You spend the majority of your waking time doing it, so why not? Write about your job: What is it like? Are you doing what you want to do?
My job?
I've written about being a Directory Assistance Operator already, so let's talk about the job before that. ;-D
I was a cashier for a major deptartment store chain for 2 years, and I wrote this on Sept. 15, 2003. ;-D
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My job?
I'm a minimum wage cashier for a major department store chain.
I stand all day at a cashier lane and ring up the purchases, big and small, serious and amusing, understandable and inexplicable, that you, dear reader, send down the conveyor belt to me in front of the cash register.
From 10 cents to thousands of dollars, you pay me your money and then scamper happily on your way.
Anywhere from 900 to 1400 of you pass through my lane every week.
Some of you come alone, some bring the baby or toddler, and some drag along every member of the family you can scrounge up, and your dog, and the next door neighbor, too!
Many of you can't speak a lick of English, others pretend not to be able to so as to not get into a conversation with me that might lead to you signing on for a credit card, and others I wish didn't speak my language because... well, the reasons are legion.
On the other hand there are many of you who make my day a pleasure just through my encountering you.
I have to say the same thing to each of you before almost anything else simply because management requires I do my damndest to get you to start on, or continue on, the long road to credit card debt.
I went bankrupt due to credit card debt, and refuse to get another.
I no more enjoy asking you to apply than you enjoy being asked EVERY time you go through my lane.
Some of you I remember from times past, but others it's not so easy to remember, so bear with me as I get the preliminaries over with quickly so we can get on to more pleasant an interaction in the time allowed by our brief encounter.
This interaction involves ordinary pleasantries, and conversation instigated by my peculiar sense of humor.
It also involves helping you find answers to shopping questions, explaining why I have to do this or that with something or other, and sometimes saying just a simple "NO".
When I am not parting you from your hard earned money I am the one who fills the lanes with bags when they are empty or low, I am the one who keeps the side and endcaps at my lane neat and organized, and I am the one who picks up after you when you leave a basket, cart , or pile of merchandise strewn around my lane when you pass through.
It is a never ending chore, but hey! It makes the time go by faster during an 8 hour shift.
I get 2, 15 minute, breaks during that shift, and an unpaid, 30 min., lunch break, and after resting up and refueling I am ready to deal with you for another 2 hours.
I have been in retail since 1984. 18 of those years in the book selling business, and 11 of them as a Manager of an Independent Bookstore.
I could work around books all my working life. It paid better, though without benefits, than what I make now.
What I am doing now is not what I WANT to do , but it has its good moments and has advancement potential eventually.
But I can't wait for "eventually" to come.
I can barely survive after paying the rent, and so have decided to re-launch my job search in the hopes of landing something better.
What that is, and where my search will lead, I can not say at this early stage.
I only know that I must search.
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