The Retail Effect

by: Elizabeth Greenberg

Writer, All About Business

People say that, as a young person, there is great value in holding a “regular job”. Few would disagree, but even fewer seem to stress just how many pros these sorts of jobs hold. This summer I began my first “real job”: an entry-level gig at a department store. Working retail has been an incomparable experience and much of what I learned feels more significant and relevant to my future careers than much of what I learned throughout high school.

These are the most important lessons I’ve learned working in retail:

1. Coworkers are invaluable. These are the people who will cover for you, protect you, gossip with you, listen to your complaints, joke around with you, cheer you up and generally make work not just bearable but enjoyable. Starting off on a proper note with any and all coworkers is essential to both your happiness and your reputation.

2. Kindness isn’t overrated. Chances are if you go the extra step for a customer, they will be at least that much more appreciative. Word really does get out about a pleasant employee. When you’re nice to a customer there is a solid chance you will see them again, and again.

3. Speaking up versus shutting up. The louder you are the more likely people (including bosses) will remember you. If you need help with something, keeping quiet and trying to figure it out on your own can make you seem less competent than asking for assistance. At the same time, it’s just as important to know when to keep quiet. When you mess up and as a result getting lectured about (for example) proper work behavior, talking back would be an extremely poor choice. When dealing with angry customers, yelling back at them, or even taking a particularly harsh tone can only inflame the situation.

4. Handling money is a big deal. You are dealing with customers’ money, the company’s money and your own money. If there is an error somewhere and you are responsible for it, someone will notice and you will be held accountable. It pays to take the extra two minutes to double count everything; it also pays to speak up when something seems off. Keeping quiet, once again, can have a far more negative effect then speaking up and asking questions.

5. Get to know your surroundings quickly. Giving incorrect directions or information to a customer is a major mistake. Chances are they will figure out you were wrong, find and correct you and tell a superior exactly how incapable they think you are. This is a common occurrence but it never stops being embarrassing.

6．There are miserable people everywhere. You have to deal with unhappy customers constantly, and sometimes how friendly and pleasant you are has zero impact (even a negative one) on an individual. At some point a customer will complain about you, yell at you or insult you for something small and probably accidental. You have to take it in stride; unless you’ve committed some unforgivable retail sin your superiors will understand and your coworkers will help you get over it quickly.

7. Know your place. You are new, naïve and easily replaced. There are plenty of workers who have been there for more months, years or decades than you and it would be to your advantage to listen to what they have to say. Old timers have developed backup within the company’s workers, it would be a mistake to cause even a little bit of trouble with them. You are a small employee of a big store; you must not allow personal issues to impede upon how you treat a customer or a superior because if you look bad you make the company look bad.

8. Try to enjoy work. If you go in thinking it’s going to be a long, bad day it will probably be a long, bad day. You’re going to meet a bunch of great people, learn a lot of new things, build up your resume and make some money. The positives outweigh the negatives, and worst things that happen are usually a result of your own attitude.

I almost always leave work in a better mood than I was when I arrived. On the clock I smile constantly, laugh almost as often and feel comfortable and in control. The job has brought out and developed some of the most important qualities within me. I thought that working at a department store all summer would be awful at best. Instead it’s without a doubt been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Before you decide to take a summer off to just relax, or catch up on reading, consider a service sector alternative. Your life won’t be consumed by work, only improved.

Elisabeth Greenberg is finishing her senior year at Tenafly High School. After spending the summer studying table tennis she will attend Baruch College under Macaulay Honors College with a full tuition scholarship for her undergraduate career. Elisabeth can be reached at polydimethylsiloxane@gmail.com.