Haven't been around much to report about my interview last week -- it went really well, and they've asked me to come back to take a writing test. Now of course I'm having all my usual "oh-no-now-I-have-to-make-a-decision" anxiety, but I'm feeling pretty good about it. I'm thinking that the onsite employee gym at the new company might be a tipping factor

Anyone heard anything new? I'm still looking for something next year. I joked to my husband that maybe I'll be a SAHKM (stay at home kitty mom).

I do have the option of continuing my grad assistantship through December, but that isn't what I really want to do.

fortune 500 top 100 companies to work for 2007

I got curious, so I thought someone else would too!

I certainly didn't take offense Some retail companies DEFINITELY have higher standards than others. I've got this year's "Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For" issue (the company I work for is in it), and numbers 3, 4, and 5 are all retailers (Wegman's, Container Store, and Whole Foods, respectively. Nordstrom's, long my "dream" retail place to work, is 26).

All true, D. I worked at the Body Shop several Christmases and loved it. I love helping people get more than they came for. And I'm really fed by working with the public, so retail ends up being a nice fit. In this position,because this company is huge, there are set standards and pay codes, standards of conduct and clear management and I really like that. Because the pay scale is high, they retain staff well, which is why I have never seen them hiring before. In fact, all of my experience has been in retail to some degree, even at the salon. I was thinking that I would have to leave that category to get more stability, but what I'm seeing is that the category of retail is really huge, and there are some company cultures that have high standards. Perhaps the difference between 9-5's and other jobs is more about the company culture than the category.

One of the interviews I had this week was for a position doing triage calls for a counselling service. Sounds like a relatively professional title, right? The doctor screened me so carefully on the phone before asking me in, I expected a lot. It turned out that the 3 people doing the job sit in a basement room with no windows, take crisis calls and appointments and call insurance companies and the pay was insulting.

I hope no one took offense to my seeming to disregard the retail industry! Now I feel like Imus...

Since you asked...

It's very easy to dismiss retail work as easy, and I think a lot of people do. Yes, it is easy to stand behind a register and be surly and unhelpful.

It is infinitely more difficult to know everything about your product, your customer, what your customer wants vs what s/he needs, how to market your product, how to sell to different types of people. All of those are required to be "successful." On top of that, you also need to be pleasant and helpful all time, regardless of the customer's attitude (with rare exception--no good manager expects a salesperson to deal with abusive behavior from a customer). Then, you're responsible for money, which is HUGE in this day and age, and for meeting the sales goals for the day/week/month/year as set by management. The area you work in, whether an auto parts store or a makeup counter, has to be kept neat and restocked.

You have to be brilliant with managing multiple tasks at once and helping more than one person at a time.

Customer service for a retail store will see you with a LOT of upset people. If you can handle them and turn their experience into a positive one, that's HUGE on a resume. There are some outstanding books on conflict resolution out there...anything about that and/or body language and even sales (since, really, you're selling the company's service) would be great reading for a position that deals with the public.

I'd also do some research on the retailer. How are they rated as a company?

It never failed to amaze me how many people thought I was dumb or a loser because I worked in retail. You know what? I really enjoyed that work. Every day, I made someone feel better about themselves. When I was with Bath & Body Works, I was routinely assigned to the "gift" area during Christmas, and I LOVED sending people away with the *perfect* gift for a loved one (or a hopeful loved one!). At the Clinique counter, I saw how dramatically what we think about ourselves affects how we feel. It taught me to see beauty in everyone. It sounds cheesey, but it's true. There are certainly people who take retail jobs just because, but there are also true professionals who take their jobs seriously and work very, very hard at making sure every customer is a happy customer.

*hops off the soapbox so someone else can use it*

Thank you for that information! I didn't know that! OK I live in computer country, and was raised in that culture. Maybe I got my perspective from those people and it's really off! Tell me more

Ditto what Dawn said. I worked retail for several years, and it requires a lot more strength and composure to do WELL than many people think--but managers tend to see good performance in retail as the ability to work with all kinds of people and the ability to work under pressure.

quote:

Originally posted by mountaingirl:


On the other hand, I interviewed yesterday with a well known retailer for a customer service position which is less professional than the photo studio job, but I loved the managers and the money is really good! So which is better, I'm asking myself: retail(which tends to not play great on a resume

Where do you get the idea that retail looks bad on a resume? I was in retail sales and then retail management and it has never been a negative on my resume.

Dawn

Well, things are finally hopping for me on the job front, so I thought I'd post an update. I'm learning so much.

I've had two interviews this week and have another scheduled for tomorrow morning. Because my strengths all fall under the people/service umbrella, there are lots of positions I am open to in lots of environments. What I really want is a good team setting with respectful pay for the work and people who are trustworthy and honest. I was expecting to find these things in a professional setting. Basically I'm trusting my gut to get the honest part!

The position I'm looking at tomorrow is the one I thought I wanted most: doing customer service for a photography studio. However, coincidentally (?)I was cold-called by them yesterday to set up my daughters senior photo sitting, and I was not impressed.

On the other hand, I interviewed yesterday with a well known retailer for a customer service position which is less professional than the photo studio job, but I loved the managers and the money is really good! So which is better, I'm asking myself: retail(which tends to not play great on a resume), quality company, good money, great managers OR professional office culture, cold-call sales, (money yet to be determined)? I guess I have to decide what matters to me. Hopefully I'll have a choice, wouldn't that be nice?

POOP! D

quote:

Originally posted by D in St Pete:
It's settled now...either the boyfriend's company wins the contract and I have to go to work for them (which I don't want to do, because the benefits aren't as good and the company is HUGE) to keep the job I love, or my company wins the contract and he's out of a job.

That noise you hear is both of us beating our heads against the wall.

OH NO! That does suck.

Dawn

quote:

Originally posted by D in St Pete:
It's settled now...either the boyfriend's company wins the contract and I have to go to work for them (which I don't want to do, because the benefits aren't as good and the company is HUGE) to keep the job I love, or my company wins the contract and he's out of a job.

That noise you hear is both of us beating our heads against the wall.

URGH! That sucks!

Ugh, Diana!

That really sucks!!! I'm sorry to hear it's going this way.

It's settled now...either the boyfriend's company wins the contract and I have to go to work for them (which I don't want to do, because the benefits aren't as good and the company is HUGE) to keep the job I love, or my company wins the contract and he's out of a job.

That noise you hear is both of us beating our heads against the wall.

quote:

Originally posted by p7eggyc:

quote:

Excuse me, but I need more info to base a decision like this on before even applying.

Paula, it sounds to me like you have lots of good reasons to NOT consider a position in Iowa but I wanted to say that I don't really think that you need much information at all to just apply for a job. Short of being concerned that it is a job with your current employer (I don't think that's a possibility for this situation), why do you need more info to apply? I agree that the recruiter is probably being excessively obtuse but that is not uncommon as they try to protect their interests.

Peg

Peg:

I work in a technical field. Specifically, I work writing/developing technical manuals. I have experience in a lot of different industries - Non-profit, sales, oil and gas, medical, software, industrial. While in most cases the particular industry area isn't that important - there are areas where it does matter what kind of industry/technical area the company is focused in. I also like to know what skill sets they are looking for.

There is a possibility that I might get hired full time here at the company I am working contract for.

That being said, I actually called the recruiter on Friday to see if I could find out more information, but he hasn't bothered to return my call.

Okay, so the potential other job only pays $0.56 more per hour. I think I'm staying put at the job #1. (%*#@!)

But they are considering working around my other schedule (since I'm the only one interested in the job in the month it's been open) and I'm thinking I could bank the salary and have a nice little school nest egg (that really wouldn't last all that long). The problem is that I'd be working 60 hours a week. That's a lot of hours even if I like the job...

I still need to figure out how to get out of the job, though.

Good for you Dawn! Does this mean that you could be moving up to IN sooner and telling your boss to shove it? : )

Laura - I hope that you can work something out to get out of your not good job/boss situation!

quote:

Originally posted by SheriaVa:

quote:

Originally posted by Tayhudson:
Well, I have a temporary job lined up in Indy. My old firm asked me to come back at least until I find something else. They said they know I don't want to stay in this field, but would be happy to have me while I looked.

It really is Sheri, and it does take some pressure off, knowing I'll have some sort of income. Also, they made the offer all on their own without me having to ask or anything.

They currently have someone, doing what I used to do, who is leaving in about 2 months. So, I think it also helps them fill the gap while they try to find someone.

Dawn
Congrats, Dawn! I assume this is good news in that you know you will have a paycheck until you find a job in another field. That is really wonderful of them to invite you back knowing that you aren't going to stay. Very cool!

quote:

Originally posted by Tayhudson:
Well, I have a temporary job lined up in Indy. My old firm asked me to come back at least until I find something else. They said they know I don't want to stay in this field, but would be happy to have me while I looked.

Congrats, Dawn! I assume this is good news in that you know you will have a paycheck until you find a job in another field. That is really wonderful of them to invite you back knowing that you aren't going to stay. Very cool!