A CV for applying for a job at Waterstones.

So far I've included my educational information and qualifications, but I'm wondering what I should include in the personal interests section of my CV. What would be good to talk about? Also, is this personal interests section supposed to be brief or overloaded with information about yourself?

Any general tips would be helpful too.

Many thanks.

Reply 1

blondevalkyrie

15

hermaphrodite take no notice about the snooty or abrupt thing, i worked at waterstones and its not like that at all promise!

Reply 2

Hedgeman49

17

blondevalkyrie

hermaphrodite take no notice about the snooty or abrupt thing, i worked at waterstones and its not like that at all promise!

I agree that there are a few staff who are indeed very nice to all of their customers, but in my branch at least the Classics Nazis form the majority.

Reply 3

blondevalkyrie

15

oh no really? I fortunately worked with the nicest people ever :smile:

Reply 4

WolfishSmile

10

I tried applying for a job there. Without success. :p:

Reply 5

nothingspek

OP

3

The staff at my local Waterstones are really nice :P

Reply 6

tom_tom_tom

18

i tryed applying in there and they didnt take CV's

you had to print a application off the internet

that took me about 3 days to find, wasnt very obvious

gave up in the end they didint knw wot they were missing out on

Reply 7

~ Purple Rose ~

19

WolfishSmile

I tried applying for a job there. Without success. :p:

Me too

.

Reply 8

nothingspek

OP

3

Staying on the topic of waterstones, do you think they'll be open tomorrow? Seeing as it's a bank holiday.

Reply 9

Archibald246

13

I work at Waterstone's and i would like to think i wasn't as mean as some of you make Waterstone's employees out to be! I'm not a snobbish reader either, my favourite books are trashy chick lit so i can't judge!!

Yes Waterstone's are open tomorrow by the way...

And as for your CV, definately put that you enjoy reading... maybe some books that you particularly enjoy.. Do you have an application form? I had to fill one in, but maybe just add a cover note to your CV saying why you want to work there, what you think you could bring to the company etc...

Good luck with your application!

Reply 10

nothingspek

OP

3

ManxKirsty

I work at Waterstone's and i would like to think i wasn't as mean as some of you make Waterstone's employees out to be! I'm not a snobbish reader either, my favourite books are trashy chick lit so i can't judge!!

Yes Waterstone's are open tomorrow by the way...

And as for your CV, definately put that you enjoy reading... maybe some books that you particularly enjoy.. Do you have an application form? I had to fill one in, but maybe just add a cover note to your CV saying why you want to work there, what you think you could bring to the company etc...

Good luck with your application!

Thank you

I inquired about a job when I visited on Saturday and they said to just drop a CV with a cover letter in, just having trouble with the cover letter now. Haven't got an application form though.

Reply 11

Archibald246

13

Oh with the cover note, but something about customer service- they're big on that i think!

What's the pay like?

£5.52 p.h

OP

Do you think I'd be able to get a part time job? i.e- only weekends?

Reply 15

blondevalkyrie

15

if they've got some vacancies I don't see why you shouldn't apply and if your there over a certain amount of time you get a discount card :smile:

Reply 16

Archibald246

13

good

I get 'weighting' or something too for living in an expensive area.. something like 80p extra an hour... i like free money :smile:

Reply 17

rottcodd

3

I worked at Waterstones for the majority of my degree - the only time they are ever snobby is when looking at your CV. Don't fill it with crap, and make sure you check for typos. I used to screen CVs when I worked there and at least half of them had obvious mistakes in them. There is also no point in applying if you don't have at least a passing interest in books (unless you're applying for xmas temp job or something). Most interviews involve a bit of a chat about books at some point, so if you go in there and talk about Dan Brown then it will show you lack imagination. The reason why some people don't even get interviews is because all vacancies end up getting absolutely loads of applications. I worked in a store which was less than average on the busy scale, and we would often get 50 + CV's handed in for just one position.

For the covering letter, you should keep it short and sweet - Introduce yourself by saying at what stage you are in your education, maybe drop in a line about any previous retail experience you have, and also be sure to add the hours and the days that you are available to work. Saying you would be willing to work bank holidays would get you brownie points as the contracts for that have recently changed and nobody wants to work on them.

hermaphrodite - No I haven't, but I used to phone gower street up pretty much every week trying to sort out book transfers. They got very pissed off about it as they were always busy :biggrin:

Reply 18

rottcodd

3

Hedgeman49

The staff have a reputation for being abrupt and snooty with anybody who isn't buying a book written in Latin or Greek.

Hmm...perhaps a slight exaggeration there. They don't even sell books written in Latin or Greek - only language learning books.

Reply 19

*pitseleh*

20

rottcodd

I worked at Waterstones for the majority of my degree - the only time they are ever snobby is when looking at your CV. Don't fill it with crap, and make sure you check for typos. I used to screen CVs when I worked there and at least half of them had obvious misakes in them. There is also no point in applying if you don't have at least a passing interest in books (unless you're applying for xmas temp job or something). Most interviews involve a bit of a chat about books at some point, so if you go in there and talk about Dan Brown then it will show you lack imagination. The reason why some people don't even get interviews is because all vacancies end up getting absolutely loads of applications. I worked in a store which was less than average on the busy scale, and we would often get 50 + CV's handed in for just one position.

For the covering letter, you should keep it short and sweet - Introduce yourself by saying at what stage you are in your education, maybe drop in a line about any previous retail experience you have, and also be sure to add the hours and the days that you are available to work. Saying you would be willing to work bank holidays would get you brownie points as the contracts for that have recently changed and nobody wants to work on them.

hermaphrodite - No I haven't, but I used to phone gower street up pretty much every week trying to sort out book transfers. They got very pissed off about it as they were always busy :biggrin:

I'm sorry to do this, but I really couldn't resist because it was just such a timely typo! :laugh:

A CV for applying for a job at Waterstones.

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