Bummed about not getting the paid internship or competitive research position? Still unsure about your summer plans? Don’t worry. Maybe you should consider working in retail for a summer! I started planning for my summer really late last year and ended up getting a Sales Associate position at a clothing store after weeks of job hunting. Besides getting a nice discount, the skills that I gained and the people I met made it a memorable experience. It was definitely a great way to spend the summer after my freshman year of college.
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1. Communication
This is pretty obvious, but communication is important in all fields of work. If your goals are to be a doctor, lawyer, entrepreneur, engineer and so forth then exceptional communication skills will be one of the top traits the employer wants you to have. Working in retail teaches you how to communicate effectively with your boss, co-workers and customers. It also helps you become a better team player.
2. Responsibility And Professionalism
When you work for a store, or any company in general, you ultimately represent the brand. What you do during almost every second of your shift reflects the company. Sometimes you are the only representation and impression of the company that the customer will ever have, so it is crucial for employees to be disciplined and responsible at all times. Though working retail may appear to be less "professional" than working in an office or cubicle, it is just as important to practice professionalism and responsibility.
3. Patience
The customer is always right! I have always considered myself a pretty patient person but working in retail really puts your patience to the test. Sometimes you will be put into irritating situations, but you have to stay calm, listen to the customer, not get frustrated and endure.
4. Work Ethic
Even when you are really tired and have been standing for five hours straight without any breaks, you still have to put on a smile, be cheerful and act like you just started the shift. Consistency with service is key and it really helps you build a strong work ethic because you will be tested to perform your best at all times. This is a quotation from my previous manager that I found motivational:
“We become what we want to be by consistently being what we want to become each day!”
5. Time Management
On weekends and holidays, especially during summer, the traffic in stores can be so high that you literally have to handle five things at once. At busy times like these, you learn how to manage your time, prioritize and complete all the tasks that need to be done. Sometimes you will be talking to a customer, folding, organizing and listening to what your co-workers are saying on the headset all at the same time—so you gain some killer multitasking skills.
6. Confidence And Boldness
When you work in retail, you will have to interact with hundreds of people during a shift. Part of the job is to greet every customer that walks into the door. This means being bold and getting out of your comfort zone. When I first started working, I was hesitant to greet the customers because I did not want to be annoying or intrusive. But after time it grew more natural to me, and now I am not afraid to be the first person to introduce myself to people or initiate a conversation with a stranger.
7. Problem-Solving Skills
You will learn how to deal with all sorts of difficult situations when working in retail, and you have to learn to think of solutions to problems quickly—not only to ensure customer satisfaction but also to make sure you meet your goals for the day. You will definitely become a better problem-solver after dealing with different types of conflicts with customers or co-workers.
8. Interpersonal Skills
You have to be good at reading people to understand what they truly need and how to interact with them better. Working in retail helps you become a better people person. It improves your connections with others, and it also keeps you out of awkward situations caused by miscommunication. By interacting with so many different people, you learn how to observe people without judgement and treat everyone equally.
9. Selflessness
You learn how to truly go out of your way to help people and ensure customer satisfaction, not just for your own benefit of making your boss happy but really to make the customer's day. Helping a customer and seeing them leave happily with their purchase is one of the best feelings you have while working in retail.
10. Respect And Appreciation
When you experience both sides of the retail experience, it really makes you reflect on how you treat retail workers when you shop. I definitely find myself being more courteous and trying to keep things organized when I browse around nowadays. I also try be as polite as possible to the workers because I know how tiring it can be to have a five plus hour shift without sitting down or eating.
Overall, working in retail will give you life experiences and skills that you may not be able to gain elsewhere. Did I mention all the new people you will encounter and perspectives you may gain? If you have never worked retail before or if you never considered working retail as a possibility, you should think about it because the practical skills you gain and the overall experience could definitely be worth it.
