Earning money for my corporate masters.
Nov. 15th, 2003 02:09 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gridloreSo, I did my first real shift.
The lady who is also a new hire, Whom we shall call The Silent One (she never speaks) arrived at work at about 1700. I got in a little early and began cruising the aisles to memorize where things are. Right about top of the hour, we clocked in. Pinball Manager (she seems to have to do everything at once) was a bit late, so we sat in the break room reading notices. At least I did. Silent One just sat there. Pinball Manager came in, and we got to work. First thing was we had to finish up some details on our paperwork. I had missed one or two signature blocks, and Silent One had missed several spots. We were issued our aprons, got our Cashier numbers and pass codes, and learned to count out a register drawer.
We also met several fellow staff.
Punk Rock Girl - cute teenager, who is leaving after the holidays for a vacation in Spain.
Lurch - One of the stock staff.
Ronald Reagan - Another teenager, with black-dyed hair that makes him look exactly like a young Ronnie.
Broken Neck Guy - The head of the wine department, who tilts his head whenever he's listening to a customer.
The Cheerleader - She is far too happy about everything Cost Plus.
Mr. Clean - Runs the ragged edge of the appearance standards even for the stock crew.
Took our drawer to the register of last resort. We learned to sign in and how to do the basic stuff like running the scanner, how to accept checks and credit cards, handling returns, etc. A hell of a lot of information to absorb and I know I'm still going to need help. That and I'm going to be thinking about what keys I have to press for a bit. But as long as the transactions are simple, I'm OK. We did a lot of the practice own our own, since Pinball Manager was off putting out fires, like the lady who tried to return the table that wouldn't fit through the door!
After some more register time, we were taken to the Gourmet section (not Food, but Gourmet) and taught the basics of fronting. This is simply making the shelves look good. Bringing product to the front, making sure the labels face the front, filling shelves that have been cleaned out, etc.
And here is where things get interesting.
We don't have badges that say "Trainee" or anything like that, so as far as the customers are concerned, we know what we are doing. Also, company policy is to ask people if they are finding things, or just to smile and acknowledge them. So I'm straightening cans of soup when a lady comes up and tells me she's broken a Christmas ornament. I know what to do, so I follow her to the broken glass, and snag another employee and ask where the broom and dustpan are. He says he'll take care of it, but I insist that I'll handle it. I get the broom, sweep up, grab the tag, and start heading back to my facing assignment.
And get stopped by a customer. She wants Christmas cookie cutters. "Well, they'll either be along this row" indicating the Christmas specials "Or in kitchen supplies. Would you like me to take you over there?" She just asks me to point out where it is. Back to facing.
Take a break, back to the register. As Pinball Manager is dealing with a problem in the office, two ladies come up and ask me about a bed covering.. with no price. "Well, I'm very new, so let's see if I can find someone who can help you." Find an associate, tell him the problem, and he shows me where the coverings are and we find the right one.
When the PM returns, we open up. I let Silent One go first, and true to her nickname, she doesn't speak. To anyone. She handles several transactions without really opening her mouth. PM notices this. Then I'm on the hot "seat"; and I realize this is just like dealing with guests at SuperShuttle except I can look at them with killing us all. Just using a different script "Hi! Find everything you were looking for? Oh, this is cool.." Repeat as necessary, gauging the chattiness of the person. Which I learned to do in the dark, based on a minute's exposure while boarding them. Much easier here. Caught a few beeps when I hit the wrong key. No biggie. As we are doing this, I notice the associate who I had approached talking with PM. He gestures in my direction, and she gets a big smile.
We did this for the remainder of our shift, closing out the drawer and going back so Silent One could count out the drawer. Remember, she is the one with recent retail experience. She miscounted. I fixed it. *smile*
Clocked out at 10, walked home whistling the opening from Billy Joel's "The Stranger." Good thing for a dark night.
Thanks to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
rosefox for the idea of given all my coworkers nicknames.
That was the big thing Friday. Earlier, I went out on my bike to run some errands. Needed to get the head mowed, and grab some shirts for work. Since there's a Round Table Pizza next to Supercuts.. :) After filling my stomach, I rode over to Marshall's and grabbed two shirts, and new socks. Also got us lottery tickets for tonight. Funny thing is, if we win, I'll still work through the holidays. They hired me to do a job, and unless they tell me they have time to hire a replacement, I will not leave them short a person. (Besides, having that 25% discount will come in handy.)
The odd thing about the ride was, I managed to have a head wind in all four directions I rode. I love storms. Pressure changes are still killing me though.
I have today off, and work Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday and next Saturday. 29.0 hours.
The lady who is also a new hire, Whom we shall call The Silent One (she never speaks) arrived at work at about 1700. I got in a little early and began cruising the aisles to memorize where things are. Right about top of the hour, we clocked in. Pinball Manager (she seems to have to do everything at once) was a bit late, so we sat in the break room reading notices. At least I did. Silent One just sat there. Pinball Manager came in, and we got to work. First thing was we had to finish up some details on our paperwork. I had missed one or two signature blocks, and Silent One had missed several spots. We were issued our aprons, got our Cashier numbers and pass codes, and learned to count out a register drawer.
We also met several fellow staff.
Punk Rock Girl - cute teenager, who is leaving after the holidays for a vacation in Spain.
Lurch - One of the stock staff.
Ronald Reagan - Another teenager, with black-dyed hair that makes him look exactly like a young Ronnie.
Broken Neck Guy - The head of the wine department, who tilts his head whenever he's listening to a customer.
The Cheerleader - She is far too happy about everything Cost Plus.
Mr. Clean - Runs the ragged edge of the appearance standards even for the stock crew.
Took our drawer to the register of last resort. We learned to sign in and how to do the basic stuff like running the scanner, how to accept checks and credit cards, handling returns, etc. A hell of a lot of information to absorb and I know I'm still going to need help. That and I'm going to be thinking about what keys I have to press for a bit. But as long as the transactions are simple, I'm OK. We did a lot of the practice own our own, since Pinball Manager was off putting out fires, like the lady who tried to return the table that wouldn't fit through the door!
After some more register time, we were taken to the Gourmet section (not Food, but Gourmet) and taught the basics of fronting. This is simply making the shelves look good. Bringing product to the front, making sure the labels face the front, filling shelves that have been cleaned out, etc.
And here is where things get interesting.
We don't have badges that say "Trainee" or anything like that, so as far as the customers are concerned, we know what we are doing. Also, company policy is to ask people if they are finding things, or just to smile and acknowledge them. So I'm straightening cans of soup when a lady comes up and tells me she's broken a Christmas ornament. I know what to do, so I follow her to the broken glass, and snag another employee and ask where the broom and dustpan are. He says he'll take care of it, but I insist that I'll handle it. I get the broom, sweep up, grab the tag, and start heading back to my facing assignment.
And get stopped by a customer. She wants Christmas cookie cutters. "Well, they'll either be along this row" indicating the Christmas specials "Or in kitchen supplies. Would you like me to take you over there?" She just asks me to point out where it is. Back to facing.
Take a break, back to the register. As Pinball Manager is dealing with a problem in the office, two ladies come up and ask me about a bed covering.. with no price. "Well, I'm very new, so let's see if I can find someone who can help you." Find an associate, tell him the problem, and he shows me where the coverings are and we find the right one.
When the PM returns, we open up. I let Silent One go first, and true to her nickname, she doesn't speak. To anyone. She handles several transactions without really opening her mouth. PM notices this. Then I'm on the hot "seat"; and I realize this is just like dealing with guests at SuperShuttle except I can look at them with killing us all. Just using a different script "Hi! Find everything you were looking for? Oh, this is cool.." Repeat as necessary, gauging the chattiness of the person. Which I learned to do in the dark, based on a minute's exposure while boarding them. Much easier here. Caught a few beeps when I hit the wrong key. No biggie. As we are doing this, I notice the associate who I had approached talking with PM. He gestures in my direction, and she gets a big smile.
We did this for the remainder of our shift, closing out the drawer and going back so Silent One could count out the drawer. Remember, she is the one with recent retail experience. She miscounted. I fixed it. *smile*
Clocked out at 10, walked home whistling the opening from Billy Joel's "The Stranger." Good thing for a dark night.
Thanks to
rosefox for the idea of given all my coworkers nicknames.That was the big thing Friday. Earlier, I went out on my bike to run some errands. Needed to get the head mowed, and grab some shirts for work. Since there's a Round Table Pizza next to Supercuts.. :) After filling my stomach, I rode over to Marshall's and grabbed two shirts, and new socks. Also got us lottery tickets for tonight. Funny thing is, if we win, I'll still work through the holidays. They hired me to do a job, and unless they tell me they have time to hire a replacement, I will not leave them short a person. (Besides, having that 25% discount will come in handy.)
The odd thing about the ride was, I managed to have a head wind in all four directions I rode. I love storms. Pressure changes are still killing me though.
I have today off, and work Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday and next Saturday. 29.0 hours.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 15 Nov 2003 15:32 (UTC)no subject
Date: 15 Nov 2003 16:48 (UTC)no subject
Date: 15 Nov 2003 22:43 (UTC)no subject
Date: 16 Nov 2003 20:20 (UTC)I'll have to stop by when I'm in the area and you're working.
no subject
Date: 19 Nov 2003 02:47 (UTC)Rupert Boleyn