In the 9th grade, I got my first real job at a car racetrack called Southside Speedway. There, I was a cashier at a food shack. I dealt with customers, both happy ones and upset ones (and some even drunk), helped prepare food, and worked with many other people.
In the 11th grade, I got a job at McDonald’s (don't ask me what's in the Big Mac sauce, I honestly have no idea). I mostly worked at the front counter as a cashier, or in the drive-thru. I helped clean, prepare food, and took care of customers when they were both calm and extremely impatient.
Currently, I am employed at Old Navy. My job title is a “Sellebrity” - I mostly work on the sales floor and at the cash register. I deal with customers, help pick-up the store, and get clothes ready from when we get them out of the truck, until they go out on the sales floor.
With these three jobs, I’ve learned many things and I believe that every person should work at a fast-food or some kind of retail for at least a month in their life.
You learn the meaning of respect.
The man or woman who seems annoyed, maybe even curses at you, and asks for your manager when they don't like the answer you gave them, probably has never worked retail in their life. When you have worked there, you learn a respect for the workers, due to the fact you have been in their place. Sure, if McDonald's takes forever and I'm starving, I do wish they would just hurry up already. But, never will you see me curse at an employee or ask for a manager unless they've truly given me a reason. When you work that job and understand the stress it puts you under, you can sympathize with the employees and remain respectful.
You learn how to work well with other people.
Maybe this is a shocker, but, in your life, you're going to come across a time when you are going to have to work with other people. Sure, there are times when you'll get to work by yourself, but you cannot go your entire life being a lone ranger.
You learn to enjoy making your own money.
Part-time jobs in the food industry and in retail are created for high school and college students trying to make some gas money or a little extra change. Now, instead of getting hand-outs from your parents 24/7, you're learning to make your own money, and some experiences into adulthood.
You gain stronger appreciation for days off.
There is nothing better then having the weekend off, but in the retail world, weekends don't exist. Every day is a day you can work, so getting the weekends, or frankly any day off is truly a blessing and you begin to have a newfound appreciation for the free time you have.
You learn organizational skills.
There is nothing quite like looking up at the denim wall at a clothing store, a spill on the ground at a restaurant, or a destroyed break room that truly teaches, or rather forces, you to become organized.
It teaches you how to multi-task.
Because sometimes you have to help a customer find an item while picking up the store while helping a co-worker finish their job while trying to find time to take a break. It can be a lot, but the job teaches you how to do it gracefully.
You understand why stores should not be open on Thanksgiving.
Retail workers have lives too. None of us want to miss any holidays with our families to go sit at work and deal with ungrateful customers who don't appreciate the holidays like they should.
Working retail is one of the best, and worst, experiences of your life. You meet great people you get to work with and get to have some fun knowing things behind the scenes. While it is a bunch of work, it does pay off in the long run.
