Jobs... WTF? (Lewiston, Farmington, Jay: job market, wedding, school)

[ekkostar]

What the heck is going on here? I live in the Franklin County area and I'm having the worst time trying to find a job. I've filled out an application to every business in Jay, Farmington and Livermore Falls, so why am I still unemployed? I've also done the Career Center and like always, their computer system sucks a duck and can never find me proper low level jobs in the area. I don't want to use Vocational Rehab because I'm capable enough of getting my own job and people in this state seem to really abuse that service when it is meant for the handicapped.
I really would like to get a job before entering school, but if this continues, I may just have to bite the bullet and enter college unemployed.

I was working at C.N. Brown for nearly 8 or 9 months, but I had to leave because I could no longer stand the childish bullying that my boss was giving the employees and I. Is there some stigma about former CNB employees that makes it hard for us to get on the employment horse again after falling off? This being unemployed thing is beginning to frustrate me. I miss having something to go to during the day and I also miss getting a paycheck in my account every week. The thing that boggles me is that WHY a business wouldn't employ somebody actually willing to work.

[AlisonL]

ACS in Lewiston is hiring. They are a call center located in the old Ames building. Check them out.

[ekkostar]

It would be nice, but I'm thinking about the commute and how rough it would be to get to and from work during those harsh winters. I'm hoping to get something close to home. We used to have a call center in Farmington, but it closed down and was replaced by something else.
I wish that someone would do something with that vacant Ames space in Jay.

[Petertherock]

There was a paper mill up in Jay that was hiring. They were starting at $16.74/hour and went to over $20/hour after 2 years. I don't know if they are still hiring though.

[MRVphotog]

So people know CN Brown owns and operates alot of convenience stores, we have one in Cumberland. They seem to have alot of turnover which gives the impression that it might not be a great place to work.

There was a controversy a few years ago when the employees of one of the stores, can't remember where it was, planted flowers on their own on the property to make the store look nicer. When the big wigs found out they made them remove them.

It sounds like you had a negetive separation from your last job. Even if you had rightous reasons chances are this will make things much harder to find another job. If your in an area where jobs are hard to come by employers are looking for people that have a solid work history, i.e people that have stayed in their jobs for a minimum of 1 year.

If your work history has alot of short term employment, like 8-9 months, you just have to find anything you can and stay there for at least 1 year.

[Maine Writer]

Have you asked potential employers why they didn't choose you?

[mainebrokerman]

Originally Posted by Maine Writer

Have you asked potential employers why they didn't choose you?

maine writer good question,,,i use to hire/fire alot and had a few ask why they didnt get a job,,and as an employer,,,you have to be very careful how you answer,,
say ,,i had 5 applicants for a retail job,,,,half that came in,,wasnt very well groomed,,,,,and hygeine wasnt the best (to be working with the public)
now,,i had to be very careful,,,how i answered a question,,,
you cant say to someone they stink,,or should shower more often,,or should comb thier hair,,at least wash it,,

today im seeing,,,young men and woman,,at big apples (cn brown stores) with ,,earrings all over thier face,,and in dirty t-shirts,,not to mention,,again,,the groom and hygeine issues,,but then again,,these are entry level jobs,,

i asked one young lady i interveiwed recently,,,"how do you think the public will accept and perceive you?? (with 9 earrings all over her face) her answer was,,"if they cant accept me,,thats thier problem" (quite an arrogant answer)
she may have a point in her personal life,,but once you are in a place of business,,,you reflect,,the whole company and everyone else in it,, you cant be looking like a freakshow,,when working with the public,,

i worked at the shopnsave (hannaford) in jay 20 yrs ago,,very nice folks in that town,,

to the original thread,,,keep on looking for employment, thier looks to be much out thier,,,and go in with a confident, positive attitude!!
dont be whiny,snotty, arrogant, blame the world attitude,,,sound excited about working there..make sure you are cleaned up and have decent clothes on,,dont have bad breath,,,(very important)

i had friends yrs ago,,that laughed at a friend that worked at mcdonalds,,,now the guy is a district manager,,,making mega-bucks,,and the guy that laughed hasnt advanced much thru the years,,,
youve got to set your own path, not walk anyone elses!

[flycessna]

When I first came here from Ma. I of course made friends with other people from away. We all noticed how dressed down Maine seemed to be. Even in the work place. My first Maine wedding I saw people wearing Jeans and sneakers, some wrinkled suits, ect. Anyways either things have changed or I just don't notice it anymore.

[forest beekeeper]

The dress code really stood out to us when we first came up here too.

Living in Ct, with a bunch of foster children, who just had to wear the latest fashionable clothing. The right slogans, and bracelets, and trinkets. Every piece of clothing just had to have a label from a fashionable maker. Or else they would not fit 'in', and that would damage their self image.

Down there you see ladies wearing make-up so thick it looks like it was applied with a putty knife. Bright colours too, and sparkles.

Coming up here, right away we noticed the blue jeans and sneakers, or simple dresses, and clean faces. So many men comfortable wearing beards.

[399083453]

I too live in Maine, unemployed and just like you I average 1 or 2 job applications per day. Just an average, some days I apply to 10-15 jobs. Some days none.

Still unemployed.......

And I dont even have earings, tatoos, etc. Just a clean cut, healthy average guy in my late 20's.

The job market in Maine sucks.