WAHM Bloggers' QOTW

This week's question from the gals at WAHM Bloggers is: What was your first job and what life lessons did it teach you?

Wow. My first job. What a blast that was! Seriouisly, what's more fun for a seventeen-year-old who refuses to grow up than a job at Toys 'R' Us?

I started out as a stock clerk. You know, unloading those eighteen foot trailers packed full of pallets of play sand, and doing it in a denim mini-skirt and heels. Now that's talent!

They quickly moved me up to cashier, mainly because it was nearing the Christmas rush and they needed bodies on the registers. Remember, ladies and gents, this was back when we still had to take imprints of people's credit cards and actually remember which copy belonged where. This was pre-debit cards and prior to electronic displays, when people paid mainly with - can you believe it? - cash, so we actually had to know how to count back their change properly.

Since I was one of the few girls who lasted past the Christmas (and boxing day) rush without having a nervous breakdown, I was promoted to head cashier shortly thereafter. I was one of the first to use the new-fangled computer-based cash register reconciliation system - oooh! I was there when they introduced the new debit card systems, and as head cashier, it was part of my duties to win the 'old timers' over to the new way of accepting payment. And it was during my capacity as head cashier that I caught my first major thief. Oooh, that's a juicy story, full of intrigue and high-level deception. I would tell you all about it, but I was sworn to secrecy (author casts furtive glances around her as she types).

What life's lessons did that job teach me? Well, for one, the strength & vigour of youth should not be underestimated. We pulled all nighters just to get the latest load of Cabbage Patch Kids on the shelves before the next major holiday or to get inventory counted in the allotted timeframe, and stayed the very next day for our regular shifts. We dined on pizza five days a week and still managed to maintain our target body images. We had the memory capacity to know exactly what someone wanted when they came in asking for, "...those little red things - you know - they're small - and red. Know what I mean?" We also had the patience to answer these same customers with a smile, and refrain from taking out our frustrations on those inflatable clown punching bags - at least, until we made it back to the staff lounge.

In all honesty, I learned that attitude really is everything, a smile and good service can change someone's day (or life). I also learned that, if I don't enjoy what I'm doing, noone else will. So, when you're contemplating a career path, make sure it's one you're going to be happy in, something you truly enjoy doing. Because your clients will know, in the end, whether you're satisfied with your job ... or miserable in it. ;)

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