The term “broke college student” hasn’t been coined for nothing. Textbooks, food, nights out with your friends – it all costs money. For many, this means a part-time or even full-time job in addition to their studies, and you can often find that opportunity somewhere in the world of retail.
Retail jobs get a bad rap. Between long hours (most of which are spent standing) and sometimes unfavorable customer interactions, many believe they’re simply not cut out for it. After working in retail for the past four years myself, I know how repetitive and tedious the work can get. However, with a shift in perspective, a positive attitude, and a willingness to work hard and learn, you can survive (and even thrive) in your retail job.
You can find yourself doing all sorts of tasks in retail, with cashiering and stocking shelves being the most popular. But if those don’t sound appealing to you there are plenty of other retail roles to explore. RJ Rueda, Security/Loss Protection at Horrocks, has learned that his new position involves a much different skill set than many others.
“It takes a fortified individual of both mind and body to properly practice good loss prevention. For everytime I deal with the same situation, it’s always brand new depending on the person/people I’m dealing with. Knowing how to alleviate a nervous person that actually did nothing wrong while other times being able to stand firm against a known thief acting out to intimidate you is a double-edged skill,” Rueda said.
Many find their retail opportunities in big box stores or stores in the mall, but others like to take it a bit slower with jobs in small businesses.
“The biggest pro is that working for a small business is far more rewarding, and it allows you to actually be far closer to those at the top. There’s not that weird ‘oh, corporate is here’ feeling, and that feeling of being entirely replaceable is also gone,” Sam Barton, an employee at Perfect Storm Comics and Games, said.
Laura Rodriguez, a General Merchandise team member at Target, spends most of her time putting out products but finds the most satisfaction in solving customers’ needs.
“I enjoy helping the guests the most. Working with so many products every day you learn a bit about everything and it feels like a personal victory being able to find exactly what the guest needs as well as having the knowledge about the product to answer any question they may have. It translates to your personal life when you realize it also helps you be a better shopper,” Rodriguez said.
Sometimes the help your customers need can be daunting. You never know what a stranger is going through, and something as simple as a negative shopping experience can tip them over the edge – but a positive one can make a huge difference in their outlook too.
“The most stressful situation is probably someone coming in with bleach or any chemical damage to their hair. It’s always lots of emotions, but I always use my knowledge and recommend the best products and walk them down the steps of repairing their hair,” Victoria Patterson, Beauty Advisor at Sally Beauty, said.
The main goal of any retail job is to help your customers. It is true that some customers are caught on a bad day – we’ve all stood behind a fuming customer in line (or seen their videos on Facebook). However, I have found that any unpleasant customer experiences I’ve had are greatly outweighed by the wonderful conversations I’ve had. When I think of my customers, I think of Nancy the perfume lady, the little grandmas who will spend an hour telling me about the salon they owned, and the man who always stops to tell me that I “must, must get my degree” (and I will, I promise).
It may seem trivial, but the little bits of knowledge you acquire while working in retail can help you brighten someone’s day, whether it’s your customers or your coworkers.
“I love helping people. When I was working in the garden center it was nice to help people that appreciated what you do. To know things about plants or bird baths. Little weird things about random utensils and animal food,” Rueda said. “As security, it’s nice knowing the employees feel more comfortable working when I’m there. That if someone’s giving them a hard time or not following the rules of the store, I’m there to set them straight.”
Retail jobs have a lot of unexpected benefits, like being able to develop skills that help you both at work and in your day-to-day life.
“Problem-solving has become the best skill I could take away from this job. You learn how to anticipate when a guest might need help,” Rodriguez said. “Also learning that everyone’s communication skills are different and the same product can be asked for in multiple different ways. A lot of the time people don’t have a specific product in mind but a problem they need solved. That’s when you have to be able to match up their needs to a physical item you carry to the best of your knowledge. It’s all about understanding their needs while providing the best solution you can.”
As we know, the work can feel grueling – but there are always tips and tricks to keep it bearable.
“If you want to be a cashier, you gotta have thick skin and an infinite smile. If you want to stock shelves, don’t lift with your back and tighten your shoulders when you pull or push things. If you want to do Loss Prevention, God be with you because it’s not as easy as just watching some cameras and calling the cops sometimes. Retail is an underrated and under-appreciated profession, but it can be rewarding.”
Sometimes those rewards manifest in the form of promotions, leadership, and salary pay. Christian Perez started his retail career at Five Below as a seasonal stock pusher. After bouncing around to various jobs, including Disc Traders and Target, he has found himself back at the popular discount store – this time, as the store manager.
“My new role as Store Manager has given me a much broader perspective of the business as a whole, as well as a clearer understanding of the interplay between all of the positions in the store,” Perez said. “I believe that starting out in that smaller freight team role has helped me to communicate and empathize with my team to a greater degree than would’ve been possible had I started out in my current position. I know what it is like to be in their shoes, I have done their jobs personally, so I feel I am well equipped to lead them in those roles and support them throughout the execution of their daily responsibilities.”
A management position can seem far-fetched when you’re just a regular employee, but the truth is that they can be closer to reach than you think. Katie Nagel, Salesfloor Coordinator at TJ Maxx, started as a cart cleaner/customer counter associate during COVID and worked her way up to where she is now – helping improve sales, training new employees, and taking charge of a large section of the store.
“Some important things to remember when leading a team are having patience and making sure everyone is on the same page when it comes to what needs to be done,” Nagel said. “Keeping everyone on track leads to a better outcome so people aren’t confused and can understand what is going on or what to improve on. Also keeping a good work environment makes things easier for everyone.”
The saying goes, “People don’t leave jobs, they leave bad managers.” No matter how you feel about the work itself, your manager can make or break the entire experience of your retail job. Hannah Feller, store manager at Sally Beauty, strives to not only lead the store with grace and drive but also form a close bond with her employees and ensure a positive work experience for everyone.
“One of the most important things to remember is that your team are people! They have lives outside of work. The best thing I can do as a leader is to meet them where they are at and support them as best as I can. None of us can be 100% every day but whatever percent given is still something,” Feller said.
There are many reasons why people find themselves in a retail work position. Many employees are students finding summer jobs in between (or during) semesters, whether it’s to put themselves through school or just have a little money on the side. Others are there to support their families and long-term goals, like Rueda, who was asked how he stays motivated during his shifts:
“The easy answer is my fiancé and child. I could work any job in the world knowing I provide for them day in and day out,” Rueda said. “The more complicated thought process in the middle of the work day, in the deep end of it, is knowing that this job is just a path to the career I want. What I do now is nothing compared to what I want to do and I’m grateful for the fortification it gives me to move forward in the long term.”
Your retail job will be what you make of it. For some, it is only a stepping stone on the path to a career in an entirely different field. For others, however, it can open up doors to career paths and opportunities they never even expected.
“Every job, no matter how small, is an opportunity to develop your skills and practice discipline. Go out of your way to take on new responsibilities and learn new positions. When you show a willingness to take on new tasks and you work hard to succeed in those tasks, your leaders will begin to recognize you as someone they can depend on. When you are known to be dependable, opportunities for advancement will begin to more quickly open up for you. These opportunities can be fleeting, it is most important that you seize them as they present themselves,” Perez said. “With all that being said, you must always be your biggest supporter, and never lose sight of your own value as a member of your team. All too often hard work in retail goes unrecognized and unrewarded. Never stop putting in your best effort, take pride in all of your little victories. The right person will eventually see your worth, and new doors will open up for you.”
KCC even offers a Retail Management Certificate to help prepare you for a career in retail, especially if managing or owning your own business is your goal. You can learn more about the program at kellogg.edu/academics/areas-of-study/business-computer-information-technology/retail/
I can’t necessarily say that retail jobs are easy. The work can be tedious, the hours can be long, and I’ve gone through more Dr. Scholl’s shoe inserts and compression socks than I can count. However, while you’re out there getting paid to help people, ensure things run smoothly, and bond with coworkers and customers, you just might be on the road to something even greater than you anticipated.
