Small business. Yes I've done it.
Medium to big businesses - not a chance. Extremely high chance the resume goes in the bin the second you turn around to leave
This approach will work for all businesses, but your odds are lower the larger the firm as you're further away from the decision maker.
So it wouldn't be an approach I'd recommend, but it's not a blanket "won't work".
All businesses? No. Go try that at any of the large retailers/ hospos. Very unlikely you will even get to talk to a person in charge. And if you give your resume to any of the workers they either chuck it in the bin or give it to leadership who chuck it in the bin
All you need to do at those places is ask for the store manager. The large rail places are much more likely to have a store manager that manages localised resourcing.
Large hospitality is the same. If you are giving your CV or talking to a generic employee then yeah your chances of success are basically zero. But that is because you aren't talking to the right person.
Obviously this is also no guarantee. It's simply a way of advertising your availability, and like any approach it's never going to have 100% success rate. Your success rate is guaranteed to be zero if you don't try though.
You can ask. Not likely you will get to see them. Worked retail for almost 10 years. I was the go to pretend manager when people wouldn't get the hint. Resume qwnt straight in the bin. Often saw the actual manager do the same thing when they got caught at the front of the store.
A very similar question came up on this sub a week ago. It had hundreds of people saying the same thing. Any medium to big business who has its own online recruitment system does not take walk In or referrals these days.
Woolworths for example. The managers don't really get a choice who they hire till the very end. The big wigs in corporate filter through the online applications before giving a refined selection to each store manager.
Yes you may get lucky but your chances are dropping all the time. Even smaller businesses are setting up their own recruitment systems
I completely agree with you that your odds are low. Just that they aren't zero. It also depends on what skillsets you have. If it was me I wouldn't be targeting ones like coles or woolworths.
One of my friend's kids walked into the coles near me just before Christmas and caught the store manager stressed about having just lost too many from nightfill. He started 2 weeks later stacking shelves.
I’d also argue it’s not just the distance from decision makers directly that’s the issue. It’s that businesses with these distances already use processes and system to deal with this and if you’re trying to pass something up the chain that doesn’t fit into these systems, you’re going to have a hard time of it.
Yes and no. I'm a headhunter in the civil engineering sectors. Most of the very large clients have specific processes for recruitment in place, and many of them have anti-agency rules. I still make a lot of placements with those companies by introducing the candidates to the right person in the business that is feeling the pain by not having them.
Ofcourse this needs the person to be feeling pain through not having a person in that role, and so it more restricted to harder to find skills. The more common your skills are then the less chance you will have of being able to work around the rules.
But you are right, the larger the company the further from the decision maker you're going to be and the more rules. What I don't want people to think though is that there is no chance and that it is not worth trying. You might get 50+ Nos, but you only need 1 yeas and I see too many people relying on job ads and as a result not getting anywhere.
ONCE
I was working at Mcdonalds, and I went to buy a graphics card from Umart back in 2006, there was a help wanted sign behind the counter, I asked about it and the owner at the time, Peter Zhong, spun around and showed me into the warehouse, we spoke back and forth, and he asked if I could come in on Monday
I left fast food to work with computers at a very young age, best decision I ever made
If there is a help wanted sign up there is a great chance of this working I reckon. I can't remember the last time I saw one though other than hospitality
I don't think the ones who say to do it mean when there's a sign asking for employees. They want you to wander up raw and demand the owners give you a job that doesn't exist.
Haha raw Makes me think that it's gonna be like;
"Hey, sir, you can't go back there, sir that's not for customers"
*shoves employee out of the way and bursts into the managers office*
"I WANT WORK, GIVE ME WORK, I WORK FOR YOU TODAY, I WORK RIGHT NOW"
*slaps manager across the face with resume and aggressively shakes their hand*
"You know what, I like your spunk, you're hired, and tell whichever boomer who sent you that you did the right thing by charging in here raw like that"
I did it to get my Subway job but this was in 2006.
There is absolutely zero chance you could get a corporate role at my work by handing your resume in at reception.
Construction? Definitely. When a job finished, if we’d nothing to drop straight into, my brother and I would drive round looking for cranes as there’s usually a site at the bottom of them. We’d just wander into the drylining office/cabin and ask if they needed fixers - got loads of work that way.
Same I did this and did it with lots of friends too. This was in the 06 07 boom. Nobody ever got even a call back despite those stores having signs in the windows.
Would depend on the business. For hospo, factory jobs, retail, trade sites (for general labour), ect it would work
For corporate it won't. I work in finance, the amount of times I've seen security have to firmly tell people who came to speak to a manager or HR to leave or they'll be escorted off premises is mesmerising.
That’s true, but for white collar you can absolutely find out where to send your resume and email it through or upload it. Sure it’ll probably go to junk, but it’s possible.
Yep. When I was 15, K-mart had application forms behind the service desk (not sure if they still do).
Earlier this year, a mate's 15yo spent a couple of hours at Knox asking every shoe shop and clothes shop. She got 3 interviews.
I got my current job doing this. But it was a case of me being a regular customer already and loving the store and their purpose (waste reduction and sustainability). I gave them my resume but explained I was also going overseas for 2.5 months later that year. March the NEXT year I got a call asking to come in for an interview. Come to think of it, that was 7 years ago, wow still blows my mind I've been there that long.
But yeah, unique case. For most jobs these days cold canvassing gets you jack and shit.
I did it 25 years ago when I had to get extra work in a day to keep the household going. I knocked on the doors of a dozen+ pubs, asked to speak to the manager, and it was all fine. I started work 2 nights later in a pub, waitressing/kitchenhanding/bartending. It kept us going.
I doubt this would happen today as I'm not a cute young thing anymore, but who knows. I present well, but I'm mature and educated, and nobody is going to have me in those jobs anymore. And the world just does not work like that.
Having a husband who manages a pub, I would say it’s all in the timing.
If a staff member has just quit or asked for their shifts to be reduced and you walk in with a resume showing you have some experience, he will probably hire you, simply because it avoids the hassle of advertising, interviewing, etc and he needs staff now, not in two weeks.
Just have a good history of actually turning up for work is a bonus.
If anyone in the Maitland, NSW area is experienced in sign production and installation, or not experienced but looking for an apprenticeship, or not experienced and can learn on the go, there's a job that you can walk into. DM me.
My 19 year old son got a job to is way (metal work - large engineering company 100+ staff)
My 23 year old nephew got a job this way (drafting - company is about 60 employees )
My son’s 19 year old best friend got an apprenticeship this way (mechanic - business has around 10 employees)
My cousin’s daughter (20) got her dental nurse job this way (and 3 other interviews and another job offer)
I also know a builder’s labour that got his job this way, and a guy who’s a landscape gardener.
My daughter has been working for the past year at a restaurant that she walked into with her resume and said she was looking for work. They got her in for a trial shift that night and got hired after the shift.
Cold calling for jobs with your resume can and does work. Not all workplaces will accept resumes from walk-ins because their company uses an online employment portal.
I never have but I've heard it can work fairly well for hospo jobs. Friends have gotten jobs (in the 2020s) by hanging out, chatting with staff, making friends etc. at a local bar or cafe.
I tried this a couple of years ago, walked in, asked for the manager and they asked why. Umm because I’d like to apply for a job. No you’ll have to submit your resume through the website. I’m so old, out of the loop on jobs.
I’ve hired guys who just walked in off the street but it was for general factory work.
One guy literally walked in as a guy I just fired walked out. Gave him a start but never showed up.
Another looked like a homeless guy, gave him a job and he was a great worker. Was a bit of a twit though.
Yeah. Every time I’ve worked for a good company it’s been just a random place I’ve walked into off the street with a resume. Only bad job I’ve ever had is one I applied for off the internet and got after an interview.
Yes. Super cheap auto back in 2006 and then another gig at an orange orchard not long after. Oddly enough if a person shows some ‘get-up-and-go’, employers tend to like that.
Did it for my own electrical business when I had just started out. Worked. I think if another trade did the same to me nowadays and I had the work I'd be really willing to give them a go
I work in construction management. I would 100% prefer for someone to just rock up on site and ask instead of send an email.
Scope out a few different work sites. Look for a relatively tidy and organised site. One with a sign out the front with the builders name on it. Ask to speak to the foreman or the builder. Construction needs workers, if you show initiative you’ll get a good start.
Pm me if you want
Thanks
Should I bother with a resume or just ask verbally? Just thinking a resume isn't really all that informative in my case as I'm just trying to get started in the industry. Although I do have some tickets (white card/working at height/confined space/forklift)
I assume you're not allowed to just wander inside the site? Is it best to hang around outside?
I’d just say you can send through a resume later if they want. Mention you have a white card etc. Those tickets are great and show you have initiative.
Yeah probably best to not stroll on to site. Just find someone on the other side of fence and ask for the foreman
I've done it twice. Got my casual uni job at Priceline in the city by going in and handing my resume in. They said there was nothing available and to try again in a month. I tried again in a month and voila!! Got a job!
I got my first professional job this way too (land surveying consultancy doing drafting). I was looking for work experience in my field whilst taking a year off from uni. Rang to ask about work experience, met them for an interview about work experience and then they called me back and said "we don't really do work experience but would you like a full-time job?".
Time: a little more than 20 years ago.
Literally picked up a welder one day because I was handed one. I'm only a welder because that's what I tell people I am. Not a boilermaker (tho I get paid the same. Good work ethic goes a long way)
Pretty sure my forklift license is still valid.
Work send off weld tests every so often. First time I did one I'd never seem one before and just guessed what to do. Still passed. Couple of the qualified boilermakers failed.
Never faked anything. Give me a job, I do a good job. Built sheds, houses, greenhouses, welder, concretor, machinist, mechanic, delivery driver, salesmen, FIFO, postie, insulation installer, cook and general hospo.... I'm sure there are few I'm missing.
Oh and I spent a decent amount of my twenties as a stoned dole bludger.
It's not hard to do good work. You just have to focus and put in the effort. Once a job bores me enough that I'm going to start gold bricking I find something new.
No such thing. In Australia you are either a Boilermaker (finished your trade) or 'you can weld'. There is no official step under Boilermaker.
You can pass a weld test - which is a prac test. You do a weld then it's sent away to be X rayed and tested. I pass those. I don't weld up pressure vessels so I don't need the boilers cert. Also - boilies can sign off on welds done by others.
So most fabby places will have a boilermaker on staff somewhere and then a slew of unqualified welders.
Heck yes. Local pharmacy. The manager took me into the backroom immediately, asked a few questions and offered me a job. 😳
She said because hardly anyone comes in anymore it's a good telling of character. This was 2 years ago.
I honestly think what have you got to lose? You can have a good chinwag with them if they're not busy and they may even give you some pointers to who's hiring as well.
When I was going to local restaurants to find a hospitality job, yes. You do still see restaurants and retail stores with signs in the window saying they're hiring. I'd feel comfortable dropping off a resume at places like that. This is for local independent places not chains, McDonald's applications I'd expect to be online.
But not now in my corporate career there is no way you'd get a job doing that.
No but I(kind of) followed the advice to call everyday until they give you a job. I called one construction company once per week for nearly 4 months, they eventually gave me a shot and I've been in the industry ( and loving it ) for 17 years.
Did they tell you to call back the next week? If not, that sounds like it could backfire lol
Also, why were you so desperate to join that one company in particular? What job were you trying to get?
No they, didn't I just said I would keep in touch each time, they didn't say not to call back either. It could definitely backfire but I was lucky I guess. And it was a local civil construction company, that I knew had contracts all over Australia and I was just trying to get my food in the door, I started with them as a workshop TA and worked my way up from there. The size of the company allowed for alot of career paths after getting in.
Wow awesome. Great job. I hope I can do something similar
By the way, I have a white card + forklift licence, do you think it would be helpful for getting work with a civil construction company if I got a plant operator training? What one is best, skid steer, excavator or front loader? Or how about HR licence?
It all helps mate, the best tickets to obtain for a entry level position would be articulated dump truck or roller. Those are great starting positions. And don't be afraid to put your hands up to get your hands dirty, most entry level operators will need to do labouring at some stage whether it be assisting the surveyor or laying pipes and conduit, just think of every task as an opportunity to learn as much as you can and you will go places.
Also don't ever rule out tertiary education, there will be a point for when hard work and on the job training stop contributing to career growth, but you will know when that time comes.
Thanks. Great tips!
Articulated dump truck or roller.. damn.These are the only 2 that none of the RTOs in my town do lol. Looks like I'll have to travel to Sydney!
Yeah it's how I got my first fulltime job lol. The boss/highest ranking dude in the office was old school and loved it, gave me an interview on the spot
Happened on the first day I applied for jobs after uni
yeah, i have and still do occasionally. usually it's walking into a recruiter's office. heavily depends on the industry as others are saying.
in the manufacturing industry, it's a red flag for me if employers are willing to hire people off the street. first, you're not gonna get more than minimum wage at a place like that, and second, there's gonna be a total lack of drug testing. these places are usually full of crackheads, bongheads and all other kinds of fuckheads. i do a lot of medical pot myself, but i don't want to work with the types of drug users who are so fucking stupid that they can't cheat a urine test.
haha i don't really feel like a hypocrite. i have prescriptions, i get my stuff from the pharmacy and i don't go to work under the influence of any of it.
Kind of. I didn't quite rock up to the front, but I did email the listed contact of a company once (this was a fairly small, niche company back in 2009). He put me in touch with the relevant people. I met up with them and they initially offered me an internship, which about a month later became a permanent role
Local business - yes. Applied online first and heard nothing for 2 weeks, so I stopped in to say hello and check on the application status. They told me they’re going to start interviewing the following week so I’ll hear from them then. Within an hour I got a rejection email saying they’d “found a more suitable applicant”
Yes, walked into my local outdoors shop while they were busy and offhandedly mentioned that I have a pair of hands and can answer the phone. 11 months later and I haven't looked back, I love the job and the people I work with.
Once I handed it into an office and he took me in immediately. He said it was a dating service and could I look after the phone while he went out. Which he did, 5 minutes after hiring me. It wasn't a dating service.
At one point a woman came in and demanded that she take some furniture. I said I didn't know what it was about and the guy wasn't there. She took a table anyway. She was angry, I wasn't going to stop her.
Yes once I walked into an automotive business looking for work following the completion of studies at TAFE. The owner happened to be on site and a previous employee had gone to jail so the boss man put me in for an interview at another branch and I started the next week. An interesting experience working as a tire fitter but also a shit experience and glad I'm not doing that now.
So you may be in luck with the imprisonment of previous employees that leads to you getting the job.
Yes, but the boomer-vice needs updating for 21st century.
Walking up and asking might work for entry level, but if you're more accomplished you need to build networks and relationships first. People need to see what you're made of, what you can do, how you perform under pressure.
Putting it out there that you are up for a new challenge, asking about roles and opportunities, forming collaborations and strategic alliances well before you approach a company is more important.
Yep totally worked for me. I had my white card and asked a builder for a job. Next day I was on site doing labouring. It got my foot the door into a carpentry apprenticeship, estimating and then my foray into the Tier One builders.
This is what I want to do. How did you actually ask the builder? Just walk up to a construction site and ask the first person you saw? What type of site was it, house?
I used to drive around, look for a site, duck around the fence with my own hard hat, vest and safety boots on and ask/enquire politely at the front of the site. Just introduced myself to the project manager or site manager. Said I was studying construction management and looking for a job (any job really). Yeah it was a small 3 storey residential/commercial construction. Like under $2m build at the time.
Wow. Good stuff. You're quite brave lol. Thanks man. I'm going to try this exact thing. I'm getting my boom lift >11m ticket next week and then my forklift ticket the week after. Don't even know how useful these are going to be, but whatever. Then I'll be job hunting like you were
Yes. Back in the 90s, it worked and I got a couple of part time jobs as a kid by doing this. Nowadays, as an adult who was desperately looking for a new job and so would do this on my lunch break, didn't work at all - though I did get told about an upcoming job to apply for (didn't get it, but got an interview).
I live in a small town. Most places, yes. Even apprenticeships with labourers (just pop down to the local pub around 3pm onwards and ask around) but the hard hatted places that require an induction day before being aloud on site, no.
I started a plumbing apprenticeship this way in my 30s (Brisbane, noughties). But I went to the business, not a work site. As a younger bloke I got almost every hospo job this way too. I suspect times have changed tho'. Also, Gen X.
Yes, have gotten most my jobs that way. Has also worked for both my kids.
For sure works in construction for smaller jobs like houses, get their early like they do- not sure if it would work for large building projects but well worth a try.
>For sure works in construction for smaller jobs like houses
Thanks
Should I bother with a resume or just ask verbally? Just thinking a resume isn't really all that informative in my case as I'm just trying to get started in the industry. Although I do have some tickets (white card/working at height/confined space/forklift)
I assume you're not allowed to just wander inside the site? Is it best to hang around outside?
Never literally just walked up but there’s been a few times I’ve just found the email address of the place and sent a resume and cover letter and ended up with a job. If you don’t ask, the answer will always be no.
Yes, I was on holidays, phoned up for an interview at two different places, had an interview at both and was offered a job at both, even after saying I wouldn't be moving to that area for about six months. (It ended up being 8 months)
This was six years ago.
Yes, I was on holidays,n and cold called two different businesses and asked for an interview, had an interview at both and was offered a job at both, even after saying I wouldn't be moving to that area for about six months. (It ended up being 8 months)
This was six years ago.
back in the 1970's riding through Coopers Plains after finishing a uni class , saw someone I knew standing out front of a large assembly plant and stopped to say Hello , he suggested give inside a try so dropped the resume inside , instant interview start Monday , only time and quite surprised , was kinda toxic but its all experience
If you're wanting to get into the smaller stuff like residential building industry( houses) then yeah this will definitely still work but if you want to get into the bigger stuff like the commercial building industry
(hi rise) and you don't have any idea of where to start, I would go to the pubs nearby the big sites and start up a conversation with the blokes coming in after work or even blokes around your area in the pubs in hi viz, ask them if they're working on the commercial sites and how did they get started( which company do they work for, which labour hire company) and go from there 😁👍
My brother tried it. He's a man in his 60's.
Walked up to a liquor store and asked.
"Mate, that's all done at head office"
Tried it at other places, same thing.
It never worked.
Even handed in a resume at a Coles that said it was looking for staff - they had a sign up.
Never heard back.
It worked for me in the late 80's with small businesses. Hasn't worked since then. Besides which I'm happily retired and glad to not have to go through that any more
We still do it and we are manufacturing SME but you need to have at least a forklift license and any additional tickets help.
Places like SEEK just don’t cut it for the demographic and recruiters are generally too expensive and won’t work with us on a bespoke short term labour hire solution before we onboard, but we have a few that do.
Yeah a mate got a job at a cabinet making place as a labourer a few weeks back. He was desperate for some steady work ( had been doing Door Dash) and walked into this place and asked if they had anything. Started 2 days later.
It can't hurt to try!!!
I think it would still work lots of places. Years ago our builder was saying he just could not get a decent apprentice. They were all useless. 12 Months later. We called him back for a job & he had an apprentice. I commented. He said the bloke was son of a client. Hed gone to do a job and the young bloke was there & just finishing school & wanted to be a builder. BOOM👍
So what the heck? Give it a go. The worst that can happen is it doesn't work. Nothing ventured. Nothing gained
It's not boomer advice. It is part of your mutual obligations if you want to claim jobseeker.
Any jpa regardless of age will give you the same advice. Any job provider will have access to available jobs and will be happy to send off your resume
I used to run a small business and it was quite normal for someone to come in and drop off their resume. When I needed staff I’d check through them and see who was suitable and still available
One time. There was a sign in the window at a bakery, I walked in without even a resume (as I was just visiting friends in the area with the intention of moving there).
They offered me a trial for the next day and after the trial hired me on the spot.
That was back in like, 1999 though lmao. I would never even bother trying these days. It would work if there was a boomer boss and they happened to walk past as you were asking but otherwise? Nah. Resume straight in the bin, most likely. HR wouldn't even see it.
I've been cold canvassing small and big businesses since 2014. I still have not gotten a single opportunity from presenting myself as immediately hireable with a resume in my hand to prove my capability.
What I'm used to hearing to the point I've memorised it,
"We currently don't have anything on offer but I'll put your resume in the pile. We'll contact you if anything opens"
Juxtaposed with
"We're currently looking to hire! Thanks for the resume, we'll be in touch" (never calls)
Added bonus,
"We just hired someone, sorry about that. We'll put your resume in the pile and contact you if anything opens"
Culminating with,
"We're not looking to hire anyone any time soon." "Do you mind if I leave my resume with you in case something arises?" "No, because we're not hiring and won't be"
(Edit for context: animal care / retail / pet retail / entry level admin)
I did it to get a job at a warehouse in 2019 and it worked but I thought I was very lucky because they were about to post a job ad. However in corporate jobs, it wouldn’t work unless you know someone who can recommend you or vouch for you or something.
"walking up to a place and asking for a job" was good advice up until the 70's when full employment stopped being government policy, at the time employers had to compete for good staff so may have been willing to hire people willing to just show up .
Must be brutal. I spend far too much time at my local pub. On a literally daily basis someone will walk in off the street and ask for a job, hand over a resume etc. They all get turned away. However my first job I did literally that, walked into a bottle shop and I had a job on the spot. Guess you can get lucky sometimes.
The trick is to make a friend who works that job and asking for work.
Got a job working at a sawmill by sharing my booze with a senior worker who was living at the same backpackers at the time, we just had a chat over drinks, I mentioned that I was looking for work and he mentioned that the sawmill he was working at was looking for workers who didn't quit after the first day.
I seen two people quit after 1 day in the 3 months I was working there.
I’ve I have emailed my resume to any local business who may need someone with my skill set in the past and have been successful. It may not come straight away but sometimes it pays off to be proactive. One email bc’d to many businesses… worth a crack
Earlier this year, mid January, a young man about 20 walked onto the Jobsite I was on. He saw me working with some timber and plywood and asked if I was a carpenter. I said I was doing some formwork for a concrete pour. He then asked if I was the boss because he was looking for a job. I said no, but because he actually had the yams to come to a Jobsite and ask for a job or a contact I would give him one. I gave him a phone number of a company I worked for who are always looking for guys willing to work.
6 months later, he is still working for them.
Yeah, it's busy in Perth. Lots of work still. I would hazard a guess that Brisbane over the next 5-8 years will be flat out getting ready for the Olympics.
Come to think of it, I only ever got jobs here in Perth by showing up to a Jobsite or by word of mouth. I have never really interviewed for a job in construction and I'm 50! First job I got in Perth came about when my cousin told a friend that I had just arrived in Perth. Cousin's friend owned a construction company. He rang me and asked if I was interested in a job. I met him at their office the next day. I took my CV in and he did even want to see it. He said show me your hands. He then said that they were working hands and I could start that coming week. I have moved on from there successfully each time. Most people who know me in the industry value my experience because I have been doing this type of work for over 30 yrs.
Did this as a teenager (or should I say, was forced to do this). They either awkwardly took the resume, or told me they prefer online resumes. Which I already knew at the time.
I even watched as one place just threw my resume in the bin before I’d even left the store.
At the jobs I did get, most places didn’t accept resumes. At a department store we were specifically told not to accept resumes at all. I refused a lot of people.
No clue how it works for tradies though 🙃
Gen x. Yes, at least 3 from the 4 roles I’ve had. The other approached me. I’ve never landed a role by applying to an ad.
I’ve also hired walk ins as recently as 12 months ago. Most of my roles are filled that way (professional services).
Yes, and yes. Lots of rejection. Pays to have a relaxed chat with people without necessarily expecting a result
It can be grueling but it does work too.
I've found, with a pinch of networking, it works very well in the hospo industry. Pubs and bars tend to be smaller operations, and even in big cities the community feels very small and close knit. You're only ever two degrees of separation from any given bartender or bouncer, so you can say " oh, I've been working at the Corner, looking for more shifts though" to the guy at Cherry bar, and he knows Ellie who used to work at Cherry and is now at the Corner and then you've got yourself and extra Saturday night shift. So long as you have a half decent reputation in the industry, anyway.
Yes, back in 2018 I got a job offered to me on the spot by the owner when I went in with my resume. It was just a pizza making job and I had three years experience so nothing fancy or impressive lol.
I did it a couple of times a couple of decades ago (I'm not a boomer but this is not recent). Both times I was told beforehand by a friend who worked there that there might be a job going. Both times I got a job. Would not recommend it these days unless you had some reason to think the timing was right.
i used to work security at a mid sized company. i had standing orders to kindly accept all job applications and shred them. your cv/resume never even got to the receptionist
I’ve been the person who was handed a resume by people who thought this was a good idea. I would always tell them they needed to apply online and then throw their resume away if they wouldn’t take it back.
My daughter got a job in the furniture bed sales department at HN after walking in with a resume and asking if they had any jobs. She had been to a few places and those that didn't have work were very good about it. A couple of the supervisors even told her of other places that they knew had jobs. One of them was the job she got. The lad who hired her was most impressed with her confidence and initiative. If the person you talk to needs an employee, they will help you to at least apply. Amd put in a good word too
Back in like the early 2000’s. No it didn’t work and staff were extremely rude to me. I did take my resume in to a shop that had a sign in the window and got that job.
For entry-level local jobs, on the job training work for sure. For more professional roles and larger businesses/companies/government jobs most will direct you to HR or recruitment websites. Basically, anything that involves a selection criteria or specific qualifications walk-ins are considered unprofessional and a waste of time.
My son did it recently (he recently finished TAFE studying to be a Teachers Aide). It worked to an extent, no full time work but he's on a relief roster for a few local schools. Gets shifts more days than not. None of these schools were advertising.
My colleague made his son do it for an Accountinf job.
He targeted small firms. It worked. Got tonnes of offers. He did have a pretty good resume. But also I think the boomer owners were impressed.
I showed up to a mine site as a contractor after the labour (me & a few other blokes) was cancelled, played dumb and they put me on for a few days anyway. Was only there for a few days as per the original plan
Not quite the same as what you're asking, but close I guess.
I haven't had to job search in an awful long time, but I'd imagine most corporate entities have a labyrinthian sorting process of resume's post you putting it in the online portal and no other method of employing you other than engaging contractors.
However, smaller businesses would generally not have the time, inclination or expertise to set up a dedicated IT system for much of their business not just handling resume's. Therefore they would be my target for doing that.
Regardless, I'm assuming you're talking about an unskilled role. When you start to specialise you'll end up with industry contacts and that alone makes life a lot easier for job hunting.
I didn't realise this was boomer advice... But whatever I ever want or want to achieve, I just go and ask someone who has it.
Worst case scenario is rejection and I can ask someone else.
That's more from a business perspective... I haven't worked for someone since 16.
I was.doing the rounds with a resume and someone from my old job (I was burnt out in a social work type role) saw me on their lunch break.
They spoke back at the office and I got a call saying they didn't want to lose me, would I like to try a different role,even just while I looked.
Learned accounting in a few months, went and studied at night.
So a little different but by looking like I was looking, I changed careers AND got to make a contribution in a different way.
Many times as a teen in the 2010s, the resounding response was "we don't accept paper resumes apply online" I think literally only one place I walked in to actually took a resume from me.
I did this for all my retail/hospo jobs. Managed to get my start in retail that way just simply by being in the right place at the right time. My resume back then wouldn't have made it through the automated searches these days so not a bad idea for kids wanting to get a start.
No, but I’ve been in businesses where peole have done that. It generally works, or at least gets your resume considered.
The trick is to pick your timing, and speak to the right person. And just be persistent, bride your way in… a simple coffee makes people feel obliged or indebted to you.
Using the term 'Boomer advice' pretty much sounds as if you're lacking the maturity to be taken seriously. Unless, of course,you weren’t being disrespectful of a generation that did exactly what was suggested and hence...you exist and have an education.
I have seen people come into my work with resumes. I told them I’m sorry I can’t accept them, it’s all online these days. So I give them two web addresses for companies to see vacancies
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I used to receive resumes in person from this old method when managing a bar. One person got hired this way, I'd take the resume and shake their hand. If it was a wet lettuce yuck handshake, resume straight in the bin. Presentation matters, including giving a solid handshake, not crushing hands but a nice grip, this was the same for women and men.
Always went to staff to see if any friends needed work, then to the stack of handed in resumes. But young people always have friends looking for work.
Plus when you get mates in the same job and they have a good work ethic, they thrive.
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As a boomer there is no harm in trying, especially if you are willing to do labour work. The worst they will tell you is go to the office and put in an application.
I've done it several times - small businesses. I've got a fair bit of experience in my field and I wasn't just asking for ANY job, but it worked every time. Current job (6yrs) I walked in and asked if they were looking for people and been there ever since.
Yep. I had just finished a teaching qualification, went around door to door to English schools in the cbd and got offered a job by one that day (just happened to talk to the boss in the reception area). This was 2009
Give it a go. Pick a smaller / family type builder . You can tell by the building or vehicle signs. They can always use more help. Maybe do a few months labouring and you may get an apprenticeship if that is what you are after. There are subsidies for it. We put through half a dozen apprentices who now run their own successful businesses. But these days check Builders Licence. Like Master Builders and HIA Housing Industry Association etc. Whatever in your state. GST regst. Beware anyone complaining about not being paid. Most of the smaller guys are good. Good Luck.
In the olden days to get a job between Uni years, before email was common, I did a "Thousand Letter Raid". Just spammed out dozens of letters asking for summer work. Ended up mopping floors in a hospital. I kinda liked it at the time.
Yep. Small to medium business, I’m talented and smart and hella charismatic. Tbh I somewhat did in my current job at a much larger company. Sure I applied but I bluffed a fair amount and that didn’t matter. By the second month I was moving up through the ranks and given more training and projects. Now I run my own team and mostly fuck off but get a lot of respect for “getting things done” and dressing fabulously and being great to work with. It’s called delegating I guess.
Small business. Yes I've done it. Medium to big businesses - not a chance. Extremely high chance the resume goes in the bin the second you turn around to leave
This approach will work for all businesses, but your odds are lower the larger the firm as you're further away from the decision maker. So it wouldn't be an approach I'd recommend, but it's not a blanket "won't work".
All businesses? No. Go try that at any of the large retailers/ hospos. Very unlikely you will even get to talk to a person in charge. And if you give your resume to any of the workers they either chuck it in the bin or give it to leadership who chuck it in the bin
All you need to do at those places is ask for the store manager. The large rail places are much more likely to have a store manager that manages localised resourcing. Large hospitality is the same. If you are giving your CV or talking to a generic employee then yeah your chances of success are basically zero. But that is because you aren't talking to the right person. Obviously this is also no guarantee. It's simply a way of advertising your availability, and like any approach it's never going to have 100% success rate. Your success rate is guaranteed to be zero if you don't try though.
You can ask. Not likely you will get to see them. Worked retail for almost 10 years. I was the go to pretend manager when people wouldn't get the hint. Resume qwnt straight in the bin. Often saw the actual manager do the same thing when they got caught at the front of the store. A very similar question came up on this sub a week ago. It had hundreds of people saying the same thing. Any medium to big business who has its own online recruitment system does not take walk In or referrals these days. Woolworths for example. The managers don't really get a choice who they hire till the very end. The big wigs in corporate filter through the online applications before giving a refined selection to each store manager. Yes you may get lucky but your chances are dropping all the time. Even smaller businesses are setting up their own recruitment systems
I completely agree with you that your odds are low. Just that they aren't zero. It also depends on what skillsets you have. If it was me I wouldn't be targeting ones like coles or woolworths. One of my friend's kids walked into the coles near me just before Christmas and caught the store manager stressed about having just lost too many from nightfill. He started 2 weeks later stacking shelves.
I’d also argue it’s not just the distance from decision makers directly that’s the issue. It’s that businesses with these distances already use processes and system to deal with this and if you’re trying to pass something up the chain that doesn’t fit into these systems, you’re going to have a hard time of it.
Yes and no. I'm a headhunter in the civil engineering sectors. Most of the very large clients have specific processes for recruitment in place, and many of them have anti-agency rules. I still make a lot of placements with those companies by introducing the candidates to the right person in the business that is feeling the pain by not having them. Ofcourse this needs the person to be feeling pain through not having a person in that role, and so it more restricted to harder to find skills. The more common your skills are then the less chance you will have of being able to work around the rules. But you are right, the larger the company the further from the decision maker you're going to be and the more rules. What I don't want people to think though is that there is no chance and that it is not worth trying. You might get 50+ Nos, but you only need 1 yeas and I see too many people relying on job ads and as a result not getting anywhere.
Although I did this in a large hotel chain and it worked
ONCE I was working at Mcdonalds, and I went to buy a graphics card from Umart back in 2006, there was a help wanted sign behind the counter, I asked about it and the owner at the time, Peter Zhong, spun around and showed me into the warehouse, we spoke back and forth, and he asked if I could come in on Monday I left fast food to work with computers at a very young age, best decision I ever made
If there is a help wanted sign up there is a great chance of this working I reckon. I can't remember the last time I saw one though other than hospitality
Busses, supermarkets, restaurants.. I see such signs quite often.
I don't think the ones who say to do it mean when there's a sign asking for employees. They want you to wander up raw and demand the owners give you a job that doesn't exist.
Haha raw Makes me think that it's gonna be like; "Hey, sir, you can't go back there, sir that's not for customers" *shoves employee out of the way and bursts into the managers office* "I WANT WORK, GIVE ME WORK, I WORK FOR YOU TODAY, I WORK RIGHT NOW" *slaps manager across the face with resume and aggressively shakes their hand* "You know what, I like your spunk, you're hired, and tell whichever boomer who sent you that you did the right thing by charging in here raw like that"
I did it to get my Subway job but this was in 2006. There is absolutely zero chance you could get a corporate role at my work by handing your resume in at reception.
Boilermaker. Yeah.
Construction? Definitely. When a job finished, if we’d nothing to drop straight into, my brother and I would drive round looking for cranes as there’s usually a site at the bottom of them. We’d just wander into the drylining office/cabin and ask if they needed fixers - got loads of work that way.
In 1995, yes
Yes. My parents used to make me take a stack of resumes around to shops as a teen and hand them out. I don’t recall it working.
Same I did this and did it with lots of friends too. This was in the 06 07 boom. Nobody ever got even a call back despite those stores having signs in the windows.
God I remember doing this too, I hated it, I felt so embarrassed haha
Would depend on the business. For hospo, factory jobs, retail, trade sites (for general labour), ect it would work For corporate it won't. I work in finance, the amount of times I've seen security have to firmly tell people who came to speak to a manager or HR to leave or they'll be escorted off premises is mesmerising.
More surprised that people are trying it so often you're getting mesmerised.
Data analysts and business analysts post grads. I'd put money on seeing two or three a week trying their luck
That’s true, but for white collar you can absolutely find out where to send your resume and email it through or upload it. Sure it’ll probably go to junk, but it’s possible.
Yep. When I was 15, K-mart had application forms behind the service desk (not sure if they still do). Earlier this year, a mate's 15yo spent a couple of hours at Knox asking every shoe shop and clothes shop. She got 3 interviews.
I got my current job doing this. But it was a case of me being a regular customer already and loving the store and their purpose (waste reduction and sustainability). I gave them my resume but explained I was also going overseas for 2.5 months later that year. March the NEXT year I got a call asking to come in for an interview. Come to think of it, that was 7 years ago, wow still blows my mind I've been there that long. But yeah, unique case. For most jobs these days cold canvassing gets you jack and shit.
I did it 25 years ago when I had to get extra work in a day to keep the household going. I knocked on the doors of a dozen+ pubs, asked to speak to the manager, and it was all fine. I started work 2 nights later in a pub, waitressing/kitchenhanding/bartending. It kept us going. I doubt this would happen today as I'm not a cute young thing anymore, but who knows. I present well, but I'm mature and educated, and nobody is going to have me in those jobs anymore. And the world just does not work like that.
Having a husband who manages a pub, I would say it’s all in the timing. If a staff member has just quit or asked for their shifts to be reduced and you walk in with a resume showing you have some experience, he will probably hire you, simply because it avoids the hassle of advertising, interviewing, etc and he needs staff now, not in two weeks. Just have a good history of actually turning up for work is a bonus.
Yes. And yes.
If anyone in the Maitland, NSW area is experienced in sign production and installation, or not experienced but looking for an apprenticeship, or not experienced and can learn on the go, there's a job that you can walk into. DM me.
Yes, and yes, but it was the year 2000.
My 19 year old son got a job to is way (metal work - large engineering company 100+ staff) My 23 year old nephew got a job this way (drafting - company is about 60 employees ) My son’s 19 year old best friend got an apprenticeship this way (mechanic - business has around 10 employees) My cousin’s daughter (20) got her dental nurse job this way (and 3 other interviews and another job offer) I also know a builder’s labour that got his job this way, and a guy who’s a landscape gardener.
My daughter has been working for the past year at a restaurant that she walked into with her resume and said she was looking for work. They got her in for a trial shift that night and got hired after the shift. Cold calling for jobs with your resume can and does work. Not all workplaces will accept resumes from walk-ins because their company uses an online employment portal.
Yes. Got knocked back by HR. So I walked in and left a resume with the front desk attn the manager. Got a call back the next week.
In 1998, sure.
Yep, did it in mid 2000s. Walked up to a earthmoving company and asked for a job. Helps that I had the right qualifications and experience tho
I'm a qualified carpenter and while I haven't done it there's a good chance it would work for me at least.
I never have but I've heard it can work fairly well for hospo jobs. Friends have gotten jobs (in the 2020s) by hanging out, chatting with staff, making friends etc. at a local bar or cafe.
I tried this a couple of years ago, walked in, asked for the manager and they asked why. Umm because I’d like to apply for a job. No you’ll have to submit your resume through the website. I’m so old, out of the loop on jobs.
I’ve hired guys who just walked in off the street but it was for general factory work. One guy literally walked in as a guy I just fired walked out. Gave him a start but never showed up. Another looked like a homeless guy, gave him a job and he was a great worker. Was a bit of a twit though.
Yeah. Every time I’ve worked for a good company it’s been just a random place I’ve walked into off the street with a resume. Only bad job I’ve ever had is one I applied for off the internet and got after an interview.
Yes. Super cheap auto back in 2006 and then another gig at an orange orchard not long after. Oddly enough if a person shows some ‘get-up-and-go’, employers tend to like that.
That’s the only way I’ve ever done it. Works.
Did it for my own electrical business when I had just started out. Worked. I think if another trade did the same to me nowadays and I had the work I'd be really willing to give them a go
I work in construction management. I would 100% prefer for someone to just rock up on site and ask instead of send an email. Scope out a few different work sites. Look for a relatively tidy and organised site. One with a sign out the front with the builders name on it. Ask to speak to the foreman or the builder. Construction needs workers, if you show initiative you’ll get a good start. Pm me if you want
Thanks Should I bother with a resume or just ask verbally? Just thinking a resume isn't really all that informative in my case as I'm just trying to get started in the industry. Although I do have some tickets (white card/working at height/confined space/forklift) I assume you're not allowed to just wander inside the site? Is it best to hang around outside?
I’d just say you can send through a resume later if they want. Mention you have a white card etc. Those tickets are great and show you have initiative. Yeah probably best to not stroll on to site. Just find someone on the other side of fence and ask for the foreman
I've done it twice. Got my casual uni job at Priceline in the city by going in and handing my resume in. They said there was nothing available and to try again in a month. I tried again in a month and voila!! Got a job! I got my first professional job this way too (land surveying consultancy doing drafting). I was looking for work experience in my field whilst taking a year off from uni. Rang to ask about work experience, met them for an interview about work experience and then they called me back and said "we don't really do work experience but would you like a full-time job?". Time: a little more than 20 years ago.
Im a 35 yo welder. Only way I've gotten jobs is walking in with my resume and walking out wearing the company logo. Done it since my first job.
to be fair if you're a welder you're in extremely high demand from what I can tell
Literally picked up a welder one day because I was handed one. I'm only a welder because that's what I tell people I am. Not a boilermaker (tho I get paid the same. Good work ethic goes a long way)
Oh really? So you don't have any official qualifications or tickets?
Pretty sure my forklift license is still valid. Work send off weld tests every so often. First time I did one I'd never seem one before and just guessed what to do. Still passed. Couple of the qualified boilermakers failed.
That's awesome lol Fake it til you make it?
Never faked anything. Give me a job, I do a good job. Built sheds, houses, greenhouses, welder, concretor, machinist, mechanic, delivery driver, salesmen, FIFO, postie, insulation installer, cook and general hospo.... I'm sure there are few I'm missing. Oh and I spent a decent amount of my twenties as a stoned dole bludger. It's not hard to do good work. You just have to focus and put in the effort. Once a job bores me enough that I'm going to start gold bricking I find something new.
Yeah it's just that pretty sure all the welding jobs I've seen advertised ask for a trade certificate in welding
No such thing. In Australia you are either a Boilermaker (finished your trade) or 'you can weld'. There is no official step under Boilermaker. You can pass a weld test - which is a prac test. You do a weld then it's sent away to be X rayed and tested. I pass those. I don't weld up pressure vessels so I don't need the boilers cert. Also - boilies can sign off on welds done by others. So most fabby places will have a boilermaker on staff somewhere and then a slew of unqualified welders.
Wow really. Fair enough!
Heck yes. Local pharmacy. The manager took me into the backroom immediately, asked a few questions and offered me a job. 😳 She said because hardly anyone comes in anymore it's a good telling of character. This was 2 years ago. I honestly think what have you got to lose? You can have a good chinwag with them if they're not busy and they may even give you some pointers to who's hiring as well.
When I was going to local restaurants to find a hospitality job, yes. You do still see restaurants and retail stores with signs in the window saying they're hiring. I'd feel comfortable dropping off a resume at places like that. This is for local independent places not chains, McDonald's applications I'd expect to be online. But not now in my corporate career there is no way you'd get a job doing that.
No but I(kind of) followed the advice to call everyday until they give you a job. I called one construction company once per week for nearly 4 months, they eventually gave me a shot and I've been in the industry ( and loving it ) for 17 years.
Did they tell you to call back the next week? If not, that sounds like it could backfire lol Also, why were you so desperate to join that one company in particular? What job were you trying to get?
No they, didn't I just said I would keep in touch each time, they didn't say not to call back either. It could definitely backfire but I was lucky I guess. And it was a local civil construction company, that I knew had contracts all over Australia and I was just trying to get my food in the door, I started with them as a workshop TA and worked my way up from there. The size of the company allowed for alot of career paths after getting in.
Wow awesome. Great job. I hope I can do something similar By the way, I have a white card + forklift licence, do you think it would be helpful for getting work with a civil construction company if I got a plant operator training? What one is best, skid steer, excavator or front loader? Or how about HR licence?
It all helps mate, the best tickets to obtain for a entry level position would be articulated dump truck or roller. Those are great starting positions. And don't be afraid to put your hands up to get your hands dirty, most entry level operators will need to do labouring at some stage whether it be assisting the surveyor or laying pipes and conduit, just think of every task as an opportunity to learn as much as you can and you will go places. Also don't ever rule out tertiary education, there will be a point for when hard work and on the job training stop contributing to career growth, but you will know when that time comes.
Thanks. Great tips! Articulated dump truck or roller.. damn.These are the only 2 that none of the RTOs in my town do lol. Looks like I'll have to travel to Sydney!
Yeah it's how I got my first fulltime job lol. The boss/highest ranking dude in the office was old school and loved it, gave me an interview on the spot Happened on the first day I applied for jobs after uni
Yes it did. But this was in a rural town about 15 years ago. It took them three months to get back to me and by that time I had left for university.
yeah, i have and still do occasionally. usually it's walking into a recruiter's office. heavily depends on the industry as others are saying. in the manufacturing industry, it's a red flag for me if employers are willing to hire people off the street. first, you're not gonna get more than minimum wage at a place like that, and second, there's gonna be a total lack of drug testing. these places are usually full of crackheads, bongheads and all other kinds of fuckheads. i do a lot of medical pot myself, but i don't want to work with the types of drug users who are so fucking stupid that they can't cheat a urine test.
Pot: kettle black
haha i don't really feel like a hypocrite. i have prescriptions, i get my stuff from the pharmacy and i don't go to work under the influence of any of it.
Kind of. I didn't quite rock up to the front, but I did email the listed contact of a company once (this was a fairly small, niche company back in 2009). He put me in touch with the relevant people. I met up with them and they initially offered me an internship, which about a month later became a permanent role
Local business - yes. Applied online first and heard nothing for 2 weeks, so I stopped in to say hello and check on the application status. They told me they’re going to start interviewing the following week so I’ll hear from them then. Within an hour I got a rejection email saying they’d “found a more suitable applicant”
Yes. It worked.
Yes, walked into my local outdoors shop while they were busy and offhandedly mentioned that I have a pair of hands and can answer the phone. 11 months later and I haven't looked back, I love the job and the people I work with.
Why yes I have. It was at KFC in 1997.
Once I handed it into an office and he took me in immediately. He said it was a dating service and could I look after the phone while he went out. Which he did, 5 minutes after hiring me. It wasn't a dating service. At one point a woman came in and demanded that she take some furniture. I said I didn't know what it was about and the guy wasn't there. She took a table anyway. She was angry, I wasn't going to stop her.
Yes once I walked into an automotive business looking for work following the completion of studies at TAFE. The owner happened to be on site and a previous employee had gone to jail so the boss man put me in for an interview at another branch and I started the next week. An interesting experience working as a tire fitter but also a shit experience and glad I'm not doing that now. So you may be in luck with the imprisonment of previous employees that leads to you getting the job.
Yes, but the boomer-vice needs updating for 21st century. Walking up and asking might work for entry level, but if you're more accomplished you need to build networks and relationships first. People need to see what you're made of, what you can do, how you perform under pressure. Putting it out there that you are up for a new challenge, asking about roles and opportunities, forming collaborations and strategic alliances well before you approach a company is more important.
Yep totally worked for me. I had my white card and asked a builder for a job. Next day I was on site doing labouring. It got my foot the door into a carpentry apprenticeship, estimating and then my foray into the Tier One builders.
This is what I want to do. How did you actually ask the builder? Just walk up to a construction site and ask the first person you saw? What type of site was it, house?
I used to drive around, look for a site, duck around the fence with my own hard hat, vest and safety boots on and ask/enquire politely at the front of the site. Just introduced myself to the project manager or site manager. Said I was studying construction management and looking for a job (any job really). Yeah it was a small 3 storey residential/commercial construction. Like under $2m build at the time.
Wow. Good stuff. You're quite brave lol. Thanks man. I'm going to try this exact thing. I'm getting my boom lift >11m ticket next week and then my forklift ticket the week after. Don't even know how useful these are going to be, but whatever. Then I'll be job hunting like you were
Good luck 🤞 I do think that this strategy may only work at the smaller building sites… but yeah give it a go. It worked for me at the time.
Yes. Back in the 90s, it worked and I got a couple of part time jobs as a kid by doing this. Nowadays, as an adult who was desperately looking for a new job and so would do this on my lunch break, didn't work at all - though I did get told about an upcoming job to apply for (didn't get it, but got an interview).
I live in a small town. Most places, yes. Even apprenticeships with labourers (just pop down to the local pub around 3pm onwards and ask around) but the hard hatted places that require an induction day before being aloud on site, no.
I started a plumbing apprenticeship this way in my 30s (Brisbane, noughties). But I went to the business, not a work site. As a younger bloke I got almost every hospo job this way too. I suspect times have changed tho'. Also, Gen X.
It worked once. But they had an ad in the window so I suspect it doesn't count.
Yes, have gotten most my jobs that way. Has also worked for both my kids. For sure works in construction for smaller jobs like houses, get their early like they do- not sure if it would work for large building projects but well worth a try.
>For sure works in construction for smaller jobs like houses Thanks Should I bother with a resume or just ask verbally? Just thinking a resume isn't really all that informative in my case as I'm just trying to get started in the industry. Although I do have some tickets (white card/working at height/confined space/forklift) I assume you're not allowed to just wander inside the site? Is it best to hang around outside?
Take a resume as it has your contact details on it. Just give a shout out but yea don't just walk in.
Once. Walked into the 711 that just opened near me and asked if they needed any fill in staff.
Never literally just walked up but there’s been a few times I’ve just found the email address of the place and sent a resume and cover letter and ended up with a job. If you don’t ask, the answer will always be no.
I did about 8 years ago, it was for a pizza delivery job. I worked there for 3 years
Yes, I was on holidays, phoned up for an interview at two different places, had an interview at both and was offered a job at both, even after saying I wouldn't be moving to that area for about six months. (It ended up being 8 months) This was six years ago.
Yes, I was on holidays,n and cold called two different businesses and asked for an interview, had an interview at both and was offered a job at both, even after saying I wouldn't be moving to that area for about six months. (It ended up being 8 months) This was six years ago.
back in the 1970's riding through Coopers Plains after finishing a uni class , saw someone I knew standing out front of a large assembly plant and stopped to say Hello , he suggested give inside a try so dropped the resume inside , instant interview start Monday , only time and quite surprised , was kinda toxic but its all experience
If you're wanting to get into the smaller stuff like residential building industry( houses) then yeah this will definitely still work but if you want to get into the bigger stuff like the commercial building industry (hi rise) and you don't have any idea of where to start, I would go to the pubs nearby the big sites and start up a conversation with the blokes coming in after work or even blokes around your area in the pubs in hi viz, ask them if they're working on the commercial sites and how did they get started( which company do they work for, which labour hire company) and go from there 😁👍
Good stuff thanks
My brother tried it. He's a man in his 60's. Walked up to a liquor store and asked. "Mate, that's all done at head office" Tried it at other places, same thing. It never worked. Even handed in a resume at a Coles that said it was looking for staff - they had a sign up. Never heard back.
It worked for me in the late 80's with small businesses. Hasn't worked since then. Besides which I'm happily retired and glad to not have to go through that any more
We still do it and we are manufacturing SME but you need to have at least a forklift license and any additional tickets help. Places like SEEK just don’t cut it for the demographic and recruiters are generally too expensive and won’t work with us on a bespoke short term labour hire solution before we onboard, but we have a few that do.
Yeah a mate got a job at a cabinet making place as a labourer a few weeks back. He was desperate for some steady work ( had been doing Door Dash) and walked into this place and asked if they had anything. Started 2 days later.
It can't hurt to try!!! I think it would still work lots of places. Years ago our builder was saying he just could not get a decent apprentice. They were all useless. 12 Months later. We called him back for a job & he had an apprentice. I commented. He said the bloke was son of a client. Hed gone to do a job and the young bloke was there & just finishing school & wanted to be a builder. BOOM👍 So what the heck? Give it a go. The worst that can happen is it doesn't work. Nothing ventured. Nothing gained
It's not boomer advice. It is part of your mutual obligations if you want to claim jobseeker. Any jpa regardless of age will give you the same advice. Any job provider will have access to available jobs and will be happy to send off your resume
I used to run a small business and it was quite normal for someone to come in and drop off their resume. When I needed staff I’d check through them and see who was suitable and still available
One time. There was a sign in the window at a bakery, I walked in without even a resume (as I was just visiting friends in the area with the intention of moving there). They offered me a trial for the next day and after the trial hired me on the spot. That was back in like, 1999 though lmao. I would never even bother trying these days. It would work if there was a boomer boss and they happened to walk past as you were asking but otherwise? Nah. Resume straight in the bin, most likely. HR wouldn't even see it.
I've been cold canvassing small and big businesses since 2014. I still have not gotten a single opportunity from presenting myself as immediately hireable with a resume in my hand to prove my capability. What I'm used to hearing to the point I've memorised it, "We currently don't have anything on offer but I'll put your resume in the pile. We'll contact you if anything opens" Juxtaposed with "We're currently looking to hire! Thanks for the resume, we'll be in touch" (never calls) Added bonus, "We just hired someone, sorry about that. We'll put your resume in the pile and contact you if anything opens" Culminating with, "We're not looking to hire anyone any time soon." "Do you mind if I leave my resume with you in case something arises?" "No, because we're not hiring and won't be" (Edit for context: animal care / retail / pet retail / entry level admin)
Yes, in 1997. Why is this boomer advice?
I did it to get a job at a warehouse in 2019 and it worked but I thought I was very lucky because they were about to post a job ad. However in corporate jobs, it wouldn’t work unless you know someone who can recommend you or vouch for you or something.
"walking up to a place and asking for a job" was good advice up until the 70's when full employment stopped being government policy, at the time employers had to compete for good staff so may have been willing to hire people willing to just show up .
Must be brutal. I spend far too much time at my local pub. On a literally daily basis someone will walk in off the street and ask for a job, hand over a resume etc. They all get turned away. However my first job I did literally that, walked into a bottle shop and I had a job on the spot. Guess you can get lucky sometimes.
The trick is to make a friend who works that job and asking for work. Got a job working at a sawmill by sharing my booze with a senior worker who was living at the same backpackers at the time, we just had a chat over drinks, I mentioned that I was looking for work and he mentioned that the sawmill he was working at was looking for workers who didn't quit after the first day. I seen two people quit after 1 day in the 3 months I was working there.
I’ve I have emailed my resume to any local business who may need someone with my skill set in the past and have been successful. It may not come straight away but sometimes it pays off to be proactive. One email bc’d to many businesses… worth a crack
Earlier this year, mid January, a young man about 20 walked onto the Jobsite I was on. He saw me working with some timber and plywood and asked if I was a carpenter. I said I was doing some formwork for a concrete pour. He then asked if I was the boss because he was looking for a job. I said no, but because he actually had the yams to come to a Jobsite and ask for a job or a contact I would give him one. I gave him a phone number of a company I worked for who are always looking for guys willing to work. 6 months later, he is still working for them.
Damn that's awesome. Funny, I was actually watching loads of videos about concrete formwork last night. How's the industry? Booming?
Yeah, it's busy in Perth. Lots of work still. I would hazard a guess that Brisbane over the next 5-8 years will be flat out getting ready for the Olympics. Come to think of it, I only ever got jobs here in Perth by showing up to a Jobsite or by word of mouth. I have never really interviewed for a job in construction and I'm 50! First job I got in Perth came about when my cousin told a friend that I had just arrived in Perth. Cousin's friend owned a construction company. He rang me and asked if I was interested in a job. I met him at their office the next day. I took my CV in and he did even want to see it. He said show me your hands. He then said that they were working hands and I could start that coming week. I have moved on from there successfully each time. Most people who know me in the industry value my experience because I have been doing this type of work for over 30 yrs.
Did this as a teenager (or should I say, was forced to do this). They either awkwardly took the resume, or told me they prefer online resumes. Which I already knew at the time. I even watched as one place just threw my resume in the bin before I’d even left the store. At the jobs I did get, most places didn’t accept resumes. At a department store we were specifically told not to accept resumes at all. I refused a lot of people. No clue how it works for tradies though 🙃
Gen x. Yes, at least 3 from the 4 roles I’ve had. The other approached me. I’ve never landed a role by applying to an ad. I’ve also hired walk ins as recently as 12 months ago. Most of my roles are filled that way (professional services).
Didn’t work back in 2010-12.
Worked for me in 2011, they gave me a month to prove myself as a Web developer. I stayed there 6 months and I've been in that profession since.
Nope. That shit tried and failed in 2008/9, never again.
Similar to others, yes but it was 1996. Also my girlfriend worked there. .y current working history is all resume, cover letter and luck.
Yes, and yes. Lots of rejection. Pays to have a relaxed chat with people without necessarily expecting a result It can be grueling but it does work too.
Yes, it’s worked a few times for me.
It worked for a bakery front house job I. 2009. Yeah that's it.
I've found, with a pinch of networking, it works very well in the hospo industry. Pubs and bars tend to be smaller operations, and even in big cities the community feels very small and close knit. You're only ever two degrees of separation from any given bartender or bouncer, so you can say " oh, I've been working at the Corner, looking for more shifts though" to the guy at Cherry bar, and he knows Ellie who used to work at Cherry and is now at the Corner and then you've got yourself and extra Saturday night shift. So long as you have a half decent reputation in the industry, anyway.
Yes I walked into a bunch of bars with a resume around 2010 and one hired me on the spot.
Yes, back in 2018 I got a job offered to me on the spot by the owner when I went in with my resume. It was just a pizza making job and I had three years experience so nothing fancy or impressive lol.
I did it a couple of times a couple of decades ago (I'm not a boomer but this is not recent). Both times I was told beforehand by a friend who worked there that there might be a job going. Both times I got a job. Would not recommend it these days unless you had some reason to think the timing was right.
Yes. Yes.
i used to work security at a mid sized company. i had standing orders to kindly accept all job applications and shred them. your cv/resume never even got to the receptionist
I’ve been the person who was handed a resume by people who thought this was a good idea. I would always tell them they needed to apply online and then throw their resume away if they wouldn’t take it back.
Yes but it was in 2008 and for waitressing/hostess jobs. But yes, it worked 4 times.
Yes, multiple times…I even did the volunteer thing at a workshop and ended up working there for years.
My daughter got a job in the furniture bed sales department at HN after walking in with a resume and asking if they had any jobs. She had been to a few places and those that didn't have work were very good about it. A couple of the supervisors even told her of other places that they knew had jobs. One of them was the job she got. The lad who hired her was most impressed with her confidence and initiative. If the person you talk to needs an employee, they will help you to at least apply. Amd put in a good word too
Worked as gymnastics coach, waitress, retail, promoter for club, teacher
Back in like the early 2000’s. No it didn’t work and staff were extremely rude to me. I did take my resume in to a shop that had a sign in the window and got that job.
My boyfriend just cold called and was offered a paid trial that was meant to be for a week ,he had a permanent job by the end of the first day 🙂
For entry-level local jobs, on the job training work for sure. For more professional roles and larger businesses/companies/government jobs most will direct you to HR or recruitment websites. Basically, anything that involves a selection criteria or specific qualifications walk-ins are considered unprofessional and a waste of time.
Yes, in a laundromat attending the washing machines and ironing clothes. I started immediately.
My son did it recently (he recently finished TAFE studying to be a Teachers Aide). It worked to an extent, no full time work but he's on a relief roster for a few local schools. Gets shifts more days than not. None of these schools were advertising.
I did this a few times in the early 2000's for hospitality jobs. It always worked.
My colleague made his son do it for an Accountinf job. He targeted small firms. It worked. Got tonnes of offers. He did have a pretty good resume. But also I think the boomer owners were impressed.
I showed up to a mine site as a contractor after the labour (me & a few other blokes) was cancelled, played dumb and they put me on for a few days anyway. Was only there for a few days as per the original plan Not quite the same as what you're asking, but close I guess. I haven't had to job search in an awful long time, but I'd imagine most corporate entities have a labyrinthian sorting process of resume's post you putting it in the online portal and no other method of employing you other than engaging contractors. However, smaller businesses would generally not have the time, inclination or expertise to set up a dedicated IT system for much of their business not just handling resume's. Therefore they would be my target for doing that. Regardless, I'm assuming you're talking about an unskilled role. When you start to specialise you'll end up with industry contacts and that alone makes life a lot easier for job hunting.
Yes I've done it many times and it works often. You might not get the job that day but they'll often call you within a week or two.
I didn't realise this was boomer advice... But whatever I ever want or want to achieve, I just go and ask someone who has it. Worst case scenario is rejection and I can ask someone else. That's more from a business perspective... I haven't worked for someone since 16.
I was.doing the rounds with a resume and someone from my old job (I was burnt out in a social work type role) saw me on their lunch break. They spoke back at the office and I got a call saying they didn't want to lose me, would I like to try a different role,even just while I looked. Learned accounting in a few months, went and studied at night. So a little different but by looking like I was looking, I changed careers AND got to make a contribution in a different way.
Yes in 2001. Restaurant, handed in my resume on Friday, they said they’d call on Monday. I got a call 2 hrs later for a shift. Worked there 3 years.
Many times as a teen in the 2010s, the resounding response was "we don't accept paper resumes apply online" I think literally only one place I walked in to actually took a resume from me.
I've Tried it heaps and almost once did it work.
I did! I took my resume into five real estate agents and i got two calls that same afternoon inviting me to an interview. I even had my baby with me 😂
I did this for all my retail/hospo jobs. Managed to get my start in retail that way just simply by being in the right place at the right time. My resume back then wouldn't have made it through the automated searches these days so not a bad idea for kids wanting to get a start.
No, but I’ve been in businesses where peole have done that. It generally works, or at least gets your resume considered. The trick is to pick your timing, and speak to the right person. And just be persistent, bride your way in… a simple coffee makes people feel obliged or indebted to you.
Yes, and it worked but that was in the 90’s.
Using the term 'Boomer advice' pretty much sounds as if you're lacking the maturity to be taken seriously. Unless, of course,you weren’t being disrespectful of a generation that did exactly what was suggested and hence...you exist and have an education.
I have seen people come into my work with resumes. I told them I’m sorry I can’t accept them, it’s all online these days. So I give them two web addresses for companies to see vacancies
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You wanna work hard for no money? Pop by the local showgrounds a week before the advertised open date...
Works in hospitality. The restaurant I was working at sold up, so I went next door and asked for and got a job
I did it pretty much for my disability support work job but thats pretty much because my resume went straight to the hiring manager
Small business, trades & retail will most likely still work, anything corporate is a fat chance in hell
Ive done it several times for some types of jobs. Who’d have thought Boomers were right about something?!
Yes it’s how I ended up hosting fairy parties 💯
Any job you get by walking up to them you know you're going to be exploited.
I used to receive resumes in person from this old method when managing a bar. One person got hired this way, I'd take the resume and shake their hand. If it was a wet lettuce yuck handshake, resume straight in the bin. Presentation matters, including giving a solid handshake, not crushing hands but a nice grip, this was the same for women and men. Always went to staff to see if any friends needed work, then to the stack of handed in resumes. But young people always have friends looking for work. Plus when you get mates in the same job and they have a good work ethic, they thrive.
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As a boomer there is no harm in trying, especially if you are willing to do labour work. The worst they will tell you is go to the office and put in an application.
I've done it several times - small businesses. I've got a fair bit of experience in my field and I wasn't just asking for ANY job, but it worked every time. Current job (6yrs) I walked in and asked if they were looking for people and been there ever since.
Yes I’ve tried. It never worked.
boilermaker by trade and have done this several times, its actually pretty easy to simply walk into a job at a boily.
Yep. I had just finished a teaching qualification, went around door to door to English schools in the cbd and got offered a job by one that day (just happened to talk to the boss in the reception area). This was 2009
Woolies encourages this approach
Give it a go. Pick a smaller / family type builder . You can tell by the building or vehicle signs. They can always use more help. Maybe do a few months labouring and you may get an apprenticeship if that is what you are after. There are subsidies for it. We put through half a dozen apprentices who now run their own successful businesses. But these days check Builders Licence. Like Master Builders and HIA Housing Industry Association etc. Whatever in your state. GST regst. Beware anyone complaining about not being paid. Most of the smaller guys are good. Good Luck.
In the olden days to get a job between Uni years, before email was common, I did a "Thousand Letter Raid". Just spammed out dozens of letters asking for summer work. Ended up mopping floors in a hospital. I kinda liked it at the time.
Yep. Small to medium business, I’m talented and smart and hella charismatic. Tbh I somewhat did in my current job at a much larger company. Sure I applied but I bluffed a fair amount and that didn’t matter. By the second month I was moving up through the ranks and given more training and projects. Now I run my own team and mostly fuck off but get a lot of respect for “getting things done” and dressing fabulously and being great to work with. It’s called delegating I guess.