I Finally Made It and Seeking a Job ! (Denver, Aurora: hotels, trip)

[the_koolkat]

I'm not in Commerce City but pretty much just outside it. I am near Swansea Park. Not the area I was really wanting to live but this house was too good to turn down. The first day at the new job was ok. Sure is allot of high pressure sales for the not so great money they pay. I am really trying to keep a positive attitude here though. It is good to have a job, any job at this point. The airport is advertizing on Craigslist all the time for sales people in their little shops. I haven't jumped on that yet because it is so far away. Any feedback on working for them? They are advertizing pretty good pay.

[vegaspilgrim]

Downtown is amazing. I spent the weekend looking for a job. Not the best timing. Managed to land a sales job on the 16th Street Mall. Sadly, it is not a very good job so I am still looking. Any insite on where or how to look for a job around here? In Wyoming places put help wanted signs in the windows and you just walked in and asked. Here....no signs. Most places have you apply on line. I do much better face to face. I have experiance in many fields; sales, photography, office, hotel, bartending, and education. I am open to almost any good job oppertunity. I am getting real low on cash so a bartending job would be cool right now. Any advise, insight....please!!!
I just love it here. Everyone has been so nice. I can't wait until I have some money coming in so I can go out and make some friends!!

Glad to hear you're enjoying it here. It must feel like you're in a different planet coming from small town Wyoming. Have you tried looking for jobs at the Cherry Creek Mall or Cherry Creek North shopping areas? That would be my #1 recommendation. Cherry Creek North is probably the ritziest area of Denver, which could translate into more $$$ for you working there. Denver has no shortage of big box chain stores too. The closest to you would be the Northfield at Stapleton shopping center (although to be fair they do have an outdoor mall there too). I've worked at three big box stores in the past and I personally think big box stores suck, not to mention paying very low wages. Generally chain restaurants and big box stores make you fill out those ubiquitous online applications where they ask you 100 repetitive "personality test" questions (which btw, you get a score on, it's not subjective at all).

Do you have a car?

[the_koolkat]

A bigger much more exciting planet !!! I understand what you mean by the big box stores. I already don't like them. I have filled out many of those on line applications with the silly personality tests. Most of those questions are really none of their business and give zero information on my experiance or ability to work. I would really like to find a locally owned, ma and pa type gift shop. I managed a ma and pa dollar store back home and really loved it. Broke my heart when Family Dollar moved in and we had to close the store. I have not spent much time at Cherry Creek but I am pulling up a list of stores in the mall that are hiring right now. Tomorrow is going to be another day to pound the payment. I am working for a big box store now. However, they really only hired me on to help with a big sale coming up and may not have anything for me after the sale. I don't think I really want to stay with them anyway so this gives me some more time to look. No, I don't have a car so whatever I find needs to be near public transportation. If I get a bartending job I'll take a cab home if the buses are not running. It is all good !!! Things are all coming together with help from wonderful people like all of you!!! THANKS !!

[vegaspilgrim]

Originally Posted by the_koolkat

A bigger much more exciting planet !!! I understand what you mean by the big box stores. I already don't like them. I have filled out many of those on line applications with the silly personality tests. Most of those questions are really none of their business and give zero information on my experiance or ability to work. I would really like to find a locally owned, ma and pa type gift shop. I managed a ma and pa dollar store back home and really loved it. Broke my heart when Family Dollar moved in and we had to close the store. I have not spent much time at Cherry Creek but I am pulling up a list of stores in the mall that are hiring right now. Tomorrow is going to be another day to pound the payment. I am working for a big box store now. However, they really only hired me on to help with a big sale coming up and may not have anything for me after the sale. I don't think I really want to stay with them anyway so this gives me some more time to look. No, I don't have a car so whatever I find needs to be near public transportation. If I get a bartending job I'll take a cab home if the buses are not running. It is all good !!! Things are all coming together with help from wonderful people like all of you!!! THANKS !!

Downtown Denver/LoDo is still a good bet, especially since you're so close. I'm not exactly sure how the bus system works, which routes you would take etc, but the whole Cherry Creek area has a lot of busses. It's not just the actual indoor mall itself; the whole area north of 1st Ave bounded by University, Steele, and 3rd Ave is CHOCK full of restaurants, bars, boutique stores, coffee places, and galleries. I haven't been there in a while, but I believe there is a brand new hotel in Cherry Creek North. Since it's the beginning of summer, you could look for seasonal jobs (before the high school kids get out of school and snag them), things like Elitches, the Denver Zoo, the circus, Botanical Gardens, Museum of Nature and Science (formerly the Natural History museum), as well as the parks and recreation departments with the local cities-- I know that Aurora has a very strong parks and recreation program for kids. You could try jobs with the libraries. There are the office jobs-- I'm sure there's a lot of need for secretaries and assistants with all the office space downtown (and the Denver Tech Center, but that's pretty far south). I'm not sure how you'd go about getting one of those positions though. And then, if all else fails, there's tons of jobs at the Airport. They have skyride busses that go out there, but it's still a LONG ride to the airport.

[the_koolkat]

Originally Posted by vegaspilgrim

Downtown Denver/LoDo is still a good bet, especially since you're so close. I'm not exactly sure how the bus system works, which routes you would take etc, but the whole Cherry Creek area has a lot of busses. It's not just the actual indoor mall itself; the whole area north of 1st Ave bounded by University, Steele, and 3rd Ave is CHOCK full of restaurants, bars, boutique stores, coffee places, and galleries. I haven't been there in a while, but I believe there is a brand new hotel in Cherry Creek North. Since it's the beginning of summer, you could look for seasonal jobs (before the high school kids get out of school and snag them), things like Elitches, the Denver Zoo, the circus, Botanical Gardens, Museum of Nature and Science (formerly the Natural History museum), as well as the parks and recreation departments with the local cities-- I know that Aurora has a very strong parks and recreation program for kids. You could try jobs with the libraries. There are the office jobs-- I'm sure there's a lot of need for secretaries and assistants with all the office space downtown (and the Denver Tech Center, but that's pretty far south). I'm not sure how you'd go about getting one of those positions though. And then, if all else fails, there's tons of jobs at the Airport. They have skyride busses that go out there, but it's still a LONG ride to the airport.

Lots of great ideas !! I have checked Elitches and the Zoo. There was a terrific postion at the Zoo that I really wanted but I couldn't get here in time. I applied on line but had no luck. Elitches' openings also filled up before I could get here. Don't know anything about the circus. Is it a traveling circus or another Denver attraction? I never thought about the Botanical Gardens or Museums. Great idea. I just applied with the rec center here at Swansea Park. That would be ideal because it is less then a block from my house ! Wish me luck on that one! The jobs at the airport are tempting because they are advertizing pretty good pay but I am concerned about the long comute. I double checked with the bus driver today and the SkyRide is the only one that goes out there. It is expensive compared to the other fares. However, if the airport jobs provide bus passes I'll go for it! BTW...a great big cheer for the bus drivers here in Denver !!! They have been exstreemly helpful and friendly.

[livecontent]

I would suggest the Pepsi Center for Jobs because it will be the site of the Democratic Convention. The link for jobs is:

Pepsi Center: Jobs

Check out Argus Event Staffing

Pepsi Center: Jobs

Livecontent

[the_koolkat]

Just checked the Pepsi Center links above. The Argus Event Staffing demands $10 up frount with the application for a background check. What?? I have never heard of such a thing. Is that normal? I'm still going to check into it though. Be worth it if it is a really good job.

[livecontent]

Originally Posted by the_koolkat

Just checked the Pepsi Center links above. The Argus Event Staffing demands $10 up frount with the application for a background check. What?? I have never heard of such a thing. Is that normal? I'm still going to check into it though. Be worth it if it is a really good job.

That is very interesting; I never paid for a background check. I did a little checking and I found that:

"...COST OF MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS AND BACKGROUND CHECKS, 2(II)
THE COLORADO DIVISION OF LABOR DOES NOT GIVE LEGAL ADVICE.
CONTACT AN ATTORNEY FOR LEGAL ADVICE.
Employers cannot typically require job applicants or employees to pay for medical examinations (e.g., drug tests) or the cost of furnishing any records (e.g., cost of background checks or fingerprinting) required by the employer as a condition of employment.
Exception: the cost of furnishing those records necessary to support the applicant's statements in the application for employment.
REFERENCES
Colorado Revised Statutes 8-2-118 (Cost of Medical Examination)..."

Page 95 ADVISORY BULLETINS AND RESOURCE GUIDEColorado Division of Labor, January, 2008

http://www.coworkforce.com/lab/AB.pdf

Now, does this apply in this case?? Is the background check a cost associated with "the cost of furnishing those records necessary to support the applicants statement in the application for employment". I am not an attorney, so I have no idea.

In addition, there are protections and rights that apply to background checks in the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and some of these regs specifically address employment background checks.

My life experience tells me, if this employer is going to charge upfront for these records, then it is a very bad employer and will only cause you problems in the future. It is not worth the hassle. I would look elsewhere. Tell them to "Go the Hades"

Livecontent

[the_koolkat]

"My life experience tells me, if this employer is going to charge upfront for these records, then it is a very bad employer and will only cause you problems in the future. I would look elsewhere. Tell them to "Go the Hades""




LOL...that is kinda what I was thinking too!!

[wanttomoveeast]

Good thinking Kat, keep looking, don't worry, you'll find something. What you are doing is awesome, you just have to keep looking, it'll work out.