Walmart Summer Job
The summer before I went to college, I worked as a cashier at Wal-Mart in Hallettsville, TX. I really enjoyed this job because I was able to be around people throughout the day. I enjoyed working with other cashiers who would help me when I had a problem with the cash register, or knew little tricks, such as swiping a credit card with a plastic bag around it to make it work. This job allowed me to develop my communication skills with customers and other employees.
Communication Using Spanish
Some of the customers that would buy groceries and other merchandise would talk little or no English. In these situations I was able to communicate with them easily since Spanish is my first language. Sometimes a Spanish-speaking customer would be at the customer service desk, and, since none of the employees there could understand, they would ask me to translate the information for them. I enjoyed doing this because I felt that I was helping both the customer and my coworkers.
Dealing with Disgruntled Customers
I also had the opportunity to develop communication skills that require tact, such as when a customer is unhappy with a purchase. For example, if a customer believed that they were being overcharged for an item I would stay calm and try to figure out the actual price either by looking at the price where the item is found or by asking a manager. Another situation I encountered was when machinery was not working and caused delays in the check-out process. I learned to convey to the customer that I was trying to quickly fix the problem in order to keep them from becoming impatient.
Takeaways
I learned many skills that I still use today. One of the most important skills that I acquired was the ability to communicate with my co-workers and customers. I learned how to solve problems that would occur randomly, such as computer issues and disgruntled customers. This job also taught me responsibility and punctuality. I was expected to be on time whether it was early in the morning or late at night. I was also responsible for the money in my drawer, so I had to be careful to prevent miscounting in order to show my honesty and integrity.
Communication Using Spanish
Some of the customers that would buy groceries and other merchandise would talk little or no English. In these situations I was able to communicate with them easily since Spanish is my first language. Sometimes a Spanish-speaking customer would be at the customer service desk, and, since none of the employees there could understand, they would ask me to translate the information for them. I enjoyed doing this because I felt that I was helping both the customer and my coworkers.
Dealing with Disgruntled Customers
I also had the opportunity to develop communication skills that require tact, such as when a customer is unhappy with a purchase. For example, if a customer believed that they were being overcharged for an item I would stay calm and try to figure out the actual price either by looking at the price where the item is found or by asking a manager. Another situation I encountered was when machinery was not working and caused delays in the check-out process. I learned to convey to the customer that I was trying to quickly fix the problem in order to keep them from becoming impatient.
Takeaways
I learned many skills that I still use today. One of the most important skills that I acquired was the ability to communicate with my co-workers and customers. I learned how to solve problems that would occur randomly, such as computer issues and disgruntled customers. This job also taught me responsibility and punctuality. I was expected to be on time whether it was early in the morning or late at night. I was also responsible for the money in my drawer, so I had to be careful to prevent miscounting in order to show my honesty and integrity.
Image Credit
[1] Walmart Sign. Original Image From www.freep.com. 8 November 2013.
[1] Walmart Sign. Original Image From www.freep.com. 8 November 2013.