This is a sequel to the article based on my first day cashiering a few weeks ago titled "Swipe-Beep-Swipe," at the suggestion of my manager, Michael.
This summer, in addition to a full-time internship, I worked at Kroger (the Southport Road location near Indianapolis). My goals were to pick up some extra cash and to get the "unsheltered customer service job experience" which seemed to be a rite of passage I'd somehow skipped. While friends and family supported my work ethic and desire to build a savings account, this plan was met with comments such as "you should be resting," "you're going to hate it," "what are you thinking -- you don't even like people," and "alright, go work for a week, get it out of your system, and be done."
Stepping out of your comfort zone can be really rewarding often in unexpected ways. While most people speak of their grocery store jobs with disgust, I truly enjoyed my time and especially the people I worked with.
I could focus on all of the difficulties of the job: the constantly empty receipt paper; the malfunctioning chip readers; the tediousness of the WIC orders; extreme couponers who fight for every cent even when the limit is exceeded; the smokers who can't decide which type of cigarette to buy; the numerous paper cuts; and the poorly fitted uniform.
Instead, I choose to focus on the things I learned, the people I met, and the ways I grew. This summer, working over 60 hours a week at two jobs taught me endurance; dealing with unhappy customers who I could not appease taught me patience and that in some cases, you just have to accept that there is nothing you can do to resolve the situation. Before being a cashier, I had never had curses thrown in my face, and I learned to be capable of restraint. I learned the difference between extremely kind and extremely unkind customers, and that being a WIC customer has no bearing on this (though I would have said this before, I got to see it in action). I made some progress with not flinching when random 4-year-olds go to hug me, especially when they're green sucker-mouthed and elated to get more than one sticker. I learned how to motivate co-workers with developmental difficulties without adding to their struggle and by recognizing their unique strengths and weaknesses.
When a 21-year-old (who thought I was 16) came through the line, and said he was strung out on alcohol but wanted to buy more anyway, we bonded over the excitement of exploding targets and swapped stories for 10 minutes. I was asked out by a 43-year-old smoker who was sick of "city flippin' women," though my lack of cigarette knowledge was a downer, and I doubt this would have ended well. A customer who had just moved to the U.S. told me about yucca roots, and that they're the consistency of a sweet potato, but savory, too, and that you must always be sure to cook them well and not eat the skins. I learned that people donate a lot more to Riley on Sunday afternoons after church than at any other point during the week.
I got to know the coworker who was several years younger than me, but a whiz at the cash register, and how he can't wait to go to U-Indy. The veteran cashier had lost her son, but was still the most welcoming and caring staff member I worked with. I learned that one friend had been hit walking to work, but still came in at midnight and worked into the morning.
On my last day of work, my coworkers pooled funds and bought me a cupcake -- chocolate and Oreo, but they didn't know that's my favorite. I doubt I will ever forget their kindness.
I could continue to list many more wonderful things that came from this experience, but it's evident that the positives far outweigh the negatives. Everyone should have an unsheltered customer service job, if not to learn the traditional skills, to be a part of the stories above and to let the experience change you for the better.
