I've tried two different temp agencies, one did not bother to call me and the other calls me once a year with a job that I can't take. I'm trying to be a bartender but I don't have any experience so its taking a while to get a job as a bartender. I am currently in retail but I don't have the time to make the money that I want so any good suggestions of a job that pays well that does not require a lot of experience?

temp agencies are at a stand still because of the economy. My Roommate was one and was just laid off. No one at least in the office world is going to pay a fee to have an employee there. Everyone is suffering. Just apply directly rather than not being called back. I have no experience as a bartender so I can't help you on that one.

Both drug dealers and stock brokers make good money in NYC.

Recently, many have given up their Manhattan penthouses for free room and board at Rikers Island.

Porn and escort work also net huge sums of cash....hey, someone's gotta do it. In regards to drug dealing, selling Viagra to school children is the best way to go- it's not as illegal and if they are only 13 years old, you know they're not an undercover cop.

Becoming a bartender is not as easy as some may think. Unless you personally know someone who is willing to train you in their restaurant and/or bar, most bartenders have had to move up from host/hostess to server to bar. The good part is that it is free training. The other option is to go to bartending school, which is costly. You are trained quickly, but then getting hired with no actual experience is yet another challenge.

Another type of job for actors in or out of college is to work for a catering company. It is a little easier to call your own hours if your company calls you and lets you work as your schedule allows.

For NYC, I was also going to suggest working for Disney or a company like that to hand out fliers for shows and such (they actually pay above minimum wage), but those companies are also hurting and have had to let people go.

One thing I'd like to say is do NOT go to bartending school. Total waste of money. Most people who are bartenders are there because they know someone.

And if you have zero bar experience you are not getting a bartending gig in NYC. Bartending school means nothing.

Thanks for the advice guys. I never thought about working for a catering company. I'll look into that.

I went to two bartending classes, one was $199 and the other one was $90 at barcareers.com. Both places offer places that are hiring but what pisses me off the most is that my training really doesn't mean shit like oh_hai_thair said so its tough. My training doesn't carry a lot of weight without training behind it.

Bar careers offer a money back guarantee for 30 days before they start charging you a monthly fee of $15 and they gave me an extension and the guy on the phone said that I would be given another extension if I don't find a job by the fourteenth of February. My problem with bar careers is that they don't seem to care that much that if I don't get a job before the fourteenth of February they have to give me my money back. They are so slow especially with updating my job bulletin board. But I won't give up because bartenders can make between 100 to 300 dollars a shift and I need to pay the inevitable acting fees. I.E. headshots, classes, transportation, books, backstage and the like and misc.

I was a bartender off-and-on for ten years, Faith.

Those so-called "job placement" offers are just come-ons, featuring the worst bartending jobs available-- bowling alleys, dicey bars, etc. If you want to find good paying gigs you'll have the hit the pavement-- hard. Be prepared for lots of rejection and never, ever tell them you ever went to bartender school (like I did)! That'll only mark you as a newbie. Better to give names of clubs or bars they've never heard of than kill your opportunities right then and there.

When you find a good place, AND THIS I CAN'T IMPRESS UPON YOU ENOUGH, keep on returning or calling them back until they give you a job. "The squeaky wheel gets the grease." They will never get tired or irritated by your calls, they'll only think of you as a very sincere and determined individual who really wants to work for them-- a very good thing.

Incidentally, I've noticed that bartenders in strip clubs make tons of $$$, without having to hit the pole. Bartending has come 180-degrees since my day, most clubs and bars want pretty females nowadays, so get busy.

Good luck.

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quote:

Originally posted by Faith:
I've tried two different temp agencies, one did not bother to call me and the other calls me once a year with a job that I can't take. I'm trying to be a bartender but I don't have any experience so its taking a while to get a job as a bartender. I am currently in retail but I don't have the time to make the money that I want so any good suggestions of a job that pays well that does not require a lot of experience?

How 'bout 3 card monte?

Jim

Get a gun,maybe a 9mm or a 45cal. jacking people is good fast money. atm machines,or wait for servers or bartenders to get out of work,then stick 'em ha ha ha,stick 'em. just be careful, nypd loves to shoot(there worse then criminals)! be advised most jackers end up, up state for over 20 years.

quote:

Originally posted by PNW:
Get a gun,maybe a 9mm or a 45cal. jacking people is good fast money. atm machines,or wait for servers or bartenders to get out of work,then stick 'em ha ha ha,stick 'em. just be careful, nypd loves to shoot(there worse then criminals)! be advised most jackers end up, up state for over 20 years.

Yuk yuk yuk!!!

Hi:

I understand what you are going through. I would suggest getting your real estate license for a reputable firm such as Corcoran. I would learn from the best broker. Ask all the questions you need to ask, act like a sponge. Attend various networking events where high profile business executives attend. Pass out your business cards. Once you have alot of clients in your sphere of influence, you can make descent money by just doing rentals. The best thing is that you have your own schedule which is what you need. I am from Philly and this is what I do. I hope this helps.

C

quote:

Originally posted by PhillyGirl:
Hi:

I understand what you are going through. I would suggest getting your real estate license for a reputable firm such as Corcoran. I would learn from the best broker. Ask all the questions you need to ask, act like a sponge. Attend various networking events where high profile business executives attend. Pass out your business cards. Once you have alot of clients in your sphere of influence, you can make descent money by just doing rentals. The best thing is that you have your own schedule which is what you need. I am from Philly and this is what I do. I hope this helps.

C

Not in this economy and housing market! Does anyone read the paper anymore?!?

quote:

Originally posted by miss stone:
Not in this economy and housing market! Does anyone read the paper anymore?!?

That was my first reaction too. But then I noticed that the poster said "this is what I do". So it seems to be working for them.

Also, don't forget that a downturn in housing sales means that people who were thinking of buying are back to renting.

Still, I don't know that it's a business I'd want to be breaking into as a beginner just now.

quote:

Originally posted by JimChevallier:
That was my first reaction too. But then I noticed that the poster said "this is what I do". So it seems to be working for them.

There are plenty of people that used to "do this" in New York that no longer have a job. Things are looking really bad up here