Anyone work in retail?

[aleshad01]

I have been thinking about getting a part-time job at night at either Kohl's, Target or Walmart and was wondering if anyone else works in retail? About how many hours do you work a week? Do you like your job?

 

[memy26]

I worked retail for 13 years. The job itself wasn't bad, it was the management who made the job unbearable.

I worked over the years anywhere from 12 hrs a week to 40 hrs a week. And all 13 years were at the same store, so it couldn't have been too bad.

 

[Darcy03231]

DD# 1 works at Kohls part-time (she's in college). While she doesn't mind it, business at her store has really slowed down. While she used to get about 24-26 hours a week she's now been getting 12-16 hours per week. Her store hasn't hired anyone new in a long time.

DD#2 works in a grocery store and is always busy. She averages 20-26 hours per week. No matter what happens people have to buy groceries.

 

[secretpantssam]

I've worked at both Target and Kohls. I enjoyed Target more because there was more of a team feel and everyone did their part to make the store look nice. Of course it could be frustrating with a few rude or messy customers here and there, but it wasn't too bad. Kohls seemed too laid back and most of the employees never really cared if they got anything done. Of course that could have just been the particular store I worked.

At Target I was working full time over the summer during college, so I'd get about 40 hours a week. At Kohls I was just working part time after college while I job hunted and got like 15-20 hours.

 

[Piecey]

Around here, getting a job at Wal*Mart is like gold.
They're hard to come by.

Good luck!

I worked at Sears, in the shoe department, and hated it. I worked long enough to pay my study abroad fees and went back to just Burger King (I'd been working both).

 

[reagan75]

I work at Kohls's VERY part time, approx. 4 hours a week. I work in the cash office doing the deposit in the early morning and have no dealing with customers. DH is self employed so I do it solely for the insurance. DH is able to take DS8 to school and meet me with DD3 on his way to work. It works for us for now!

 

[Jack&Ryan'smom]

I work at GapKids. I've been with the company for 18 1/2 years. Retail has good days & bad days just like any job. I like it because of the flexible work schedules...I work nights & weekwnds so that either DH or I are always with the boys.
It's nice to pick a store that has a great discount. This helps offset the not so great pay of a retail job. I can't imagine my life without my discount!

 

[TarzansKat]

I work at Kohls's VERY part time, approx. 4 hours a week. I work in the cash office doing the deposit in the early morning and have no dealing with customers. DH is self employed so I do it solely for the insurance. DH is able to take DS8 to school and meet me with DD3 on his way to work. It works for us for now!

Pardon me for intruding on the thread...although I have worked in retail, so I could share my experience after. Did I read right in regard to insurance? You work four hours a week and carry insurance for all of you? Wow, that's great if you do.

I've worked in retail in several different stores. Disney, Victoria's Secret, an art gallery, now I work in banking.

All different forms of retail. Quite frankly, it's all very similar. And the thing that I find is it's all about who you work with. You can love a job and if the people around you are positive people, it's great. And if you're surrounded by a bunch of negative nellies, it can be a huge downer. So I would take a good look at whoever your interviewer is (hopefully someone who works there) and maybe ask some questions that will help you determine what the work environment is like. Or, if you know someone who already works there, that helps, too.

 

[Soulsearching]

Not to hijack your thread, but I have a few questions about retail.

Do you have to work on the weekends?

Are there rotating schedules?

Would they give you a set schedule if you asked for one?

I'm thinking for applying for a retail position, but I really don't want to work on the weekends. I don't mind if it's a few weekends but not all weekends.

Would that be a problem?

 

[MrsGoofyMitchell]

I was a manager with Target for 8 years. It is a good place to work for part-time. I work at Bed, Bath and Beyond now part-time, only about 15 hours a week because I stay home with my son. It's great working there and they pay much more than Target, Walmart, etc.

 

[Soon2B4]

Not to hijack your thread, but I have a few questions about retail.

Do you have to work on the weekends?

Are there rotating schedules?

Would they give you a set schedule if you asked for one?

I'm thinking for applying for a retail position, but I really don't want to work on the weekends. I don't mind if it's a few weekends but not all weekends.

Would that be a problem?

Schedules are usually not set. They pretty much require you to be available for weekends in my experience. I worked at Gymboree and lucked out b/c I was one of the few people available during the day prior to kids. I was actually pregnant during my time there. The manager scheduled me mostly with her during the day to run the store while she did her paperwork and schedules. I was one of the lucky few that worked mostly 11-3 during the week, but I did have to occasionally do the weekend or night thing also.

I also worked at a grocery store as a cashier, front end manager, Bookkeeper, and Customer service. That schedule changes weekly and nothing is set. Sales determine how many people they need any given week and they just put you where they need someone.

 

[memy26]

Not to hijack your thread, but I have a few questions about retail.

Do you have to work on the weekends?

Are there rotating schedules?

Would they give you a set schedule if you asked for one?

I'm thinking for applying for a retail position, but I really don't want to work on the weekends. I don't mind if it's a few weekends but not all weekends.

Would that be a problem?

I got very lucky. The first two years I worked retail I had to work weekend and varying hours. When I came back from maternity leave from having ds my manager offered me a Monday-Friday 6am-3pm position!! It was perfect!!

Of coarse I'm sure everyone doesn't get this lucky but its always worth a shot

 

[christa112]

If you want to work retail it is pretty much retail law you must weekends. It may not be every weekend, but most places are going to make you work at least one weekend a month.

Also keep in mind you will mostly be required to work holidays, such as Labor Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July and don't forget Black Friday, you will never get a Black Friday or that entire weekend off for that matter.

I don't want to scare you away from retail, because I have been a retail manager for over 7 yrs now, but you need to know the dirty details of retail. LOL

 

[bittersk]

I have worked for The Limited for over 2 and a half years. I work another job as a bank teller also. The bank job pays the bills and the job at the Limited is my fun. I work there ONLY on weekends for the most part, depending on how many hours they need me to work. I love retail. I did work at another store at a local casino. The store was horrible and the manager was the MOST unethical manager i have ever seen. It will really depend on who you work with and if you enjoy retail. If i could do it full time i would prob go crazy, but it is a great part time job and if you get a decent discount it will always help with the bills!

Good luck whereever you apply!

 

[dzneelvr]

Retail benefits and hours schedule expectations vary widely, so make sure you have your set of questions ready as you interview. Are you interested in the benefits (insurance) or strictly wages? I agree that weekends and holidays are just part of the package, so understand that upfront. Also, you may want to ask when you receive your weekly work schedule. It may be the week before or the month before...again depends on how flexible you can be on short notice. Good Luck! I believe that any job is a good job.

 

[TaraPA]

Not to hijack your thread, but I have a few questions about retail.

Do you have to work on the weekends?

Are there rotating schedules?

Would they give you a set schedule if you asked for one?

I'm thinking for applying for a retail position, but I really don't want to work on the weekends. I don't mind if it's a few weekends but not all weekends.

Would that be a problem?

Hi Soulsearching -remember me??!!

I'm in retail management with Yankee Candle. While some places might use a set schedule, we do not - it changes weekly. Luckily I got in at a time when they were desperate for help, so in my agreement I have that I do not work nights during the week (DH travels for work so I need to be home by 2:45 to get the kids off the bus & be home with them at night)- but I do have to work weekends. LOTS of weekends. We will only hire people that are available weekends - and that includes Friday. Maybe other places are more leniant with scheduling - but Yankee is not. The store is the busiest on weekends so that's when we need the help. We do schedule around other jobs, school, etc. during the week but you have to be available anytime on weekends.

I'm part-time and average anywhere from 8-38 hours a week, usually around 15-20.

You have to enjoy selling, talking to people, and like the product you sell. I love my co-workers, they are like family - so that is a HUGE plus. It also doesn't hurt that I get a 50% employee discount on a product I'm addicted too!

GOOD LUCK!

 

[Soulsearching]

Hi TaraPA, of course I remember you!!!! Granite counter tops and all. Never did replace those counter tops, now that my two children are away at college at the same time. Just kidding. I do miss them, but now I need something to do.

Thanks for answering some of my questions. I need to hear all the little details. A reality check is always good.

 

[TaraPA]

Wellllllll soulsearching - you could make a little money on the side to do the countertops!!!!!!!!!!

Someone else mentioned holidays - that is a downside to retail. We make Black Friday and that whole weekend mandatory - and also 2 days for inventory in May and October. We tell them that up front before they even accept the job. We expect the employees to work 3 out of the 4 weekends in December as well. Sounds harsh, but that's retail at Yankee World! Other places may not be as strict with holiday scheduling.

 

[RachaelA]

I'm at manager at Starbucks (kinda retail). We would never hire someone if they couldn't work weekends. You can request the occasional weekend off, but you need to be available both days. Its been like that with every retail job I've had since I was 16.

Retail jobs are really hard to come by everywhere.

A new Kohls opened somewhere Colorado and I guess there were more than 2000 people applying for 100ish jobs.

 

[Earstou]

Not to hijack your thread, but I have a few questions about retail.

Do you have to work on the weekends?

Are there rotating schedules?

Would they give you a set schedule if you asked for one?

I'm thinking for applying for a retail position, but I really don't want to work on the weekends. I don't mind if it's a few weekends but not all weekends.

Would that be a problem?

Your best bet for getting a job with no weekends would be at your local school! Many moms work at schools so that they can be home when their kids are home.