Bookseller
(Female, Age 25) from Mountainside, NJ
This is a REAL-LIFE job profile written by a Female aged 25 who works as a Bookseller in Mountainside, NJ. We have removed all names and personal information in order to protect privacy. This professional kindly spent a bit of their time to complete one of our job profile surveys so that prospective job seekers like you could read their insights. Please excuse any punctuation or grammatical errors in this profile.
At a Glance
Current Job
Basic data on your current job
| Job Title | Bookseller |
|---|---|
| Salary | $15,000 |
| Other Compensation | None Set |
| Hours/Week | |
| Company Size | (not answered) |
| Location | Mountainside, NJ |
| Years Experience | 4 years |
Career Ratings
Opinions on your CAREER overall (i.e. not just your current job)
| Years in Career | 0 |
|---|---|
| Education | (not answered) |
| Income Rating | 0 / 10 |
| Interest Rating | 0 / 10 |
| Work-Life Rating | 0 / 10 |
| Fulfilment Rating | 0 / 10 |
Current job Q&A
Describe the type of organization you work for.
Large bookstore retail chain.
Describe your job role and responsibilities.
As I work in retail, it requires lots of customer service as well as store maintenance and knowledge of popular book titles and the ability to recommend books for any type of reader. Knowledge of e-reader devices (electronic readers) and troubleshooting though it is not what I usually do.
Please list an additional benefits (beyond compensation) that you receive.
I get a week of vacation time as well as a week of sick leave.
Do you feel you are under/over or well/fairly compensated at your current position?
I work very hard at my job and would like my pay to reflect that, however after having lost my job at Borders (a former bookchain) and wishing to work in a bookstore again, I was willing to take the job offered with little pay negotiation.
Does your job entail you working with others on a daily basis? Is this something you like/dislike about your job? Please explain.
Yes, I work in retail, so there is a daily interaction with customers and coworkers, which is usually great, though there is the occasional customer that can tire one’s patience quickly.
Do you work collaboratively with supervisors/managers?
Yes
Do you work collaboratively with your co-workers?
Yes
Describe your work location (e.g., office, home, theatre, in the field) and what you like/dislike about working in it.
Working in a retail store can be great, but the hours can be long and the store I work at rarely closes for holidays.
Please rate each of the following aspects of your current job on a scale of 1-10 (10 being the highest/best):
Income: 1
Benefits: 6
Hours: 7
Co-Workers: 3
Supervisors: 4
Job Title: 8
Level of Responsibility: 5
The Actual Work: 2
Table of Contents
How you got your job
How did you get your current job?
A job fair, though frequently checking newspaper ads can be productive.
What was the application process?
A paper application, with a meeting at a job fair.
Did you have to interview for your current job? If yes, what did the interview process entail?
Yes, there were two interviews with two different managers. During the job fair, there was one interview, and I was interviewed later by the store manager before given a job offer.
If you can remember, what questions were you asked during the interview?
Why would I be a good fit for the store? What are my best assets? What are my worst? How do I react in stressful situations?
Do you feel your employer properly prepared you for your job? Explain.
Was there training for your current position? If yes, what did it entail?
Do you feel your educational background prepared you for your job? Explain.
If applicable, do you feel your internship experience helped you prepare for your job?
If someone wanted to go about getting a job similar to yours, what would you recommend for him or her to do?
Apply in person is the best starting point. Not bringing your own pen or knowing what the job you are applying for entails will be noted by employees, (your fellow coworkers-to-be) and interrupting someone who is helping a customer will get you noticed in a negative way. Likewise, dressing too casual even for a relaxed setting, or dressing in an extremely self-expressive way, (shirts flaunting any sort of inappropriate slogans, expressions, attitudes, etc) will not make anyone take you seriously.
What skills do you think a person should have if they want to pursue a position like yours?
While typical retail skills will help you with a job as a bookseller, (organization, customer services skills) having a passion for reading and books will take you further. In any retail job, feeling passionate for the product in the store will help give you the right attitude and make you more knowledgeable in the field.
Do you feel that you need a certain level of education or training to be successful in your job?
There is less emphasis on education levels than there is on being well read. Even if it’s for a specific genre of books, being well versed is better than any level of schooling.
What advice would you give to someone who was about to start work in your position/ line of work?
Having an abundance of patience in the first few days/weeks is key. In any training, a lot of information is being thrown at you in the orientation time, and no one expects you to remember all of the information. Asking in a positive way will make an impact that will make you look attentive and respectful, rather than forgetful.
Ask a Question of this Mentor
This mentor has opted to receive questions from people interested in this career or job position. Please be respectful of their time and willingness to help. Include some basic relevant background so they can intelligently answer your question.