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What Working Retail Has Taught Me

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at BC chapter.

This summer, I accepted my first job in retail.  Many college students and young adults take on jobs in retail, and I thought it would be just a normal pay job with a nice paycheck coming in.  Little did I know, the world of retail opens your eyes to the strange world of customer interaction and observation. Here are few things that my job in retail made me realize:

1. Children are super weird.

You think I would have learned this by now from all my years of babysitting, in addition to an entire summer of being a nanny, but wow, kids are strange.  I’m not saying I don’t love them, especially because I find these weird qualities endearing, but they are just so odd.  One time, a child tried to drink water out of a dog bowl.  She even had a sippy cup in her hand as she did it.  That’s just not quite right.  Also, they like to rub their faces against things that I will later have to clean, so that’s a bit of a low point.

2. Most people are really terrible at re-folding things.

Before I started working, I was pretty bad at folding things, so maybe I shouldn’t judge.  But seriously, sometimes I think people make things look worse if they attempt to help.  Other times, I literally watch people just throw clothes around the store.  If you want to save everyone some time and effort, I strongly suggest just asking someone to help you to find your size before you destroy a perfect pile of shirts.  Besides, it is part of my job in retail to help out the customer.

3. If you work retail, people will actually believe you have control over everything.

One time, I had a woman ask me why the company didn’t make a certain size.  I explained it to her, and she still insisted that I go in the back and take care of it.  I’m not sure if she was expecting me to wave a magic wand or just pull out a sewing machine myself, but there are just certain things that I have no control over.  I mean, it’s flattering, really, but the only purpose of my job is pretty much to smile and fold things (and I can also get you a size that we do have if it is not on the floor).

What customers think we do behind the scenes

4. Grumpy people are the worst.

I was always taught to never go clothes shopping when you’re in a really bad mood because then you won’t like anything and you’ll be mean to everyone else.  Apparently, not everyone follows this golden rule.  I don’t know who gets enjoyment out of coming into a happy store and ruining the environment for everyone, but that’s just not cool.  Save your shopping trip for a day when you have a smile on your face.

 

5. Good coworkers make even the longest day bearable.

This summer, I lucked out and had some of the best coworkers I could’ve asked for.  Regardless of how the day went, whether it was filled with weird children or mean customers, I knew I had someone to laugh about it with afterwards.

 

Photo Sources:

http://www.danoah.com/2011/11/…

http://www.vangoghgallery.com/catalog/Watercolor/1879/Scheveningen-Woman-Sewing.html

http://comerecommended.com/wp-content/files/2011/07/sales-retail.jpg

Meghan Gibbons is a double major in Communications and Political Science in her senior year at Boston College. Although originally from New Jersey, she is a huge fan of all Boston sports! Along with her at Boston College is her identical twin, who she always enjoys playing twin pranks with. Meghan is a huge foodie, book worm and beach bum