Elusive Ink

Currently Listening
Just Fine
Mary J Blige



Well my first day of "real" work was quite an experience. I wasn't expecting to do any cashier work, but they decided to train me just in case they needed a fill in. One of the ETLs (supervisors) told me that I'd be doing that for the rest of the day, and when I go in on Thursday to get practice. So I went through the cashier training manual and she put me on a register with a practiced cashier (Melanie) there watching just to help me out. After about fifteen minutes, Melanie just decided I had it under control and walked off. They had me work checkout for another 45 minutes and then the ETL came over and told me I had enough practice and to go find my supervisor for Sales Floor work. I went in at 4 and was told I'd have a 15 minute paid break, and a 30 minute dinner break because I was sheduled to work until 10. I was instructed to take my 15 minute break after I'd only been there for an hour, and when I questioned it my ETL told me that I'd still have my 30 minute break later for dinner. But when they transferred me to work in hardlines B - I was told that because I'm a minor that I have to clock out at 9:45 instead of 10:00, so I'm technically only working 5.75 hours and don't get my 30 minute dinner break.

Needless to say, by the time I got home I was SO hungry. Just a few more months and I won't have to deal with anymore minor issues. Haha...I love puns.

Anyway, while it was exhausting, I got the hang of "zoning" on the sales floor quickly and really enjoy my job.

My brother and I went to a comedy writing workshop yesterday - which was quite an experience. I was the oldest, with the majority of the group being preadolescent boys. So...while they were making jokes about Highschool Musical that I didn't "get", they didn't "get" my jokes either. Despite this, I did learn some, and the instructor was very nice and helpful and suggested that I stick to telling stories.

I've always been terrible at telling jokes. My delivery is always off, my timing is terrible. Stories and sarcastic comments are totally my thing though.

Anyway...

While I was at work the other day, I was obsessively going over and over everything we'd been taught in orientation. One of the things that my trainer stressed was to make sure, when you're working the sales floor to always ask customers "Can I help you find something?" regardless of the department you're in or what you're doing. It's apparently Target's (gramatically incorrect) trademark question.

Eager to follow every rule to the letter, I stood frustratedly trying to sort stickers on the scrapbooking aisle when I saw a customer walk past the endcap and turn into the next row, looking at least mildly confused. I– being a helpful sales associate–decided that the best course of action would be to chase them down and offer my assistance.

Not inkeeping with what I was told in orientation, I was not equipped with a walkie talkie or a PDA (item scanner that gives you the location) but disregarded this to follow procedure in offering help to the customer.

I walked up to the customer and smiled, "Can I help you find something?"

"Yes, do you know if there would be children's easels over in toys?"

I didn't actually think she'd NEED help...what was I supposed to do?

"Well...I actually have absolutely no idea."

"Oh..."

"Hold on a second." I took off running across the store for my supervisor. She was nowhere to be found. In fact, I honestly could not see a coworker anywhere I turned. I trudged, frustrated, back to my waiting customer. "I'm sorry, I can't find my supervisor anywhere and I'm really not sure if it would be over there. Would you like me to go check for you?"

"No, I can just go over there myself."

Now, you would think after this experience...I would've learned my lesson. I don't have the equipment to do an item locate, nor was there enough staff on hand to be assured that someone would be around to help if I offered assistance that I couldn't provide. Yet, still eager to please...ths situation was repeated nearly three times over the course of my shift.

In retrospect, I feel like a moron. However, I now know to just smile at customers and not offer help unless they ask for it...at least until I'm given the proper equiptment to be able to effectively help them.

Whups, I'm gonna go run do something! More later.