Whether it's your first job, your summer job or your lifelong career, everyone should work in a retail job at least once. Working in retail -- for me at least -- teaches important life skills and helps you gain plenty of experience.
Retail jobs are great for teaching you how to work with others and how to succeed as a team. Retail stores, from Target to Walgreens, cannot function without teamwork -- it's integral to the structure of the company. Working in a team is also tons of fun and makes the shifts go by faster than if you're all by yourself.
The most important thing about working in retail is the appreciation you gain for the field. You start to understand the actions of your cashier at Walmart without judgement, and you begin shopping a little differently (or at least I did). I no longer leave items I changed my mind on in random places around the store, and sometimes I even start "facing" aisles by pulling the products on the shelves farther forward. I have also become more patient when waiting in line to checkout - I know what it's like to be shorthanded and having angry customers doesn't help the situation.
Working in retail makes you see things a little differently. It makes you think about what you're buying more carefully, especially when a large portion of your paycheck goes directly back into the store that you work for. Working in retail also allows for you to experience great opportunities you may not have elsewhere, such as working in the pharmacy in Walgreens -- from that, I understand that sometimes insurance coverage sucks and it isn't the employee's fault, even though it's still incredibly frustrating. Most importantly, working in retail gives you a deeper appreciation for the employees who ring up your items at the cash register or help you find the item that you're looking for. I can just about guarantee that no one really wants to be spending their 4th of July putting your tortilla chips in a bag or color matching your foundation, but it is our job and we will do it to the best our abilities.
Working in retail has its ups and downs, but it's an integral part of job experience and it always ends up being fun, one way or another. I have only worked two jobs -- both in retail -- and I am very proud of what I have done and how I deliver excellent service to my customers, even if it means answering the phone with, "Hello! Thank you for calling Ulta! My name is Katie -- can I interest you in a hair, skin or brow service today?" eight times in a four hour shift.
Extra note: please take the survey at the bottom of your receipts. Just do it. Please. It makes our managers very happy, and it can help us serve you better in the future. :-)
