I've been working in retail for a little over a year now. At just 18 years old, I never realized the amount of stress, responsibility and patience it takes to work in a retail-minded job. From training new hires, learning the register's system and return policies, dealing with irate customers, retail can make you feel like you're on the verge of a mental breakdown. Here are the six things working in retail taught me:
1. How you present yourself is super important
This sounds so cliche, but it's so true. So far, I've had two retail jobs and both managers have said that the way I carried myself and talked to them was what made them hire me. I wasn't shy and timid, but I wasn't confrontational either. I was confident in my abilities and they saw the potential hiring me could do for their company. Within just 5 months of working at my current job, I got promoted to Keyholder. Score one for being prepared.
2. Communication is key
Just like in your friendships and relationships, communication with your coworkers and employers are so vital to maintaining a happy work environment. With my last manager, I never felt like I could ask questions or simply even hold a conversation with her. It wore me down a lot and I would always feel like I wasn't meeting the needs and expectations of the company. TALK to your managers. Communicate what you are feeling and always ask for help if you don't understand how to do something. My current job is so amazing at listening to each other, it honestly feels like one big family.
3. Your coworkers become your second family
Sure, every family has their disagreements, and with your coworkers there will be a lot of those, but at the end of the day, no one understands your struggle better than them! You spend 8 hours a day with these people. It takes no time to learn their quirks, facial expressions, and when you know they've had enough. I can't tell you the amount of silent conversations I've had with my coworkers just by using our facial expressions! At the end of the day, these people become your family. Dysfunctional, slightly insane, but nonetheless, your family.
4. Patience is in fact, a virtue
"So I can't combine *this promotion* with *this promotion?"
"Where is *another store not even in our mall* located?"
"I have the twenty-eight cents!!!" *searches through purse for the next 20 minutes*
"Why is my total so high?" "Well, ma'am, you bought fifty dollars worth of chapstick, so I don't really know what to tell you."*
"This is ridiculous, get me your manager!"
"Ma'am, I am the manager."
"No, I cannot offer you a 20% off coupon your cousin's daughter's boyfriend's dog found online."
....*Actual conversation I've had the pleasure of having. Enough said.
5. Holiday season = death
I love Christmas-time just as much as the next person, but the holiday season gets a little less jolly, and a lot more annoying when half of your Christmas spirit gets sent spiraling down the drain as hundreds of cranky Grinches come into your store complaining about things beyond your control. Not only do we get to endure Christmas music on repeat for hours on end, but we also get blessed with extended holiday hours! Which means I will just move into my store for the month of December and continue to not have a life until January 2nd. See ya'll next year!
6. Do. Not. Call. Out.
This sucks for everyone involved, but unless you're absolutely dying of sickness, please just try to make it for your shift. The managers get put into a tricky situation and then your shift becomes someone else's responsibility. Pressure adds up for everyone, especially with holiday season coming right around the corner. With that being said, don't just not show up for a shift either. Not only does that affect how your managers view you, but when it's time to get another job, your manager might not be so eager to give a glowing recommendation.
These are just a few of the things I've learned throughout my experience with retail, and I'm sure the longer I stay in this industry, the more I'll keep learning. To all my fellow retail workers, good luck this holiday season, and just know I'm here for you.
