If you want to work in retail...
I have worked in retail most of my life. I worked at Target, Dollar Tree, Macy's, and a few others a while back and I particularly enjoyed it in the men's department. I helped men find suits on the sales floor and also worked as a cashier. It taught me quite a few things about retail. You have to be tough. If someone has a bad day they might take it out on you. It's NOT personal. If you are the type who likes to take in the holiday season and relax, then nope move on. That's THE busiest time. If you want to move up in the company then you work hard for it. Do your job and do it well. Talk to your co-workers, help them out, and befriend them. It's good to have work friends no matter where you are. Good luck in retail!
I worked at Macy's for the month of December 2017 in the handbag department. I helped customers and did the cashier. I handled the busy time just fine. After December, no more hours.
I have never worked in retail but I think you made some vey good points. I know I have walked away from stores when the representatives were not interested in helping anyone. I have been told "I am on my break", I have stood in at a cash register while the staff person had a conversation, and I appreciate your professionalism in your post. The problem is not you, it is the "others" who are killing your trade. I see retail staff as two types of people who decide to make retail their trade, one is the professional people who chose this profession, and the others are the "I need a job and really do not give a $%^&" types. It is the second type of people that are making Amazon and online retail boom. I think we will soon see the day where a trip to the Mall will be like going to a museum, something they did back in the day. KInd of nostalgia or a trip down memory lane. The same retail shops you work at today are woking to transform into an online store. They will not have to pay for a building or the upkeep, pay the local taxes, pay for shipping of product to the store, hire employees to assist customers, salaries, health insurance, other insurance or even snow removal..etc. Instead they can have a warehouse and staff it with people they can treat like animals and make them work in hot warehouses, no beaks, and make them "pick" so many items per minute or get fired. If they get hurt they are replaced, if they get sick they are replaced, if they cannot keep up they are replaced. Sound familiar? Sounds like the Old South pre 1865. This time they get by with it because they really are color/race/sex blind because they really do not care about anything but profit. I know a man who graduated high school and then joined and fought in the Korean War. He got out and went to work for Sears. He raised a family and retired from there. He did well for himself and even lived in a Sears house he bought from the store, they built it and he paid for it with his Sears credit account. It makes me wonder how Sears went from what it once was to what it is today other than really bad management. They were once the worlds largest retailer, then came Walmart, then Amazon and I do not think it gets better. Reatil is a profession and thanks for keeping it alive for a while longer. Good luck to you and I hope that I always get someone like you to help me when and if I ever get to a Mall again. But may I remind us all that there were once over a hundred companies that made buggy whips. The cars came along and one by one all but a few were left, but they made the finest in buggy whips. It seems Macy's will possibly be one of the last brick and mortar retailers, but a darn good one.
Thanks. I have also worked retail for most of my life. Edison Bros stores back in the 80s to Macys in NJ. To HD and Lowes and now pt with Home Sense in Commack.NY. Its a lot of stress at times . Never let them see you sweat.
Amen
Thank you I appreciate your advice. God has always seem me thru all my ventures and I totally expect him to be there this time. Once again thank you
Thank you, but I don' t scare easily, not only do I want this but , I need this, I am grateful for your concerns but unless you' re offering me a job, why do you care ???
Ok thanks
Hi Greg I too spent my professional life in retail people who never worked in retail think it is an easy job. It is not easy by any means. I tried working regular office jobs but I always felt restlessness so I went back to retail.
Yes I'd like to know too
I BELIEVE IT'S GREAT! WORKING IN RETAIL! AS A PRE-TEEN I WORKED IN A SMALL DRIVE-IN IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. AND PROVIDE ME THE EXPERIENCE TO WORK IN MAJOR RETAIL STORES. IT TAUGHT ME NUMEROUS THINGS IN WHICH I USE TODAY. ORDER FREIGHT, PUSH FREIGHT, INVENTORY TO NAME A FEW. BUT THE MOST VALUABLE EXPERIENCE "CONVERSATION WITH PEOPLE/CUSTOMERS"! WHICH LED ME TO MY CURRENT POSITION "CUSTOMER SERVICE REP" FOR A MAJOR SPORTS MANAGEMENT GROUP. IN RETAIL A BAD DAY CAN MAKE A GOOD DAY FOR OTHERS. GOOD LUCK TO YOU! AND IF YOU NEED SOME POINTERS FROM A GUY THAT WORKED IN RETAIL SINCE 1979, ASK!