as a manager of a clothing retailer, here's a few things:

the first thing managers look for is open availability. you can't ask for saturday & sunday off. & you should be as flexible as you can during the weekdays. when putting the wage desired, always say Negotiable or Open.

you probably won't get paid very much with lack of experience in the clothing retail so if you really want to work there, you're going to have to expect minimum wage, or about .25/.50 more considering previous customer service experience. the discount is the perk basically.

make sure to highlight things you did at Carvel that can relate to PacSun in your "duties:" portion of the application.

basics: write your application in black ink. spell check. try to word things as professionally as possible. (maybe my city is retarded w/ that shit though.)

as far as the interview process, know the store. know what it sells. you probably are a huge consumer there, so try to highlight how you can help increase sales. we like adaptability, punctuality, people who are DEPENDABLE (this is key because some of our turn over rate are usually because of people who don't show up.) also a big thing with clothing retailers is loss prevention (that's our highest reason for turn over, employee theft). theft is big with us, give us some ideas on how we can help it, and answer the questions we ask regarding it correctly... you're usually a shoe in.

Thank you for your reply ! It really helps although I wish I should've asked around before I applied.

I already applied 2 & a half weeks ago. I called last Friday to see if they were still hiring but I didn't ask for the manager or give my name or anything, I was too nervous ! =/ They are still hiring so I have a chance ! ^^;
I only put Sunday & Monday through Thursday though, I put 4 hours for the weekday & 7 hours for Sunday. Although, I AM flexible & can work Saturdays & whatever days & hours after 3pm. I want to change my availability hours, I don't know what to do! call the manager and tell them my dilemma or apply again & then call a week after to see if they're still hiring ???
For the wage desired, I think I put $8.00, I'm not sure.
But I really want to change what I put on the application. =/
& I don't really have much references.

& what about a resume? is that necessary?

Well, hopefully maybe that store manager might be alittle more forgiving with your availability. but we would have already passed over your app with the saturdays thing.

i'm not really sure what NY is like as far as jobs, but we don't really look at resumes with our applications. we get them, & they're nice for reference but not necessary. NY might be different, i kind of picture it a resume kind of place.

you can always go IN to the store, & infact that's probably better - DURING THE WEEKDAYS ie: monday is the best because the store manager/hiring manager should always be working as they're usually a mandatory manager work day, before 5pm (we're really put off with people who come in during the weekends because it's too busy to deal with that stuff). introduce yourself, show your personality, give them your name say you applied & that the availability you put on the application has changed. explain that you're able to work more hours.

always deal with a manager on duty. never deal with an associate they rarely relay messages.

references are necessary but they're easy to fudge. i used my sister actually, because she has a different last name. however, if you don't have a family member that will lie in your favor ;P, just pick some people you have known for a long time. a lady you've babysat for... neighbors, parents friends, PREVIOUS COWORKERS (just make sure you left on good terms with them)


hope that helped

places keep applications on file for 6 months usually... if you don't hear back, reapply again soon. it can never hurt to be persistant. that's how i got my job. i applied 7 times

horrible. flashbacks. no. wont go back.

Tsanity, make sure you bring some good fucking lube when you start to work because yr gonna get fucked pretty hard.

That being said, I've heard nothing but ill things of Pac Sun.

i don't work there myself.

I don't mean to imply working for you would suck, mthrfckr. I just worked in retail (clothing and otherwise) for a number of years and pretty much hated all of it, managers, policies, etc. etc.

well retail is either your bag or it isn't. i've worked in retail far too long & it's wearing thin on me. like i work in a rich neighborhood, and for some reason, the teenagers decide that because they're loaded they can treat you like assholes. & i took it for a little while. but now i talk back and don't really give a fuck if someone has a horrible experience and tells 5 others like they threaten you with. but as a manager i realize that's the wrong impression to be giving, & i'm on my way outs anyway.

that being said, i really loved it for a number of years prior to whenever my attitude flipped. & i'm still looking to open my own clothing retail store (small business/independantly owned not a corporation) so, i guess it's still in me.

i just need a break.