[purplemystery]

For 3 summers I have worked at a retail store, and then leave when I go back to college for the year. When I work there, I always feel very unconfident because I worry that the store manager doesn't like me, and I always feel like I am under surveillance by the higher-ups (we all are, but I am extremely conscious of it). Going on the register is also scary for me because unusual circumstances might come up that I forget or never learned how to handle, and I feel so stupid when I have to ask a question. If I make a mistake, I feel so incompetent. I also struggle with social anxiety, so it is sometimes difficult for me to initiate interaction with customers, though I think I do well generally.

I decided that I wanted to get a new summer job because I don't think I'm growing at this retail store anymore, and I wanted something that would make me feel good about myself instead of on-edge. However, I'm having a tough job finding a job, and I have been on break for a month and a half now. I know that there is a 98% chance that working at the retail store is a phone call away... Do you think I should just go back, or keep looking for a different summer job?

[Miswimmy1]

its a hard time to find work right now, with the economy. i have been trying to find a summer job and have had little luck. if there is something that you have prior experience in, and is available, i would take it. maybe there are ways to make the working a little bit more bearable.

[Perna]

If I were you, I would go back to the store for a couple reasons. Because it is so difficult for you in several ways, I think there is a lot of opportunity to "practice" working on those personal traits that worry you so when you graduate and get a different kind of job (what are you majoring in?) you will have experience working on your confidence and doing tasks that are scary for you and seeing you can succeed.

I would use the fact that the job market is tough and they don't have to hire you back, they could hire someone else if you were unsatisfactory, to help myself feel better about myself. This company does like you, despite what you feel because they keep hiring you back! There are other students like you out there looking for summer jobs but they have hired you consistently.

You cannot learn to feel better about yourself if it is all sunshine and roses and a perfect, lovely job (which does not exist, all jobs have difficult/unpleasant tasks and people and problems) because feeling better about yourself can not come from outside you, you have to build it through getting hired back repeatedly and seeing that that's a good thing and being proud of yourself :-)

Everyone makes mistakes and forgets stuff and has to learn new things for the first time in a fumbling/non know-what-they're-doing fashion! You can't know what you don't know! That's not a bad thing, criticism, or anything to be ashamed or afraid of. Learn all you can about the company and the people, etc. while you have the opportunity. Depending on your major, you might want to work at corporate in a higher level job when you graduate and you'd be "ahead" of the competition because of your time spent working in their store. Even if you don't work for this company, companies are all the "same" in many aspects; they all have to sell something and do accounting, be administered/run, have customer service, etc. That's "business". What you learn is up to you.

[jan16th]

Originally Posted by purplemystery

For 3 summers I have worked at a retail store, and then leave when I go back to college for the year. When I work there, I always feel very unconfident because I worry that the store manager doesn't like me, and I always feel like I am under surveillance by the higher-ups (we all are, but I am extremely conscious of it). Going on the register is also scary for me because unusual circumstances might come up that I forget or never learned how to handle, and I feel so stupid when I have to ask a question. If I make a mistake, I feel so incompetent. I also struggle with social anxiety, so it is sometimes difficult for me to initiate interaction with customers, though I think I do well generally.

I decided that I wanted to get a new summer job because I don't think I'm growing at this retail store anymore, and I wanted something that would make me feel good about myself instead of on-edge. However, I'm having a tough job finding a job, and I have been on break for a month and a half now. I know that there is a 98% chance that working at the retail store is a phone call away... Do you think I should just go back, or keep looking for a different summer job?

well, finding work is really tough these days. If need be, I'd go back with the intention of making this a learning experiance to be more confident. Tell us what goes on, maybe we can help you through the experiances at the store. Good Luck!!

[redbandit]

I also worked in retail while in college, turns out it was actually the best job I had overall. I got to know basically everything about the job. Is this job in your hometown? Mine was, which allowed me to work full time. I often wished I hadn't quit, I had no idea it would be so hard to fine a legitimate job after graduation, at least in my field. And I had an internship. I would go back to retail if it weren't for some injuries I have.
My advice is stick with it if you can, and it never hurts to look for another job while you are working. Its great to have options, good luck!

[purplemystery]

Originally Posted by Miswimmy1

its a hard time to find work right now, with the economy. i have been trying to find a summer job and have had little luck. if there is something that you have prior experience in, and is available, i would take it. maybe there are ways to make the working a little bit more bearable.

Thanks, it is really tough. It seems that you have to start applying for summer jobs months and months in advance. I must have sent out at least 30 applications to different places. After thinking about it, I realized that I should feel grateful for having this opportunity available to me, so I decided to go back. Good luck in your job search!

[purplemystery]

Originally Posted by Perna

If I were you, I would go back to the store for a couple reasons. Because it is so difficult for you in several ways, I think there is a lot of opportunity to "practice" working on those personal traits that worry you so when you graduate and get a different kind of job (what are you majoring in?) you will have experience working on your confidence and doing tasks that are scary for you and seeing you can succeed.

I would use the fact that the job market is tough and they don't have to hire you back, they could hire someone else if you were unsatisfactory, to help myself feel better about myself. This company does like you, despite what you feel because they keep hiring you back! There are other students like you out there looking for summer jobs but they have hired you consistently.

You cannot learn to feel better about yourself if it is all sunshine and roses and a perfect, lovely job (which does not exist, all jobs have difficult/unpleasant tasks and people and problems) because feeling better about yourself can not come from outside you, you have to build it through getting hired back repeatedly and seeing that that's a good thing and being proud of yourself :-)

Everyone makes mistakes and forgets stuff and has to learn new things for the first time in a fumbling/non know-what-they're-doing fashion! You can't know what you don't know! That's not a bad thing, criticism, or anything to be ashamed or afraid of. Learn all you can about the company and the people, etc. while you have the opportunity. Depending on your major, you might want to work at corporate in a higher level job when you graduate and you'd be "ahead" of the competition because of your time spent working in their store. Even if you don't work for this company, companies are all the "same" in many aspects; they all have to sell something and do accounting, be administered/run, have customer service, etc. That's "business". What you learn is up to you.

Thank you so much, Perna! You really put things in perspective for me and helped me to see that I was running from my problems. You're right that no matter where I go, I would still encounter some sort of issue. I need to learn how to work through that. The difficult part for me is to know whether people actually disapprove of me or if I only think they do due to low self-esteem issues. It is so difficult to differentiate between the two, but maybe my work in this retail store is not yet finished because of that. I still have a lot to learn and gain from this experience. Though it was extremely difficult, I finally made the call to ask to come back. They let me! So you're right that they must like me somewhat. Thank you for your help.

[purplemystery]

jan 16th and redbandit- Thanks for the advice!! You're right- I'm lucky to have the option to work. I asked to come back, and I think it will be worth it.

[jan16th]

Originally Posted by purplemystery

jan 16th and redbandit- Thanks for the advice!! You're right- I'm lucky to have the option to work. I asked to come back, and I think it will be worth it.

It will be worth it because you have found a new meaning to the job. Not only will you be getting paid, you will be learning something that will carry you through the years. Suggestion: Go to the library and read up on how to deal with difficult people. With those tools, the job becomes even more amusing as you watch behaviors in customers. Also there is a novel entitled "Retail Hell", by Freeman Hall. It is about a writer who takes a retail job at a high end dept store to make ends meet while he works on the great novel that is in his head. He ends up writing about the crazy customers and the retail b.s. that goes on instead. That could be really inspiring for you. Good Luck and tell us about your work adventures!!