Along with going to school this year, I took on a part time job at a grocery store nearby. I'm still trying to work out whether this job was a mistake or not. Because I'm working in retail, I'm getting a lot more stress in my life than college gives me. To make things worse, sometimes my boss doesn't exactly pay attention to my availability. But I have learned some great and not so great things from working at Giant Eagle...so here are my top picks:
1. Patience. Seems like the last thing I'd learn in an environment like that. But when you have a customer cussing you out over the phone because they couldn't get an order placed on time. Sometimes, all you can do is give them the number of a close store and get off the phone.
2. I can't do everything. There's only so much I can do, and at times, I have to admit it. Which is always hard.
3. I don't know everything. This is important, especially since customers come up to me and ask where things are all the time. I point them in the direction they should be going to the best of my ability.
4. I will not always like my coworkers. Enough said.
5. I will not always hate my coworkers. There will always be the coworkers I enjoy a closing shift with.
6. Closing shifts aren't that bad. In fact, they're a little fun. Especially since I can go home early after I'm done with my closing cleaning.
7. Parenting skills. There's something to be said for customers acting as if they are children at times.
8. Knowledge of how a company works. Seriously, the amount of times I've said "HR" in my life since I started working for Giant Eagle.
9. Unions. Yep. Had to join one, have to pay the dues. It benefits me in the long run.
10. I like sleeping. That's literally all I do on my off days if I'm not in class or doing something else.
11. The transfer process isn't as complicated as it seems. You want to transfer to another store? Fill out this form.
12. Sometimes, I really enjoy this job... I get to make some people happy. They have someone who will listen to them.
