I don’t know how I made it to age 59 without having a job primarily working with the public, but here I am. I’ve been working as a seasonal cashier at a chain department store.
All those complaints I’ve heard over the years about working with the public? I don’t get it.
I love working with the public!
All my problems have been working with the private. If you have a problem with someone at work, there they are again—after lunch, after the weekend, after your vacation….
But have a problem with the public, and poof! They’re gone—all their stuff has left the conveyor, gone into bags, and out the door they go.
I’ve been working there for three weeks, including today, Black Friday, and have had virtually no problems with the public. They’ve been patient and helpful as I learned my job. They’ve been entertaining. If someone is kind of boring (less likely here in Jersey), the next person may be fascinating.
I love the public! I’m thinking of joining my damn self!
November 23, 2012 at 10:18 pm
LOVE this post! I feel the same way. I love working with patients…HATED performing management duties. Never so flappy as when I took a big pay cut to move back into a clinical position
November 28, 2012 at 10:00 am
I supervised only once, and vowed never again. The problem was being told by managers to unfairly treat the people I was supervising. Of course, I refused…
November 24, 2012 at 8:52 am
I agree. The clients (patients) or ‘public’ if you like are great or at least temporarily in your space. I know what you mean that it the ‘private’ that is a problem, so stressful dealing with the gossiping and back-biting that goes on!
What is it with ‘black Friday’? Here in Australia a Black Friday is on 13th. Am I missing some cultural oddity?
November 28, 2012 at 10:07 am
Even though the term “Black Friday” was used earlier, it now is associated with the profit goal of being “in the black.” Unfortunately, it is culturally not odd in the U.S. to be consumer-driven enough to go out and shop after consuming the big Thanksgiving meal.
But I think that consumer thinking is starting to take a turn. A lot of customers told me they didn’t agree with stores opening on Thanksgiving, and around here, where Hurricane Sandy hit so hard, a lot of people have been buying merchandise to donate to those less fortunate.
December 3, 2012 at 11:36 am
I remember my mother having the same experience, and taking the same delight in working with the public. At some point she got bored, and took a job wrapping presents in a department store. She loved the wrapping, and loved chatting with people when they dropped off or picked up their parcels.
I don’t know if anyone even does gift wrapping any more. Of course, I stay away from the department stores, so there you are.
I think people are patient with new workers for the most part. I always have some sympathy for new checkers in the grocery stores. There’s a lot of information to be absorbed, fast – not to mention all that standing on your feet for long stretches!