Finally Got a (Real) Job

Off Topic
1

So for awhile I’d been working the computer world, doing networking and repair and all. Grunt work, white collar work, the whole nine yards.

Then I turned 18 and moved from the town where I was known, so I was still making “bank” (as beans says) and even more of it (get to charge a fee for driving over!) but I felt like I didn’t want to have to worry about workflow anymore. Its still plenty but I know one day I’ll get tired of it, so I went out and got a real job.

I just got a job at a Vitamin Shoppe, pays well enough for part-time and I can score at least three pretty quick raises thanks to their system (you get raises by demonstrating knowledge of supplements/physiology etc)

Anyone got any experience in retail or tips so I don’t screw up? I figure its easy, but I like to excel at crap.

2

No matter how huge the urge do not I repeat do not punch the customers. (oh how I want to punch my customers)

3

Money wise, learn to save. Start a savings account ASAP and put a predetermined portion of your paycheck in there every month. An IRA would be smart also.

We’re young, we can make the money we earn now work for us. As tempting as it is to blow money as soon as you make it because we have very few financial obligations, learning to save and grow your savings is one of the most important lessons you can learn.

~

As far as retail I can only give you suggestions from the eyes of a consumer, but good hygiene, good manners, and confidence (not to be confused with being pushy or crowding a customer) should help you go a long way.

4

[quote]WestCoast7 wrote:
Money wise, learn to save. Start a savings account ASAP and put a predetermined portion of your paycheck in there every month. An IRA would be smart also.

We’re young, we can make the money we earn now work for us. As tempting as it is to blow money as soon as you make it because we have very few financial obligations, learning to save and grow your savings is one of the most important lessons you can learn.

~

As far as retail I can only give you suggestions from the eyes of a consumer, but good hygiene, good manners, and confidence (not to be confused with being pushy or crowding a customer) should help you go a long way.[/quote]

Oh hell yeah I’m saving, any expense I have will be food and bills around the house. Luckily VS isn’t commission based, so I have no compulsion to shove things at people.

I’m terrified of having to basically work in a brick-and-mortar version of the Beginners forum on here, but I’m pretty sure I can slug it out lol.

“i wanna get bigger does this stuff work”

Oh god.

5

Remember: the key to freedom is not getting into debt and having money in the bank. Don’t take out a credit card. Save up a few months worth of living expenses to avoid having to go the credit route if you lose your job. Save up a predetermined amount first, THEN use it to get things. For example – Tell yourself that you’ll put $1000k in an emergency savings account, then you’ll reward your self with an iPod or whatever.

Another thing - think carefully about everything you buy. Don’t spontaneously splurge on one thing, then realize you need/wanted a different one, effectively buying the same thing twice. Example: don’t buy a cheapo mp3 player to save money when you’d really like an iPod Touch. Just save up, get the thing you really want, then use it until it wears out.

As for retail work, a big smile, allowing customers to save face, being reliable, and going a little above and beyond your normal obligations will set you apart from the rest.

EDIT: just saw your post after I posted.

6

hey dude. i lived in scotland for quite a while and worked in holland and barrett (and if i remember my induction day correctly they are owned by the same guy. and the whole payrise by passing tests, i had that as well)

working with this, u definitly just have to smile all u can and be nice to every single customers, even if they dont deserve it, and like said earlier in the thread dont punch them lol. although u will definitly feel like it.

the tests they are gonna ask u to pass, i think u will do pretty good at them as long as u just read the material they give u.

u definitly have to go beyond and above though. basically just be a nice guy, and i hope u are an outgoing person as u will have to approach the customers, and also be good with people as u will also have to know when they really just wanna have a browse.

7

[quote]CapnYousef wrote:
I just got a job at a Vitamin Shoppe, pays well enough for part-time and I can score at least three pretty quick raises thanks to their system (you get raises by demonstrating knowledge of supplements/physiology etc)

Anyone got any experience in retail or tips so I don’t screw up? I figure its easy, but I like to excel at crap.[/quote]
Congrats, man.

I worked at Vitamin Shoppe years ago (apparently before the awesome raise structure). On top of the solid advice you’ve gotten here so far, I’d say to remember that supplements, for the most part, are a recurring expense.

This means, if you play your cards right (knowing your shit and being personable enough), you’ll have customers coming back to your store every month or two and asking for you specifically. You don’t work off commission so it doesn’t matter “that much”, but if your manager isn’t a total asshat, they’ll recognize that you’ve become a significant reason why people walk in the doors and leave with a bag of stuff everytime. That’s always a good spot to be in.

8

If you are able to tie your shoelaces together such that you don’t trip when trying to walk, you are more than capable of working in that type of environment.

9

GNC, Hoe!!!

10

Dont read porno mags at work. If you do though make sure they are not gay.

Oh yeah…also, congratulations on getting a job. I hope you enjoy it and get lots of pussy? money? vitamins?

11

[quote]CapnYousef wrote:
So for awhile I’d been working the computer world, doing networking and repair and all. Grunt work, white collar work, the whole nine yards.

Then I turned 18 and moved from the town where I was known, so I was still making “bank” (as beans says) and even more of it (get to charge a fee for driving over!) but I felt like I didn’t want to have to worry about workflow anymore. Its still plenty but I know one day I’ll get tired of it, so I went out and got a real job.

I just got a job at a Vitamin Shoppe, pays well enough for part-time and I can score at least three pretty quick raises thanks to their system (you get raises by demonstrating knowledge of supplements/physiology etc)

Anyone got any experience in retail or tips so I don’t screw up? I figure its easy, but I like to excel at crap.[/quote]

Lol @ real job.

Let me tell you a story, when I first decided to become a salesman my father told me to get a “real job.” He wanted me to go to PetSmart or Home Depot and get a fork lift job, get certified so I’d “always” have a job. That first summer that I worked I made just over $50,000 in 4.5 months, my father makes 2/3rds of that at his job during the whole year. Don’t worry about having a ‘real job’ as long as it is legit and your not slanging drugs, as long as your making ‘bank’ stick with it, you’ll feel less disgusted with yourself.

I would rather have a job where if I do not do work, I do not get paid, but if I bust my ass I can take home serious cash. And, that is more rewarding than having a ‘real job’ because I didn’t have to just be present (even though the effort to sale is not much) I had to make my own bones.

12

[quote]Squiggles wrote:
Remember: the key to freedom is not getting into debt and having money in the bank. Don’t take out a credit card. Save up a few months worth of living expenses to avoid having to go the credit route if you lose your job. Save up a predetermined amount first, THEN use it to get things. For example – Tell yourself that you’ll put $1000k in an emergency savings account, then you’ll reward your self with an iPod or whatever.

Another thing - think carefully about everything you buy. Don’t spontaneously splurge on one thing, then realize you need/wanted a different one, effectively buying the same thing twice. Example: don’t buy a cheapo mp3 player to save money when you’d really like an iPod Touch. Just save up, get the thing you really want, then use it until it wears out.

As for retail work, a big smile, allowing customers to save face, being reliable, and going a little above and beyond your normal obligations will set you apart from the rest.

EDIT: just saw your post after I posted.[/quote]

Credit cards are valuable tools.

P.S. Get a sales job if you are going into ‘retail’ you won’t hate yourself so much. Otherwise having an open ended job makes you feel like shit. You are getting paid the same amount of money but doing more work and it won’t seem like your manager cares about you.

13

[quote]Chris Colucci wrote:

[quote]CapnYousef wrote:
I just got a job at a Vitamin Shoppe, pays well enough for part-time and I can score at least three pretty quick raises thanks to their system (you get raises by demonstrating knowledge of supplements/physiology etc)

Anyone got any experience in retail or tips so I don’t screw up? I figure its easy, but I like to excel at crap.[/quote]
Congrats, man.

I worked at Vitamin Shoppe years ago (apparently before the awesome raise structure). On top of the solid advice you’ve gotten here so far, I’d say to remember that supplements, for the most part, are a recurring expense.

This means, if you play your cards right (knowing your shit and being personable enough), you’ll have customers coming back to your store every month or two and asking for you specifically. You don’t work off commission so it doesn’t matter “that much”, but if your manager isn’t a total asshat, they’ll recognize that you’ve become a significant reason why people walk in the doors and leave with a bag of stuff everytime. That’s always a good spot to be in.[/quote]

Yeah, definitely get a commission job much more rewarding.

14

[quote]Brother Chris wrote:

I would rather have a job where if I do not do work, I do not get paid, but if I bust my ass I can take home serious cash. And, that is more rewarding than having a ‘real job’ because I didn’t have to just be present (even though the effort to sale is not much) I had to make my own bones.[/quote]

since I too am close to having a job as a Membership Consultant (sales) I think thats great to hear Chris. Having the chance to make my own bones is going to be the perfect chance to rake in some serious cash.

15

So min wage job = real job, but white collar work =/= real job. Damn guess I’d better drop out of engineering if I ever want a real job :open_mouth:

16

^oh snap! Shark boy!

17

[quote]Brother Chris wrote:

[quote]Squiggles wrote:
Remember: the key to freedom is not getting into debt and having money in the bank. Don’t take out a credit card. Save up a few months worth of living expenses to avoid having to go the credit route if you lose your job. Save up a predetermined amount first, THEN use it to get things. For example – Tell yourself that you’ll put $1000k in an emergency savings account, then you’ll reward your self with an iPod or whatever.

Another thing - think carefully about everything you buy. Don’t spontaneously splurge on one thing, then realize you need/wanted a different one, effectively buying the same thing twice. Example: don’t buy a cheapo mp3 player to save money when you’d really like an iPod Touch. Just save up, get the thing you really want, then use it until it wears out.

As for retail work, a big smile, allowing customers to save face, being reliable, and going a little above and beyond your normal obligations will set you apart from the rest.

EDIT: just saw your post after I posted.[/quote]

Credit cards are valuable tools.

P.S. Get a sales job if you are going into ‘retail’ you won’t hate yourself so much. Otherwise having an open ended job makes you feel like shit. You are getting paid the same amount of money but doing more work and it won’t seem like your manager cares about you.[/quote]

Credit cards are tools like guns are tools. Useful in the hands of the right people for the right purposes, but a lot of people shoot themselves in the foot or blow their brains out staring into the barrel.

I never recommend someone get a credit card before they have a substantial savings. The first time the road gets bumpy, the card is used, and that is the worst time to use them. Then it starts a cycle of not being able to stay ahead.

With a better paying job than the Vitamin Shoppe or a healthy savings, then sure, get a credit card and pay your bills with it, then pay it off. A regularly paid, never late credit card does nice things to the credit score and the reward points can be pretty sweet.

(I feel like I am telling a child that it’s OK to smoke pot as long as they do it responsibly).

18

[quote]JLu wrote:
So min wage job = real job, but white collar work =/= real job. Damn guess I’d better drop out of engineering if I ever want a real job :O[/quote]

x2 wtf?

Umm… dude sales is where it’s at, but not if you are making no commission. I wouldn’t even call a job sales if you are making no commission.

Honestly, if you are making more at Vitamin Shoppe making minimum wage then you were doing networking… you were getting screwed.

Well, congrats on the new job.

19

is thsi the vitamin shoppe wer’re all talking about? Looks sweet…discount?

20

[quote]Brother Chris wrote:

[quote]CapnYousef wrote:
So for awhile I’d been working the computer world, doing networking and repair and all. Grunt work, white collar work, the whole nine yards.

Then I turned 18 and moved from the town where I was known, so I was still making “bank” (as beans says) and even more of it (get to charge a fee for driving over!) but I felt like I didn’t want to have to worry about workflow anymore. Its still plenty but I know one day I’ll get tired of it, so I went out and got a real job.

I just got a job at a Vitamin Shoppe, pays well enough for part-time and I can score at least three pretty quick raises thanks to their system (you get raises by demonstrating knowledge of supplements/physiology etc)

Anyone got any experience in retail or tips so I don’t screw up? I figure its easy, but I like to excel at crap.[/quote]

Lol @ real job.

Let me tell you a story, when I first decided to become a salesman my father told me to get a “real job.” He wanted me to go to PetSmart or Home Depot and get a fork lift job, get certified so I’d “always” have a job. That first summer that I worked I made just over $50,000 in 4.5 months, my father makes 2/3rds of that at his job during the whole year. Don’t worry about having a ‘real job’ as long as it is legit and your not slanging drugs, as long as your making ‘bank’ stick with it, you’ll feel less disgusted with yourself.

I would rather have a job where if I do not do work, I do not get paid, but if I bust my ass I can take home serious cash. And, that is more rewarding than having a ‘real job’ because I didn’t have to just be present (even though the effort to sale is not much) I had to make my own bones.[/quote]

What kind of sales were you in to make that money brother chris? if you dont mind me asking.