Link

 

Sorry if it's a bit small to read..

 

It took me 6 hours to write..

Edited February 11, 200916 yr by sunshine*

I presume this is a pet store?

 

Personally I would remove the small para about Perhaps you have a string of bird lovers.... and instead talk about your personal skills. You don'tneed to have a strong retail background, good catchwords are honest, dependable, mature, responsible, fast learner, etc. Also there is nothing wrong with mebtioning things you may have been involved in through school or your extra curricular activities such as whether you've been captain of a sports team or in your school SRC. Also mention computer literacy as many cash registers are computer based now

Good work... Some suggestions from an experienced application writer...

 

I'd also remove this part/re-word it: I only have personal experience with birds, I am hoping that will be enough. You can mention that you have experience with birds, but I wouldn't mention that you ONLY have experience with them... and you hope it's enough... Agree with MB suggestions. Using key words is a must. Also, go through the job advertisement... if they mention certain words, explain how you are 'that word'

 

eg. 'we need someone who is responsible and trustworthy'

 

...If I was applying for that job, I would write... ' During my work at ****** I have proven to be both responsible and very trustworthy. Not only have I worked on registers handling money, I was also given the duty of opening and closing the business on a regular basis...'

 

If you can include what they ask for, and give examples of how you have shown that in your previous work history, school years (if you're young) and/or personal life, it shows you have paid attention to what they want/need, and have thought about why you would be suitable...

 

It's also great to say things like... I believe I would be the best person for the job because... I would be an asset to your business because...

Honey good start, as the others have said there are a few things that I would change. You seem to put yourself down and remind them that others may have applied for the job.

 

here is a quick re write, something for you to think about

 

Dear Sir/Madam

 

I would like to apply for a position at (shop name). In the past few years I have become very familiar with your store as I go there frequently to purchase Budgerigars and other pet care products. My experience with animals, and in particular birds, will assist me in the day to day care of your animals.

 

For several years I have own aviaries and have experience in caring for birds. I have also been involved in the care and maintenance of a breeding flock. My retail experience has come from volunteering at opportunity shops and I know this has taught me how to deal with customers and has given me necessary sales skills that will be required of me while working for you.

 

I am willing and able to

 

X

X

X

X

X

X

 

I am seeking an opportunity to further build my career and take on new challenges. A position in your store would offer me both of these and hold strong personal and professional appeal as this is an area that I would like to continue to work in.

 

I look forward to hearing from you in regards to interview to discuss my skills further. I can be reach on mobile number XXXX or e-mail XXXXX

 

Thanks you for your time and consideration

 

Yours sincerely

 

XXX

thanks for the help I'm post the final result tomorrow after I hand it in.

If there are selection criteria given, you need to address the selection criteria. Employers are not always very good at giving selection criteria. If so, think about what the duties of the position might be and how you are able to carry those out.

 

They want you to look after the pets, but mainly to sell pets and products.

Your boss wants you to be kind and caring with the animals, but also make sales.

 

Think about how you will do that. You have to keep the customers happy, and coming back to buy products for their animals, give good advice on the animals and be generally helpful to people. It is a business so you need to make sales and give excellent customer service and be an all round top employee. Write that into it and be consistently positive about selling yourself. When you think about it, you will likely have far more knowledge about animals than you realise. If not, then research it ofcourse. You have all the resources in the world at your fingertips on the internet (don't believe everything though). You have to be confident and sure of yourself and reflect this in your application.

 

You need to find a win-win balance for everyone, and this is essential for good sales.

Find out what the customer needs and wants. Customers come to pet shops to look at the animals, what they are really looking for is an animal companion to love, or some advice on choosing the right pet or how to look after it, or maybe something else.

 

You have to keep the customers happy and help them make good decisions, in balance with sales. There is no use selling someone a puppy if they do not have space for it. You must take care of the customers needs, wants and be mindful of the requirements of the animal, and also make sales to ensure the business is successful so they can pay your wages.

 

Perhaps if a puppy is not suitable, maybe a pet budgie is? Or maybe a pair of pet budgies because they need company of their own kind - offer one for $30 or two for $50 to get higher value sales from each customer. More efficient to make one sale of $200 than 200 sales of $1.

Be prepared to have the flexibility to do package deals. You will learn this as you go, but you will need your boss to tell you, or to find out what the lower limits are so you don't encroach too much on profit margin.

 

Often people don't consider the lifespan of the animal they are purchasing, that they are responsible for the welfare of that animal for it's entire life. Selecting the right pet needs to take into consideration such things as housing, licencing if applicable, food, water, ongoing costs, care of the animal, potential problems etc. You will need to demonstrate your knowledge of this on a daily basis because customers will ask you questions. If you don't know the answer, find out. If you get an interview, the interviewer will likely ask you these questions. Prepare for interview by finding out about the company, position and duties of position, and how you are suited to the task.

 

Mention any skills, knowledge and experience relevant to the position, and any other activities that you do in the context that you are reliable and committed to excellence in all that you do.

 

You need to have passion for what you do, and happen to get paid for it.

 

Also consider pointing out that our lives are busier and people are opting for smaller residences now, so they are looking for smaller pets with lower maintenance, hence birds are a better choice for people living in apartments. So your experience with birds is a huge advantage since more customers are opting for talking budgies as pets.

 

If you have any experience training birds or other animals to do tricks or talk, tell them that also.

Edited February 11, 200916 yr by DrNat

Honey good start, as the others have said there are a few things that I would change. You seem to put yourself down and remind them that others may have applied for the job.

 

here is a quick re write, something for you to think about

 

Dear Sir/Madam

 

I would like to apply for a position at (shop name). In the past few years I have become very familiar with your store as I go there frequently to purchase Budgerigars and other pet care products. My experience with animals, and in particular birds, will assist me in the day to day care of your animals.

 

For several years I have own aviaries and have experience in caring for birds. I have also been involved in the care and maintenance of a breeding flock. My retail experience has come from volunteering at opportunity shops and I know this has taught me how to deal with customers and has given me necessary sales skills that will be required of me while working for you.

 

I am willing and able to

 

X

X

X

X

X

X

 

I am seeking an opportunity to further build my career and take on new challenges. A position in your store would offer me both of these and hold strong personal and professional appeal as this is an area that I would like to continue to work in.

 

I look forward to hearing from you in regards to interview to discuss my skills further. I can be reach on mobile number XXXX or e-mail XXXXX

 

Thanks you for your time and consideration

 

Yours sincerely

 

XXX

 

Gee AV that is a really good cover letter next time I want one I will ask you for help as I always get lost doing those letters If that's okay.

Just went for a interview today for a job at Hip Pocket safety wear. have my fingers XXXXX

More money more birds

dr nat is right and av her remake was good as it was still yours

darl i if i was you would actually hand it in in person to the owner of the shop have the nadasidy to tell him why your apliying and dont be afraid for him to get his back up as he may well be trying to see how you would react to a hostil persons additude

this man wants some one with strenth and the ability to cope under presher and a very heavy work load as you can apreciate as the poor chick their now is over worked and holds not only his responsabilitys but her own also

you will need to be reliable 100 persent and always on gard as the shop is quiet then packed with everyone needing you at once

and no one much has patiance that way lol

good luck and if you get knocked back try next month

it may just make the diffrents to your employment

GB, I went in there today and asked how if it was possible to see him in person. She said he had told her that he would be unavailable all week.. So I just gave it to her..

And AV, hope you don't mind, I handed in your rewrite with a few extra details added.. She said it was excellent.

She said she is going to try to get in contact with the owner on monday, so I should find out next week sometime..

good on you

that chick pretty cool so she will do what she says im sure but

still if you can pop in and show her how keen you are ask her questions of what he expects off her

good luck mate

Hey Sunshine, I went into the shop on Thursday and the girl there said the owner is trying to sell his business. She had someone looking through with an agent recently. So if you don't get a call back it might be because he found a buyer.

Yeah, me and my parnter were there when a some people came in to have a look.. I think she said today that they aren't interested..

lol Everytime I go in I asked questions Today we talked about how she has to do everything and that he needs a bit of a push to organise someone cos she really needs the help.. She hasn't got a day off till next saturday, so she will have worked something like 2 full weeks...

OHHHH pet store for sale... *wishes I had won more then $13 on the lotto last tuesday*

I might be able to raise a couple of hundred AV, do you think that might be enough between us

Cool maybe I might win Tatts tonight and move to Gippsland. that would be great I would be around all you guys.

Splats Pet Haven :budgiedance: