Hi guys! This is a pretty unorthodox subject to post about on CC, but I’d thought I’d ask all you intelligent overachievers for input.
So I recently turned 16 and want a job ASAP. My dad has been really set on getting me a job at this local (moderately fancy) restaurant. I came in once and talked to an assistant manger after turning in my application, and they said I needed to speak to the general manager to come back on X day. I came back then; the gen manager wasn’t there, but I spoke to another assistant manager and had a mini-interview. She said that my orientation would be the following Monday and that all I needed to do was come back the next day when the general manager would be there and meet him so I could formally get the job. I came back then and never met the general manager. The assistant manager told me that they were actually all booked on hostesses but that they were planning on firing one the following weekend and would call me the next week. Two weeks have passed, my dad has spoken to them, I’ve called them back and they keep saying the same thing.
I found this very fishy, but I wasn’t going to let it negatively impact me. So I kept applying for all jobs possible I could find that hire 16 year olds.
I recently got a call back from Hardee’s and they want me to come in for an interview next week. I told my dad, and he is livid. He is completely against me working at a fast food place because he feels I’m too good for that and he doesn’t want me working with blacks and Hispanics (yes, he’s obviously very racist).
I’m looking for advice on what to do in this situation. Hardee’s wouldn’t be my ideal job (and all my family members are looking at me with slight secondhand embarrassment that I’m going in for the interview), but I’ve never had a job before and fast food places are common for teenagers, so I don’t see the problem?
Does anyone have any experience at a place like Hardee’s or any idea of what to do about my dad?
He doesn’t live with me btw, like fifteen minutes away.
Proceed with the Hardees interview. You can tell your Dad that if you get an offer from the other place you can consider it but there is no offer on the table and none on the horizon at this time and meanwhile you feel you need to go for what is available. If you feel you need to explain further, say you will be better able to land the next job, having held one and shown that you can show up and follow instructions–it just positions you better than someone who hasn’t. Hand he should not be speaking to this restaurant about you as it shows that you are not independent and responsible for yourself. That could mess up any future chance. Your Dad can’t be set on any job for you unless he is the hiring manager. What? Mostly I would just try to avoid discussing it or say you have heard him and considered thank you, and I’ll let you know how it all works out.
Yes, go on with the Hardees interview and then call the other place one more time. Your dad should not be calling on your behalf. Is there a third option? Keep applying.
I don’t think parents should be involved in their children’s application processes either. But after getting my sister a job as a hostess at a different restaurant, he thinks he can go to any of the bar-restaurants he frequents and get us jobs. To be fair, all he did is ask about the hiring process and see when I could come in and get an application. I filled out the application, turned it in, met with both assistant managers and followed up with a phone call alone.
He isn’t calling on my behalf. He just asked about it while he was at the restaurant this week. They said they would call me but I didn’t want to be a pest until a full week had passed since they specifically said next week (this current week).
I think it’s kind of unprofessional the way he’s inserting himself in the situation too, but he doesn’t really listen to me.
Obviously it’s obnoxious to assume I would get a job, but what should I do if Hardee’s offered a job to me on the spot?
I’ve also applied to the following places and am awaiting information:
Harris Teeter
CVS
California Pizza Kitchen
Texas Roadhouse
sweet Frog (fro yo shop)
Bowling alley
Movie theater
Little Caesar’s
Journeys
Teavana
Michael’s
Target
I applied for Plato’s Closet, went to a group interview and was deferred.
I apply to a new business each day.
My dad is very controlling and demanding. I’m not sure what to do. He’s completely unreasonable but unless I lie about the interview, there’s not likely to be a peaceful option.
Anyone have any idea on how to go about dealing with my dad? He doesn’t respond too favorably to reason (so the fact that they could potentially be the only place to offer me a job isn’t a valid argument to him). I could just pretend to go along with him, but sooner or later, he would find out that I’m not listening to him.
Do the interview; taking the interview doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re agreeing to work there or even that they’ll hire you. You can always look at other moderately fancy restaurants or you could look at jobs in retail
Just tell your dear ol’ Dad that you are considering owning a string of Hardee’s some day and you want to learn from the inside out.
Take that Hardee’s job, be the best employee they’ve ever had and if the opportunity comes to move up to a fancy restaurant, take it, as long as there is enough time to train and be valuable.
You should know that I almost never hire applicants whose relatives intervene on their behalf and I’m not alone in that.
Go to the interview. if they offer you a job, take it. If a better job comes along, give your two weeks’ notice.
As for your dad, tell him you’re taking what you can but if the other job opens up, you’ll switch, but at least you won’t be sitting at home doing nothing in the meanwhile.
Offer him a Sarah Dessen Book. Or Summer of Second Chances.
I want to give a tentative update. So I went to the Hardee’s interview and the manager seemed pretty impressed by my student resume and said she would love to hire me. She said she’ll call back after she does the background check and all.
Also, I called that “moderately fancy” restaurant (still not sure what exactly that meant when I said it) and one of the managers there said to come in Monday and fill out all the final paperwork and that I start working Thursday…
So I guess I’m kind of in a pickle but not really since these jobs are not foolproof (and I still slightly distrust the restaurant as they’ve said to come in to orientation another time and then told me they were booked). But it definitely seems more legitimate now.
So I think (if both the restaurant and Hardee’s really hire me), I’ll try to work both jobs during the summer and then probably quit Hardee’s when I go back to school since I won’t have the time. If the hours are too packed, I’ll have to make a choice during the summer (based on which work environment I prefer). I mean, I’m almost certain that the restaurant only needs hostesses on weeknights and weekend afternoons and nights, so I would still have week days completely open for Hardee’s.
