Over the past few summers, I’ve spent more than enough of my life slaving away at a minimum wage job because when all else failed (and it did) I could always go back and pick up a little cash for the coming year. However, during that span of time, there are a few things that the mall has taught me that I will carry with me throughout the rest of my life. The mall is a very interesting place once you’ve worked there and you’ve seen all that goes down on the inside. But despite the disdain I have for my time working there, I have learned quite a few things:

1.The elderly run the mall from 7-11 am

A majority of stores in the mall open at 10 am, which is just late enough to justify actually spending money at a retail store. However, hours before that, the doors are all open so that those who work there can come into work. It’s also open for the elderly. At every mall, no matter where you go, during the hours of 7 am-9 am, the elderly will be there. They use the mall to get a morning walk in before the masses show up. To the untrained eye, it would look like quite alarming to see 30 elderly individuals walking around aimlessly at 7 am but do not fret, it is completely normal.

2. Black Friday is Hell on Earth

Black Friday is a doomsday every year at whatever mall is nearest you, no matter where you go. It is pure anarchy as the public attempts to get to that 40% sale on t-shirts at 1 am because there couldn’t possibly be anything more important to do after a Thanksgiving dinner with your family. I have seen people bring their toddlers at 4 am to get to those deals. I have also seen people use their children to help them steal so they could return the merchandise to get store credit. Black Friday always brings out the worst in people and trust me, the worst in those of us who are doomed to work it. But getting paid time and a half is always worth it.

3. Your co-workers will come from all walks of life

The assumption is that the mall is a place where teens and college students can go and pick up part time jobs to save a little cash for whatever whim they desire. This assumption is a partially correct. However, you’d be surprised who is folding those clothes asking you what size you need. I’ve worked with a schizophrenic; I’ve worked with a number of drug dealers; I’ve worked with a few people who had extensive criminal records and even a full time teacher who needed extra money on the side. Everyone that you work with will have a different story, some more interesting than others.

4. Mall Chinese food is always pretty good

For whatever reason, all mall Chinese joints taste about the same, no matter what food court you go to. It isn’t as classy as P.F. Chang’s, and it isn’t as sketchy as the carry-out spot where you may or may not have seen a rat running around behind the store, but it is a nice middle ground of taste, cost, and atmosphere. You can always get samples and check out the mango or bourbon chicken. And best of all, if you work at the mall, some places give you a discount.

5. Don't touch anything unless you are ready to buy it

There is nothing more evil than walking into a store and seeing a nice stack of 101 thin t-shirts nicely folded, digging to the bottom to open it up and look at it, and then balling it up and tossing it away from where it belongs. There is someone whose life is so awful that they have to then refold all of those shirts. After being in this situation, I’ve learned that it’s best to just look with your eyes, not with your hands. Someone’s day can be easily ruined by you looking at clothes you knew you had no intention of buying.

6. Don't get too attached to your manager

One thing about working retail is that your manager, whether awesome or asshole, will not be around too long. It’s just a fact. Retail has very quick turnover with workers, and as soon as one comes, they can go in the same amount of time. I have seen managers stay with a company for all of 3 months before quitting and finding new jobs. While it is unfortunate for those managers that you really love working with and give that extra 10% because they are genuinely good people, there’s a pretty good chance they won’t be there too much longer.

7. Everyone expects you to be a human calculator

It is highly understandable that people will ask you the price of something so they can budget in their heads how much they can afford to spend. It makes perfect sense, to an extent. Just because someone works in a store, doesn’t mean they know the price of the 10 items you have in your hand with a 35% discount after tax. I know math is hard sometimes, but we all have smart phones with calculators. Doing simple math on your phone to find out how much you are spending isn’t going to hurt you, I promise. Please don’t ask me what 50% off of your total is, that isn’t a question you should ever need to ask someone.

8. Above all else, if you ever REALLY need a job, there is a store hiring

As seen in recent years, the economy could go up or down in what seems to be the blink of an eye. Although we all really want that nice office job because that is what society promised us after college, sometimes it doesn’t work out right away, and money is necessary. If you ever are truly desperate for work, if you have a degree, most stores will pay a manager around $40,000 a year. It isn’t much, but at least it will get you by while you figure your life out. It may not be the job you can put on Facebook or Instagram, but it will help pay the student loans you owe.