We all remember our first job, the thrilling moment when we could finally say, "I'm employed!" Well, if you know me at all you will know that I recently stopped feeling sorry for my broke college self, and went out and got myself a job. After months of filling out applications and searching the internet for open positions, I was lucky enough to be hired in a lovely store. Don't get me wrong here and take this disclaimer: I do love the place where I work. That being said, I work in, you guessed it, retail. And, when your first job ever is in a popular retail store, let me warn you: life comes at you fast. Perhaps I just need a vent session after a long closing shift, or perhaps you also work in retail and we can relate to this common employee lifestyle. Regardless of where you work, you're bound to have some struggles as a new employee. But, retail struggles are special struggles.
1. Wardrobe
All of a sudden, you have to analyze every item of clothing you have ever owned. If the employee handbook recommends that you dress to the company's aesthetic, you start to second guess yourself and your own aesthetic. What even is my style? Are these jeans acceptable? Would a customer see this on our sales floor? Kiss those short skirts and short shorts goodbye because they are not within the dress code. Warning: you are going to spend your paycheck on new clothes before you even receive it.
2. Coworkers
No, I am not going to complain about my coworkers here, sorry to disappoint. They have all been very welcoming to me and have helped me ring out a customer when I didn't know the return button from the receipt button. But, they all know each other already. They're practically a squad that knows how to run every nook and cranny of the store. It is literally second nature to them, so when you ask a question or make an unfortunate mistake, it'll be hard for them not to wince or look momentarily perplexed at your efforts.
3. Hangers
I literally never realized what SOB little devils hangers are to a retail worker. These little buggers have the nerve to get stuck on each other, stuck on your fingers, fall on the floor, tilt sideways, get stuck together and pretend to be one entity or my favorite–love to chill on a rack when they aren't even holding any item of clothing. And there are so many varieties: you got pant hangers, skirt hangers, hangers with tabs, plastic hangers, and wire hangers. Then, they teach you something called "spacing." Get ready to become completely obsessed with the distance between each hanger on the rack, the art of finger spacing.
4. Fitting Rooms
My room isn't neat. But, hey, that is because it is my room. Customers like to think that the fitting rooms are their own rooms, which means that they think they totally have every right in the world to let a ton of clothes cascade onto the floor, and smile at me on their way out. I get it, I am being paid to clean up after you. Yet, how difficult is it to pick up an item of clothing and put it back on the hanger? Okay, I'll give you a pass: just fold the damn thing! By the way, that shirt won't look any different if it is steamed. And I know it took me a while to find that size, but since you were wearing the shirt behind closed doors, I had to mentally take a picture of it and try to remember what it looks like as I run around the sales floor like a lost puppy.
5. Cash Wrap
Ah, cash wrap, my own personal anxiety zone. The thing that has given me the most potential for an adolescent crisis as a new employee is working the cash register. I have had eight different receipts thrown at me, items not match the number on the tag, plastic garment bags rip as I try to give a customer her brand new dress, customers hand me over five dollars in change, and a stapler falls into the cash drawer. Every time someone doesn't have a receipt, I panic. When a customer gives me an insane amount of change, I forget how to count to ten. I'll end the cash wrap segment with this awesome joke: "Well, if it's not scanning, it must be free!" Nah, it's not.
6. Inventory
My favorite thing in the world is not setting an alarm for the morning. I never thought that this summer I would be setting ones for 3:45am and 4:15am. That was before I was introduced to inventory. As I pray not to fall asleep behind the wheel on my way to my shift, I think about how many SKU numbers I will see and scan that morning. I didn't even know what an SKU was 3 weeks ago, now I see those numbers every time I close my eyes, and I hear the little beeps from the scanner gun in my dreams.
7. Closing Shifts
My first closing shift I assumed that we would stay for about an hour and make everything look super pretty and neat. I didn't actually know what goes into making everything look super pretty and neat. Spoiler alert: a lot goes into it and you will climb ladders, get on your knees, touch every single article of clothing that your store sells, and come in contact with about every hanger (see #3) in existence. Oh, yeah, and make sure you size those racks too because someone will definitely put an XL in front of the XS shirts. Now I know that closing shifts are more than just locking the front doors.
8. Lingo
If they sold: Retail Slang for Dummies in my local bookstore, I would run over there and buy it. The vocabulary that these girls have is so extensive that I feel like we are sometimes speaking two completely different languages. From back stock to edging, to shrink and the names of the apparel collections, I need a dictionary and a translator in my pocket. Then again, I guess if they found themselves with me in a theater or a dance studio, it would be the same thing, so I get it.
I could go on forever and a day about my first few weeks working in retail, but I've already said enough. Regardless of my struggles, I do feel like a retail store is a great place to build character and work on numerous social skills and social connections. There's always one customer that makes me smile, and I'm thankful I have somewhere enjoyable to work. As a first job, it definitely isn't an easy transition. And everyday before I clock out, I can guarantee I've said, "the more you know" more than five times. So, I will keep learning and know more, no matter how many hangers whack me in the face during my shift.
