That's what I thought until applying to all those places you list. All the applications are done on the internet now. At Home Depot, all the apps go to HR in Atlanta, and they send to the stores the apps they feel will work the best. Getting face time with management won''t do you any good there. Costco is the same, but I was initially offered an interview to fold clothes from meeting one of the managers. That offer went away later. Sam's Club was on the list right after that. No manager would come to the service desk to speak with me, as I was told through the person working the desk they were going to be starting layoffs on 12/26. WalMart did pretty much the same thing, but face to face at least.With due respect and sympathy for your friend, I am certain he should be able to find something in this economy to pay the bills. It might not be flying, but Home Depot, Lowes, CostCo, etc, offer decent managerial track entry level positions. And not just those places, there are plenty of jobs, it just depends on how hard you want to work.
Here's my favorite. I applied for a CSR job with Signature in HSV. I've flown aircraft based there for years before getting on with the airlines / NJA. I know most of the people working in there. One of the managers told me they'd ask the HR people in Orlando to pull my app and to expect a call. I got one about a week later and was asked to take an online eval within 48 hours. The morning after taking it, I got an email saying I wouldn't get an interview as they had chosen candidates "more qualified". Calls to the local manager have gone unreturned, with his voicemail stating he's in the office all week.
On that note, for those of you who can, make Signature a minimum uplift / fuel around FBO. Apparently a pilot is good enough to buy gas from them, but not qualified to work the desk. Might just have to post this on the corporate forum as well.
Back to the original topic.... Fischman is dead nuts accurate on his statement.