How long did it take you to get your first job? (employment, applying)

[Ro2113]

I'm not talking about how old you were but how long did it take from the time you first started filling out applications to the time you finally landed a job?

[stan4]

When I was 11, I sent off for that Captain O club in the back of my comic books (1980s)...it took a couple of weeks to get the catalogue so I could hit the mean streets of my suburb!
When I was 15, my friend told me she'd get me a job at Subway...started working there the next week.
When I was 16, I applied to a movie theater...I interviewed the next day and then the manager called that same day to ask me to work there.
When I was 22, I applied to instruct tennis over the summer between college and med school - heard back pretty much within a week of putting in the papers.
When I was 28, I applied for my first job - it took a couple weeks to hear back, another month or so to set up interviews and be flown in, and then a little while later to be offered the contracts. From start to finish, about 4 months...to start working 4-5 months later.

[MrRational]

The first REAL job... where I had to punch a clock and meet THEIR schedule...
it took about 20 minutes to learn that I was hired including the time it took to fill out the application form by hand.

I ended up doing very well there, had a blast with my co-workers, got promotions and raises regularly...
and used this overall experience as the basis for choosing what I later went back to school for.

Five years later I was on a significantly different (though peripherally related) job track altogether.
The first job in that new area of the industry took about 24 hours from first contact to know that I was hired.
(At the height of the early 80's unemployment period, btw.)

[Marissy]

A few months. I applied around Dec-Jan, and they kept my resume. They called in May to see if I still wanted to work there.

[jeepgirl27]

Originally Posted by Ro2113

I'm not talking about how old you were but how long did it take from the time you first started filling out applications to the time you finally landed a job?

When? Cuz I'm sure most of us had more than one job and started when we were young.
So when?

[Ro2113]

Originally Posted by jeepgirl27

When? Cuz I'm sure most of us had more than one job and started when we were young.
So when?

Your very first job where you received a paycheck that the government took taxes out of. The first job where you were paid an hourly wage period. The type of job you were working at in high school.

[Lucario]

Originally Posted by Ro2113

I'm not talking about how old you were but how long did it take from the time you first started filling out applications to the time you finally landed a job?

Immediately. Then again, that was a looong time ago.

[hnsq]

Three days. My first job was at an ice cream shop when I was 14. I walked in, handed the application to the manager, it was a slow day so she interviewed me that day. I dropped a handwritten thank you card off the next day, and two days after that I got a call that I had the job.

[johna01374]

When I turned 14 I walked into the local grocery store and asked if they had an opening. I started that night.

After HS I decided I wanted to work construction. I walked into a couple of companies and asked if they were hiring. The 3rd company said yes. I started the following day.

A couple of years later I decided I wanted to work on cars. I went to school, graduated, walked into a dealer and asked if they were hiring. Started the following Monday. Every job I have every had has been the same way. Never a formal interview, never submitted a resume etc. Simple no BS. Hi are you looking for a mechanic? Yes, ok here's my qualifications. Sure I can start then, thanks

[pvande55]

My first job out of college took about six months. I started applying beginning of senior year. Was able to start work right after graduation. Of course that was when engineers were in demand.