Cover your ears, I’m about to have a rant.
The thing is…the two words Sales and Assistant, put together in the same sentence on a job centre website, kind of imply that the company are perhaps looking for a person who maybe will be helping to sell something. It conjures up images of working in a shop, perhaps behind a counter…with a till…and with money changing hands. Now tell me…am I right? Or am I right?
Why then, did my job involve:
- Unpicking hems from sweaty trousers
- Re-sewing hems of said trousers
- Steam cleaning jackets and trousers
- Washing shirts – and then having to IRON said shirts (and I’m not talking one or two, I’m talking one or two hundred)
- Packing up and unpacking clothes for the dry-cleaners
- Crawling on my hands and knees and picking cotton threads, chewing gum, dead leaves etc off the floor because the vacuum cleaner was broken (and lets face it, if it wasn’t broken, I’d have been doing the god-damned vacuuming anyway)
- And so on and so on.
Don’t get me wrong…there was an element of sales. In my first week I served ONE customer. Actually, I’ll rephrase that; I ATTEMPTED to serve one customer. But with no till training, and because every one had buggered off and left me, all I succeeded in doing was making the till beep. For a very, very long time. With a bunch of irate people staring at me like I was on day release from somewhere only the thick people live.
Thank God my lunch break was approaching, because quite frankly, I needed to cool off.
Ummm…hellooooo? It’s time for my lunch break…is anyone going to cover for me? I don’t think I’m allowed to close a High Street store for an hour at lunch time, am I?
Think. Think. What shall I do?
That’s it! I’ll just work through my lunch break and NOT GET PAID FOR IT! Actually, that is SUCH a good idea, I think I’ll do it EVERY SINGLE DAY!
I was given no written job description and no contract. All I had was a verbal agreement with the boss who QUITE FRANKLY, at 65 years of age, should have been at home knitting, or sorting out her toenail fungus. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not ageist or anything (and nor do I have an aversion to toenail fungus...as long as you don't pick at it and leave it on the shop floor) but if a bride orders a wedding dress 12 months before it is needed and then arrives, as planned, a week before the wedding for her fitting, and the dress isn’t there because the boss FORGOT to order it, then I think it’s about time she called it a day. Especially as there is a 3 month waiting time for new dress orders.
“Elaine, could you possibly tell the bride that we have a problem with her dress?”
“Ummm…NO.”
Would you be surprised if I told you I quit?
As from now I am officially unemployed, unenthusiastic and unavailable for any company who don’t know their ass from their elbow or the difference between sales staff and skivvy.
Harumph.
20 comments:
This explains alot, maybe the reason she didn't make comment about the chocolate bar stuck to your back side :)
I am sorry it didn't work out. I will cross my fingers that something wonderful comes along for you.
xo
if you fancied moving up nearer to me I would tell you to apply for a job at our place, its an office not a shop but really although its hard graft I'm really getting paid to flirt..........my boss is fed up with attitude of my colleugues and want a few more like me.
I need some one sane, funny and intelligent to work with.....I have a sulky beligerent woman who doesn't want to do sales (p/t) and a young man who doesn't seem to be able to read, write or learn from his mistakes (f/t) so come on over pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Well. It says alot that you stuck around so long. Sounded like a damn sweatshop...
Good luck on the new job search!
I hope you have a wonderful week.
Well, I must say it certainly seems like you have every right to rant! Better luck with your next position!
ugh! i've always hated sales...i don't blame you for quitting. and someone forgetting to order the bloody dress 12 mos ago?! holy sh!t.
Good on you for telling her where to stick her job. And that poor girl expecting her wedding dress...I'd go mental.
WTF sort of place is it????
You need to warn the job centre in case anyone else goes there expecting a proper job!
Sorry it didn't work out Laney, the right job is out there just waiting for you, honest. x
She needs to retire to go pick her toe fungus in private. Good call on quitting that job, and what happened with the bride? I'd be livid...
sorry your unemployed again Laney, keep looking, Im sure theres a job out there with your name on it honey.
x
PS ~ As I have just sat here and read Parts 1 - 5 in one straight hit, could I have some chocolates AND some alcohol please???
Sounds as if they were just looking for a 'dog's body' or a 'gopher' .... go for this and go for that ;-)
Did you fill her sandwiches with the old leaves and dirt??? Teehee I'm a trouble maker!
And to think I WANT to get back into retail.
You should talk to Parliament about anti-idiot laws.... but much like the American senate and congress I am sure there would be need to replace said Parliament in it's entirety due to such laws....
Good on ya. Why take crap. We only employ a few people and we are in sales, yes everyday our door opens and we have a till and yes you would get your very own number to operate it. And we would show you how to open the draw. Have you seen Open all hours, with Ronnie Barker. That's retail for you.
Cheers Mark x
You wouldn't phone up the bride to tell her there'd been a &*+% up? Chicken!!!!!!!! ;)
I don't blame you for quitting, but you should have told the bride to be her dress wasn't in, then quit there and then, at least she might have seen then what a shambles the place was.
you're better off otu of there Laney. Let's hope somethign better comes along very soon. Some people - really!
brides can be very annoying indeed
;->...
Well I think I've just about caught up and I have to say that you never fail to keep me completely hooked.
I love your style of writing. Do you think the chocolate starfish might have had something to do with your misguided job description?!
I went nude bathing once, in Tenerife. Found it very embarrassing to be honest. I think you really have to be cut out for that sort of thing if you are to feel comfortable.
Thanks for a great read.
CJ xx
That sounded like slave labor with a very unprofessional boss and then that poor girl without her wedding dress and you were supposed to tell her!
I do so hope that you find the job that you deserve, where you are treated with respect and decent wages. i will keep my fingers crossed for you, because in 6 months time it is my turn and god only knows what awaits me.
We chicks have to stick together.
Hi ~ This is my first visit to your blog and I have to say that you are way too creative, talented and fun to be stuck in a job such as that. Yes, I figured all of that out just by reading all of your posts - down to the bottom of the page where it says I earned chocolate or a drink ;) Follow your heart.
God, I'm getting so baaad at replying lately! Thanks everyone for your comments. x
Ali, Mike and Savage, it's great to see you back! (Ali especially cos she's my friend!)
Gledwood and Debbie - thanks for visiting! Please come back again :)
Post a Comment