Hi.
I have been living in the city for 1 year. During my first 3 months, I had no job and was living off of my savings. At the END of my 3rd month I finally managed to snag a job. But it's only part time, and on an as needed basis. So, basically I'm not guaranteed ANYTHING. And the worst part, it's almost been one year in the position, and I can't believe I'm still there, and I can't believe the hours are still few and far between. It was actually ok for a few months but once summer hit, everything went down the drain and has not picked up since. I know the economy sucks. BUT there ARE places hiring, and when I apply for the ones that I'm clearly very qualified for, I get NO response. I'm not cold calling or sending out random cover letters to places that aren't hiring. These are ads I'm finding on Playbill.com, Craigslist, and other jobhunting sites, that are hiring "immediately" or "asap" or "within the week/month".
I'm a trained professional (well, aspiring professional) dancer. I've applied for reception positions at yoga and Pilates studios, and other similar places, and get no call, no email, nothing. And I have TONS of reception/customer service experience, not to mention experience in yoga and Pilates. Even when I apply for jobs in retail (where I have 6+ yrs experience), PLUS I have a college degree, still nothing!!! It makes no sense. The only thing I can think of is that maybe my cover letter and/or resume sounds unprofessional. I know there are no typos, as I always make sure to read it a few times before sending it off. And in my cover letter, I also try and expand on my experience, giving certain points and proof of my experience. My resume used to be quite long, but I've recently only included the relevant experience, as I thought maybe that was my mistake.
Since the summer, I have been taking cash advances off of my credit card to pay my rent, and I'm slowly digging myself into a enormous hole of debt, and it's only getting deeper. Does anyone have any suggestion of how to improve my chances of landing a job, ANY job, especially when responding to an ad online? (And I'm sure this information would come in handy for performance jobs as well...)
I'm so sad, because after this rough year, I'm fearful that I may have to move back home after it took me 4 years to save up enough money to get here in the first place, and I'm already 29. =(
Any suggestions would be massively appreciated.
Thanks so much everyone. =]

I'm sorry, I know it's hard right now. I'm working part-time right now too and just scraping by - definitely need more income!

Have you checked Craiglist's part-time and "Etc." jobs sections? Some of the stuff on it is weird, but you might find something there. They have a restaurant/hospitality section too.

I'm not sure about your resume and cover letter (you said you weren't sure if it was professional looking) but you may want to ask someone to take a look at it (friend, acquaintance, etc.) and see if they can provide feedback. And, keep in mind that a lot of people are job-hunting right now, so that's part of it too - just the sheer volume of people applying for the same few jobs.

By the way - I've heard it's best to keep the cover letter relatively short. The resume is more important! IF you apply for different type of jobs, you may want to have more than one version of your resume (like one that's more office-related, and another that focuses more on retail). Or, just "tweak" the resume slightly to put more key words in there.

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

This was the same dilemma Marilyn Monroe, Madonna, and a few other famous stars... but the measures they took were severe on the ego.

I don't have any advice besides that, but if you go back home it will be extremely hard on your ego, and on your chance of making it, forever. You're still young, but time is running out for you. Jennifer Lopez started a late-bloomer, but she was at the edge of her youth when she became huge (28 with Selena)

I hate to tell you this but-
You need to pack it in- just for a while and move back home. Reboot, save up again and go back out. You are broke, miserable and can do nothing for your career that is positive until you sort yourself out. The debt you are incurring is really bad and can hurt you now and for many years. That is a dark pit that cripples many long-term. This business and life takes money and lots of it. If you can't afford to do it right there is no point right now. Trust me on this. I know it's heartbreaking sweetie- I really do and I speak from experience here. I had to leave LA too for the same soimilar reasons and even now I feel the pain of living away from my dreams. But sometimes we have to look at things as not quitting- just planning a different strategy. Time is NOT running out for you. Please do not listen to that nonsense. The poster who made tha comment is 16 years old with no acting experience at all. You will give yourself a better shot if you take a different tactic and sort this mess out before you do anything else. TRUST ME. You got there once and if you leave, you can get there again. This economy is really appalling and not getting better any time soon. Better to wait it out at home and save up and come again. Anyone that tells you to stay is out of their mind. I can see from your post how bad things are and I have been there myself!!

quote:

Originally posted by miss stone:
I hate to tell you this but-
You need to pack it in- just for a while and move back home. Reboot, save up again and go back out. You are broke, miserable and can do nothing for your career that is positive until you sort yourself out. The debt you are incurring is really bad and can hurt you now and for many years. That is a dark pit that cripples many long-term. This business and life takes money and lots of it. If you can't afford to do it right there is no point right now. Trust me on this. I know it's heartbreaking sweetie- I really do and I speak from experience here. I had to leave LA too for the same soimilar reasons and even now I feel the pain of living away from my dreams. But sometimes we have to look at things as not quitting- just planning a different strategy. Time is NOT running out for you. Please do not listen to that nonsense. The poster who made tha comment is 16 years old with no acting experience at all. You will give yourself a better shot if you take a different tactic and sort this mess out before you do anything else. TRUST ME. You got there once and if you leave, you can get there again. This economy is really appalling and not getting better any time soon. Better to wait it out at home and save up and come again. Anyone that tells you to stay is out of their mind. I can see from your post how bad things are and I have been there myself!!

If you pack up, you may just end the career of your dreams, and your family (won't tell you) will think of you less successful if you came home. Who knows if you're going to find a job at home, maybe for a few months? Once that you're going to get settle, and might call it quits. You need to find another solution than this, there's always an answer somewhere else, just have to look more.

The debt is a bad situation, so maybe rent with a bunch of people (4-5). Search for a job that you would find gross, such as a maid, cleaner, there's something out there.

Time is running out for her, let's not fool her, and say that she will have more success coming back at 32-34, it will take her a long time to get reputable possibly 36-40, and then she be too old to really do it again. She be separating herself from the place she really should be. Yes, she might live well coming again, but she won't have as much success if she stayed 29. Who knows you're big role might come in April, but you're at home missing it out, and Jennifer Greenfield might take that role.

Do anything you can to stay in N.Y, unless you have a kid, which would be a whole different situation and then I would recommend going home. But if you don't have a kid yet, then there's tons of solutions out there.

You work this hard for it, why quit now when it gets tough? Just have to look for other options, there's always something out there.

You will feel incredibly awful going home, I mean awful, like you're worthless piece of nothing, who became nothing, who left with huge dreams, and ended up as a hugest epic failure. Everyone at the dinner table is going to ask you "Oh she's back, how was your career"

Just imagine what that is going to do with your self-esteem, and you can tell them "Oh I didn't find a job"

And they are going to say "What was college for then? You wasted those years too?"

And then you're going to say "Really just a bad economy... now I am living at home now. I am 29, going on 30, and have nothing of worth to say about myself"

And then they going to look disgusted and sad and smile and "Oh we're happy you're back"

As Aunt Fifi leaves house, she's telling her husband "You know that niece of ours, she turned out a loser, At least my daughter Mary is working at the office, and she's married too. I am so proud of our kids! You know how old she is, 29! Omg, I can't believe, wait till the whole family knows. She was soo foolish thinking she's going to become famous and all, a dancer, an actress!! Can you believe that!"

And then everyone whispering behind your back, and you're the example of epic failure.

Thank you for both of your responses. BUT-what I was asking was----"any advice on cover letters.." and what I got back was a bunch of negative nonsense. Especially from "mystique". it's so nice of you to think that I'm "too old" and that "time is running out" for me. Maybe I should just quit while I'm ahead then? Get a nice office job? And then go plan my funeral?
At least "miss stone" was a little nicer. I've thought about going home, but for me it's just not an option. If I go home, I won't come back, EVER. It was too much effort and I don't feel like doing it again. I'm not ready to quit yet, I've barely started.
All's I wanted was some advice on some technicalities. Alot of other people have decent jobs during the "recession", I can too.
Thanks anyways.

Credit card debt will destroy your future. Please read my post "for newbies- must read" in the new actors section. And it is NOT negative nonsense. I am sick of giving you newbies reality checks you don't want to hear and getting insulted for it. I speak from heavy experience on this subject. Years of it. If you don't want to hear what people have to say on your situation, then don't post in the first place. I don't think a cover letter is gonna save your ass from this mess you have created.

quote:

Originally posted by bailadora:
Thank you for both of your responses. BUT-what I was asking was----"any advice on cover letters.." and what I got back was a bunch of negative nonsense. Especially from "mystique". it's so nice of you to think that I'm "too old" and that "time is running out" for me. Maybe I should just quit while I'm ahead then? Get a nice office job? And then go plan my funeral?
At least "miss stone" was a little nicer. I've thought about going home, but for me it's just not an option. If I go home, I won't come back, EVER. It was too much effort and I don't feel like doing it again. I'm not ready to quit yet, I've barely started.
All's I wanted was some advice on some technicalities. Alot of other people have decent jobs during the "recession", I can too.
Thanks anyways.

Sounds like someone needs to clarify her question then... *if Miss_Stone took it the same way I did, then it can't just be me*

Don't complain about how big of a failure you are, if all you wanted was "advice on cover letters". Even the title has no relation to your question.

Can you even make a thread correctly?
--
side note: Just go home then.. I TOTALLY agree with Miss_Stone now, go HOME! If you don't have the drive to even come back, and you just started, then who is it going to hurt? You just started, GO HOME, why put yourself in debt?

[quote] I've applied for reception positions at yoga and Pilates studios, and other similar places, and get no call, no email, nothing. And I have TONS of reception/customer service experience, not to mention experience in yoga and Pilates. Even when I apply for jobs in retail (where I have 6+ yrs experience), PLUS I have a college degree, still nothing!!! It makes no sense. The only thing I can think of is that maybe my cover letter and/or resume sounds unprofessional. I know there are no typos, as I always make sure to read it a few times before sending it off. And in my cover letter, I also try and expand on my experience, giving certain points and proof of my experience. My resume used to be quite long, but I've recently only included the relevant experience, as I thought maybe that was my mistake.
Since the summer, I have been taking cash advances off of my credit card to pay my rent, and I'm slowly digging myself into a enormous hole of debt, and it's only getting deeper. Does anyone have any suggestion of how to improve my chances of landing a job, ANY job, especially when responding to an ad online? (And I'm sure this information would come in handy for performance jobs as well...)

please notice the bold. i'm sorry if people misunderstood. i didn't think it was that difficult to understand what i was saying. everyone seemed to notice the ONE LINE where i mention the debt. and the heading was just so people would open it up and read it instead of skimming it over because it sounded like 8 billion other posts. the 1st person that responded didn't seem to have difficulties. and i'm quite aware of what credit card debt can do. THAT'S why i need more money, with a new job, to FIX IT. even if i move home, i will still have the credit card debt and still have to pay for all the same things i'm paying for here. it's not really all that much different. i'm very sorry i posted anything on here. i thought people would be a little more helpful. i'm not one to give up that quickly because it's hard.
thanks again. !

by the way, thanks to justine. your info was very helpful. i will keep your suggestion of a shorter cover letter in mind.

quote:

Originally posted by bailadora:
[quote] I've applied for reception positions at yoga and Pilates studios, and other similar places, and get no call, no email, nothing. And I have TONS of reception/customer service experience, not to mention experience in yoga and Pilates. Even when I apply for jobs in retail (where I have 6+ yrs experience), PLUS I have a college degree, still nothing!!! It makes no sense. The only thing I can think of is that maybe my cover letter and/or resume sounds unprofessional. I know there are no typos, as I always make sure to read it a few times before sending it off. And in my cover letter, I also try and expand on my experience, giving certain points and proof of my experience. My resume used to be quite long, but I've recently only included the relevant experience, as I thought maybe that was my mistake.
Since the summer, I have been taking cash advances off of my credit card to pay my rent, and I'm slowly digging myself into a enormous hole of debt, and it's only getting deeper. Does anyone have any suggestion of how to improve my chances of landing a job, ANY job, especially when responding to an ad online? (And I'm sure this information would come in handy for performance jobs as well...)

please notice the bold. i'm sorry if people misunderstood. i didn't think it was that difficult to understand what i was saying. everyone seemed to notice the ONE LINE where i mention the debt. and the heading was just so people would open it up and read it instead of skimming it over because it sounded like 8 billion other posts. the 1st person that responded didn't seem to have difficulties. and i'm quite aware of what credit card debt can do. THAT'S why i need more money, with a new job, to FIX IT. even if i move home, i will still have the credit card debt and still have to pay for all the same things i'm paying for here. it's not really all that much different. i'm very sorry i posted anything on here. i thought people would be a little more helpful. i'm not one to give up that quickly because it's hard.
thanks again. !

I am sorry you posted too. I am also sorry I tried to help you and actually gave a shit.

[/QUOTE]

I am sorry you posted too. I am also sorry I tried to help you and actually gave a shit.[/QUOTE]

Me too, I could had been reading something else or listening to my music, instead of wasting those minutes writing that speech about her family and how they going to react. And how I thought she was strong enough to make it, without going home.
----
Just GO HOME, and call it a day. You have no business even trying. I wonder why no one hires you in the first place.....

By the way, THAT SPEECH WAS NOT NEEDED. no one asked you to write a short story as your response. You both are ridiculous and act like children. If you had any READING COMPREHENSION you would have realized what I wrote and not gotten on the defense because I disagreed. I'm sorry you all are bitter because you have been trying for longer than I have and just want to tell everyone what to do because you apparently know EVERYTHING. If you know EVERYTHING than why are you seemingly on this message board all the time responding 50 times to every post, and might I add, getting angry in some of those as well because not everyone agrees with you.
Whatever. Hope you all have fun wallowing in your bitterness. =]=]=]=]=]=]=]=]=]

Everyone knows how tough the odds are so personally I don't see much of a point in reminding someone how hard things are.

bailadora, one thing I have learned in life is people are going to hate on you. For whatever reason. I know it's cliché, but if people can't do something themselves, they try to tell you you can't do it too. And you know what, 99% of the time they are right, you can't do it.

...but there is that 1%. And that 1% doesn't just make it with luck. It happens with a lotta hard work. The way I see it, right now is a character defining time in your life. Are you gonna let it beat you? Or are you going to find a way to pull through?

When I first moved to New York I had nothing but some clothes, a sleeping bag, and some money I had saved up. I didn't have a job, I didn't have a place, and I didn't even have any experience as a server (and most restaurants in NYC want minimum 2 years NYC restaurant experience). For a month straight I got out and did nothing but knock on doors trying to find a job and a place to live. I'd say I was rejected 98% of the time. But eventually someone said yes, and I was able to support myself, and while I'm not famous or anything, I've come a long way since then. You only have to be right once.

My advice? Go out and knock on doors. Be honest with them. If you don't have any experience look them square in the eye and say "you know what? I don't have any experience, but I'm a hard worker and i'll do whatever it takes to learn." That's what I did and it worked for me. Most employers appreciate that kind of determination and honesty.

It is clear to me now, Oh Hai Thair- you really are brain-dead. "Ooh I am hating on her". Yeah, read my first post to her again. I am SO sure that was what I was doing. DUH!!!

Below is my first post. Oh yeah, I am really vicious here. What a bitch I am!!

"I hate to tell you this but-
You need to pack it in- just for a while and move back home. Reboot, save up again and go back out. You are broke, miserable and can do nothing for your career that is positive until you sort yourself out. The debt you are incurring is really bad and can hurt you now and for many years. That is a dark pit that cripples many long-term. This business and life takes money and lots of it. If you can't afford to do it right there is no point right now. Trust me on this. I know it's heartbreaking sweetie- I really do and I speak from experience here. I had to leave LA too for the same soimilar reasons and even now I feel the pain of living away from my dreams. But sometimes we have to look at things as not quitting- just planning a different strategy. Time is NOT running out for you. Please do not listen to that nonsense. The poster who made tha comment is 16 years old with no acting experience at all. You will give yourself a better shot if you take a different tactic and sort this mess out before you do anything else. TRUST ME. You got there once and if you leave, you can get there again. This economy is really appalling and not getting better any time soon. Better to wait it out at home and save up and come again. Anyone that tells you to stay is out of their mind. I can see from your post how bad things are and I have been there myself!!"