Typically, when the idea of working retail comes to mind, people cringe -- especially those who have experienced it before. In fact, I referred to my being hired as a sales associate at the beginning of the summer to “selling my soul to corporate America.” What I have come to realize, however, is that this experience has been one of the best of my life, and I can’t imagine working anywhere else. While looking back on my first four months of work, there are distinct reasons that come to mind as to why, despite the negativity generally associated with it, working retail is actually wonderful.
1. It taught me the art of small talk.
Having struggled pretty severely with social anxiety throughout my life, making casual conversation isn’t exactly my strong suit, especially with complete strangers about trivial matters like the weather or traffic. Working in retail has helped me overcome this. With social interaction included in my job description, I quickly had to learn how to engage with customers which is a skill that I have applied to my day-to-day life.
2. The customers.
When it comes to working retail, no one tells a story about the customer who came in, bought something, and left without a problem. Instead, you hear stories and complaints that revolve around those pesky customers who come in five minutes before close to make an exchange (and also pick up a few things), requesting to break their purchase into three separate transactions so they can use all of the their rewards and coupons even though several of them expired approximately eight months ago. And yes, these customers do exist, but the majority of the people who come in are completely tolerable, usually polite, and often appreciative of what we do. It always makes my day when a customer thanks me for all my help. It doesn’t seem like much, but it gives my work meaning.
3. Those pesky customers.
As much of a pain as it is to work with difficult customers who are personally offended when told their coupon isn’t valid until next week, working retail would be a lot more dull. While it can definitely be frustrating in the moment, those customers keep work interesting and always leave me with a story or two to tell at the end of the day.
4. Free entertainment.
If you are like me and enjoy people watching, working retail provides free entertainment. In fact, working retail is essentially the equivalent of being paid to people watch. And trust me, you see some pretty interesting people come into the store on a daily basis. Seriously though, why even pay for television service when you could be spending your TV time working extra hours getting paid to enjoy prime entertainment?
5. Experiences.
Not only has working retail given me work experience and taught me valuable skills, but it has also exposed me to countless learning experiences I would not have encountered otherwise. In the four months I've worked retail, I have met people from other cultures and countries, including a man from Sweden who gave me some Swedish coins for my foreign money collection. I also had opportunities to apply my education to real life, such as helping a deaf woman whom I was able to eventually check out entirely in American Sign Language. Not to mention, I was able to get to know my coworkers and managers who are some wonderful people that I never would have met otherwise.
6. The paycheck.
As a poor college student, any job is valuable in that it provides some funds that help keep my bank account from going into the red. Retail, however, is one of the best paying jobs for students. The average sales associate is payed roughly $1.34 more than the average fast food worker ($9.25 to $7.91).
7. A discount that won’t get you fat.
Another advantage of working retail is the employee discount. Once again, as a broke collegiate, discounts on clothes and other necessities is much appreciated and extremely helpful. It is also a lot more comforting to know that I bought a much needed shirt for a great price than to know I got a discounted taco, deep-fried and consisting of 10 percent beef and 90 percent... well, I actually don’t know. Buying clothes and necessities feels productive and completely justified, unlike another cup of frozen yogurt or large fries.
While most retail workers make their jobs seem entirely awful and intolerable, I have found it to be one of the best experiences of my life. I encourage any college student looking for a job to consider the retail industry. It’s enjoyable, valuable and completely worth it. It offers experience and skills that are applicable to life and future work opportunities, and you get to meet some amazing people. As one of my managers, Rob, would say, “There’s no party like a [retail] party.”
