A new store called "Frazier Farms Market"

Went to a job fair this week, my third this year. And it was for this new health food store called “Frazier Farms Market”. It is opening near my house about 10 minutes away near one of our local IHOP’s so I have been in that area before. Not bad drive. I guess they have one in Vista this one is new to our area and new period I haven’t hear d of them before.

Don’t get me wrong I like health food and healthy stuff sometimes. I love Trader Joe’s, Fresh n Easy and Sprouts. So this was similar to all those (when I compared it to Sprouts the guy interviewing me agreed it like that).

The job fair was advertised on craigslist.com where I seem to find all my JF’s this year. It started at 9am and went till 3pm. It was going on like this for 2 days. Now compared to my last two JF’s. Goodwill there was like ONE person there. At the VONS which wasn’t for a new store but just a job fair there were about 10 people in front of me. SO I had no idea what to expect arriving at this job fair.

I got there at like 10:40am and there was this HUGE line. The whole thing outside the new store. In front of me was no joke about 20-25 people possibly more. It was hard to tell as some people had people waiting with them but not applying. I stood with my resume in hand, my proof I applied online copy of app all set for my interview. But it took forever. The sun burning down on us. Now its Winter here but the sun was still out it was a clear day so this was full sun. Even in the 60’s it was hot. I was outside waiting in this line for over an hour. I am still sure I got a bit burnt but mostly just hot.

Finally it was my time to go up there. And sit in the shade! The guy who interviewed me was nice enough. It was about a ten minute interview longer than my VONS one but not long as my Goodwill one (plus I talked to 2 people that day not 1). I am unsure how the interview went. Because it went good enough I think he liked me. But there is a downside to this one.

Here it is almost end of February but this store wont open till JUNE. Yes JUNE. As in 4 months away! Plus they wont be doing call backs till May. I am in shock. I thanked him and didn’t show my disappointment. But honest to God I need a job by April if not sooner.

I don’t know what will happen between now and May. But I know this probably isn’t the right job for me. I was all set for it to be. They were taking people full time. With benefits little things I only try dream of but never get at a job. Plus I seem to jinx ever getting a job at a new store. I only did it one time and well that turned into its own disaster. So we shall see but I am not that hopeful. They might even call but by then I would be with someone else (God willing).

Kind of a thrift store and stuff...Goodwill

Goodwill is more than a store they are a place to get work from. We learned this back in TN when we tried to use their career center for jobs before finding them on our own.

Had my first real store interview two weeks back. I can now say it didn’t work out but I am not that shocked. The day wasn’t fun. We drove 30 min there got lost on the way. It was for a bookstore a new concept I have never heard of but sounded fun. I love bookstores and have plenty of experience. Well after we drove down there. I had two interviews.

The second one was with the manager. The thing is they both acted funny that all my past few jobs were seasonal (never a good sign). Plus that I haven’t worked in a while which is sad for them to look down on that since they help out people. But they never called me. I figured all that work and it was a bad day all in all that I didn’t even bother to check back. It was just meant to be.

I did apply to the store by us so who knows if that will turn into something. I wouldn’t mind a job with them mind you and if they had called I would have taken it. But it didn’t happen. Sadly.

Well there is this store VONS grocery...

My first interview blog in weeks so sorry. Between my computer issues, being sick and the holidays. Here you go. Today we are talking about VONS Grocery Store…they are the same company as Safe Way for some states but here it is VONS.

Last Wednesday I went to a jobfair for VONS. They were hiring for their store and possibly other stores closer to me. This store was not far from home about 30 minutes.

The ad on craigslist did not say how long the JF went on for. It just said it began at 11am. So I arrived at 11:05 and there were about 10 people ahead of me waiting by the starbucks inside the store. I was kind of shocked so many but I sat down and filled out the small app.

After me at least 3 more came and sat down. At first the one manager was only taking one person at a time. I am unsure how many got talked to before I arrived. But then they began to double people up and taking two at a time. So it went by faster.

At 11:55 the lady said she was out of time and could only talk to one or two more and asked those who could would come back the next day. I had been there before all of them and I could not come back so I went there to talk to her.

I was applying for the lower end job that bags thing and collects baskets outside. Which is okay if you have no experience. But first of all VONS is part of a union which I have never been and unsure how they work. But the thing that did not get me the job was the part where I cant work on Saturday mornings. I am not open for that day only. I can come in around 1 or 2. The manager did not like that and wanted me open on Saturdays and Sundays which is weird. I was open all week long and even said I could come in at 6am and leave at 12am instead of what I put down (8-11). But that one threw her off. She said she would talk to her manager it might be okay. But she has not called me back. So I am pretty sure wont work. It was a disappointment because if she would have let me hire on for the store by me its like 10 minutes from home. But if they are all like that I will not be applying to VONS anymore. Oh well I tried.

Was a wasted disappointing day last week and got nothing out of going down there!

Its where the Pet's Go...Petsmart

There are pretty much two basic places for people to shop for their pets. Of course there are smaller pet stores and such. But the bigger stores are either PetCo or Petsmart.

I had an interview with Petsmart near my house last week on Friday. It was the first interview I have had anywhere since October (no clue why). This is a big deal interview.

It is for a position at the new store. Something I have wanted and tried for since May. And worked hard to get. I am unsure how it went. I will know this week if I got a second one Monday, Tuesdays or Wednesday. But I am hopeful. The guy seemed to like me. And if this doesn't work out then I can apply again for more positions once the store opens.

So I am hopeful. Time will tell. If its meant to be it will happen. And if so I promise to update this entry with that news!

I love pets and these stores. So wish me luck. This is one of those dream jobs I didn't know if I would ever get a shot at getting.

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UPDATED on January 26th 2014

I had an interview two weeks back for another Petsmart. This was the most disappointing one ever even more than the new store if possible. I had to walk from where I was at it took me a half hour and it was nearly 85* out. I arrived barely 5 min before and was able to change clothes quickly but looked a mess. Worse yet the manager liked me and the fact I had cats. I was so hopeful about this. I havent interviewed for PM a lot but this was my most hopeful and most saddest. I was hopeful as I waited for them to call me for a 2nd. But sadly due to it being too slow they cant take me on now. Maybe in a few weeks. But unsure. Sad all around I was so close to this one I could taste it!

So this one is about um food...yeah Chickfla food...

Chickfla is the lovely food place. I love their food. So I decided to go to this job fair for this one in Arizona. We went down early.

There were two interviews. The first one the lady liked me. I promise you I thought I was going to get hired on the spot. She didn't even care that I didn't have any food experience. If she had been it I would have gotten the job.

The second part of the interview the second one was not fun. I first had to wait around for them to finish the first ones about an hour or so. I couldn't just leave this place was a good thirty plus minutes from home. The lady I finally talked to didn't like me. Or that I didn't have any "food experience". This was my first time doing an interview for a food place. I will never fully understand why you need FOOD experience for a FAST FOOD JOB.

So of course I didn't get it. And it scared me away pretty much from doing a fast food job interview in the future...Too bad though I still love their food!

Just for fun...here are the stores I cant get on with that are brand new!

Taking a small break till next weekend from Job Interviews here is a quick glance at my job jinx of never being able to work for a brand new store. Some of the stores I have tried for over the years. My FIRST retail job was at a brand new store at a brand new mall (even more rare new mall!) but since then I cant get a job at a new store...what they don't tell you is that although lots apply for regular jobs new locations hire 50 plus people! And HUNDREDS apply for those. Unsure if that is why I cant get a job at a new store or what but the worst ones are as follows...

1. I tried for a few new stores at The Block of Orange (has a new name now) before I got hired at Toys International. I cant name them all but I have named Borders as one of them there were a few more retail and food places...

2. Biggest disaster was trying for a job with Barnes & Noble in TN before we moved there. The manager was just mean. She acted nice but was behind my back saying bad stuff to my current manager about me. I couldn't believe it when I heard they were both against me. I just wanted a job at the new Outdoor mall in Murfreesboro no sir she didn't want me to have it. Btw I didn't even know it was a mall till we moved there. I thought it was just that store!

3. There was some new clothing store opening at Opry Mills. I cant remember the name who knows if they came back since the flood happened in 2009. But they didn't want me to come work for them. Why? I wasn't skinny. They turned me away with a few but kept a few more girls. Yup that is how that went.

4. There was a kids clothing store at Cool Springs Galleria I cant remember their name. I really wanted that job. Badly. It broke my heart when I saw they there but didn't want me. I even got to interview for them.

5. One of the worst jobs I have lost that makes me cry even now thinking about it. Is The Lego Store in Arizona. I have worked for the company for over 2 years and found out after research trying to get a good recommendation after the fact that I am very re-hirable. It was for a new store 40 min from our house. I met the manager who liked me but forgot about me. I called back with my number from my store and he wasn't able to take my call. I could never talk to him. I tried really hard. I should have taken a job with the other store by us when I couldn't there. I turned them down. I did interview with them later on but I think they recalled me and didn't take me because of my rejection. I wanted a full time job with the company. One of the best reasons I want a job at a new store is more chances for jobs and chances for full time jobs. Either way I could not get on with them. And it broke my heart. Things would have been so different with us in AZ if I had of gotten that job there...Why? I don't know...

6. A new Disney Store opened at our mall. I went to the big job fair. I thought they liked me. I am like I will get this. They seemed to like me sure why not. But I think too much experience or something else and guess what no job for you.

7. Crocs opened a store at the outlet in 2012. I really wanted a job with them. I love Crocs shoes so this would have been a job with a company I would have shopped with and used. I had tried another crocs that didn't work out. But this was a new store in this area. The reason I didn't get a job there is still unknown. The manager said something came up in my background? I am thinking they did a credit check. I will 100% never understand why for a regular job that is something jobs do because its mean. Credit unless its a bank has NOTHING to do with a retail job!

8. A new Dollar Tree opened by us last year. I couldn't make the first day of interviews. But the second day I came. They interviewed me. The manager lied to me. And I didn't get it. I would have used my discount if any I still shop there more than any other DT I am in there once a week plus because its so close to home.

9. ROSS opened in July this year right by my house. The lady who interviewed us was not truthful she told us lies about we were all be considered. Things I didn't find out till I tried to call them about my reference for my last job changing her phone number. Nope didn't get called.

10. My latest is Petsmart. The manager said he would look for my application. But guess what nothing. 300 people plus applied for them. They open in December. I have tried to apply with them 3x now and nothing. Although they aren't open yet I cant get the manager on the phone he is at the new store and I cant talk to him there. I am just about to give up on this. If I even talk to the manager before they open at this point it will be a miracle.

Next week I'm back with job interviews stay tuned!!

Trying to not do retail I tried a preschool...or two or three...

I love kids and so even though I never made it be a teacher I thought being someone who works at a Preschool would be fun. I have had a few times where I did interview for these.

Back when I lived in Orange County I tried a couple of these. The one I can remember was a church near by us. I remember I think they were like a different Christian beliefs then us. So that worried me. I was wondering if I had to go to church there if I got the job. But sadly although it was a good interview I didn't get the job.

On advice from my best friend I looked again while in AZ. This time it was in downtown Phoenix. It was the first time I had been to that area. I interviewed for a cool little preschool. I really loved the whole place. It would have been full time, working with kids. I thought the interview went really well. I first had to fill out an application (I think I sent a resume in through craigslist). And then I did the interview. I remember them liking me. And I also remember half the staff being sick from some of the kids being sick. I had a tour of all the rooms. It was just so neat. I thought for sure I would get it. Of course I didn't. I think they wanted someone with more experience because I was never called in. Oh well I tried.

Much like AZ here in CA they seem to want experience even in helpers for rooms. I think its sad since I love kids, and have done plenty of care for my sister and even in school they couldn't give me a shot. I am unsure if I will ever get to interview for a job. On occasion I do apply but still haven't gotten anyone to call me...