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OP, I have cashiered at Wal-Mart, so I know what you're experiencing.
Basically, you get what you give. If you don't smile or greet your customer they are going to be cold or rude. Is it really so hard to smile and acknowledge a person? Yes, a real live person is standing right in front of you. It might be your 100th customer but it's their first time through the line.
I was always polite and friendly. If the line was long or there was a problem at the register, I'd make eye contact with the people waiting and apologize. And you know what? Very few people gave me attitude or were rude.
If you can succeed in a crap job you can succeed at a better one. Have you ever considered that the problem may be you? Your attitude is probably coming through in your interviews. I'm in a position where I hire the staff for my department and I think very highly of people who were able to be successful in some unpleasant jobs. It says a lot about their character.
Your attitude is probably coming through in your interviews.
While I agree with most of your post, I have an issue with people always saying this. Anyone of above average intelligence can easily fake their attitude in an interview. The interviewer isn't trained by the CIA and is very highly unlikely to pick up on it. Now for the not so smart people, they bomb interviews using that same bad attitude they had during their job. I've witnessed that a couple of times and it was funny, but kind of sad that they couldn't pretend a little for even 10 minutes.
While I agree with most of your post, I have an issue with people always saying this. Anyone of above average intelligence can easily fake their attitude in an interview. The interviewer isn't trained by the CIA and is very highly unlikely to pick up on it. Now for the not so smart people, they bomb interviews using that same bad attitude they had during their job. I've witnessed that a couple of times and it was funny, but kind of sad that they couldn't pretend a little for even 10 minutes.
As an example, one of the people I hired worked housekeeping in a hotel. That is a backbreaking, no gratitude, work for pennies job. She told me that she wanted to do more than housekeeping, of course, but she scrubbed the hell out of those toilets while she was there. She didn't pretend to be fulfilled by menial labor but I have no doubt she took her old job as seriously as she takes the one in my department. People like that are exactly who I want to hire.
I'm interested in what OP is saying about his current job while interviewing. He may be coming across as arrogant or pretentious or both.
I've dealt with this a lot. I went to a humiliating "group" interview at Old Navy, and never heard back. I interviewed with someone at JCPenney--put my best clothes on, made eye contact, tried as much as I could--nothing. I even left her a followup message (I guess I should have reached her directly) thanking her for her time. She didn't even have the decency to call back and say I didn't get it.
For this reason, I'm soured to job interviews. I don't appreciate having my feelings crapped on. It will make it very hard in the future. Then again, I don't really take rejection of ANY kind well, especially for something that it seems like everyone around me has with ease ( I loathe dating for the same reason ).
How does one feel good about basically being told "You're crap. I'm not hiring you"? There's no real good way to spin that. But I don't think I'll ever find a good job if I can't get past that. The feeling of I'M not good enough, I'M ****, I wasn't what they wanted. It's an impossible situation and a really unhappy feeling. I'm too sensitive, blah.
It's so hard when it seems like everyone in the world around you is doing so great, and interviewers just look on you as a pile of ****.
I am currently working at a very crappy job. I haven't job hunted in nearly three years while I've been working at this crappy job.
I've even read accounts of people who do hiring, and it just seems like...I don't know. Seems like there's no hope.
Their unprofessional actions are a reflection on them, not on you. It's not how you react to being knocked down, it's how you react for the next interview. Keep the faith!
I am always polite to customers except when they are rude. And in many cases, even when they are rude, I am polite. With very very rude customers, it may be apparent that I am eager for them to leave. And I can hardly be blamed for that.
Hehe, the other day my supervisor/crush actually laughed at a rude customer. So...you can't say I'm alone. I've laughed at people's kids having tantrums, and yes, occasionally laughed at rude customers, though after they were gone. If you could see how ridiculous these people are, you'd get it.
What I MEANT was, why was the thread bumped? I'm done talking about this.
Kim in FL, thank you for sharing your opinion.
There's no conflict in my stories. I should have been more clear. A few of my coworkers, like my supervisors, are irritated by the candy crap. The majority of my coworkers I get along with quite well. Otherwise I wouldn't be able to work there!
I appreciate your opinion that you think retail isn't for me. I am inclined to agree. However, I have bills to pay and debt to pay off, so unless you have some wonderful job that you know of that I can get easily, this is my job right now. And quite frankly, considering how mean a lot of people here have been, I'd be really surprised if anyone helped me in any way shape or form.
Edit: Whoo boy..."take a few classes"? LOL! How do you think I got into this mess? By taking classes and getting a degree that ultimately proved worthless. Besides, I don't have money for college classes, so unless you know of a magical way to pull money out of your behind, it's not happening.
Work in the oil fields...omg... *facepalm*
*facepalm*
*facepalm*
What is your degree in? I was just giving suggestions. Hey, I have been through hell during the Great Recession. I had to work in retail with a degree as well. I took some crappy jobs to keep my head above water. I kept job hunting. I job hunted for five years to be exact. Worked multiple jobs, lived in a cheap apartment in a bad neighborhood. Was homeless for awhile and didn't have a dime to my name. I was even using credit to buy food because my income was 0. I took some classes for free online through the unemployment office. Eventually got better and better jobs. Today, I have finally accepted a job that pays a living wage.
I did a lot of research on the Internet to find opportunities. Took classes on interviewing and took advantage of any free training being offered. There are employers that pay for CDL license. You could be a CNA for free which pays better than retail. There are direct service professionals who make $10 an hour. I know if you are a CNA, sometimes you can take advantage of tuition reimbursement at a hospital.
I went through and hell and found a way out. Granted I did have support of family, friends, and a church.
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