Stay away from anything dealing with food service if you can. Dealing with people and their money is bad enough, let alone their food...

Ask for the manager, who probably won't be available (they're 'never' there), default to the 'person in charge of hiring.' Make sure to ask to fill out an application even if they're not hiring at the moment. Sometimes, stuff comes up.

Also, a lot of times it goes over better if you stop by in person. That always made the best impression on my old boss.

Is there an answering service type of place at all near you? There used to be one in a small town near me, and they were always looking for people, especially to work evenings/nights. Hm.. if you're within reasonable distance of a college, they sometimes have polling centers for research, community colleges and major universities alike.

Networking is good too. Sometimes having a friend who works someplace put in a good word for you is better than any resume or phone call you can make.

Put in applications wherever you can. And always take 2 copies so that you can do a "rough draft" and then a final one to actually hand in.

As for that nearby grocery store - try calling them, make sure they got it, find out if they've looked at it. Sometimes those things just get tossed aside. Following up is never a bad idea.

Good luck! It's tough searching this year.

(And btw- great Memorial Day post the other day. :) )

Everything Katherine said is a great idea. Also, look into Wal-Mart as an evening stocker. You don't have to deal with customers and you just put stuff on shelves. I'm pretty sure that they're always in need of help and they need stockers for just about shift. A little heavy lifting, but I've seen some pretty small women doing it, so, it can't be that bad. Good luck.

Depending on how much time you have, the best method of finding a job is just to let all those who know you know you're looking.

Back home the best jobs for the summer were working for the school district doing off-season cleaning and working as a crew boss for seed corn companies with detasseling crews. I got both of those jobs because people I knew knew I was looking for something.

Check local industries like chemical plants. Sometimes they'll hire people short-term because of all their employees going on vacations.

All good advice. I'll give you my two cents anyway. Don't assume that because the grocery store didn't call you back it means anything. A lot of places like that don't even bother looking at the applications until THEY get called. When I was first looking for a job I dropped about 40 or 50 apps all over the place and NOBODY CALLED. Ever. But when I finally called one guy back I was interviewed and hired within a couple days. Also, the Sicilian has a real good point. I worked at Meijer's (which is like Wal-Mart for those of you who have never been to the Midwest) stocking shelves on the graveyard shift. Since you seem to be a night owl like I used to be, something like that might be right up your alley. Nobody comes to buy groceries at 3 in the morning except stoners who've got the munchies, and they won't bother you.

And don't rule out fast food because of silly customers. That first job was at an A&W where I spent a year bussing tables and then another year slapping burgers together. Never had to deal with customers. Since then I've come to the conclusion that every American needs to work a crappy job in a restaurant at least once. Builds character.

Thanks for all your advice. I'll be sure to take it into consideration.