Work Hard and Study Hard said:
MissHolly said:
Work Hard and Study Hard said:
The best advice I can give you is to marry one of the bachelor neighbor boys who farm and ranch. Either that or camp out at a farm and offer to work for free for a few months, if you work out then you might get hired, if you don't then you might have to find a new occupation.
... And another thing if I had some bachlor rancher liveing next door to me, id marry him in a minute, lol. But like I said this is south.Cali. we dont have that here.
............If I were to turn in letters of recomendations to different ranches, farms,
Well if you plan on finding this job in So Calif then good luck. I'm not trying to be an ash but if:
1. You live in So Cal
2. You are female
3. You are 5'1"
4. You have no experience
You have your work cut out for you, marry into it and learn. But marrying a farmer rancher is a whole nother bag of worms if you don't know what the hell your getting into. By the way being 5 foot one and female are the last things that will keep you from getting a ranch job. Most people don't want to or don't have the time to teach, but if you'd see some of the "Ranch" ready cowboys that come looking for work we might be better off hiring a newbie.
MissHolly
I am not to sure I would be overly impressed if you walked up and handed me papers. That may be good for some place like a dude ranch but do not think most ranchers would spend a lot of thought on it.
I would think you would be better to consider moving to an area that you like AND has the possibility of a job you are looking for. Read the help wanted ads in papers that cater to ranchers. Consider getting a job, possibly even a grocery store job or probably better, a job in a farm supply store or some place ranchers may be. Might even get lucky and meet that available cowboy. If you get that job, do it well and be friendly to the local people. Talk to them and possibly, they will know some one who knows someone who is looking for help..That tough ole cowboy, who will not take time to read your résumé, would probably be lots more apt to consider hiring you if he/she knew you a little. People see you working hard, and doing a good job and they will notice. Tell them how great you are, and it will go in one ear and out the other. Especially in a small town, word gets around, and if the right person hears you are looking to get a job doing what he needs done, you may find that job.
Sometimes, being the right place at the right time has everything to do with getting a job. Even if that ole cowboy thinks you would be a great hand, he won't hire you if he isn't looking for help at the time. Also, if someone more qualified comes along by the time he does need help, you loose out again. Life sucks sometimes.
My sister in law got a job working for a vet simply because she asked what it took to get a vet tech job as she was having her cat checked out.
. If you were working a 40 hr week, you would have time to hang up ad to do some day work on days off. Are you a good cook? some ranches hire a cook for the hired help and it would be possible to get a little experience helping out on the side.
Judith gave some good advice, as did Work Hard Study hard. Take that title to heart and live it and you will go far. As said before, being female and 5ft 1 is not the major problem with getting a ranch job. The problem is lack of experience, which is no different than getting any job. Old catch 22 which is tough to get by.
There are several gals around this part of the country that are just as good of a hand as any of the guys. Some of them grew up on a ranch, but several ranch wives came from town with no or little experience and you see them out feeding livestock or making hay or doing a great job wrestling calves at the brandings and having fun doing it. Had a petite gal work here for a few years and it worked out well till she went and got married and moved to town and started her own business. She got started here because her brother had an add wanting a summer job. We hired him for the summer. He took off on a church trip and when he came back, it was not to long till school started. He did not have a driver's license yet so she brought him to the ranch and worked in the hay field until school started and he needed a ride home. I think we ended up hiring her full time after that.
Where there is a will, there is a way. Just remember, most ranchers don't have near as much money as some people think. Money isn't everything but some people seem to think so. Don't forget that often the room and possibly board is provided so the pay may be lots better than it seems up front. Have lost good hired hands because their wife didn't like living out in the sticks. Make sure that is not a problem for you.
I guess I am just rambling along but some points to consider even if most of it is worthless advise.