[AA702]

I had a guy move out here last month and rented a room from me. I met him a few years ago so I know he's legit. Anyway, he got a job in 2 days as a bell hop at the Westin. Starts at 8 bucks an hour plus tips. He doesn't know anyone at that hotel, but he just applied online and got an interview right when he got into town. They hired him the next day. I guess it can be luck or just having a good resume?

I think he says he is taking home $600 a week.. so thats $2400. He rents a room from me for $500 and he has a $300 car note and some misc bills. I guess he isn't doing too bad.

[gold359]

That's awesome.

And encouraging.

[gold359]

Buzz, I really liked your reply (I liked everyone's replies ). It helped give some insight into some of the things I've been sensing and seeing (especially about those blanket data-base "don't call us, we'll call you" ads).

And about the 11-14 weeks unemployment. I met one person who said that if you're unemployed for longer than two weeks there's something wrong with your skills. Yikes! Talk about deflating your sense of self-esteem.

Additionally, those "Employment Guide" papers that are draped around town inside the Kwicky-Marts seem to be pretty useless. Anyone else feel the same way?

I have to admit that I've been falling into the wheel-spinning, " applying for anything and everything with any and all employers" trap only becuase nothing was really coming through with the specific areas that I've been looking at. But most of those areas were through online places that seem to house these bulk ads. Through jobbing.com I started getting generic requests to sell insurance even though nothing in my profile matched this! Ugh.

So I'm good with tools and work my butt off. I always show up, have a great work ethic and haven't any felonies (lol). I want to work as a laborer or in construction. Something manual where I can build, push, pull, make or break. That's what I do best. Anyone have any specific recommendations on where to go?

And the State of Nevada Employment Service on Maryland Parkway--anyone else have any experience with them?

[ecm727]

You got here at the slowest time of year during an economic downturn. That is why you are struggling. The upside is there is nothing wrong with you. Typically casinos are hiring for various positions all year round. Just so happens this year there are cutbacks due to the slowing economy.
Construction? You have to have juice(know someone) or be here illegally to work in construction anymore. The best thing to do is suck it up (if you do not have juice) and take the crappiest job you can get just to get a foot in the door. In the casinos you can progress to decent tip jobs pretty rapidly if you are a good employee(no whining, work hard, recognize they are the boss and you work for them, give excellent service). I've seen guys come from being a houseman to bellman and over double their salary. Once you have worked in a place and have service experience it gets easier to get hired.
Another tact that used to work was to just pound the pavement and meet the people who hire and just keep going back. For example, go to a valet booth and talk to the lead valet or go to security and talk to the supervisor. Find out what they need and keep stopping in to say hello. Be tenacious. Let them know you want the job that badly. I've seen many guys with no casino experience walk into decent tip jobs because they were persistant. I've also seen guys with decent tip jobs advance to better positions because they were persistent about wanting the job.
Another tip to break in is to go for a seasonal job like a pool attendant especially with summer almost here. When the pools close many properties transfer the pool employees to other departments. It is a foot in the door. Remember any job in any casino is a break to a better job in the same or another casino.
It took me 4 months to get my first job thanks to the help of some friends. Use everybody you know as a potential contact to a job. Let everyone know you are seeking employment. My first job through my friends (who I only knew briefly at the time) led to my second which lasted ten years and took me into my current job. Each time I moved to a better position and acquired the job through friends I made along the way.
It sounds like you are willing to work hard. Keep plugging and it will come. It takes a little time but this city is worth the effort.
If you are thinking of going back remember this: In the next 3 years 5 major casinos will open creating approximately 40,000 jobs and another 100,000 service related jobs. Certainly there is a job in there for you somewhere. Good luck.

[ecm727]

Originally Posted by AAPoolServiceLV

I had a guy move out here last month and rented a room from me. I met him a few years ago so I know he's legit. Anyway, he got a job in 2 days as a bell hop at the Westin. Starts at 8 bucks an hour plus tips. He doesn't know anyone at that hotel, but he just applied online and got an interview right when he got into town. They hired him the next day. I guess it can be luck or just having a good resume?

I think he says he is taking home $600 a week.. so thats $2400. He rents a room from me for $500 and he has a $300 car note and some misc bills. I guess he isn't doing too bad.

If he is from Florida I know him. Nice guy.

[Buzz123]

Originally Posted by gold359

Buzz, I really liked your reply

So I'm good with tools and work my butt off. I always show up, have a great work ethic and haven't any felonies (lol). I want to work as a laborer or in construction. Something manual where I can build, push, pull, make or break. That's what I do best. Anyone have any specific recommendations on where to go?

And the State of Nevada Employment Service on Maryland Parkway--anyone else have any experience with them?

From the bottom up...I have 13 years experience with them. I retired from there. I took the job because there is no better feeling than helping someone get a job. I learned that by producing a Job-a-thon on television one time. We helped turn the unemployment situation around in Las Vegas when it was way worse than it is now. But for construction labor the ESD can't help you.

As for laborer jobs, you could join the union. But you could also go to the project offices or the main office in person and ask for a job. That's the way most people do it. By the time your skills and work ethic gets to be well known they'll probably call you. You can also talk to other laborers for tips. That's what I mean by networking.

I'm glad I could help..providing I did.

[AA702]

Originally Posted by ecm727

If he is from Florida I know him. Nice guy.

No., he is from Baton Rouge, LA. and this is also a nice guy.

[MR77]

Hang in there... you will find something. But I can imagine it is tough. When I moved out here five years ago I remember going through the same thing. Driving all over town, feeling like I was getting nowhere, and showing up to interviews drenched in sweat because I drove a crap car with no ac. It sucked, but I got though it and indeed I had to start at the bottom of the chain in the company I work for. I worked my butt off and now I've got a great network here in Vegas and all over the country for that matter.

Keep your head up and remember there are a lot of other people going through the same thing. Patience will pay off.

[gold359]

Well, it's good to hear so many words of encouragement. I'm not one to typically wallow in self sympathy but this has been something of a frustration but this has just been getting strange.

[airics]

here is my thinking as i am moving there soon,.... take whatever you can get but keep looking...