1. What exactly do you do?
- What field is your job in?
Retail - What is your job title?
Salesman - Please provide a brief description of the firm or organization that you currently work for (size and general description of what type of organization it is)
Ace Hardware, a hardware retailer. The business is independently owned, but it is a franchise. We operate in the piedmont NC area with 2 locations by our one owner.
- How long have you been employed in this position?
2 months - How many hours do you work a week on average?
30 - Please provide a BRIEF description of your duties and responsibilities. (job description)
30 - Please provide a BRIEF description of your duties and responsibilities. (job description)
Cashier, clerk, janitor, sales assistant, general upkeep of the store.
- What was your gross income last year? Please include any bonuses or incentives received.
4500 - What is your expected gross income for this year? Please include any bonuses or incentives you expect to receive.
6000 - Please list any benefits you have (Please include number of weeks vacation, sick leave and type of health insurance, retirement plan 401k)
no benefits - Do you feel you are under/well/over compensated at your current position?
I feel that I am compensated fairly.
2. Work environment!
- Does your job entail you working with others on a daily basis? Is this something you like/dislike about your job? Explain
Yes, I enjoy working with people. I find satisfaction in helping people find what they need and making their day a little bit easier.
- 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
I work on the sales floor and behind the register. I like being on the floor more than behind the counter because I feel detached from the customer behind the counter. I like being able to communicate and walk around with the customers on the sales floor.
- Please rank in order of importance from 1-8 (1- most important 8- least important) Assign each number once.
- 8 Income
- 8 Work Environment - co-workers
- 8 Work Environment - supervisors
- 5 Benefits
- 8 Hours
- 8 Level of responsibility
- 8 The actual "work" you do at your job
- 1 Job Title
3. How should someone new to the workforce get a J-O-B like yours?
- If someone wanted to go about getting a job similar to yours, what would you recommend for him or her to do?
Find a place where you are working with something you like, my family is a bunch of "do it yourself'ers" so working at a hardware store is like being at home for me. If you know your products well then you'll have no time being a good salesmen.
- What skills do you think a person should have if they want to pursue a position like yours? Please be specific and explain why (e.g., social skills, organization skills, technical skills)
Social skills are a must, you have to be able to communicate with the customers. You also have to have good work ethic, work hard, and know what you're doing.
- Do you feel that you need a certain level of education or training to be successful in your job?
I think that you need some training, or a technical background. Education would be good also (technical degree in some type of labor) - What advice would you give to someone who was about to start work in your position/ line of work?
Keep your mind on what the customer needs, try to make the customer happy.
4. How did you get your J-O-B
- How did you find your current job? (e.g. newspaper, internet, referral, etc.)
Craigslist, the internet site. - What was the application process for your job? (e.g. submitted resume, paper application, electronic application, all, etc.)
Paper application, originally online and I printed it out. - Did you have to interview for your current job? If yes, what did the interview process entail? (e.g., number of interviews, who you interviewed with, group interview, individual interview, etc.)
Yes, we went to a local coffee shop and had a breakfast, it was one on one with the owner/operator of the business. I went through 2 interviews like this before getting the job. - If you can remember, what questions were you asked at your interview?
Do you have any experience with home improvement? Do you know how to work with people well/handle customers? Any experience handling money? Do you enjoy working? Are you a hard worker? - Is this the job / field you planned to work in?
No - If your job is in a different field from your original plan how did you get here? Explain (Plan can be from high school/college/post college/personal plan)
I guess if i aquire a position as manager or supervisor It would be in my field, I have an associates in Business Administration. But I got here because I was in need of a job to pay for bills.
5. Background: Are you qualified?
- Was there training for your current position? If yes, what did it entail?
Yes, just learning how to do returns, work the register, work the key making machine, work the paint mixing machine, etc. - Do you feel your employer properly prepared you for your job? Explain
Yes, I am able to do all the tasks that I need to do. - Do you feel your educational background prepared you for your job? Explain
Yes, I am well educated in how to use computers and that is a lot of what our job ends up dealing with. - If applicable, do you feel your internship experience helped you prepare you for your job?
6. The Future and Beyond (FINAL SECTION)
- If someone were to observe you at work, what would he or she say is "fun" about your job?
I think people would see my job as pretty fun. I am able to walk around a store, help people find the items they need, ring them out and make their day better. I think cutting keys and mixing paint is the most fun. - What is (are) the most fulfilling aspect(s) and least fulfilling aspect(s) of your current employment? (e.g. fiscal, spiritual, type of work, hours, commute, compensation, etc.)
Most fulfilling part is helping someone get what they need and making their day a little bit easier. I feel good about all the aspects of my job. - Is your current employment part of your career plan? Why or why not?
Possibly, I could work my way up the ladder and find myself in a management position possibly, but If it doesn't work out that way then I guess it's okay. - What are your current career goals? (Can be broad or specific)
Get a job paying salary, or more than $10.00 hour. I want something more official and more business savvy. - Is there anything else you would like to share about your career?
I love my job.
7. A Day in the Life Of...
- 7 am - 8 am
I woke up, took a shower, got dressed and ate breakfast. An half an hour commute to work. - 8 am - 9 am
Arrived at work early (7:45) and started opening the store. I had to move product out in front of the store that was on sale, and move displays. I then went inside to fix coffee, bring the register to the front, and get the lights turned on. - 9 am - 10 am
The owner and operator showed up and we had a mid-morning staff meeting. I helped customers and walked around the store doing general clean up. - 10 am - 11 am
Nothing much happens during this time, we usually hit a lunch rush. I restocked the shelves and had conversations with my co-workers. - 11 am - 12 am
Lunch rush, I was behind the counter on register most of the time. It's not bad, but I would have rather been out helping customers - 12 am - 1 pm
- 1 pm - 2 pm
I spent my last hour doing special orders and helping customers. I was scheduled for only 6 hours this morning, 2 hours less than usual, but I guess it's better than no hours. - 2 pm - 3 pm
I went home and relaxed. - 3 pm - 4 pm
Nothing much happens during this time, we usually hit a lunch rush. I restocked the shelves and had conversations with my co-workers. - 4 pm - 5 pm
off. - 5 pm - 6 pm
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