RHUer Needs Advice: Overstaffed Ice cream Shop Cuts Hours

Hello everyone! Vantalbar for the second time.

So, I go into work at the ice cream shop this week to find that the boss cut everyone's hours but the manager's in half.

Why?

He hired another six people, bringing the number of people working at the store up to, not kidding here, 30.

This for a store that needs, on average, six people working at a time. Four on the front (as there's an Ice cream counter and a Bakery counter) and two in the back to make the baked goods and stuff. He's still doing interviews with prospective employees!

According to the manager, he does this every year and keeps cutting peoples hours until their lucky to get one shift a week.

I already consistently get shifts that are two hours shorter than everyone else's for no apparent reason, and I need the money for university! Granted, this is the same boss that will yell at us (in front of the customers) about not fitting the dress code (it's simple. A T-shirt with no logo, and not hats) while wearing a shirt with a yin-yang thing and a Japanese phrase that a couple from Japan told me says "Baka Gaijin" which is a rather offensive way of saying 'Stupid Foreigner' and a ratty hat full of holes. Sure, he's the boss, so he can do whatever he wants, but in my opinion, the best kind of leader is the one that will set an example.

My boss is just almost never there. Oh well, this will only last until the end of August, when I go back to Toronto for university, and I'll need to start job hunting again.

Any tips for job hunting?

I spent two years looking for jobs in Toronto and the only place that responded turned out to be a pyramid scheme. I know my resume's good, but I've never gotten past the resume submission stage.

--Vantalbar

 

 

Comments

[Finder Queen]

One thing to look into is if you qualify for partial unemployment. I do because in my state a person is considered as "working" when they get 17 hours a week or wages equal to that. If below that 17 hours a week you can claim the partial unemployment.

As for job searching tips, just get to meet as many managers as you can for places you want to gain a job at. I know so many places do online apps but you make a good impression if you show your face or call them to check on apps after you turn them in.

[Mike]

Have a read of this - it has worked for people I know:
http://www.askamanager.org/2007/06/what-does-good-cover-letter-look-like_13.html

[Hiedi]

Do talk to the unemployment office. You may get some money-it's called being laid off due to lack of work. They understand some bosses are too spineless to formally "fire" someone or just want to clean house and by reducing hours to almost nothing, a person will quit and not think to claim unemployment because they quit. If your hours have been severely reduced (and still getting smaller) it's worth checking into seeing if you get at least partial unemployment. The worksource (the proper term for the "unemployment office" in WA state is called)-use them every which way possible. The ones out in my area offer mock interviews, resume/cover letter help and referrals to employers who are looking for workers-No need to be fully unemployed.

[Kay]

Have you looked at jobs on campus? Depending on where you are in your degree you might be able to do some tutoring or even get a low level position working for your department.

[AnotherCanadianSlave]

i'd almost reccomend (if it's feasable) to go up on weekends now and begin applying. otherwise you're swamped in with all the other applications they will get when schools start and all the other uni people apply. at least if you beat the rush they might think you're more reliable/eager.