THE BORE

General => The Superdeep Borehole => Topic started by: G The Resurrected on December 01, 2006, 12:21:27 PM

Title: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: G The Resurrected on December 01, 2006, 12:21:27 PM
I know a few of us are sadly stuck working at retail stores. I have the in justice of working for two retail outlets. And I fucking hate it. I've been working with Compusa since June this year. I've been through more managers than I wish. Just as things work out with one another one comes along to fuck shit up. But i'm lucky I dont always work in the store. Choosing to work delivery and setups.

But lately since I started working for Bestbuy i've been going insane. My two managers are the worst fucking people on the planet. They piss on everyone and its a very hostile environment for most everyone. Nothing says you care about your employee's more than your manager's pissing on you doing a good job every fucking day. I've had to do just about everything in the store. From clerk, stocking, customer representing, tech information, cell phone's. It pisses me off cause even the supervisors piss on the other people. You could have just made a nice sale on cellphones (they make a crap load from these) and they'll still mention that your not doing a good enough job.

Its always about fucking money with this place. Compusa can care less, but the moment i step in Bestbuy and put on the blue shirt it fucking sucks. And the fact that they wont let me change my schedule the week before. Its fucking bullshit cause its fucking with my regular job with Compusa. I took this Bestbuy job to help save up some much needed money for a vehical and i dont even think i'll get that chance. Having to take two shifts in one day is insane. Thank god Compusa has given me priority when it comes to work schedule.

I'm contemplating quiting, I dont know yet if its a great idea. But i'm not left with much choice. Bestbuy is whats wrong with retail companies I think though. God forbid they take care of any of their employees seriously i'm gonna talk with the head of Human Resources and describe whats going on. A hostile work environment even in retail is bullshit.

If it wasnt for the $12.25 i get payed a hour for working for them I'd be gone. Not much choice though. Anyone else gone through hell with a retail company and made it out alive and with a better job?

Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: The Miles Trahan Burger Experiment on December 01, 2006, 12:27:51 PM
I can't imagine having to work retail during the holiday rush... :'(
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: G The Resurrected on December 01, 2006, 12:30:09 PM
I can't imagine having to work retail during the holiday rush... :'(

Yeah black friday was horrible.
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: Christopher on December 01, 2006, 12:32:16 PM
I feel so sorry for you.

My last two retail jobs were pretty much a walk in the park to me.  I worked at two clothing stores, one as a sales associate and one as a brand representative.

However, I pretty much half asssed all my job duties/didn't really give a fuck about the job.  Nor did I have to at my second job, although the pay was shit.

I feel bad for you in a way, you sound like a good employee that's what pretty much will eat you alive dude.  The good employees were always getting chewed out by the boss at my old job, because they took the jbo so seriously.  I just got my 2 credit card openings, folded some shirts, and pretneded like a gave a damn when helping people.

Retails alright, just don't take it seriously.

and NEVER work nights, ever.
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: Bloodwake on December 01, 2006, 12:33:35 PM
Retail FTL.

Sadly, on Christmas Break, the only people who will hire me for three weeks is..

*drumroll*


GAMESTOP.

I've been gone for six months, and I'm still the best employee they got.
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: cloudwalking on December 01, 2006, 12:35:20 PM
Suck it up bitch. Retail truly separates the men from the mice.

I always say, people who've never worked retail are usually the rudest customers.
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: The Miles Trahan Burger Experiment on December 01, 2006, 12:37:30 PM
Bloodwake, since when did you quit working at Gamestop? ???
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: G The Resurrected on December 01, 2006, 12:38:08 PM
Chris you had to do those damn credit card openings too? I hate that shit and refuse to push it. I've had a manger in front of me coaxing me to talk about the Bestbuy credit card. They pushed me to nights and stocking this past week cause of that.

I'm a good guy when I see someone getting chewed out I usually come up to the manager and start talking with the employee even if I dont know them all that well. Sure i've been talked too a few times. But no one should be getting pissed on when they are doing they're best while working. I notice those things, supervisors and managers are too busy being lazy and talking with each other to notice shit. I've only been working at Bestbuy for 2 weeks  now and its this bad.

I care about what people think of me. So I do the best I can.  I do take it too seriously fuck I take it home and it eats at me.
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: Mondain on December 01, 2006, 12:38:49 PM
Holy shit. Without actually resorting to handling human waste or mopping up video booths in a porn shop, you've got a shot at the Mr. Most Demeaning Job Ever crown.
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: Human Snorenado on December 01, 2006, 12:41:58 PM
Suck it up bitch. Retail truly separates the men from the mice.

I always say, people who've never worked retail are usually the rudest customers.

True dat.  But since I've done about 10 years in retail, I'm DONE.  Put me in a cubicle and chain me to my desk five days a week, I don't give a shit.  What's that you say, this job has a definite, fixed schedule?  I get TWO DAYS OFF IN A FUCKING ROW???  Oh yeah, corporate desk jobs are soooo fucking tough.  I get to sit around and surf the interweb?  Man, this job is so unfair.
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: Christopher on December 01, 2006, 12:42:57 PM
Quote
I care about what people think of me. So I do the best I can.  I do take it too seriously fuck I take it home and it eats at me.

That's your problem right there, treat it as a shit job and nothing more.  You'll eventually have to move on from there, and just take it a day at a time.

Yeah the credit card business was pretty shit, and after I got my "target" which was usually 2 a day I never really pushed it on anyone, and tha was only when I did that one the weekdays and eventually just the weekends, as I was going to school and didn't want that shit eating up my time.  

Eventually I just stopped going ;p.

My other retail job was bliss, A&F you did and I don't mean this just to say it litereally NOTHING.  You honestly just stood there and asked people if they "Tried our cool fitting jeans" or whatever the fuck tagline was it at the time.

Dude just take it easy, and most of all don't take the job to heart as you seem to do.  Don't worry after awhile you'll learn the ins & outs.
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: cloudwalking on December 01, 2006, 12:43:50 PM
Suck it up bitch. Retail truly separates the men from the mice.

I always say, people who've never worked retail are usually the rudest customers.

True dat.  But since I've done about 10 years in retail, I'm DONE.  Put me in a cubicle and chain me to my desk five days a week, I don't give a shit.  What's that you say, this job has a definite, fixed schedule?  I get TWO DAYS OFF IN A FUCKING ROW???  Oh yeah, corporate desk jobs are soooo fucking tough.  I get to sit around and surf the interweb?  Man, this job is so unfair.


Yeah after 4 years in retail I'm ready for a desk job at a moment's notice too. Fuck standing on your feet for 8 hours. Fuck getting your day off on TUESDAY when no one can fucking do anything anyway. Fuck working Friday nights.
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: Bloodwake on December 01, 2006, 12:44:34 PM
Bloodwake, since when did you quit working at Gamestop? ???

I quit about the time I initially quit posting here.... whenever I went to college.

I'm back though for good.... Work plus Evilbore/GAF = good times.

Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: G The Resurrected on December 01, 2006, 12:44:46 PM
Compusa has been great to me the last 6 months i've been working there. But this shit with Bestbuy is the worst fucking shit i've ever dealt with. And I was an usher for a sports and entertainment facility. Which had me dealing with assholes on a minute by minute basis. Bestbuy is just like retail that doesnt give a shit about its employees. Its all about numbers and making the sale and selling people more shit than they need.

Compusa is about informing the customer properly, giving them options, and not pressuring people. Yes they do get commission but i think they do a damn good job dealing with customers as people rather than cattle.
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: Bloodwake on December 01, 2006, 12:48:12 PM
Compusa has been great to me the last 6 months i've been working there. But this shit with Bestbuy is the worst fucking shit i've ever dealt with. And I was an usher for a sports and entertainment facility. Which had me dealing with assholes on a minute by minute basis. Bestbuy is just like retail that doesnt give a shit about its employees. Its all about numbers and making the sale and selling people more shit than they need.

Compusa is about informing the customer properly, giving them options, and not pressuring people. Yes they do get commission but i think they do a damn good job dealing with customers as people rather than cattle.

Dude, suck it up.

I did. The only bitching I did was toward the end of my employment, because I knew I was leaving.

I know it sucks. They really don't give a fuck about you. They know they can hire ten other people exactly like you to fill that position, and that's why they treat you like shit.

Count your blessings. At least you aren't working at Wal-Mart or GameStop.
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: Phoenix Dark on December 01, 2006, 12:48:46 PM
What do you do at Best Buy, and what kind of qualifications did they want?
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: G The Resurrected on December 01, 2006, 12:49:53 PM
Hell i'm ready for a desk job any day as long as it isnt me selling shit to people. I wouldnt mind a job where i knew what was expected of me for once. I've been on my toes not knowing what i'm gonna be doing day to day.

ARGH give me the desk, coffee, and a chair and i'll be happy. As long as i get benefits (another problem with the world of working) i'd be happy. What i seriously need to do is get some fucking smarts. Going back to school might provide that.

Oh and did i mention i dont get any any discounts. Not even a coupon.

Pheonix Dark: Another warm body with some retail experience and knowledge of stocking systems. I'm on the 2nd tier pay grade for seasonal employee's. 1st tier is $9.50
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: Van Cruncheon on December 01, 2006, 12:54:59 PM
Suck it up bitch. Retail truly separates the men from the mice.

I always say, people who've never worked retail are usually the rudest customers.

You said it. Seriously, I wouldn't be half the decent corporate manager I supposedly am if I hadn't felt the pain that comes workin' the floor as a grocery clerk for three years and as a catering monkey for two more in college. The service industry in general teaches you to suck your fuckin' pride down and focus on the job, which is something all-too-many folks in the corporate world need FAR WORSE than their precious MBAs or Excel programming classes. There are two types of folks that come out of a retail job: diligent, disciplined employees or hardcore car salesmen types -- and it's easy to cherrypick the folks from the former category. (Well, there's also the failures, but they usually doom themselves early on in their retail existence.) Seriously, my daughter's gonna get a retail job at 16 and learn what it's like to be on the other side of the counter, and that the pride of a job well done always trumps the pride lost to shitty customers and doofus managers.

If you're a good employee, they CAN'T hire another 10 people like you. They can't find another 100 people like you. They just don't want you to know that. I've been doing hiring for 4 years in the corporate sector across jobs, and it is HARD AS FUCK to find good employees. I can find ones with great resumes, but honest-to-Gawd good employees with good personal values, common sense and self-discipline? GOOD LUCK TO ME. :gloomy
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: demi on December 01, 2006, 12:56:17 PM
You could get into web design... that's pretty hard... I guess
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: demi on December 01, 2006, 12:58:27 PM

If you're a good employee, they CAN'T hire another 10 people like you. They can't find another 100 people like you. They just don't want you to know that. I've been doing hiring for 4 years in the corporate sector across jobs, and it is HARD AS FUCK to find good employees. I can find ones with great resumes, but honest-to-Gawd good employees with good personal values, common sense and self-discipline? GOOD LUCK TO ME. :gloomy

Would you hire me?
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: Human Snorenado on December 01, 2006, 12:59:41 PM
I could always move to Seattle, Doug.
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: G The Resurrected on December 01, 2006, 01:01:33 PM
I dont have much hardcore computer skills like that demi sadly. I dabble but thats just to keep someones site update. I can build computers and repair them pretty well if its not software based. But theres so many people already doing that as a side job around town its not funny.

I've always been interested in engineering. Maybe i should start laying down the ground work.

I'm just dreading going to work today. I almost feel like I dont want to go. I've only got 3 hours at Compusa. The rest i'll be spending stocking and doing inventory. I'd love if they moved me to Magnolia cause thats mainly what i do at Compusa. But then that means i'd have to kiss manager ass. And they not break me.
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: Van Cruncheon on December 01, 2006, 01:07:54 PM
I'll always take resumes, but I usually nab my employees from the best of our contractors. "try before you buy" and all that.

Seriously, if you have computer/programming/test/web/writing skills, submit your resume to a major contract agency like Volt (http://www.volt.com), Siemens, or Sakson & Taylor. A few contracts with a company and you'll probably get a full-time gig if you're solid. You'll hafta really work hard to get that first contract and you absolutely need to make a good impression, but after that, it's a relatively easy coast into a long-term engagement. ALso, contracting isn't a bad career overall: I have long-time contractors who make serious bank but also get their unpaid extended vacations without risking employment. Lucky them.
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: Bloodwake on December 01, 2006, 01:10:23 PM


If you're a good employee, they CAN'T hire another 10 people like you. They can't find another 100 people like you. They just don't want you to know that. I've been doing hiring for 4 years in the corporate sector across jobs, and it is HARD AS FUCK to find good employees. I can find ones with great resumes, but honest-to-Gawd good employees with good personal values, common sense and self-discipline? GOOD LUCK TO ME. :gloomy

Oh, I know.

I bitched openly about my job and moonlighted with the competition while I was working for them.

They are still hiring me back for three weeks.
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: MrAngryFace on December 01, 2006, 01:10:33 PM
I did my 6 years of retail, IM DONE WOOO!
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: G The Resurrected on December 01, 2006, 01:11:29 PM
Drinky Crow my girls brother got into Apple by working through volt and doing contract jobs. I've not gotten a hit yet. Cause they usually are looking for people trained in just about everything. I have some skills but i dont know everything damnit.

I just want to lay some ground work towards a better job out of the retail/service market.
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: Diablos on December 01, 2006, 01:24:19 PM
I worked three black fridays, and let me tell you, it's pure hell.
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: Van Cruncheon on December 01, 2006, 01:25:42 PM
No, Volt isn't. Trust me; I work with their reps on a daily basis. You're just looking at the wrong jobs. Try out for basic project manager positions, or even clerical work. And if you haven't put MS Office on your resume, DO SO NOW NOW NOW. Half the shit they supposedly want you trained in you can pick up in a week on the job. Earnest confidence and a little strategic resume manipulation can get your foot in the door. Testing jobs simply require demonstrable diligence, and are a good entry point on the software engineering corporate ladder, as long as you use your hours in the test ghetto to improve yourself and acquire skills above and beyond what's necessary to do your job and make good connections -- which is more than 80% of your coworkers are doing.

EDIT: Cloud, being female is actually an advantage in many places in this sector. Seriously -- it's not about "lolz hire a purty gurl," it really IS about building a diverse team. A team full of sausages often needs a few strong female voices.
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: MrAngryFace on December 01, 2006, 01:26:30 PM
Volt is awesome.
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: cloudwalking on December 01, 2006, 01:26:38 PM
Shame on all the people hounding Drinky for a job in this thread

spoiler (click to show/hide)
Hire me, I'm a girl so I can help fill that minority requirement
[close]
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: Christopher on December 01, 2006, 01:31:56 PM
I honestly just got a voice mail from the lady at the bank wanting my second interview December 7th.  She said she would without a doubt call me when a position opened, and I honestly forgot about it.

:sun :sun :sun.
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: morphix on December 01, 2006, 02:17:39 PM
I quit my last job 2yrs, 2 weeks ago (the Saturday before Black Friday of 2004).

I don't miss it at all, retail sucks.  I do however feel I am missing out on something when I talk to my GF about her office job.  Seems a lot nicer, if I had to go back to work one day I'd get an office job.
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: G The Resurrected on December 01, 2006, 02:20:09 PM
Morphix i dont have a right to say anything about your personal life. And i respect that you have your morals towards your family. Maybe you can find a job in volunteering or something like that if you have the time to do so. I respect you enough but its something i would do if i was in your position with the means and ability.
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: Christopher on December 01, 2006, 02:22:11 PM
I'm so excited I'm going to the mall later to get a fresh new suit and tie :sun

I'm thinking dark solid grey pants/blazer and a light blue shirt with a solid dark blue tie.  cloud?
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: G The Resurrected on December 01, 2006, 02:23:49 PM
Chris that suit speaks power. I need to go suit shopping to get a new one just for interviews and stuff.
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: Christopher on December 01, 2006, 02:24:51 PM
G

You seem like a REALLY good employee, please get a better job dude, retail will eat you alive if you stick with it more than you should.

Good luck to you dude, I really mean it. 
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: G The Resurrected on December 01, 2006, 02:36:29 PM
Oh i know i shouldnt be in retail. I'm already a model employee for the most part. I'm much better at managing others. Unfortunately that doesnt spill into my personal life. I've been wanting to get a job at the college here. But they wont hire me cause i'm white.
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: Vizzys on December 01, 2006, 02:39:15 PM
So how are things bz?
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: BlueTsunami on December 01, 2006, 02:41:52 PM
So how are things bz?

:lol

Oh shit
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: Christopher on December 01, 2006, 02:42:34 PM
oh it's Bz :-\
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: cloudwalking on December 01, 2006, 02:43:35 PM
No, Volt isn't. Trust me; I work with their reps on a daily basis. You're just looking at the wrong jobs. Try out for basic project manager positions, or even clerical work. And if you haven't put MS Office on your resume, DO SO NOW NOW NOW. Half the shit they supposedly want you trained in you can pick up in a week on the job. Earnest confidence and a little strategic resume manipulation can get your foot in the door. Testing jobs simply require demonstrable diligence, and are a good entry point on the software engineering corporate ladder, as long as you use your hours in the test ghetto to improve yourself and acquire skills above and beyond what's necessary to do your job and make good connections -- which is more than 80% of your coworkers are doing.

EDIT: Cloud, being female is actually an advantage in many places in this sector. Seriously -- it's not about "lolz hire a purty gurl," it really IS about building a diverse team. A team full of sausages often needs a few strong female voices.

Sorry I just noticed your edit now :) And thanks for the advice, I'm still not sure exactly WHAT I want to get into (or when I'll be able to do it) but getting input from someone who actually does the hiring for a place like that is always a good thing.

I'm a hard worker and I just want to find something that will challenge me. With retail I've been doing basically the same thing for 4 years, watching manager after manager fuck up and knowing that I could be doing their job better.
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: G The Resurrected on December 01, 2006, 02:44:08 PM
Well dont give me that shit you guys. I was being honest with you guys. And now look at you turn face.
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: Vizzys on December 01, 2006, 02:57:44 PM
Well I killed your thread, sorry dude.

/me bows
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: Van Cruncheon on December 01, 2006, 05:40:09 PM
Nah, I like this new down-to-Earth Bz. We coo' when you keep it real.
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: MrAngryFace on December 01, 2006, 05:43:10 PM
Its a new season of Bz!
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: Thee Reverend Gary Davis on December 01, 2006, 05:48:04 PM
I want to deagle my customers in the face.
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: MrAngryFace on December 01, 2006, 05:51:12 PM
I dunno after a while the customers sorta faded into the background at Staples. I mean I expected all the crap they dished out so it stopped bothering me.

As you get higher up the management totem pole and start dealing with all that crap you'll get pissed off for wayyy different reasons.
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: Prost on December 01, 2006, 07:15:39 PM
Suck it up bitch. Retail truly separates the men from the mice.

I always say, people who've never worked retail are usually the rudest customers.
Yeah ever sinced I stocked the fuck out of the night shift at Kroger I've come to understand how easy every single other job is.

Getting paid 9 bucks an hour and working my ass off (we had 6 stockers and the recommended number was 10) stocking like crazy every night.  If I seriously wasn't going full speed for the full 9 hour shift (30 minute paid break) then we wouldn't fucking get done and my boss would be on me about it.  I got in such good fucking shape too, lol.

Now I clean houses for ~30/hour and it's a fuckin cake walk.  :here just clean these 3 bathrooms, dust, and vacuum/mop.

I finish in 2 hours and get 60 bucks and the people are like "OMG IT LOOKS SO NICE."

You'll appreciate working this shit job in the end.  Everything you do afterwards will be easier.
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: G The Resurrected on December 01, 2006, 11:31:21 PM
Nah, I like this new down-to-Earth Bz. We coo' when you keep it real.
Its a new season of Bz!

Hey i'm being real with you all. Hopefully that can be respected.

I got left with 3 people to help stock today. 3 people out of 15 to stock. Either people didnt know they were suppost to work or something. So now instead of getting everything done in one day we have to do it in two.
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: drozmight on December 01, 2006, 11:39:01 PM
Hey Drinky Crow, I work at MS as a Vendor... will you hire me for a day so I can buy Vista all cheap at the emplyee store?
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: Vizzys on December 01, 2006, 11:44:45 PM
Pay for Vista. :lol

/me lights his wallet on fire.
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: drozmight on December 01, 2006, 11:47:37 PM
Lolz, who wouldn't buy it for $20?

IT HAS A GLASS INTERFACE MAN! GLASS!!!
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: MrAngryFace on December 02, 2006, 02:12:26 AM
Vista is a good OS, contrary to what poor people say.
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: drozmight on December 02, 2006, 03:38:24 AM
word. it does ipv6.

(almost throws up after a flashback)

sure does.
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: G The Resurrected on December 02, 2006, 03:40:50 AM
I'm trying to score some of the instant install discs for Vista that we got at Compusa. That will be nice to have day one.
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: Van Cruncheon on December 02, 2006, 01:02:23 PM
Yeah, but we don't care. G, so far, hasn't been a poser and has actually been good conversation.
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: CajoleJuice on December 02, 2006, 02:47:28 PM
I can't believe G and Bz are the same person.
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: G The Resurrected on December 02, 2006, 02:55:06 PM
Should we make a thread about it and ask everyone if i should be banished to never neverland? Of all people drinky i'm surprised by your reaction. Yes it is me Bz, but I rather go by G cause its me my real name starts with a G. And since i'm being real with you all. There shouldnt be a need for facade user name.

Anyways I got a call to take someones shift a few minutes ago. Manger says: "Hi G******, I was wondering if you'd be willing to take over someones midnight shift tonight. You wont get your overtime but if you dont come in i dont know what were going to do with you"

WTF I thought at first she meant something like "I dont know what were going to do without you" and so I clarify and ask the question: "What happens if I cant make it? You do know your giving me 8 hours notice. I could have plan for this evening after my shift"

So she tells me about my performance and how she doesnt want to send me to HR for termination. I know my work ethic is strong. I do not handle that type of Nazism shit. Basically forcing me to work tonight. I'm gonna see if I cant discuss it with her manager this afternoon.

Maybe my feelings are in the right place about this job. Get out while I can, before it tarnishes my perfect track record so far.
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: G The Resurrected on December 02, 2006, 03:03:08 PM
I complain a lot about this job it might be 5 hours but its like 8 hours of work really cause were highly understaffed. Its not normal pace or anything like that. If it was normal paced and time was actually given to do the work that we have. I wouldnt be complaining. Its the management style and the way your degraded on a day to day basis cause your not a manager. Its bullshit honestly i've never experienced this much pains from a job.
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: cubicle47b on December 02, 2006, 03:58:24 PM
Since Drinky is being helpful and informative I'm going to throw this out here.

I'm about to start looking for a new programming job and was hoping for a little advice on what I should be looking for and how I should go about it.  I have ~4 years of experience.  8 months as a co-op at an engineering firm which led to a full year as a contract programmer there.  Then, after finishing school, I was hired at my present job as the lead/only programmer on a decent sized project at a small company.

The job at the engineering firm was developing small applications around Access databases.  I either created or rewrote the main apps they used in the department.  One massaged flight/repair data from airlines into the upload format our mainframe used, one imported data from the mainframe and gave engineers an easy format to look at, code, and analyze records (paredos, specific ways to filter data sets, etc), and the last was a reporting tool that took a bunch of different data sets and created fairly complicated reports that were sent out to airlines/manufacturers.

At my current job the application I handle keeps track of the training that goes on in a bank.  It's a web app (IIS/.Net-VB/SQL) on its second iteration.  The first was what I was hired for.  The company had a large customer that had requested this system and had given them a timeline of 3 months to create it.  I was given a prototype created in Word by one of the owners (and no customer access) and set to work.  This initial version slipped a little and was actually released about a month past schedule and changes were asked for / implemented up until the 9 month mark at which point the customer's requirements had changed so the initial design didn't really work anymore (courses were assigned to users through learning plans and group learning plans were set up based on certain user criteria like title/branch/department - what they actually wanted after using it was group level assignment of learning plans but the ability to modify these assigned learning plans on a user level) so I went back to the drawing board and while I was at it redid the core classes that I'd had to use to launch on time that had been written by one of the other two programmers there.  Things like classes that interacted with active directory, the registry, our encryption class, etc.  As well as rewriting our stupid / obtuse security system and adding important features like an application log that tracks all changes within the system.  I moved from there to helping out with the redesign of our main product while continuing to support/install/update/do customer support for my product.

That was really wordy.  The point is while I may be fairly skilled and have done a good job for my employers I'm seriously lacking experience in some important areas.  All my professional work has been done with one of the least complicated programming languages, solo, and pretty much without software engineering practices (testing, what?).  It's almost embarrassing.  Here is what I'd like to do.  First, I need to move away from Tennessee with this job change.  Charlotte, NC seems the most likely place since my brother lives there and it's a decent SE US tech center.  Second, I absolutely need to work as the member of a good, professional development team and get beyond the small measures we've managed to implement at my current job (simple, necessary things like using source control).  Third, I need to move to a more complicated language like C++ before I completely lose all skill as a programmer.  And as a nice but not necessary goal, I'd like to work closely with databases (on the development side).  I love SQL, PL/SQL and database design.  What do you suggest I start to look for and how?  If I can swing some contract programming jobs and move in with my brother for a short time would that be the most effective way to get this change done or should I just do my best to get my cover letter / resume in at the places I want to work at and try to use the college nearby to get some actual personal contact in with potential employers?  Unfortunately, I don't have any real contacts at this point.
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: rocketman on December 02, 2006, 05:42:27 PM
Retail work.

Today, I had to unload a truck of about 150 trees with one other guy, pull about 60 fake trees from the back and stock em on the shelves, redo the entire fucking bike rack, and run around everywhere. I'm dead.
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: G The Resurrected on December 03, 2006, 03:25:13 AM
Rocketman i feel you.

I just up and left cause I talked with my manager's boss and she said she'd take care of it. I got so lucky but all night long we kept getting in more shit. 3 truck fulls of shit. I got to use the minifork though. That thing is freaking awesome to drive its fast as hell too. But other than that same shit too much work, not enough people. I didnt even get a fucking break tonight, but i waived them. People are dropping like flies too getting sick with something.
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: rodi on December 03, 2006, 05:02:17 AM
My manager's are all pretty awesome...except one, who made me come into work in pain when I tripped and bent my ankle. He's the "customers are always right" kind of person and gets on my nerves.

Working at a grocery store is pretty cool, and not at all as stressful as working in a mall or at macy's. Just something about it.
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: drozmight on December 03, 2006, 06:52:35 AM
Luckily I've not done retail work before... aside from once I helped remodel a Gamecrazy. Other than that managers of retail places don't like me because I'm awkward, and stutter and they don't want me terrorizing the customers. So I usually end up doing tech work in an office hiding behind a computer. The managers seem to like me, probably because I just do the job and don't cause any problems. Except for at one job the company really rubbed me the wrong way (the contracting company, not the place I was working at), so I just stopped going.

Christina Applegate is hot.
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: cubicle47b on December 03, 2006, 03:28:40 PM
/bump
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: Van Cruncheon on December 03, 2006, 03:33:32 PM
cubicle47, you need to move to a better job market. It sounds like you have a strong enough programming background to swing some serious contract gigs. Once you find a place you like, start cozying up to management and make a few connections, and try to get an interview in the next hiring cycle. Contracts are a great way to rapidly grow your resume and get the experience you need; the trade-off is job security, but the payout in terms of career options is enormous.

As for skills? At my employer, .NET skills (C#/C++) and MFC knowledge are a must for a developer gig. Old-school COM is optional, but nice to have. A good understanding of object-oriented programming is absolutely required.
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: cubicle47b on December 03, 2006, 03:46:39 PM
Okay, I'll start looking at a move to Charlotte in the spring.  I just need to talk to my brother about it.  He's introduced the idea before but that was before his son was born.

I have a good understanding of object-oriented programming.  I just need to brush up on my C++ skills as I haven't done anything in that language since college except play around with GLUT/OpenGL.

Thanks.
Title: Re: I fucking hate retail work
Post by: bork on December 03, 2006, 07:05:10 PM
I'm so fucking glad I'm out of retail hell.  Was at the same game store for nine years...the first four-five were great and I have nothing to complain about, but it was when business started dropping that it got worse and worse.  The last year I was there became a nightmare.  It really wasn't the customers; I could deal with them no problem.  It was the management: The store owners were too busy trying to concentrate on getting out of the games business and into something else, and they put this two-faced corportate-robot type in charge.  The guy wanted me and another guy fired, but it never happened because the owners wouldn't let him, so I think he was giving us a hard time because of that, in a very "Bill Lumbergh" sort of way.

We were no longer stocking import games and barely ever got NEW games, so the job became about constantly shifting the same overpriced, used shit throughout the store while trying to push poker chips and playing cards on customers.  It sucked.  There was no way to get rid of what we had at those prices, but robot guy would claim HE could sell everything, so that couldn't have been the problem.   ::)  There was some other bad stuff that happened, but I'd rather not even bother posting it.  Let's just say I was incredibly relieved when I got the call for my current job and got out of there last summer.  What scares me is that if I'm unable to find another job in Japan after JET, I may have no choice but to return home and go back to retail hell while looking for something better.   :-\  I don't want to do that again.

Prost- $9 an hour at Kroger?  Man, I was getting shafted at my job!   :lol