The Macy's diary

Posted on 28 Nov 2009 - by Katkat In: work anecdotes

I’ve mentioned from my previous post that I’m working as a part-time sales associate for Macy’s this holiday season. I was very excited getting this job. When I was a young girl, I loved playing with a toy cash register and imagined running a store. I get to relive that childhood fantasy this year working at Macy’s but minus the make-believe. This time reality came crashing in. I’ve just survived a Black Friday’s Sale event. I couldn’t believe how much work it is from the sales associate end. In previous years I was the customer and I get irritated waiting in a long line and getting no help from busy sales associates. Now I understand their plight.

I maintained my composure, mind you. I didn’t mind assisting a lot of people. I didn’t get tired showing people the store’s items again and again. No customer got angry with me. And though I didn’t attain my sales goal, I was happy with how I worked today. But I had a revelation: my body is not accustom to working 2 jobs anymore. When I was younger, I was happy having 2 jobs at the same time and I don’t feel too exhausted. However now I’m so tired. My feet are dead from standing for such a long time – no kind of shoes (except rubber shoes, which I can’t wear because it doesn’t coordinate with my uniform) can save my feet from aching. During break time, going to the break room is a hardship because it’s too far from my floor walking with my sore feet. I’m not enjoying the job as I would like.

I have decided with finality that this would be the last time I’m going to work for a retail store. I can cross out sales associate from my list of desired jobs. Despite the exhaustion, I liked the working atmosphere in Macy’s. I get to be surrounded by a lot of coworkers which are my age group. My main job has a work circle composed of me, the boss and another coworker. It gets lonely sometimes. But with Macy’s it’s like college days and people are friendly with each other. No dramas…or none that I know of. Another thing that I like about this job is the employee discount. Actually this is a devil’s temptation. A coworker stated that people who work at retail stores are the best customers of that retail store. It gets really tempting to buy stuffs especially when it’s in front of you. Having employee discount on top of store’s sales discount, I will always justify that I’m actually saving a lot. Today I think I spent around 100USD just for boots, bag and jacket. There goes my 3 days of work. And I’m still hankering for a watch! I hope I get out of this job with at least some savings.

Well there you go. Such is life at Macy’s. I just need to endure 4 more weeks.