Where can a gothic teenager who is 16 work? Having trouble with callbacks, must be the hair!!!?

Question

My sister is 16 and makes good grades and is trying to get her first job here in Hampton Roads, VA. She has put in applications at MCDs, HotTopic, Payless, Pier One, Micheals and tons more with NO callbacks. She is an attractive girl with very short black hair and red bangs. She does dress DOWN when applying, wearing jeans and a regular shirt. NO CHAINS AND STRAPS like normal.... Please give us some advice on how to let her still keeps her gothic style but find an employer who isn't so bias!!!

Answer 1

Some markets aren't ready to accept goths yet, they have stereotyped goths. Redo the bangs to a normal shade perhaps. First call the places back she applied, it shows initiative and that helps. If nothing else works try an image makeover just for job hunting. Michaels craft store just doesn't seem like a place that would be open at all to goths.

Work on the appearance, brush up on communication skills, show initiative, call them back, thank them for their time and help. If she's never had a job before have her to tell the employer they can train her how they want her to be. When I was that age, that always got them and me the job.

Answer 2

Hmmm...Hot Topic would probably have been her best bet, because I know the people who work in Hot Topic out here (CA) wear tons of straps/black clothing, black hair w/colors, etc. Theres another store called "Red Balls" thats kinda like Hot Topic, but a little more punk, maybe she could try there.
Tell her to just apply everywhere she sees a sign. The more places she applies to the better her chances at getting the job. She will eventually meet a manager that sees her potential and not just the style of her hair.

Answer 3

Employers are going to be at least a little biased. I mean, if she's SCARY looking, of course they won't hire her! I don't know what your 16 year old sister looks like, but during the summer I turned 16, I was able to get 2 jobs.

Maybe they're simply looking for an 18 year old. I ran into that problem. Keep looking I guess, and remember, employers must be a little biased to get customers. It doesn't matter so much if you dress down, just don't look scary. It's terrible, but look as normal as possible for your job (your as in your sister...).

Again, terrible, but life. And it's only for a couple hours a week for a dumb part time job.

Answer 4

welcome to the real world... do you think bil gates would be where he is now if he had a mohawk? you can be gothic...on you own time... save it for after work or on the weekends. sorry, but black hair with red bangs is not very professional, and chances of finding a professional job that will accept your lifestyle will be hard. do you ever go into the dentist office and see workers with their faces pierced? no, most jobs require you to take out piercings... same with "different" hair styles... it's just not professional... maybe you could get a job at a tattoo parlor or a hair saloon until you outgrow your goth phase (and i call it a phase, cuz really...are you still gonna dress like this when you're 25? 35? 60?) good luck... i had a hard time finding a job that would let me keep in my eyebrow piercing...

Answer 5

You might be interested in a study a TV show did, where they had goth and regular looking teens apply at Hot Topic - a place where you'd think goth teens would be welcomed. Instead, it was the regular looking teens that got the callbacks/jobs!

So it's a tough road to walk. I'd say try a more funky part of town - maybe a record store, tattoo or piercing parlor?

Answer 6

sadly some employers look at apperence and many just judge you on what you are wearing or look like when you hand in the application. she needs to dress nice and not funky. no jeans and a t-shirt. try a skirt and a nice shirt. have her go un goth when she hannds and picks them up. also if there is someone that knows her and don't like her at the place she is trying to apply for that can be a cause to. how you represent yourself to others and dress tells alot about a person. i'm goth i have black and purple hair. but i dont' dress all black with chains and stuff i actually only do that on special days like clubing on weekends otherswise during the week i dress kinda preppy and chicky.

Answer 7

Apply at a place where there is no customer or client interaction. Employees are the face of a company. Most companies don't want their face to have two-toned hair and gothic looks.

I'd suggest either losing the goth look - try some nice pants or a skirt and a polo. A blouse even!

Answer 8

I really don't want to be rude, but are you "SERIOUS"?

Businesses have customers, businesses are competitive and the jobs your sister is applying for, are in part, requiring her to represent the company. Gothic is, almost by definition, a "shock" culture. People in business are not looking to shock their customers. If your sister opened a Gothic supply store, would she want a 55 year old man in a three piece business suit representing her and the business. I think not.

So what do we do about your sister's problem? Tell her to get "real" and dress for the job. She seems to be looking in places where people spend money. She must understand, like it or not, people with money tend to dress and look more conservative. Additionally they tend to shop in establishments that don't make an overt effort to shock them into a cardiac arrest.

Answer 9

You say that she dresses DOWN when applying. This is her biggest mistake. First impressions, mean everything. Not only in the clothes she wears but her attitude when applying. Is she polite or too forward when asking for an applicaton? Too much makeup? My advice? If she wants to be a Goth, do so on her own time and not on any potential employer's.

Answer 10

Bias?

Welcome to the real world, sweetie!!

Sometimes you have to "play by the rules" before you can actually play the game the way you want to play it. Once your foot is in the door, people care more about how well you do things than how you look. But the dandruff shampoo commercial got it right: it is true that you never get a second chance to make a first impression.