Working 9 to 5
Hey Internet,
Tonight's dump comes to you concerning my employment. Ung. One line and I'm suddenly regretting this - but therapy in blog form. It's good for me.
For six years I worked for the same women's clothing company. I was loyal, I was constant, I was incredibly knowlegible in all aspects of store-level business operation. I could sell, I could work cash, I could lead the team, I could make schedules, I could do visual changes, I was an impeccable stock person, and I knew where everything was. I was the go-to expert above everyone else except perhaps a handful of people across the city. I was proud of my accomplishments and standing. However, I had a district manager that had it out for me. She held grudges and, from my perspective, seriously had it out for me. Every time I saw this women, I would get in trouble, or feel so beaten down I started hating my job. P went as far as to file an HR harrassment claim against this woman on my behalf. Eventually, I, and about 30 of the other collective staff across the city all left because of this one uppity manager. A number of us got jobs with one of our direct competitors.
The hiring process at Current Job went very well. I was officially hired because they wanted me so badly, but they didn't know what they were going to do with me. They made me a Service Coordinator, which is big talk for someone that works in the backroom. They essentially do everything but act as a Sales Associate. They do stock, product management, floor and back room markdowns, run the tills, and assist wherever needed. They're Helpers. the only problem is that all the Service girls at the store I was placed at (which is about as far away from where I live and yet still technically still in my city) - these girls are super clique-y, and I take a long time to get comfortable with new people in the first place. I was baseline happy with my job, but low-key uncomfortable and undersocialized.
Two months of this go by and my manager approaches me about a promotion. She tells me the in-store merchandiser is going to be stepping down and returning to her old Service position, and would I be interested in replacing her? The ISM does nothing but Visual-related work all day. She puts out the new stock, and maintains the look of the store. She changes mannequins outfits, the layouts of the walls, tables, and floor fixtures. In a store this size, it's a very busy and exhausting job. I accept.
I am exhausted, no lie. The hard work isn't so much the problem. The problem is my control freak of a boss. My direct manager is our Merchandising Manager, she's in charge of running all the Service girls and the Visual. She's been doing this job for eight yea. She's forgotten what it's like to be new and learning. She's incredibly hard on me. Any given day she could say something that crushes me and I go home crying at the end of my shift.
Upper management encourages me. They tell me to keep learning. Keep my chin up. I'm in the middle of a very steep learning curve and they have no doubt I'll get the hang of it. I just have to be strong and push through the frustration.
ON THE PLUS SIDE. I'm proud of my job title. I'm not an Associate of any kind, I'm not a Stock Girl. I'm the In-Store Merchandiser. And! I typically work 8-4 on weekdays, and no weekends. Except for the commute, this is about as ideal as it can get. If I survive my training (which lasts an entire year, btw, because I have to experience every "season" in a year) I might get transferred to a closer and less insanely enourmous store. One some of my old co-workers are at now.
Looking at the long term has to be my current mindset when it comes to work for the forseeable future, or I'll burn out. I'll lose hope and start doubting myself.
Tonight's dump comes to you concerning my employment. Ung. One line and I'm suddenly regretting this - but therapy in blog form. It's good for me.
For six years I worked for the same women's clothing company. I was loyal, I was constant, I was incredibly knowlegible in all aspects of store-level business operation. I could sell, I could work cash, I could lead the team, I could make schedules, I could do visual changes, I was an impeccable stock person, and I knew where everything was. I was the go-to expert above everyone else except perhaps a handful of people across the city. I was proud of my accomplishments and standing. However, I had a district manager that had it out for me. She held grudges and, from my perspective, seriously had it out for me. Every time I saw this women, I would get in trouble, or feel so beaten down I started hating my job. P went as far as to file an HR harrassment claim against this woman on my behalf. Eventually, I, and about 30 of the other collective staff across the city all left because of this one uppity manager. A number of us got jobs with one of our direct competitors.
The hiring process at Current Job went very well. I was officially hired because they wanted me so badly, but they didn't know what they were going to do with me. They made me a Service Coordinator, which is big talk for someone that works in the backroom. They essentially do everything but act as a Sales Associate. They do stock, product management, floor and back room markdowns, run the tills, and assist wherever needed. They're Helpers. the only problem is that all the Service girls at the store I was placed at (which is about as far away from where I live and yet still technically still in my city) - these girls are super clique-y, and I take a long time to get comfortable with new people in the first place. I was baseline happy with my job, but low-key uncomfortable and undersocialized.
Two months of this go by and my manager approaches me about a promotion. She tells me the in-store merchandiser is going to be stepping down and returning to her old Service position, and would I be interested in replacing her? The ISM does nothing but Visual-related work all day. She puts out the new stock, and maintains the look of the store. She changes mannequins outfits, the layouts of the walls, tables, and floor fixtures. In a store this size, it's a very busy and exhausting job. I accept.
I am exhausted, no lie. The hard work isn't so much the problem. The problem is my control freak of a boss. My direct manager is our Merchandising Manager, she's in charge of running all the Service girls and the Visual. She's been doing this job for eight yea. She's forgotten what it's like to be new and learning. She's incredibly hard on me. Any given day she could say something that crushes me and I go home crying at the end of my shift.
Upper management encourages me. They tell me to keep learning. Keep my chin up. I'm in the middle of a very steep learning curve and they have no doubt I'll get the hang of it. I just have to be strong and push through the frustration.
ON THE PLUS SIDE. I'm proud of my job title. I'm not an Associate of any kind, I'm not a Stock Girl. I'm the In-Store Merchandiser. And! I typically work 8-4 on weekdays, and no weekends. Except for the commute, this is about as ideal as it can get. If I survive my training (which lasts an entire year, btw, because I have to experience every "season" in a year) I might get transferred to a closer and less insanely enourmous store. One some of my old co-workers are at now.
Looking at the long term has to be my current mindset when it comes to work for the forseeable future, or I'll burn out. I'll lose hope and start doubting myself.