Thanksgiving as Day to Shop Meets Rejection

[otto]

Jingle Bells on November 16 with its boxing day sales ... one sales day to the next.

 

[otto]

If a college graduate cannot find a job, it means one of two things:

1. the economy was in a down turn, or
2. the eceonomy was fine but the college grad was towards the bottom of the class.

 

[oh_gal]

If a college graduate cannot find a job, it means one of two things:

1. the economy was in a down turn, or
2. the eceonomy was fine but the college grad was towards the bottom of the class.

There are ALWAYS jobs at temp. agencies, regardless of the economy. You may not like the job, but there are jobs.

Many companies use temp. agencies to make up a lot of their workforce. The company my son worked for was 90% staffed through temp. agencies. Why? A few reasons. Temps don't get benefits, which are costly (although, over time, they do get benefits from the temp agency itself, if they are there long enough); secondly, hiring someone as a temp first gives the employer a chance to really see if they'll work out before investing the time, energy and money into them. If someone just isn't working out for whatever reason, it is much harder to get rid of them once they're hired, than it is to get rid of them if they're just a temp.

I worked in HR for a company that has offices world-wide and, at the branch I was at, employed over 400 people. We used temp agencies all the time.

 

[Truthwillsetufree]

When I was just out of college, I worked a one-clerk convenience store every holiday. I didn't mind because I needed the money and there was no other place for people to buy milk and forgotten items to make a holiday meal. We weren't crushed with customers, and my family adjusted the celebration at home to fit my schedule.

However, other than bare necessities, I never shop on holidays or the day after. There is nothing I need so much that I have to brave the cold and crazy people who make such shopping a terrible experience.

As for my Christmas shopping? I was finished by last January, taking advantage of the post-holiday sales and clearance. I'm ready to start wrapping and shipping.

BBM - Smart, smart, smart. Someday I hope to be this efficient. I'm jealous!

 

[angelmom]

I think Mr. Hardwick needs to find another line of work. Retail sales may not be his thing.

Note to the furture Mrs. Hardwick: You're going to have your hands full with this one once you're married...he's already balking at going to work -- and he only works part time.

Ditto. And he'll never survive having a new baby if he has to sleep all day on Thanksgiving so he can work that night. It's not like he works the night shift every night...how many times during his college career did he go to class after an all-nighter, either studying or partying?

 

[davehead21]

I am really having a hard time believing that a college graduate can only find a part-time job at Target.

My son was a college graduate last year. Between graduating from college and waiting to be called up to active duty, he needed a job (even though he'd already been commissioned into the military -- signed the contract, everything..they don't pay you while you're waiting to be called up to duty....and because they had so many graduates from the Academy, they needed to place them, first). He went to a temporary agency and worked for a local manufacturer in their Quality dept. making $10.50 an hour.
He didn't really like the job, but he did what he needed to do.
I don't think we've been told the whole story here. Perhaps he has some other obligations/limitations/considerations that keep him from seeking full-time employment, and perhaps Target is the best "fit" for him right now.

Retail sales is probably one of the most thankless jobs out there. Long, sporadic hours, low pay, little thanks. It's not for everyone.

As for it being an "emergency"...for those of you who don't need to save the money that sales like this get you, God bless you! I'm very happy for you! Unfortunately, some people are pinching pennies, and this is one way to do it. Because my children have no living grandparents, and my extended family is not close, I am all my kids have, in terms of gifts -- I am Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Joan and Uncle Bob, and Santa, and I really need to save every penny I can. Some of the deals on Black Friday allow me to do that, and you have to admit, that you're not going to find Nintendo DS games for $5 or $10 each any other time of the year, unless they're being discontinued.
Yeah, I know it's not all about the gifts, and I know there's no Santa. But when you're 4 and 6 and all you see are toy commercials on TV this time of year, it's a different story.

I don't buy my kids a lot of gifts -- I don't know what other families do, but my kids will be getting 3 gifts each...one of them just happens to be a Nintendo DSi-XL...which is costly.

BBM

Really? I know a lot of college graduates who cannot find jobs. In some areas, places like Target won't even hire them because they know they will just work there until they find a better job. They're "too qualified." Entry level jobs in the area where they want to work mostly want someone who is experienced, so they're "under-qualified" for these jobs. And it's the sad truth in some areas, there are no temp jobs to be had.

I obviously don't know this guy but maybe working part-time at Target is what he needs to do right now. He did mention in the interview that he had worked at Target while he was in college, so he may be making "okay" money. I really don't know and I'm sure we don't know the full story.

I get what you're saying about some people needing to pinch their pennies, especially this time of year....I think most people watch their money this time of the year. But does it really make a difference if you buy Black Friday sales at 5:00 AM instead of 10:00 PM or 12:00 AM? It may personally make a difference to you and other people because it's easier to be sneaky when buying for kids. But having to work holidays to accommodate other people's wants when it comes to shopping sucks for the person working at Target/Walmart/Macy's/etc....no matter what the reason is that he/she is working there. :twocents:

Please thank your son for his service for me (and I'm sure for everyone else here). I have the utmost respect for our military members. They truly have the MOST thankless job.

 

[oh_gal]

BBM

Really? I know a lot of college graduates who cannot find jobs. In some areas, places like Target won't even hire them because they know they will just work there until they find a better job. They're "too qualified." Entry level jobs in the area where they want to work mostly want someone who is experienced, so they're "under-qualified" for these jobs. And it's the sad truth in some areas, there are no temp jobs to be had.

I obviously don't know this guy but maybe working part-time at Target is what he needs to do right now. He did mention in the interview that he had worked at Target while he was in college, so he may be making "okay" money. I really don't know and I'm sure we don't know the full story.

I get what you're saying about some people needing to pinch their pennies, especially this time of year....I think most people watch their money this time of the year. But does it really make a difference if you buy Black Friday sales at 5:00 AM instead of 10:00 PM or 12:00 AM? It may personally make a difference to you and other people because it's easier to be sneaky when buying for kids. But having to work holidays to accommodate other people's wants when it comes to shopping sucks for the person working at Target/Walmart/Macy's/etc....no matter what the reason is that he/she is working there. :twocents:

Please thank your son for his service for me (and I'm sure for everyone else here). I have the utmost respect for our military members. They truly have the MOST thankless job.

(above bbm)
That's where temp work comes in handy. You can be honest with the temp agency and let them know that this is just work to tide you over. It's kind of a win-win, unless the position you're in is temp-to-perm, having people come and go is part of the territory, and is pretty well tolerated by most companies who utilize a temp agency. When my son took his job, they knew that he would only be there for 6 months..they were glad to have him, and they were sorry to see him go, but they knew from the get-go that that was the situation.

If you're a professional looking for a professional job, then perhaps a head-hunter or search firm is the way to go...but this guy works at Target. He's not making $50,000+ a year, which is why I mentioned that he (or anyone) could find work through a temp agency.

Whether they open their doors at 10 pm Thanksgiving or 5 am Friday, you're right, it's the same thing, and really, just a matter of convenience for me. I'd rather go at midnight than 5 am.

I really don't like having school supplies for sale in June; Halloween items for sale in right after Labor Day; Thanksgiving items BEFORE Halloween (as they were this year); etc., either, but you just have to go with the flow sometimes. Life is too short. It just cracks me up that some people who would be so offended by this (having a holiday sale on Thanksgiving night, well after everyone's been fed, the last dish has been washed, everyone's gone home) but think absolutely nothing of having their homes all decked out with CHRISTMAS music and decorations during that same Thanksgiving dinner. I guess it's ok to rush Christmas if you do it according to what you like, or don't.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Locally, Meijer stores will remain open for Thanksgiving this year. They used to close for the day so that employees could spend the day with family but usually reopened at 7:00PM.

I have never shopped on Black Friday or any day during Thanksgiving weekend, for that matter.

 

[Fairy1]

Why not extend Black Friday into Saturday? Opening on Thanksgiving night, just a few hours earlier, isn't going to add enough to the bottom line to make a difference. It's not going to turn the economy around and it may very well cause a backlash that results in exactly the opposite of what the retailers intend to accomplish.

OTOH, I would bet many folks working in retail right now would welcome the opportunity to earn double or triple time by working on Thanksgiving.

I live in Las Vegas, where folks who work in the gaming industry expect to work holidays. It's a 24/7/365 city and there is plenty to do on any holiday - including shopping!

 

[Nefriahaia]

I guess some of our local Dollar Tree's are going to be open on Thanksgiving. I kind of can't imagine what anyone would need to go in one of those on a holiday, but what do I know? :waitasec:

 

[Walker]

Employer: Why not force work on Holidays & wreck Thanksgiving with midnight opening shifts? It's just a day on a calendar.

Employee: My supervisor "volunteered" me to work at midnight. Maybe it is just another day. Sure feels like it.

Retailer: Get out and buy gifts. Celebrate!

Consumer: Why bother? I'm tired from work. It's just like another day.

Vicious circle: Eventually, the employer's greed will lead to his own self-destruction.

Not only should Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving be off limits for retailers and other non-essential businesses to require work, but we need our Sundays back, too.

If every family could count on Sundays to get together, we would have a stronger and happier society.

Plus, political organizing would be easier, since citizens could attend meetings & events on Sunday evening.

The real reason that the government has moved to deprive workers of regular free time is that they don't want us to have any real say over any of the current issues. If we had more time available to participate in our community, we could more easily fight unemployment, the unnecessary and exorbitant wars, fiscal irresponsibility and other problems which plague our lives.

The Sunday & Holiday shoppers would just wait until a weekday; no difference would result to the bottom line at all. The wearisome hours are basically just a waste.

One reason middle-class employees are paid poorly relative to their efforts is that they are not active politically. Why do so many citizens fail to participate? Because they have no time, and they are exhausted from their job(s). Why no time? Because they are not politically active, and therefore they are powerless to assert their rights. We need to break this vicious and self-destructive circle.

 

[Dark Knight]

I will be working at my retail job on Thanksgiving from 11am-7pm. I will get time and a half pay, so after being unemployed for over 2 years, I will appreciate that extra money very much, as money remains tight (retails does not pay well.) That being said, more places should be closed for Thanksgiving for those employees who do wish to celebrate, I feel.

 

[Fairy1]

I will be working at my retail job on Thanksgiving from 11am-7pm. I will get time and a half pay, so after being unemployed for over 2 years, I will appreciate that extra money very much, as money remains tight (retails does not pay well.) That being said, more places should be closed for Thanksgiving for those employees who do wish to celebrate, I feel.

You could still make dinner at my house getting off at 7 PM! We eat at regular dinner time. Then we play cards for hours!

 

[Tuffy]

Ugh! I love Thanksgiving! It's a great holiday that centers on a big feast with family/friends, and is all about being thankful for all that is good in our lives. There is no pressure of gift buying and wrapping. IMO, it's just about getting together with those we care about.

I feel a bit like it gets trampled on by the Christmas holiday a little more each year. This year it's being suggested that we cut into Thanksgiving even more by starting preparations for Christmas during Thanksgiving? Screw that!

I don't even shop the day after Thanksgiving. It's usually the day for breaking out Christmas decorations at my house. Putting up the tree, lights, etc. while eating leftovers from the day before. Oh yeah, and you have to have pumpkin pie for breakfast!