WWYD? :) Job Related

[yorkiegirl83]

So I had orientation at my new job today and I'm not sure how I feel about it.

For orientation we were all cramped in a SMALL room (5 people), I'm talking if when you would be filling out your forms you would be bumping into the people next to you.

The employee manual was all basically "what not to do's" and "you'll get in trouble if you do's". I've never worked for a department store before, only small boutiques for big companies like Victoria's Secret and Nine West but their orientation was heavily based on product knowledge, company information, and the less emphasized points were ones about things that will get you fired.. lol.

I guess I am starting to feel like I'd be just a number, and never get ahead at this job. Or if I did get ahead, I would be stuck at a low pay level indefinitely. They still haven't even told me what my pay rate is, but I heard others speaking of theirs and they were being paid minimum wage (7.15). So I'm assuming all seasonal/part timers start at that. Raises are only done once yearly. Walking around the store, all the employees look miserable.

I don't have a college degree ( I have one year of fashion merchandising under my belt and 3 years of assistant manager experience), but I feel like this job just will never work out in my favor. I feel confident in my experience level and think that I can do more than straighten racks and ring customers out. I really don't want to be somewhere just seasonally and I also don't want to get stuck in such a low paying job that I can never get out of. I mean, even McDonald's is paying more than this dept store!

I don't know . I was diagnosed with panic disorder two years ago and it's been really hard for me to get back out there and going again. But I don't want to take this job just because it was the first one laid out on the table and be in a worse, anxiety provoking situation.

What do you guys think?

[Erin]

That's about how I felt when I worked retail. The managers would make us re-fold entire tables of clothes because one tag wasn't tucked in. (And isn't it easier for the customer to see the price/size when the tags are not tucked all the way inside the shirt???) Anyway, can you just do this seasonally until you find something else? I agree it would be much better to work for a small store over a department store. If you don't need the money right now, maybe you should quit now before it stresses you out? I remember being scheduled on days/times I stated I was unavailable and then being told I'd get 20 hours and then getting 5. It was awful. It's not just you.

What if you worked in a smaller boutique where you could learn something from the owners? You could even make more than $7/hr answering phones at a professional office or something like that, and that definitely would not require a degree.

[yorkiegirl83]

Originally Posted by Erin

That's about how I felt when I worked retail. The managers would make us re-fold entire tables of clothes because one tag wasn't tucked in. (And isn't it easier for the customer to see the price/size when the tags are not tucked all the way inside the shirt???) Anyway, can you just do this seasonally until you find something else? I agree it would be much better to work for a small store over a department store. If you don't need the money right now, maybe you should quit now before it stresses you out? I remember being scheduled on days/times I stated I was unavailable and then being told I'd get 20 hours and then getting 5. It was awful. It's not just you.

What if you worked in a smaller boutique where you could learn something from the owners? You could even make more than $7/hr answering phones at a professional office or something like that, and that definitely would not require a degree.

I really loved retail when I worked at the stores in Boston, but moving back to small town America has greatly reduced my options of stores. The only main store in our mall is American Eagle. It's a one floor, super small mall and many spots are empty

My DH has started doing part time, side work at home web developing and he makes 30/hr doing that, so I guess I don't need the money that bad. I think it was more of me just feeling accomplished and proving to everyone I could get back to work after 2 years of being down and out.

But after sitting there realizing I'll have 5-6 bosses, be judged on small, tedious things, and possibly be used and abused during the Holiday season only to be entirely miserable has made me second guess my choice

There are a few employment agencies in town also, so maybe I will try that avenue.

Thanks so much for responding, it's such a hard choice for me right now!!

[For My Coby]

I've never worked retail, but it sounds similar to my daughter's first job. It makes me really mad, because these jobs are marketed and geared to young people - often as their first job. It can give a horrible impression of the working world, and then we in non-retail management wonder why young people come to us with such horrible attitudes and no sense of "relationship" between worker and management.

If you need the job for the holidays, my advice would be to just stick it out and know that you will need to just let stuff roll off your back. But if you need to work, I'd keep an eye out for something better. The one thing I found with my daughter (who by the way was their outstanding employee that customers requested but who got NO recognition EVER) is that there is little that you can really do to get in big trouble because they need the workers so badly. So they're basically all bark and no bite.

Good Luck and I hope you can either find it to actually be a good job after orientation or find something better!!

[yorkiegirl83]

Originally Posted by For My Coby

I've never worked retail, but it sounds similar to my daughter's first job. It makes me really mad, because these jobs are marketed and geared to young people - often as their first job. It can give a horrible impression of the working world, and then we in non-retail management wonder why young people come to us with such horrible attitudes and no sense of "relationship" between worker and management.

If you need the job for the holidays, my advice would be to just stick it out and know that you will need to just let stuff roll off your back. But if you need to work, I'd keep an eye out for something better. The one thing I found with my daughter (who by the way was their outstanding employee that customers requested but who got NO recognition EVER) is that there is little that you can really do to get in big trouble because they need the workers so badly. So they're basically all bark and no bite.

Good Luck and I hope you can either find it to actually be a good job after orientation or find something better!!

Thank you so much! I really need to weigh my options here before Thursday. Part of me thinks I should just finish school. There's a community college here that's only around 3600/year, but unfortunately I would need nearly all of it financed and I have terrible credit, so I'd have to see what I can do

[Angela]

Sounds like you already know that you will hate it. I worked retail many times, and hated it every time. I am fixing to go back to school. Good Luck. Try Hallmark as a retail merchandiser.......I love it, you can make your own hours, noone looking over your shoulder. You just get your stores done by the weeks end. Its a good job for a student.

Angie

[mizzwanned]

I don't think you will like it if you already don't. I say keep looking, Good luck!

[s13silviagirl]

You know my thoughts girly...but I know you will make the right decision!

[grayxie]

Girlfriend I totally understand how you feel. I worked retail for almost 8 years, there were some good points, but were all ways out weighed by the bad points. I've worked for the big corporations like The Limited Brands, Gap Brands, LVMH Companies, and a few others inbetween. Yes, there was alot of monotony in keeping the store neat, fold and re-fold blah...The Pay scale isn't so great if you aren't earning commission, and it depends on the store when your "reviews" are. I've worked at places where they are either done quarterly, bi-annually, or just annually. Some managers were totally awesome, and some were managers that shouldn't of been managers and it didn't help that I have authority issues with people that are idiots. If you have a good manager it makes going to work so much easier, I was all ways bummed when the good ones left. Anyway, just think of your job as a "temporary" situation or as a stepping stone to your next move. I too am kicking myself for not finishing college, but am hoping to go back next fall.

[lidarose]

I would suggest you go and check out your nearest Cracker Barrel. They have a small retail shop and it's a pretty good place to work. They have a par program where you can advance and get a raise at regular intervals and you can have a flexible schedule for school, they work with you. They also have an internship program if you're interested in management. I worked there for 2 years and it was one of the better jobs I've had. I'm on leave right now because of family issues but I plan to go back as soon as I get my ducks lined out!

[littlewhip]

Just wanted to wish you good luck in what ever you decide follow your heart and dont get down on yourself if you decide not to take the job

[gutu28]

Gah..retail during the holiday season SUCKS! I worked at Kohls for about 4 years, so I know what it's like! The worst was either Christmas Eve when I was still there ringing people up at 7 when we closed at 6 or the Friday after Thansgiving when it was REQUIRED you work..no matter what. I worked from 5 in the morning till 1 without a single break cause we were SOOOO busy! Where are you working??

[grayxie]

Xmas eve is the absolute worst! Even worse than black friday because all the stupid last minute shoppers come out and expect to find all the things they were looking for that are all ready sold out.