Asking For A Job (page 1 of 2)	
Asking For A Job	
You are presenting a product to an 
employer when you ask for a job.  
What is the product?  The product is 
YOU!  To sell a car for a good price, 
you clean and shine the car to get a 
good purchase offer.  To get a good 
job offer, you need to make you and 
your resume look good.
Approach: To ask about a job opening: 1) Wear clothes that are correct for the job you want.  Make sure 
you are clean, combed hair, brushed teeth.  2) Go alone (no tag along friends or parent), and c
ell phone 
turned OFF.  2) Ask to speak to the manager or assistant manager.  If not available, ask when the manager 
or assistant manager will be in the store.  Return that day when the sto
re is  not busy with customers.
Resume:  Prepare a picture perfect resume to give to the manager.  You may say:  1) "I completed the 
computer application for a job at your store.  I wanted to meet you and 
give you my resume."  Then, give 
the manager your resume.  2) "I plan to complete an application for a j
ob at your store.  I wanted to meet 
you and give you my resume.  Where may I get the application for a job?"  Then give the employer your 
resume.  3) If there are no job openings, you may say, "I would like to leave my resume with you for future 
job openings.  Thank you."
Prepare:  Before visiting the manager:  1) Read the company's website to learn 
about company and 
products it sells. 2) Prepare a good answer to:  Why do you want to work for our company?
Question: Why do you want to work for Home Depot? 
Answer:  Home Depot is a leader in home improvement.   
Home Depot has excellent customer 
service  and values its workers.   
I would like to apply for a job as a cashier.   
I think my skills and work 
ethic would be valuable to the Home Depot team.   
I have skills in computers, and I am a 
dependable worker.   
I learned customer service skills  from my volunteer experience.  
I want to be 
part of the Home Depot team. 
On-the-Spot Surprise:  Some employers surprise job seekers with an unusual question to see how
 
you handle hard questions.  Prove yourself a winner.  Prepare by memorizing a one-minute or less 
"sound-bite" — to tell of your work or volunteer experience, skills, 
and why you want to work for 
the business.  
Prepare Sound-Bite for This Question: Why are you qualified to work at Subway?
Memorized  Sound-Bite Answer:   
I graduated from Centerville High School and completed classes in 
computers.   
I was on the tennis team and learned how to be a team player.   
I have work experience as 
a switchboard aide in the principal's office.   
I learned customer service skills.   
 Subway has excellent 
sandwiches and a good team spirit among the crew.   
I want to join the Subway team.

College & Career Publishing.  Permission to use with usworkworld.com subscription.  	Asking For A Job  
(page 2 of 2)	
QUICK CHECK:
Application:  Carry your personal data sheet (or sample application) so that you have information you 
need to fill out an application:  a) work and volunteer experience; b) supervisors' names and phone 
numbers; c) education history; d) awards, diplomas, or certificates earned; e) skills; and f) three personal 
references. You may be asked to complete:  a) paper application, b) computer applic
ation from your home 
computer; c) computer application at store's "hiring kiosk."  
The computer application may include personality questions and academic 
questions.  Personality questions find out if your personality is right for the job.  
For example, stores prefer to hire sales clerks who enjoy talking to lot
s of people.  
If your personality questions show that you prefer to work alone, you wi
ll not be 
offered a job as a sales clerk.  You may be offered a job in the stock room.  
Academic questions find out if you have the math and English skills for the job.  For example, sales clerks 
need to count change.  If you do not pass the math questions, you will n
ot be offered a job as a sales clerk.
Also, computer applications ask "work situation" questions to find out how you deal with customers, 
coworkers, and work situations.  Correct answers are kept secret so that
 job seekers cannot share answers.  
Here are tips to remember for good answers:  1) Customers and coworkers
 are always treated with respect.  
2) You are always an honest person.  3) You are always an accurate worker.  
4) You will ask a supervisor for help if you are unsure how to solve a probl
em.
Apply for jobs where you think you will enjoy working.  Because, if you 
apply and 
are hired at a job you do not like, you may not do your best and end up being fired or quickly quitting.  
The work world can be a happy place or an unhappy place.  Decide where y
ou want to work so that your 
job is a happy place.  Then, go for it: 1) Research the company.  2) Prepare your resume. 
3) Visit the business to ask about a job opening!
1.  a) When asking for job, what are you presenting 
to an employer? b) What is the product?
2.  a) To sell a car, what do you do?  b) Before 
  asking for a job, what do you need to do? 
3.  List 3 things you do for the "approach."
4.  Describe what to wear to apply at: a) Macy's 
Department Store b) Jiffy Lube, c) Subway.
5.  a) List 2 things you may say to the manager 
  before giving him/her your resume.  b) What do 
you say if there are no job openings?
6.  List 2 things to "prepare" before your visit.
7.  In the example of a good answer, list: a) 3 good 
things said about Home Depot, b) 3 good things 
the applicant said about him or herself.
8.  a) Why may employers surprise job applicants 
with unusual questions?  b) How do you prove  yourself a winner?  c) Prepare a sound bite for 
what question?  
9.  Write down what you will memorize for your 
sound-bite answer.
10.  a) What should you carry with you?  b) Why?
11.  a) List 3 types of applications you may be asked 
to complete. 
12.  a) What do personality questions find out? 
  b) Write down one example.  
13.  a) What do academic questions find out?  
  b) Write down one example.
14.  Why do computer applications ask work 
  situation questions?
15.  List 4 tips to remember for good answers.
16.  a) For what jobs should you apply?  b) Why?
17.  List the 3 steps to "go for it. "