It's not about what you do but rather HOW you go about getting the job. When you are a new hire on reserve, it's tough but as soon as you can hold a line, here's how I did it.

1.I would go to the interview (I worked in bars, ski shops, even taught defensive driving!) with a printed calender (calender create program-landscaped) and each day would have a big "F" or a "A" on it. "F" meant I was flying and was unavailable, and "A" of course, meant I was available. Tell them that you will be able to provide them with this on the 15th of every month for the following month.

2. Dress sharp. If your going to go stock shelves at Target, show up in Kahki's and for God's sake, bring a pen.

3. Create a resume. I can't begin to tell you how impressive it is when I owned my bar/rest and someone came in with a rez for a wait staff or bar gig.

4. If you've got your future employee on a fence, don't forget to cheese up that you come with a background check, you'll never screw up their company drug test. Despite the way we sometimes get treated, most of the public still hold Airline Pilot with some regard.

To answer your question directly, get a job doing something you've done before. If you are the silver spoon crowd and literally have never worked before, then it might be tough, but here are some things I've done, or have heard of in the past.

Home Depot, Grocery store, Target/Walmart Stocker(no smart *** comments from the snot nose crowd-I'm helping the guy out!) mobile phone store, car wash, FBO's (gas pumper) and the worst job on the planet, teaching defensive driving!

Hope this helps,

Stick