It would be nice if I had a steady job by the end of the week

April 24, 2013 5:45 PM

What are my options in Toronto for a steady entry-level job that I could start within a week? A line of work where they are always looking for new people and are willing to try you out without a lengthy application and interview process.
posted by GleepGlop to Work & Money (12 answers total)

The first thing that comes to mind is telemarketing.
posted by avidreader at 5:55 PM on April 24, 2013 [1 favorite]

Retail? Hospitality?
posted by mskyle at 6:06 PM on April 24, 2013

The street fundraisers are probably always hiring.
posted by doublesix at 6:09 PM on April 24, 2013

Delivery/pizza drivers, baristas/counter help at non-chain coffee shops. Sales/phone sales jobs. Door-to-door sales.

Try contacting Labor Ready in Toronto.
posted by averageamateur at 6:09 PM on April 24, 2013

Consider working as an Inbound Client/Customer Service Representative.
posted by livinglearning at 6:09 PM on April 24, 2013

Food service and low-end retail. Annual turnover at those places can exceed 100%.
posted by valkyryn at 6:12 PM on April 24, 2013 [1 favorite]

Busboy, trainee as a cook, fast food positions, hotel cleaning staff, retail positions if you can (or lie about) use 10-key, telemarketing, cashier work at small or corner markets, low-end grunt construction work.
posted by efalk at 6:39 PM on April 24, 2013

Nude modeling for figure drawing classes (ask the art departments of local universities).
posted by danceswithlight at 6:48 PM on April 24, 2013 [1 favorite]

Call Research House. They will hire you, if you're in a bind. The work sucks, but it's money.
posted by Miss T.Horn at 9:13 PM on April 24, 2013

I used to find short gigs through a temp agency when I was between contracts. I used an admin focused one, where I had to some data entry and typing tests and I ended up getting placed in places as temporary receptionists or filing clerks for anywhere from 2-8 weeks at a time.

I worked with OfficeTeam in Burlington, which is part of the Robert Half network - Robert Half appears to have a series of different agencies that place temps in a variety of different fields, accounting, IT, office work (www.roberthalf.ca). There are different offices in the GTA based on the skill set you are interested in.

If you have some basic office skills or even specialized skills and aren't looking for something permanent, temp work can be ideal. The agency will do the vetting and place you somewhere, provided you can get to the location. They may not have a placement available right away, but I think I got my first placement within a week or so after getting assessed.
posted by Cyrie at 9:25 AM on April 25, 2013 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Thanks for the suggestions! I will look into these.
posted by GleepGlop at 11:08 AM on April 25, 2013

If you can stand lawyers, try Kent Legal. I worked one day for a noxious bunch of screamers, but then ended up working for several weeks in a home office owned by a top lawyer, who was professional and polite, as well as for a local legal org. Found the agency more professional than the local Adecco branch, who I took general temping jobs through.
posted by mitschlag at 1:14 PM on April 26, 2013