I know what you are probably thinking. "Retail is not for me. I don't have the patience to deal with so many rude people at once". Well, that was me three years ago. But I needed a job, and was offered a cashier position at a grocery store, so I took it. The first year there, I was absolutely miserable. I am a very, very, shy person and found it very difficult to interact with people. I was extremely jealous of my coworkers who could just strike up a conversation with customers and deal with any issues so naturally. For many of them, this was also their first retail position, but they seemed to have so much more confidence and people skills than I did. I was constantly wondering if something was wrong with me.
However, as time went on, I became much more outgoing as well as confident in my job. I have learned so many life skills and people skills from working with the public. Here are my top reasons why I believe working in retail has helped me grow as a person, and why I believe everyone should have the experience of working in retail.
1) I've learned to be a better customer
Nothing is more obnoxious than a bunch of teenagers coming into a business and making noise, customers who argue with the cashier, or people that just flat out don't have any manners. Since working in retail, I am much more aware of how I act when I am in a store.
2) You get to work with all different kinds of people
In retail, you will have regular customers who are just plain out rude, and you come to learn that this is just part of their personality, and not to take it personally. You learn how to accommodate others' needs so they are less likely to get upset with you. The same goes for your coworkers. Some people are much easier to work with than others, but you learn to set aside your differences and find away to get along (or just ignore them).
3) You learn to be responsible
Although you learn this in most jobs, you definitely learn to be responsible working in retail. Often, you need to have very flexible hours, which includes weekends and holidays. This may mean having to cancel plans with friends or family. It is very important to make sure you are on time for work every day, give your managers enough notice when you need days off, and if you can't get off, finding someone to cover your shift. These are all extremely important skills to have when you are working a real job in the future.
4) You become more outgoing
When you are forced to communicate with people for 30-40 hours a week, you naturally become a more social person. I look at the person I was three years ago and I can't believe how far I have come. I used to dread talking to customers, and now I find myself making conversation without even trying.
5) You learn how to problem solve
This is probably the most important skill I have learned from working retail. As a cashier or sales associate, you need to think quickly when a customer has a problem. Your manager may not always be available. This definitely takes time to learn, but it is an important skill to have, especially for bigger jobs in the future.
Even though I may hate my job at times, I truly believe it has helped me become a better person. I am much more outgoing, confident, and know how to deal with all different kinds of people. If I, a shy, intimidated, and awkward 17 year old could handle working in retail, I'm sure anyone can. If everyone worked retail, even for just a week, I highly doubt there would be any more rude customers.
