I work at Target, and since I've been working there for about a year and a half now, I know the ropes pretty well. I usually am working in soft lines (clothing/fitting room), store operator (all the phone calls into the store come to us), or cashier, but I know how to work most of the store, or at least fake my way through it if needed. That is just one of the many things I have learned how to do while working retail, and I've also picked up on a few other things, things I have either started doing myself that I had done differently before working here or else things that I notice about others.
One of the weirder things that sticks out to me is that I now see sizes in color.
See those hangers and the tabs that show the size? Ever since I've been fitting room and having hung hundreds of articles of clothing, I now see sizes in color. Ya know, like medium is green, 5T is light blue, 40x__ is orange... I can name them all off the top of my head. It comes in handy when you're looking for a certain size on a rack quick.
I've also, believe it or not, started treating other retail stores with more respect. Now, I was NEVER the type of person to make a mess or to be unnecessarily rude. That's just not how I was raised. I certainly did not know how to pick up even slightly after my rummaging of tables, though, and I got discouraged at disorganized racks. Now it is SO easy for me to understand that things happen. People make messes looking for what they need, workers can't always get to pick up things right away or at all for a day, and it gets busy and focus is needed in other areas. I get it now, and I'm so glad I do, because I can treat other retail stores and workers with even more respect than I had before.
Even beyond the clothing and to the phone, especially, is where I have witnessed some downright nasty guests. I know that it's easy to act tough when you can't be seen, but most of the time you're just talking to some college student trying to pay off their bills, so try and keep that in mind. I've witnessed rude behavior and language and frustration while on the check lanes as well, but that is a more stressful situation usually.
I understand that things that frustrate people arise, but yelling at workers and acting mighty does not do any good for either person. It just leaves a bad taste in the mouth and doesn't get anyone anywhere. It may not seem like it, but as someone who knows and tries, we truly do everything we can do to help you and to make it right for you. I also have much better patience, especially concerning the check lanes, because there may be times that you just can't check out right away and that is nobody's fault. Things will not always go right, but keeping an open and positive mind is the best we can do in these situations.
Another thing I have started doing is picking up trash around stores. If I see a cup laying around while I'm shopping, 9 times out of 10 I will pick it up and find a nearby trashcan. It's not that hard, people.
I've also learned how to be a better communicator. Talking to guests, leaders, and coworkers means using the same level of respect for all, and working to make things run smoothly. This has improved my speaking in front of classmates, over the phone, and even to friends and family. I've started thinking of things in a more orderly way and thinking of the biggest thing to knock out first, and I am much better at time management.
Overall, I've become a more organized and more polite person because of working in retail. If you are considering working in retail, just know that, like any job, it's going to impact your life forever, and hopefully for the better like it has for me.
