Amanda

...and ended up drooling over some of the plecos.
They have a Gold Nugget pleco for $25, and a Royal Pleco for $23. I wish I could get the Gold Nugget...but I have ICH in my large tank right now.
They also had some gorgeous cichlids, both NW & A. Unfortunatly, they also stock DYED fish - parrots, glass fish, black skirt tetras.
ALSO, the owners son was talking to me, and told me to come back (today) because his mother was looking to hire some help. I was excited, you know - getting paid to do what you love. So I went back, and the manager said she has to think about it b/c I'm a girl, and I won't be able to life large tanks for customers. I mean HELLO, her, me, and the customer? I think that we could life an empty tank. But...it's her decision. I was very disappointed that she was having second thoughts b/c I was a girl. Her son was impressed by how much knowledge I had on fishkeeping - and I have you guys to thank!

sirdarksol

Wow, that's kind of sad, that they were more concerned about how much you can lift than about how you'll care for the fish.
Thinking about it, if the customer can't get the aquarium to the car, then how is the customer going to get it out of the car and into the house?

Amanda

ROFL, that's EXACTLY what I said to my mother when I left the store!

hkirchen

What happened to equal opportunity? I have worked in retail for over 15 years, and I have never questioned that a girl could not lift more simply because she is a girl. On the contrary, I usually could and did lift more than my male counterparts.

I would think that your extraordinary knowledge about the hobby would out weigh the physical dificulties associated with maybe 10% of the wares that the fish store must sell!

I would argue that point with her, but I know you want the job. Maybe you could try diplomacy? Either way, she would lose out on a knowledgeable employee that will probably bring in more clients because of her knowledge.

Good luck to you!

Amanda

Thanks, plus I have a few friends with tanks that would shop there if I worked there.

sirdarksol

You may want to send a letter, very politely written, to the shop, stating who you are and why you feel you are qualified to work there. Say that you understand the concerns that you wouldn't be able to lift the heavier aquaria unaided, but that you still would be able to help the customers, which would be more aid than they would necessarily have at home.

Aside from all that, just because you're a girl, doesn't mean you can't lift a lot. Even if you're 5' tall and weigh under a hundred pounds, you likely can carry more than I could before I took up martial arts .
Oops...

Amanda

I have to bring back the application tomorrow (if the bad weather doesn't hit) and I may be able to talk to the owner again. I told her that I used to work at a humane society with a crematory on the premesis - that was heavy lifting. But I don't think she believed me, maybe she can't picture me working somewhere like that?

CapeKateskid

most LFS neeeeeeed smart people to work there who know what they are talking about. i hope for the sake of the fish u get hired!!

Amanda

Yeah, the owner tells me, "You have a lot more knowledge than most people who apply here, most have never even kept a fish before. But I need to think about the heavy lifting issue."
Now, she's smaller & older than me. I think I could be of SOME use.

CHoffman

Ohhhh...That's not ok...Me and my husband moved the 125 gallon by ourselves..and it still had gravel and a little bit of water that we couldn't get drained out in it lol...Me on one end him on the other..Girls are strong too...You'd be a great asset to that LFS...but then again they are not always looking for the "truth"..I hope you get it...My fingers are crossed for you.

Amanda

Thanks everyone!

CapeKateskid

HAHAHAHAHAA!!! oh my gosh!! smaller and older!!

MeGustaUnaPez926

Well she has to have someone now who could lift tanks, or she wouldn't sell any. I think she should hire you for the knowledge alone, get someone who already works there to pick stuff up. You should try and get her son to talk to her.

Amanda

Well, I would only be working Sundays. And it would just be me & her. But, I mean, I liften my 55 gal. tank into my house. I hope she gives me at least a chance.

MeGustaUnaPez926

Tell her that!

agabr123

i think a LOT of fishlore members who knew that you worked in a certain LFS and lived near there would love to come shop there just to talk to you and get advice and KNOW that someone knowledgeable was working there

sirdarksol

Totally! I was just going to say that you should explain just how much you can lift. If you moved a 55g tank, you moved more than a lot of people can move. Frankly, anything larger than a 30g should have a person on either end, anyway, just because they're so large.

Butterfly

Maybe since her son is so enthused to have you working there she is worried that he will be busy flirting with you instead you working. Be very professional with her and business like when you speak with her. Maybe a resume with the application listing past jobs especially the ones related to animals. Include a part about your hobby's also.
Most jobs do have lifting requirements.
Just some thoughts.
carol

Amanda

I'm filling out the application now
I'm including that I do have 4 running tanks, and that I've been working with animals my whole life. Not to mention that I'm going to school for animal behavior.

Butterfly

Sounds good
Carol

MeGustaUnaPez926

Keep us posted!

Mike19

Good Luck, hopefully you get the job, are their any employee benefits discounted fish or you haven't gotten that comfortable yet haha.

FL CommunityFans

Most jobs I had when I was younger usually required a sign off that you could lift a certain amount of weight. I can definitely see where the owner is coming from regarding transporting tanks. When many folks buy large tanks, they usually have help at home or on the way once they have purchased the tank. These are the things I've seen at the primary mom n pop lfs i frequent. if you're unable to do heavy tank lifting(which obviously you are) then I definitely understand being cautious about it.

I think someone else mentioned, but I would re-suggest it, having her give you a weight test to see how/if you can handle the tank weight. Equal rights is there for everyone but if you can't fill job requirements that's just the luck of the draw. I ran in to that when I was younger and wanted to work on the beach loading up wave runners after the shop was closed in the evening. Didn't get it that year because I just couldn't handle the weight of those watercraft. The following year when I applied though, I had no troubles with it as I had gotten taller/stronger etc. As long as she puts you through the app process like she does everyone else then it's a all good

edit:

p.s.: good luck!

Martinismommy

Oh that would just tick me off!!!!!!!! If that IS her concern maybe she needs to start you out at the counter and have you work your way up to lifting the tanks....Most women I know are capable of lifting a tank...Heck, I can and I'm in a wheelchair right now with a broken leg! lol