applying for a job?

How do you know you have what business owners are looking for? And exactly what is it that they are looking for?

Well on this post I’ll be discussing about theses questions and a few more like:

• What should I wear or how should I dress?
• What time should I go out to handle CVs?
• How many CVs should I handle?
• How should I approach business owners or managers?
• They always say they will call me back, but I never get a call. Why?

First let’s start by learning more about the Hospitality Industry from the times I went out looking for a job.

 

Learning about the Hospitality Industry and why most people fail when applying for a job

 

My first steps

When I was looking for my first job in Hospitality, I do have to admit I was clueless about what I should have done, all I knew was that I needed a job to cover my weekly expenses.

In my mind I was trying to be objective and that my chances may be low as I didn’t have any work experience at all in this industry. Back in my country (Colombia) I used to work as a computer technician to which I was always referred to new customers, therefore I never had to apply or find a job.

When I went out the first times looking for work (September 2015) I just remember going out with a CV that had my contact details, information about a volunteering job I did at Vinnies as a customer services assistant (Adelaide) and my availability. I also remember not going out properly dressed and not prepared to talk with people. At that time I programmed myself to handle CVs as if I was handling advertisement.

After about 40 CVs, I got to meet the owner of a Bakery to which after a few minutes of talking he offered to teach me how to make coffees and cakes. He made me realise that I had to learn the basic skills to be considered as candidate for a job. I did a few hours of unpaid work, during those hours I was able to learn dishwashing, organising things within the shop, taking orders, handling cash, serving customers, keeping the shop neat and tidy, following orders, among others.

I accepted the unpaid work as no one else offered me anything or didn’t actually tell me that I didn’t meet the minimum requirements. What I was also missing was confidence in myself to get a job.

Lessons learnt:

1. You need some basic skills to get a job.
2. Be confident, and go out prepared.
3. Go out and handle CVs.

My second attempt

The second time I went out looking for work (Feb 2016), I had 4 months of work experience and a barista course. This time it took me 100 CVs and 40 online applications, to which I got 2 trials, and the fortune that one of them led me into a job.

This time I knew I had to handle lots of CVs and not stop until I got something, I was persistent and I got the opportunities I needed in order to get a job. However, during those 2 to 3 weeks I had to face lots of rejections, rude behaviour, and many other challenges.

One thing to really take note of is avoid at all times rush hours or going inside a venue if it is busy, if you do so, this will show your lack of knowledge of the industry.

Rush hours are:

• Breakfast 7am to 11am
• Lunch 12pm to 2pm
• Dinner 5pm until closing (dinner will start later 6pm-7pm, however businesses start preparing before it)

I have given you the warning. However, if you still decide to visit venues when busy (as I have done it in the past) you will face some of the following:

1. Staff will avoid attending you, as you are not a priority.
2. You may leave your CV/resume but is very likely that it will end up in the rubbish bin.
3. If by any chance you approach someone that has a strong temperament then don’t be surprised to get a rude treatment as you could be told to “get out of the business” “this is not the time”.
4. You will feel very uncomfortable doing a queue with a bunch of other people not to buy anything but to ask for a job.

Lessons learnt:

1. It is a numbers game, keep going out to handle CVs.
2. It took some time to get those trial shifts about 3 weeks time.
3. Avoid rush hours or busy times to handle CVs.
4. Take note of who you talked to, their position, the day and time you can talk to them again, and the venue’s name.

 

The last pieces of the puzzle

The third time that I went out looking for work (Feb 2017) I had:

• 4 months of work experience at a bakery
• 2 months of work experience at a cafe
• 3 months of work experience at a ice cream shop
• 3 months of work experience at a restaurant

At this stage on this third time, I felt more confident, I did feel that I had more skills, that I knew what to do, and that I was a hardworking and reliable person. But even like that I knew I was missing something.  While thinking about what I tried previous times I had a few things clear:

1. It is a numbers game, I need to handle many CVs before I get a trial or even a job.
2. I need to have a CV that is clear and easy to understand.
3. Work experience helps.
4. There is no need to lie on the CV or put experience or skills that you don’t have.
5. Only put relevant information on the CV (by relevant I mean to show that you have the skills to do the job) like work experience, description of the tasks you have done in previous jobs.
6. Also that I need to put on the CV the position that I want to apply to.
7. Choose one position only to apply within a veneu, example: waiter
8. Availability.
9. Avoid handling CVs in rush hours or if business is busy.

Basically, every time I went out to handle CVs, these were the most common questions people asked me:

1. Which position do you want to apply for?
2. What are your contact details?
3. What work experience do you have?
4. What is your availability?
5. How many hours can you work?

Once I got this picture I was definitely closer to understanding the strategies and things to consider to increase my chances of getting a job.

Again, I was missing something, then a for some reason I remembered the following tip:

Go well dressed, wear all black

This tip was given to a during a speech a business owner gave to international students when I was studying English back in August 2014. Imagine that, I remember something this critical almost 3 years later, at this point on my third occasion to go out looking for a job in February 2017 I get struck by this.

I never never never never went out properly dressed, never. I was always wearing jeans, or shorts, had my backpack with me, I always looked like a student or someone that didn’t care too much about my appearance. Nothing wrong, but if you are looking for a job you might as well look like a worker. A business owner hires workers.

This time I knew I had to commit and look more professional, I went out and bought a black polo shirt and black jeans.

What a difference, I was feeling more confident, people started taking me more seriously, but still it was difficult. I remember handling about 40 CVs. During those visits to cafes, bakeries, restaurants, I found about 4 places that were looking for people.

During the following weeks I visited them to follow up. At two cafes they told me they already hired someone, but at the other two they were still looking for people.

What was even more interesting was that I went to visit one of the cafes and I was asked to do a trial shift. The following week I visited the venue again to ask if I was successful, to which the manager replied to me: “can you start working tomorrow?”

The week after, I visited the second cafe and the owner said to me can you stop by tomorrow for a trial?

Next day I went to the trial and I got a second job.

In matter of three (3) weeks I was able to secure two casual jobs.

 

Lessons learnt:

1. Handling CVs is critical to get a job. THIS IS MANDATORY.
2. Wear all black.
3. Handle CVs between 2pm and 5pm.
4. Be friendly and polite always greet people.
5. Have a clear CV that is easy to understand.
6. Build up your work experience and skills.
7. Put only relevant information to the job you are applying to on your CV, nothing else.
8. Visit venues again where you think there is an opportunity or if they have told you “we will give you a call”. You need to follow up.

 

That summarises most of my experience going out looking for work. But, thanks to my skills, friends, and attitude I have had more than 10 different jobs. This has given me a broad understanding of the hospitality industry, what business owners are looking for, how do they think and behave, and what they expect from their employees.

 

The complete puzzle to finding and applying for a job

 

What you need to realise is this:

you are like a sales person when looking and applying for a job. If you don’t go out and sale you won’t get anything.

 

In summary these are the steps and things you need to do:

1. Create an appealing CV. (for more information on how to elaborate a CV go to: How to create an appealing CV)
2. Handle CVs. THIS IS CRITICAL. Without this step the following are worthless.
3. Wear all black, be well dressed, look like someone that wants to work.
4. Avoid handling CVs during busy periods of time or rush hours.
5. The best time to handle CVs is 2pm to 5pm.
6. If you found a venue where they are looking to hire staff, visit them again the following week. Follow up.
7. Visit the venue the following week If they say to you: “we will call you back”
8. Be ready for a trial shift: have credit/balance in your phone, if you get a call or a text message for a trial shift or a job you should reply within minutes.
9. Make sure you check the email address you provided on your CV.

 

Questions and Answers

 

What should I wear or how should I dress?

As explained throughout the post, you should wear all black. Black shirt, black pants, black shoes or tennis.

 

What time should I go out to handle CVs?

What I recommend is between 2pm and 5pm. Lunch (money making time) is almost over at 2pm some cafes or restaurants will start packing up for closing their venue, and others venues could be waiting for dinner time (money making time).

 

How many CVs should I handle?

Between 2pm and 5pm you should be able to handle 10 to 20 CVs. Meaning in one week you should have handled 50 to 100 CVs.

But, as much as you want to handle lots of CVs make sure you focus on being friendly, greeting people, and have a positive attitude.

 

How should I approach business owners or managers?

Business owners are very busy people. Therefore, they don’t have a lot of time. You are likely to be considered as a candidate if you can save them time. That is why the CV has to be straightforward (to the point) (name, contact details, position, work experience, availability). If they ask you something answer briefly. If they ask you a yes or no question say yes or no, don’t be in the middle.

 

They always say they will call me back, but I never get a call. Why?

As I said, business owners and managers are very busy, so is very unlikely that they will call you back. You could be a really good candidate for the job, but they could have forgotten about you 5 minutes later after you left the venue. If you ever hear back again “we will call you back” I recommend to paraphrase that into “come back next week”. If you go again next week, they will remember you, and they will see your interest in getting the job.

 

Did you get a trial shift and you haven’t received a call?

Have I said business owners and managers are busy? Make their life easier, by visiting them again, this will show them you understand they are busy people. Also remember, you are the one who needs the job.

 

And finally, why most people fail when applying for a job?

They don’t follow other’s people advice, all this information that I’m currently sharing took me about 3 years to put it together. I wonder if you have 3 years to gather all this information? and I wonder if you have the perseverance to find it out?

What is good about this is that you no longer need to go through all of it. Avoid my mistakes, and focus on getting a job by applying what has worked for me, you will realise that later on you can add your own steps, but for the moment use what I’m sharing with you.

 

Extra tips

Introducing yourself and asking for a job or vacancy.

 

When entering a venue and approaching people always introduce yourself and greet the other person.

Example:

You: Hi, my name is Sebastian, how are you today?

Staff: Fine thank you.

You: I’m currently looking for work, do you have anything available at the moment?

Staff: Yes, we are currently looking for…

 

Asking for others people’s names

 

At the end of the conversation, be thankful and ask for the person’s name

You: thank you for your time. And what’s your name?

Staff: Andrew

You: thank you Andrew, have a good day.

 

Once you have left a venue

 

Take note of the following:

1. Venue’s name, example: Cafe ABC.
2. Position you applied for, example: waiter.
3. Person who attended you, example: Andrew
4. Are they looking for staff or they just received my CV? if they are looking for staff, you should visit them the following week.

 

Conclusion

Getting a job is a complex process, I wouldn’t say is difficult it is complex.

Why complex? You need to know many things, details, behave in a certain way.

If you are persistent and following all the tips and tricks I have shared during this post, you should be able to increase your chances of finding and getting a job.

 

Hopefully you found this post helpful, make sure you share it with anyone who needs some help finding a job.

 

Disclaimer

The information shared on this post doesn’t guarantee you will get a job, neither the author or Experience Coffee is responsible for the use of the information provided throughout this post. Use the information provided here as a guide and/or reference.
Most of the information shared on this post come from experiences of other international students and from my own experience here in Adelaide, South Australia. If you apply the tips and recommendations given here your chances of getting a job will be higher, as you will be able to focus on what is relevant. It will require lots of effort and practise, before getting any results. Most important is to learn, and be willing to keep going no matter how difficult it might get.

Good luck on your job hunting experience.

If you need more information please send me an email to info@experiencecoffee.com.au or write a comment on the comment’s section below.

Thank you.