Waterstones???

Hi, I'm 16 and have decided to get a weekend job in order to make ends meet when i enter sixthform this September. So far i've drawn up a list a places I'm interested in - shops, supermarkets etc. However, the main one i'd like to go for is Waterstones book shop, mainly because I think i'd feel a bit intimidated working in a "trendy" clothes store seeing as they seem to employ people who are slightly older.

So, my problem now is that i cannot seem to find a waterstones website that lists their vacancies and has application forms - i know one must exist because last year when my dad was made redundant he went into the shop to apply himself and was told to apply online. I can't find it on any of the HMV sites either, so am feeling a bit clueless.
I'm also in a bit of a rush to get the job because otherwise i know i'm probably not going to get a chance due to all the xmas applications, and that I'll probs be bogged down with schoolwork before long so i'd like to get it sorted out.
Any hints or tips from waterstones employees???? please?? :redface:

Reply 1

phae

Hello miss

look what I just found ; http://www.hmvgroup.com/careers/ Waterstones is a derivative of that. Not to put you off, but for three years I have been in and out of Waterstones every weekend grovelling for a job, they must have thousands of my cvs...It's my ideal job (as a student lol, that or an independent bookshop), but it seems very difficult to get.

Ah well, good luck

xxx
phae

Reply 2

Chewwy

17

just ask for an application form in store.

Reply 3

Montrose

17

To my knowledge, Waterstones do not accept online applications anymore. However, you will be very, very lucky to get a job in there. As has been said, they are a popular place to apply for most people, so they can afford to be very picky. You will need to extremely passionate about reading, and this will need to come across in both your application, and if you get one, an interview. Good luck, but don't hold your hopes high.

By the way, fashion shops don't just take older people! I have worked for both George and Debenhams (which in turn has Jane Norman, Morgan, DP etc inside it), and both have 16 + 17 year olds working.

Reply 4

cloudofcalm

1

Waterstones' jobs are like gold-dust. You'd be better off wandering in in September and asking for an app for the Christmas vacancies, and then trying to get in that way. When I was 16, I worked at Waterstones over Christmas; it IS fun, but also hard work in the rush and I worked Christmas Eve, Boxing Day and New Year's. I was actually in at seven am on Boxing Day, for the sale pricing!

They kept on one temp from a staff of eight Christmas temps - worth noting.

Reply 5

MissSurfer

17

Just wondering.. why are Waterstones jobs so hard to get?

Reply 6

Montrose

17

Because everyone wants them! Working with books is so many people's idea of heaven.

Reply 7

Quistis

What are their pay and conditions like?

Reply 8

Wild Rose

I didn't realise they were so hard to get. I had an interview when I was 17, but didn't take the job as I then went on holiday, then started sixth form.

I think mine was just luck though, I happened to wander in on the same day as someone left, so they had a vacancy. During my interview they asked about what books I'd read, my opinions, my educational subjects etc. It was pretty simple. I regret deciding not to have a job throughout sixthform.

Just go to ur local waterstones and ask them to keep ur CV, do it every couple of weeks if they don't get back to you, or ask when they think they will have vacancies. In the meanwhile, apply to other places. If you don't feel comfortable in clothes shops, why don't you try places like Boots, or jewellery shops or clothes shop that aren't as well known.

Good Luck.

Reply 9

MissSurfer

17

Alex Mann

Because everyone wants them! Working with books is so many people's idea of heaven.

Well obviously! LOL I meant why does everyone want them so much? I guess it's not just me who thinks working with books would be good! (that sounds so sad!).

Reply 10

Montrose

17

Well exactly. The places that are easy to get jobs at are the ones no one wants to do and hate once they're there.

Reply 11

buttons7

1

it's because it's a decent job. i know because, as of tomorrow, i work for waterstones (i used to work for ottakar's. but hey, look who got bought out). if you work in a bookshop, you miss out on almost all the bad bits of other jobs. no dirty plates and glasses (bar/restaurant work); no customers assuming that you have the iq of a sandwich (bar/restaurant/most shop work); no stupid uniforms. and then you get the fact that it's actually quite interesting to work with books, and quite fun. and you get staff discount. the list goes on.

Reply 12

Ferrus

19

The same reason why videogame shop jobs are hard to find. Because working with books/games is a darn sight better than working with bloody groceries.

But I know of two people who have worked in bookshops and they do say that it is not all so rosate: it still amounts to stacking menially. Such is life, just hope one day you get a management job where you spend most of your day in a meeting spewing out executive bull****.

Reply 13

tortured

8

Waterstones would be my ideal job too... But yeh, like everyone else said it's really competitive. I might just apply for xmas temp jobs since I'm doing an English Lit. degree from October and it's just around the corner from my Uni, I thought maybe it'll help boost my CV or something...

Reply 14

applejuice345

http://www3.waterstones.com/wat/images/special/pdf/appform.pdf the job application.

Reply 15

Montrose

17

'What is about bookselling that interests you' - blimey, English that bad on an application form for the biggest bookshop in the country. Not good!

Reply 16

rottcodd

3

I work for waterstones and it's ridiculous the amount of people hand in their CV on a daily basis. All waterstones around the country will be recruiting christmas temps at the beginning of October - the best thing to do is walk into the shop and give a CV plus a covering letter detailing the hours you're available to work direct to the manager in the shop. They don't do application forms for christmas temp jobs. Specifically ask to speak to the manager and give it to them. Don't phone up and ask if you have vacancines as they'll find that highly annoying - they're supposed to advertise it in the window and they'll get irritated if you haven't checked. The pay isn't great for christmas temps (around £5), but if you get a permanent job after christmas and have been there for more than 3 months then your pay goes up.

The main reason it's difficult to get a job is because they're snobby about CV's. You just can't have a crap CV, it's got to be good.

Tis a brilliant job though, if only for the 33% discount you'll get off your reading list for uni - and a 25% discount in HMV.

Reply 17

Aimai

7

phae

Hello miss

look what I just found ; http://www.hmvgroup.com/careers/ Waterstones is a derivative of that. Not to put you off, but for three years I have been in and out of Waterstones every weekend grovelling for a job, they must have thousands of my cvs...It's my ideal job (as a student lol, that or an independent bookshop), but it seems very difficult to get.

Ah well, good luck

xxx
phae

Me too! lol! Apparently they like their staff to be older. I've not seen anyone under 18... or even 21 working in there! So not fair! lol. The same goes for Borders...

Your best bet would be WHSmiths as a book related place or an independent. Phone up and ask- they're more likely to notice a phone call. I must say though I used to be fussy over where I worked but in the end I went for where I could get. Places have tons of applications and you've just gotta go for it if you want money! lol. Good luck xxx

Reply 18

SerenBach

hi im applying for a job in waterstones now and im 16. just filling in my application form now. trying to think of decent answers. i dont know if i'll get it. they rejected my friend. but to be fair she had low grades and wasnt much of a book reader. i have higher grades and a deeper interest in books. will i have more of a chance at getting a job there? i really want to work for them.

Reply 19

rottcodd

3

SerenBach

hi im applying for a job in waterstones now and im 16. just filling in my application form now. trying to think of decent answers. i dont know if i'll get it. they rejected my friend. but to be fair she had low grades and wasnt much of a book reader. i have higher grades and a deeper interest in books. will i have more of a chance at getting a job there? i really want to work for them.

Make sure your CV is top-notch. That's the first thing they look at and the first thing they base their decisions on. If there is a spelling mistake on it, or it's poorly presented - off it will go to the rubbish bin. They are very picky about it.

Waterstones???

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