When I was younger, I heard a story about a young saint called Rose of Lima. This girl was beautiful. Drop dead gorgeous, if you'll excuse the cliche, and she had plenty of men wanting to court (and do other things to) her. One day, she became so fed up with this she used a mixture of lye and pepper on her face so that these "gentlemen" would leave her alone. I thought this action a bit rash...
...until I started to work at my current store.
From day one I have been mercilessly hit on by every male that walks in our doors. I have been ogled, gawked at, stared at, watched and sexually harassed so often, I am about to try that trick myself. So that being said, let us continue.
In relation to your cashier, it is okay to:
-Tell her that she is pretty.
-Tell her that she is beautiful.
-Tell her that her smile is nice, that her teeth are straight, and her eyes shine.
-Leave you number casually, letting her know that she does not have to call, and then mean it.
In a perfect world, it would be okay to:
-Politely ask if you could have her number.
I say "in a perfect world" because although this expresses interest in a somewhat non-invasive manner, this happens a lot more than you would think. If this particular female you're after gave out her number to everyone who asked (or even just those she found attractive), she would have to change her number probably as many times. Guys nowadays don't know how to accept a rejection and therefore will continue to call, determined to score. So when we tell nearly anyone, "no thanks," they whine like a child. Holding up our lines, annoying us, and making us wish we didn't have to put up with any of this. Some guys will even get angry and curse at us. Having to deal with this day after day, we dread this request.
It is NOT okay to:
-Buy condoms and suggest that they were purchased specifically for the girl.
-Tell the girl to "stand still" so that you can "just look at" her.
-Ogle her breasts or backside while she's staring right back at you (yeah, it had to be mentioned
somewhere)
-Try to hug her so that your genitals come anywhere near her.
-Demand her number.
-Demand a date from her.
-Demand, well, just about anything from her.
-Repeatedly ask her out/to go on a "baloney pony ride."
-Sit in the parking lot for an hour when you know she is getting off soon.
-Call her sexy, hot, smoking, or any other synonym
-Call her honey, sugar, or baby unless you are old or have an almost debilitating southern accent.
-Insist that, because she politely and gently turned you down, that she is "shitting all over" you.
-When you see that she is married (or engaged), tell her, "you don't really love him, you just
need a good dickin.'"
This list is never-ending and I think I will add to it as more and more things happen to me. Yes, all of the above has happened to me personally. Along with a lot more. *shudders*
Let's get something clear: I am married to a man. I am not some femi-nazi (if you noticed, I said it is wrong to ogle while being watched--I have done my fair share of ogling, I just made sure I was not making them feel uncomfortable). Men are only disgusting to me in this light--otherwise they are just fine.
That out of the way......
Green lights for asking the lady in question for an outing:
-She winks at you.
-She asks you out.
-She gives you her number.
-She smiles, bites her lip, and makes eye contact for several seconds (all at the same time!!).
-She leaps over the counter, into your arms saying, "take me away you sexy beast!" ...or the
equivalent...
Please remember that this woman has probably dealt with a lot of creeps and therefore has a rather high guard set up. Be kind, be gentle, be patient and most of all--let her ask you. If she's old-fashioned, then she won't be for long. Trust me.
Wednesday
Friday
My Interesting Idea!
So many companies have an employee of the month, yes? Awards like these can be very uplifting, but they are limited by the communication between stores and businesses. If Jane makes employee of the month at store #187543539 in Tuscon, AZ, no one knows in New York, NY at store #785987.
I would like to change that--let's get recognition out there, if only to just give that person one more thing to put on his'er resume. Anybody up for it?
What I have in mind is that you, as the boss or co-worker of the employee, send in an essay (it doesn't have to be perfect) glorifying this person. I will sort through the entries and then post however many I feel like at the time (or I suppose I could set an amount) for the general public to vote on. The winner gets the title "employee of the month" for--you guessed it--a month and his'er own page on the official Behind the Counter website! Once the month is over with, that lucky person will still have his'er name on the site, but I'll have to figure out whether I'll be able to keep a full page for that person, have to have a small overview or will just have to have that person's name and place of employment as a part of a list. Details still need to be worked out, however, the idea remains the same; accomplishments at work very often go unnoticed. Help me to correct this problem!
Disclaimer: If you get fired or have any reprocussions regarding your winning of or participation in said contest, I am not to be held responsible. It's not my fault your place of emplyment is nuts. Thank you, come again!
Next week: Funny stories? Asking out your cashier? Mishaps? CS-related news around the world?? Who knows! Tune in to find out the answer to this burning question!!
I would like to change that--let's get recognition out there, if only to just give that person one more thing to put on his'er resume. Anybody up for it?
What I have in mind is that you, as the boss or co-worker of the employee, send in an essay (it doesn't have to be perfect) glorifying this person. I will sort through the entries and then post however many I feel like at the time (or I suppose I could set an amount) for the general public to vote on. The winner gets the title "employee of the month" for--you guessed it--a month and his'er own page on the official Behind the Counter website! Once the month is over with, that lucky person will still have his'er name on the site, but I'll have to figure out whether I'll be able to keep a full page for that person, have to have a small overview or will just have to have that person's name and place of employment as a part of a list. Details still need to be worked out, however, the idea remains the same; accomplishments at work very often go unnoticed. Help me to correct this problem!
Disclaimer: If you get fired or have any reprocussions regarding your winning of or participation in said contest, I am not to be held responsible. It's not my fault your place of emplyment is nuts. Thank you, come again!
Next week: Funny stories? Asking out your cashier? Mishaps? CS-related news around the world?? Who knows! Tune in to find out the answer to this burning question!!
Wednesday
To the Inexperienced...
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, there are those in the population who have never held a job using a register. Let's allow that to sink in for a minute.
They have never dealt with late-night and even afternoon drunkards. They have never had ten people in a row hand them a twenty for a dollar tab. They have never had to tell someone to his'er face that the credit card was declined. They have never dealt--in person--with a price change in a poor neighborhood.
We as cashiers have so many things that irk us, and we get so angry at the customer...but that isn't fair. None of them realize that what they are doing is wrong. Well, some of them do, but that's beside the point.
Today, I am going to address those who have never had a face-to-face customer service or cashier job. And I'm telling you--get one.
Once you spend about a week or two cashing people out and dealing with the asinine "problems" these people have, you will understand how to behave yourself. You will finally be able to go into a store and not feel like the person across from you is your enemy. And once your one or two weeks are up, you are free to go. Unlike the rest of us.
You see, most of us are not here by choice. Most of us are just trying to pay the bills until something better happens; maybe we're waiting to graduate or save up enough for a car to get the job we really want downtown. Maybe we are high school drop outs because we are pro-life and we were raped in our own bedrooms (no, that last one is not me, don't worry). There are so many reasons why we do what we do, but for the most part, we are stuck here.
And that being said, let's delve into just a few of the things that the "inexperienced" do that makes us angry.
Money. That's all life's about right? At least, in the business world it is. So when you get up to the register, no--we can't spare some money for you. Maybe a penny. Maybe a nickel. But any more than that, and we risk losing our jobs. So yeah, you're soda is really not that important to us.
Price changes. When a store sells a product, that store agrees to sell it at a certain price. Sometimes, however, that number is only suggested by the manufacturer and the store can sell it for more if they want. Yes, buying a soda for more that what it's "worth" sucks. However, the cashier didn't set the price, nor do they care about it. More than likely the person you're complaining to buys their soda at a cheaper store. Call up the store owner to complain. If it is a franchise, the owner can decide what they want to sell things for. If it is a chain of stores all owned by a corporation, they have to sell it for what the big bosses decide. Make sure you know what kind of business you're dealing with before you start ranting and raving about something that that person has no control over.
Large Bills. Convenience store clerks are only allowed to have so much money in their drawers at a time. They can get money from the safe only so many times in a shift (depending on how much money is in there), and every time they get handed a twenty, this makes it harder and harder for them to make change for people later on in the shift, regardless of how much you actually owe them. Please don't try to break your fifty by buying a a stick of gum. We may just say no. And by the way, yes, we can do that. Please don't make a scene.
Cups. If you want a cup full of ice, please make sure that the store you are currently occupying gives those out for free, before you get it. Most stores don't, and don't think that for a minute that we'll give it to you just because you made up some lie about how the store down the street does it or we did it yesterday. Why? Because it costs money for those cups. When you get soda, you are not necessarily paying for the liquid. You are paying for the cup to put it in. That, of course, won't stop the store from charging for refills--otherwise they'd lose too much business. Even so, you leaving with that cup unpaid for is on camera and if the cashier gets blamed for that, s/he is out of a job. Period. So don't whine that you have to pay for it--buy a plastic cup and reuse it. Heck, buy that cup and an ice tray. That combination will pay for itself hundreds of times over, and it's "green."
So many issues, so little time. If you want to see more, then get a CS job. Stand behind the register and check people out for hours at a time and your whole world view will change. I will definitely add more in future blogs, but for today, we're out of time.
Next time, I will share that interesting idea I mention last week. Boy, I'm excited! :-)
They have never dealt with late-night and even afternoon drunkards. They have never had ten people in a row hand them a twenty for a dollar tab. They have never had to tell someone to his'er face that the credit card was declined. They have never dealt--in person--with a price change in a poor neighborhood.
We as cashiers have so many things that irk us, and we get so angry at the customer...but that isn't fair. None of them realize that what they are doing is wrong. Well, some of them do, but that's beside the point.
Today, I am going to address those who have never had a face-to-face customer service or cashier job. And I'm telling you--get one.
Once you spend about a week or two cashing people out and dealing with the asinine "problems" these people have, you will understand how to behave yourself. You will finally be able to go into a store and not feel like the person across from you is your enemy. And once your one or two weeks are up, you are free to go. Unlike the rest of us.
You see, most of us are not here by choice. Most of us are just trying to pay the bills until something better happens; maybe we're waiting to graduate or save up enough for a car to get the job we really want downtown. Maybe we are high school drop outs because we are pro-life and we were raped in our own bedrooms (no, that last one is not me, don't worry). There are so many reasons why we do what we do, but for the most part, we are stuck here.
And that being said, let's delve into just a few of the things that the "inexperienced" do that makes us angry.
Money. That's all life's about right? At least, in the business world it is. So when you get up to the register, no--we can't spare some money for you. Maybe a penny. Maybe a nickel. But any more than that, and we risk losing our jobs. So yeah, you're soda is really not that important to us.
Price changes. When a store sells a product, that store agrees to sell it at a certain price. Sometimes, however, that number is only suggested by the manufacturer and the store can sell it for more if they want. Yes, buying a soda for more that what it's "worth" sucks. However, the cashier didn't set the price, nor do they care about it. More than likely the person you're complaining to buys their soda at a cheaper store. Call up the store owner to complain. If it is a franchise, the owner can decide what they want to sell things for. If it is a chain of stores all owned by a corporation, they have to sell it for what the big bosses decide. Make sure you know what kind of business you're dealing with before you start ranting and raving about something that that person has no control over.
Large Bills. Convenience store clerks are only allowed to have so much money in their drawers at a time. They can get money from the safe only so many times in a shift (depending on how much money is in there), and every time they get handed a twenty, this makes it harder and harder for them to make change for people later on in the shift, regardless of how much you actually owe them. Please don't try to break your fifty by buying a a stick of gum. We may just say no. And by the way, yes, we can do that. Please don't make a scene.
Cups. If you want a cup full of ice, please make sure that the store you are currently occupying gives those out for free, before you get it. Most stores don't, and don't think that for a minute that we'll give it to you just because you made up some lie about how the store down the street does it or we did it yesterday. Why? Because it costs money for those cups. When you get soda, you are not necessarily paying for the liquid. You are paying for the cup to put it in. That, of course, won't stop the store from charging for refills--otherwise they'd lose too much business. Even so, you leaving with that cup unpaid for is on camera and if the cashier gets blamed for that, s/he is out of a job. Period. So don't whine that you have to pay for it--buy a plastic cup and reuse it. Heck, buy that cup and an ice tray. That combination will pay for itself hundreds of times over, and it's "green."
So many issues, so little time. If you want to see more, then get a CS job. Stand behind the register and check people out for hours at a time and your whole world view will change. I will definitely add more in future blogs, but for today, we're out of time.
Next time, I will share that interesting idea I mention last week. Boy, I'm excited! :-)
Monday
The Departed
ONE DAY YOU WILL LEAVE. Whether it be because you quit, you were fired, you moved up the ranks, or because you were dragged out, kicking and screaming when you turned 69 years old. Any way it happens, you will leave the counter. And once it does there are several things you are socially obligated to do (and not do) amongst your cashier brethren.
If you quit, don't hold grudges. Don't forever glare at that one guy who always made you do his share of the work. Don't make mean remarks to the lady that left the store a mess every shift. And especially don't make it known that you are unhappy with your ex-boss. Just let it go. This step takes time if your job was particularly horrible, and that's natural. But don't let them see you grind your teeth. Making their lives easier (if you have to go back there on a regular basis) will make it easier for you to move on, because, honey, "ain't no one gunna" miss you for long. Maybe if you were a really awesome person to work with, or if you were the only one strong enough to change out the soda for the machine, but you can (and will) be replaced.
If you were fired, the same thing applies. Also, don't make life harder for the one hired to replace you. They don't care about you; all they know is that you made it easier for them to get a job. And once again, just let all of your anger go. There is no sense in losing your mind.
If you moved up the ranks, please, please don't forget what it was like pushing buttons all day. Or stocking shelves. Or sweeping the floor. Or smiling at rude customers. It sucked, remember? Don't make it worse by creating asinine policies that are detached from real life.
And finally, no matter how you left, why you left, or when you left, there are three words you need to keep in mind. No one cares. It's harsh, know, but no one cares that you had once stood where they do now. No one cares that they have it much easier than you did, or that the procedures made much more sense back then. And one more thing: don't assume that what you know is even somewhat relevant to what they have to work with now. The other day I had an old man trying to tell me that I was doing the lottery wrong, refusing to believe it was a much more modern machine than he used fifty years ago.
HOWEVER, to those who run into ex-employees, listen to their advice. They may have a precious gem stored somewhere in there that will make your life so much better. I have learned many a thing that I wouldn't have otherwise from a woman who comes in all the time.
Next up on Wednesday is an article addressing the bit of the population who has never held a register job. And after that, I have an interesting idea to share! And finally, after that, I think I will be able to break the week up into categories. More on that bit next time, however.
If you quit, don't hold grudges. Don't forever glare at that one guy who always made you do his share of the work. Don't make mean remarks to the lady that left the store a mess every shift. And especially don't make it known that you are unhappy with your ex-boss. Just let it go. This step takes time if your job was particularly horrible, and that's natural. But don't let them see you grind your teeth. Making their lives easier (if you have to go back there on a regular basis) will make it easier for you to move on, because, honey, "ain't no one gunna" miss you for long. Maybe if you were a really awesome person to work with, or if you were the only one strong enough to change out the soda for the machine, but you can (and will) be replaced.
If you were fired, the same thing applies. Also, don't make life harder for the one hired to replace you. They don't care about you; all they know is that you made it easier for them to get a job. And once again, just let all of your anger go. There is no sense in losing your mind.
If you moved up the ranks, please, please don't forget what it was like pushing buttons all day. Or stocking shelves. Or sweeping the floor. Or smiling at rude customers. It sucked, remember? Don't make it worse by creating asinine policies that are detached from real life.
And finally, no matter how you left, why you left, or when you left, there are three words you need to keep in mind. No one cares. It's harsh, know, but no one cares that you had once stood where they do now. No one cares that they have it much easier than you did, or that the procedures made much more sense back then. And one more thing: don't assume that what you know is even somewhat relevant to what they have to work with now. The other day I had an old man trying to tell me that I was doing the lottery wrong, refusing to believe it was a much more modern machine than he used fifty years ago.
HOWEVER, to those who run into ex-employees, listen to their advice. They may have a precious gem stored somewhere in there that will make your life so much better. I have learned many a thing that I wouldn't have otherwise from a woman who comes in all the time.
Next up on Wednesday is an article addressing the bit of the population who has never held a register job. And after that, I have an interesting idea to share! And finally, after that, I think I will be able to break the week up into categories. More on that bit next time, however.
Saturday
The Biggest Piece of Advice, Ever.
NO. No, thank you. Sorry, can't. No, I won't. No. Non. Nein. Ohi. NO!
Learn to say it.
One thing people tend to forget is that, although they may work for their company, the company does not own your soul. And they shouldn't. Just because someone quits or gets sick does not mean you have to work for 12 hours. Unless you want to, of course.
More than likely you work for a corporation. In which case they will survive without you, and that's okay. X Corp is not going to pack it in because you decided to take a day off, nor will you impress your boss by becoming a workaholic loser who is going to burn out soon anyway.
Yeah, that's right. Burn out. You don't have to work for a company for a long time in order to exhaust yourself. So how and why does this happen?
I worked with a woman, let's call her Celia. When someone was sick, she was there. When someone was late, she would not allow anyone to stay late but herself. She never gave herself a day off and finally, her biggest mistake: she volunteered for extra work.
Not that taking someone's shift to make a couple bucks is wrong. Nor is volunteering to take care of, say, the back storage area as though it were your own. But when you do all that and more, and then still say, "yes" to every job that comes up, you have a problem.
That being said, let's run down the list of reasons why this is bad, still using Celia.
In the beginning, Celia would volunteer to do jobs that no one wanted. As such, she became the "go-to" person, always being the first to be asked if she wanted to take something on. Her work piled up on her so she began to stay later and later into the day, extending her shifts until she reached overtime.
She moved up in the company quickly, all the way to a salaried position. No more overtime for her. Her normal duties increased, paperwork became a part of it. She abandoned her coworkers to their own devices while she attempted to finish it all, getting a lot of nothing done. This situation was incredibly frustrating--try bailing out a boat with a holey bucket.
If you are a boss and all you see is that nothing is accomplished when it should be, what would be your response? As you can imagine, she was not congratulated on her abilities. Nor her wonderful time management. Nor her work ethic.
This "overachiever" started to feel under-appreciated, while her bosses felt like she was slacking.
Saying "no" to a competent boss will not hinder your upward mobility. In fact, the right boss will see this as a sign of responsibility and it says, "I know my limits and I do not wish to take on a task that I am not capable of completing to the best of my ability."
Of course, if you have an "over-achieving" burnout as a boss, too, say that instead of just "no." S/He'll understand then (hopefully) and may one day take your cue.
One thing to remember is this: No working situation is ideal. If you are with a small company, they are less likely to make it out of a bad situation such as a lack of people. However, no matter the business, if your superior is unwilling or unable to put forth the effort to correct problems or to pitch in and help, you may want to start opening the classifieds.
Up next week, we explore the dos and don'ts of being an ex-employee!
Learn to say it.
One thing people tend to forget is that, although they may work for their company, the company does not own your soul. And they shouldn't. Just because someone quits or gets sick does not mean you have to work for 12 hours. Unless you want to, of course.
More than likely you work for a corporation. In which case they will survive without you, and that's okay. X Corp is not going to pack it in because you decided to take a day off, nor will you impress your boss by becoming a workaholic loser who is going to burn out soon anyway.
Yeah, that's right. Burn out. You don't have to work for a company for a long time in order to exhaust yourself. So how and why does this happen?
I worked with a woman, let's call her Celia. When someone was sick, she was there. When someone was late, she would not allow anyone to stay late but herself. She never gave herself a day off and finally, her biggest mistake: she volunteered for extra work.
Not that taking someone's shift to make a couple bucks is wrong. Nor is volunteering to take care of, say, the back storage area as though it were your own. But when you do all that and more, and then still say, "yes" to every job that comes up, you have a problem.
That being said, let's run down the list of reasons why this is bad, still using Celia.
In the beginning, Celia would volunteer to do jobs that no one wanted. As such, she became the "go-to" person, always being the first to be asked if she wanted to take something on. Her work piled up on her so she began to stay later and later into the day, extending her shifts until she reached overtime.
She moved up in the company quickly, all the way to a salaried position. No more overtime for her. Her normal duties increased, paperwork became a part of it. She abandoned her coworkers to their own devices while she attempted to finish it all, getting a lot of nothing done. This situation was incredibly frustrating--try bailing out a boat with a holey bucket.
If you are a boss and all you see is that nothing is accomplished when it should be, what would be your response? As you can imagine, she was not congratulated on her abilities. Nor her wonderful time management. Nor her work ethic.
This "overachiever" started to feel under-appreciated, while her bosses felt like she was slacking.
Saying "no" to a competent boss will not hinder your upward mobility. In fact, the right boss will see this as a sign of responsibility and it says, "I know my limits and I do not wish to take on a task that I am not capable of completing to the best of my ability."
Of course, if you have an "over-achieving" burnout as a boss, too, say that instead of just "no." S/He'll understand then (hopefully) and may one day take your cue.
One thing to remember is this: No working situation is ideal. If you are with a small company, they are less likely to make it out of a bad situation such as a lack of people. However, no matter the business, if your superior is unwilling or unable to put forth the effort to correct problems or to pitch in and help, you may want to start opening the classifieds.
Up next week, we explore the dos and don'ts of being an ex-employee!
Wednesday
Second Day of Work (part two)
Now that you have settled in a little more to your job, there are just a few more things I have to say about your general day-to-day procession. These things, if applied, will make everything easier for both you and (believe if or not) your employer.
The Biggest piece of advice I can ever give you...I'll tell you in a minute.
But first, there a couple of things most people don't really think about, but will help out tremendously. One, is to become interested.
Become interested in your coworkers, your bosses, your customers, and your company. You don't have to love them. You don't have to know every little detail, either. Just ask questions, make them feel like they are more than just another dollar (or step up) to you. Customers have an odd habit of divulging more information that it takes to complete a transaction, so take advantage. Like if someone buys a bag of ice from me. If he adds, "I need this for drinks," I ask, "Oh yeah? What are you doing?" I look interested and sincere--but for the most part, I couldn't give a flip about them. The customer might tell me that he has relatives coming into town for a reunion and none of them drink beer. This bit of information? Useless. But they feel better.
But why? Why should we make it seem like we care about some stupid middle-age guy with no life and big, non-alcoholic family? Because, my friend, he won't care as much if you mess up.
People are more prone to forgiving those they like. Think about it: if your friend from kindergarten rings up more than one of something, do you feel threatened? Do you automatically write them off as some stupid store clerk who is trying to cheat you out of your money? No. You let them know they messed up, pay them, and move on.
Also, your boss will forgive you faster for neglecting to do something in the store before you left that day. That is, if they think that you were too busy caring for them and their customers in the first place to notice.
Finally, you will understand more the why's and how's of store policy if you really pay attention to every aspect of business. Even if you are just a lowly little clerk, learn the paperwork, watch the sales records; pretend like you are working for the competition when it comes to paying attention to the mechanics of the store. In the long run, this will make it easier for you to learn how to take your boss's job (and the higher-ups tend to notice this sort of thing as well).
And the biggest piece of advice I can give you...will come in a minute.
The other half of becoming interested is becoming interesting. If you continue to show you care about your customers, then many of them will start to care about you. Before this happens, be prepared. As you may have noticed, speaking to someone as boring as a gray wall is not fun and will quickly make us wish we hadn't tried. The same goes for cashiers. Identify with people and don't be afraid to share a little about yourself.
The why of this one is a little more simple: for fun. Who do I normally share with? Friends. How do I normally make friends? Sharing with strangers. When I go to work, I am accompanied by my co-workers, yes, but also by my customers. Most people don't have time to stand in a store and chat (some do; that's not the point). So while your co-workers have the opportunity to pry and wheedle something fun out of me, my customers do not. If you volunteer harmless information ("why, yes, I was born of two parents!"), then you can make fast friends, and "fast food friends."
"Fast food friends" are the patrons who come into the store that I know enough about and our personalities are compatible enough that I feel like I've had a friendly visit rather than just had to check someone out. These encounters usually last as long as it takes to get fast food, hence the name.
And finally, the moment you have all been waiting for! It is time for me to tell you that the biggest, most valuable advice that money can buy................is going to have to wait until Friday. I know, I'm evil.
The Biggest piece of advice I can ever give you...I'll tell you in a minute.
But first, there a couple of things most people don't really think about, but will help out tremendously. One, is to become interested.
Become interested in your coworkers, your bosses, your customers, and your company. You don't have to love them. You don't have to know every little detail, either. Just ask questions, make them feel like they are more than just another dollar (or step up) to you. Customers have an odd habit of divulging more information that it takes to complete a transaction, so take advantage. Like if someone buys a bag of ice from me. If he adds, "I need this for drinks," I ask, "Oh yeah? What are you doing?" I look interested and sincere--but for the most part, I couldn't give a flip about them. The customer might tell me that he has relatives coming into town for a reunion and none of them drink beer. This bit of information? Useless. But they feel better.
But why? Why should we make it seem like we care about some stupid middle-age guy with no life and big, non-alcoholic family? Because, my friend, he won't care as much if you mess up.
People are more prone to forgiving those they like. Think about it: if your friend from kindergarten rings up more than one of something, do you feel threatened? Do you automatically write them off as some stupid store clerk who is trying to cheat you out of your money? No. You let them know they messed up, pay them, and move on.
Also, your boss will forgive you faster for neglecting to do something in the store before you left that day. That is, if they think that you were too busy caring for them and their customers in the first place to notice.
Finally, you will understand more the why's and how's of store policy if you really pay attention to every aspect of business. Even if you are just a lowly little clerk, learn the paperwork, watch the sales records; pretend like you are working for the competition when it comes to paying attention to the mechanics of the store. In the long run, this will make it easier for you to learn how to take your boss's job (and the higher-ups tend to notice this sort of thing as well).
And the biggest piece of advice I can give you...will come in a minute.
The other half of becoming interested is becoming interesting. If you continue to show you care about your customers, then many of them will start to care about you. Before this happens, be prepared. As you may have noticed, speaking to someone as boring as a gray wall is not fun and will quickly make us wish we hadn't tried. The same goes for cashiers. Identify with people and don't be afraid to share a little about yourself.
The why of this one is a little more simple: for fun. Who do I normally share with? Friends. How do I normally make friends? Sharing with strangers. When I go to work, I am accompanied by my co-workers, yes, but also by my customers. Most people don't have time to stand in a store and chat (some do; that's not the point). So while your co-workers have the opportunity to pry and wheedle something fun out of me, my customers do not. If you volunteer harmless information ("why, yes, I was born of two parents!"), then you can make fast friends, and "fast food friends."
"Fast food friends" are the patrons who come into the store that I know enough about and our personalities are compatible enough that I feel like I've had a friendly visit rather than just had to check someone out. These encounters usually last as long as it takes to get fast food, hence the name.
And finally, the moment you have all been waiting for! It is time for me to tell you that the biggest, most valuable advice that money can buy................is going to have to wait until Friday. I know, I'm evil.
Second Day of Work
So you have decided that CS is the job for you (or you were too lazy and broke to continue looking)...now what?
Now, you (hopefully) have years and years ahead of you to perfect your CS abilities and move up the corporate ladder! While you're on your way, however, let me share some advice with you:
First and foremost, you need to learn to be patient with yourself. Everyone makes mistakes, even you. When you hand back incorrect change or press a wrong key on your screen, just remember that it is NOT the end of the world. All you need to do is to make a mental note of what you did wrong and try not to do it again. The only stupid mistake out there is one you never tried to learn from, even if the lesson is just to never do it again.
Secondly, you need to learn to love your job. Every morning, while making coffee at our coffee bar, I overhear so many of our customers say, "I don't want to go to work," or "I'd be fine if I wasn't on my way to work." And I can't help but reply, "If you feel that way, maybe you ought not work there." Not everyone can have an awesomely cushy job. And maybe your only talents are something that won't feasibly earn a living. That's okay. What you need to do is to find pleasure in the little things dealing with your line of work. Even if for the strangest reasons. For example:
I find great enjoyment out of exceeding a customer's expectations. This is not because I enjoy being subservient, but because it will either wipe that smug look off of their face, or it will truly brighten their day. I also feel a strange satisfaction in getting on my knees and scrubbing, well, anything. This is probably related to a freak floor-cleaner accident when I was a wee lass and is not really the norm. However, I take this with me every time something needs to be cleaned (as a side note, I'd like to say that done right, scrubbing equals zen).
Thirdly, multitasking. This can be one heck of a tool for when the balance of things to do versus time to do them with is out of whack. However, you want to use this sparingly. If you overdo this particular method, you will start to go a little crazy. Symptoms include, but are not limited to: dizziness (due to running around the room), headache (from trying to cram too many to-do lists in your brain), forgetfulness (when tasks started before extensions to said lists start to fall out), and finding you have more to do than before. An example of the last one is when you carry too many things at once because you have a limited amount of time before, say, your first batch of coffee is done brewing, and end up spilling whatever you were carrying.
If you find that you are suffering from one or more of these symptoms, please stop everything, breathe, and if possible, get some help from a co-worker! You cannot and should not do everything in you store. Do a limited number of things really well; don't do a half job at everything. But also make sure your boss knows what responsibilities you are perfecting.
So far, we've discussed being patient with yourself, learning to love your job and multitasking. These are important things to remember in making your job easier. The next post will continue this subject. Points will include becoming interested, becoming interesting, and the biggest bit of advice I can ever give you.
Now, you (hopefully) have years and years ahead of you to perfect your CS abilities and move up the corporate ladder! While you're on your way, however, let me share some advice with you:
First and foremost, you need to learn to be patient with yourself. Everyone makes mistakes, even you. When you hand back incorrect change or press a wrong key on your screen, just remember that it is NOT the end of the world. All you need to do is to make a mental note of what you did wrong and try not to do it again. The only stupid mistake out there is one you never tried to learn from, even if the lesson is just to never do it again.
Secondly, you need to learn to love your job. Every morning, while making coffee at our coffee bar, I overhear so many of our customers say, "I don't want to go to work," or "I'd be fine if I wasn't on my way to work." And I can't help but reply, "If you feel that way, maybe you ought not work there." Not everyone can have an awesomely cushy job. And maybe your only talents are something that won't feasibly earn a living. That's okay. What you need to do is to find pleasure in the little things dealing with your line of work. Even if for the strangest reasons. For example:
I find great enjoyment out of exceeding a customer's expectations. This is not because I enjoy being subservient, but because it will either wipe that smug look off of their face, or it will truly brighten their day. I also feel a strange satisfaction in getting on my knees and scrubbing, well, anything. This is probably related to a freak floor-cleaner accident when I was a wee lass and is not really the norm. However, I take this with me every time something needs to be cleaned (as a side note, I'd like to say that done right, scrubbing equals zen).
Thirdly, multitasking. This can be one heck of a tool for when the balance of things to do versus time to do them with is out of whack. However, you want to use this sparingly. If you overdo this particular method, you will start to go a little crazy. Symptoms include, but are not limited to: dizziness (due to running around the room), headache (from trying to cram too many to-do lists in your brain), forgetfulness (when tasks started before extensions to said lists start to fall out), and finding you have more to do than before. An example of the last one is when you carry too many things at once because you have a limited amount of time before, say, your first batch of coffee is done brewing, and end up spilling whatever you were carrying.
If you find that you are suffering from one or more of these symptoms, please stop everything, breathe, and if possible, get some help from a co-worker! You cannot and should not do everything in you store. Do a limited number of things really well; don't do a half job at everything. But also make sure your boss knows what responsibilities you are perfecting.
So far, we've discussed being patient with yourself, learning to love your job and multitasking. These are important things to remember in making your job easier. The next post will continue this subject. Points will include becoming interested, becoming interesting, and the biggest bit of advice I can ever give you.
Tuesday
Congratulations!
YOU HAVE CHOSEN to enter the world of Customer Service (or CS)! But before you get too excited, first let me say that if you have another option, please consider it. Let's start with some pros and cons:
As this list could go on for days, let me sum it up. This job can both rock and suck hardcore at the same time, depending on a lot of factors. These factors can change day by day and hour by hour. Basically, if you don't have any other choice but to work in CS, or if you've simply decided that you're in it for the long haul, stick with me. I've been there and done that for the passed five years and, accordingly, will be able to throw some advice your way. Not to mention the random, awesome story.
Pro: You make money.
Con: Depending on where you work, you don't make much.
Pro: Once you get the hang of it, your job is relatively easy.
Con: You are also easily replaced.
Pro: You get to meet many interesting people.
Con: You get to meet many horrible, cranky, rude, mean, perverted people.
As this list could go on for days, let me sum it up. This job can both rock and suck hardcore at the same time, depending on a lot of factors. These factors can change day by day and hour by hour. Basically, if you don't have any other choice but to work in CS, or if you've simply decided that you're in it for the long haul, stick with me. I've been there and done that for the passed five years and, accordingly, will be able to throw some advice your way. Not to mention the random, awesome story.
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