I Should Probably Be More Grateful

[geekslave]

I got a new job for the holidays. It's at Big Lots - another cashiering position. I wasn't really looking for the job. I think I'd applied there before, but hadn't recently. But Greg and Jean were there one night and, apparently, Greg and one of the managers got to talking and he mentioned I was looking for work. When he got home he gave me an

Comments

[dieastra]

Working in retail certainly isn't easy and especially around the holidays. I don't know why people always appear to be so stressed and might even yell at the cashier. I always make sure to smile and say thank you. It does not take much.

Last year I had invited a friend to my New Year's Eve party, and in the morning we realized we needed one ingredient for our meal. Of course there were long lines in the supermarket, from one end to the other - but I did not hear one angry word. Everyone was standing patiently in line, chatting with the people around them, laughing, having fun. It took us half an hour to reach the cashier, but it was not boring at all. It was an incredible experience.

[geekslave]

People get stressed around the holidays and take it out on a lot of people - including cashiers. It sucks.

Wow, that sounds like an interesting experience. I can't imagine something like that happening - without a few people complaining - at any of the stores I've worked at.

Stacey

[dunderklumpen]

On the one hand I know exactly what you mean because I work retail/customer service and sometimes it sucks. But although I don't like the job most of the times I would never think about customers as roaches. I mean... they come in waves, that's true.

I think one thing I would have an obstacle with - and which is so much part of the culture in America - is the superficial niceness. All the "hi, how are you today"-thing with the over the top smiles. You can be polite and friendly without being obnoxious. But I guess you would find retail workers here rude in comparison.

So, endure it, take the money and hope for the best.

[geekslave]

I don't actually think of the customers as roaches. It's just when I thought of how it felt like they were coming out of nowhere that was the first comparison that came to me.

I was talking to someone on my f-list from Germany, I think it was last year, and she mentioned how annoyed she got by a cashier asking her how her day was. I was surprised by that. It seemed like a fairly innocuous question, but the way she explained it, it was just a cultural difference.

I don't have a problem with the smiling and asking people how they are, but that's pretty much the extent of my "conversation" with customers, so I'd probably be more comfortable with how it is over there, without the forced politeness.

I'm definitely hoping for the best. :)

Stacey

[eiffels]

Working in retail is definitely difficult during the holidays. I remember when I worked at a clothing store for a year, it was always super stressful and at times I thought I was going to go crazy haha.

But I definitely think it'd be good considering you do need the money for the wedding. I hope it all works out for you! *hugs*

[geekslave]

*hugs* Glad you survived it. :)

Thanks.

Stacey

[digthewriter]

Retail is the worst and I have so much respect for people who do it. I totally know what you mean by inconsistent rules, I used to go through that when I worked at the mall. Sometimes I'd get a break, sometimes it was like pulling teeth!

I hope you get some experience out of it and move on to bigger and better things.

Seriously, though, if no one is around, why the F do you have to be "on."

[geekslave]

Thanks. I already have a lot of experience, which is why I keep getting these retail jobs. But, even if this job doesn't last, I do need another job to put on applications so it doesn't look like I've been doing nothing for 4 years.

Stacey

[digthewriter]

Yeah. def.

[geekslave]

Well, I got the job at the end of November, and I assume that most seasonal workers don't work for much longer than a month or two.

Thanks, I hope so, too.

Stacey