Hey Loves!
Sorry its been so long since I have posted. Life has been so crazy after graduation. SO let catch up! The last time I posted I was frantically searching for a job and learning the how the real world worked. Since then I started being a Store Manager at discount retailer whose name I won't mention. I won't mention it simply because I have no hard feelings and treat the time as a valuable learning experience and don't want to sway the opinions of others.
This was the first job that I was offered that seemed to offer somewhat suitable pay and a great title. I was initially hired to go through their "structured training program" and it was great. I spent so much time learning and being developed that I felt truly valued. That was until one Saturday when, the manager at the store I was training at left!! Yes it was a busy Saturday and she stormed out,I called upper level management to inform them and I was quickly told this would be my assigned store. Sounds great right, wrong! I went from only being responsible for open and closing the doors to being held accountable making schedules, hiring/firing, payroll etc ( all which I had no training on) in just a week.
Now I'm not a complainer and I catch on really quickly so, in the beginning it was ok, but once things started happening at the other stores, I was left to fend for myself. It was horrible I worked constantly without a lunch break and barely had one day off. I became so stressed that it started to take a toll on my personal life. While all of this was going I was still hourly and when I asked about the salary that was suppose to be given to me after I was assigned a store, I was told that I was still considered in training. While this is a rational answer, it would only make since if I weren't already doing the work that a store manager did. I was told "with everything going on, we have to push your training back a bit." At that moment I had to look around and see if I could really live my life like this. Sure I was employed so I was grateful but did going to college mean throwing away my integrity?
I began going on job interviews on my days off and finally got offered a new one! I won't go into too much detail about it, but I can say that after only 8 days I feel a since of worth that I didn't feel the entire time I was at the unnamed retailer.
As I look back the time I spent agonizing over I job I realized that while it was a terrible feeling, I wish I would have taken advice from others and not take a job on impulse. Also that I am young and I shouldn't put myself in a situation that I absolutely hate. This is the time in life where I can truly choose a job that makes me happy because besides my personal expense I virtually have not a care in the world.
If you take anything from my experince take this, the real world is nothing like the romantize it in college. Its tough and the plan that you had for life may seem like its not going to happen. In this part of your life, its all about what YOU make it, don't settle for anything less than happiness. As always comment and come back to read more!
