Customer service jobs are position in which you personally interact with a customer. Retail store employees, cashiers, servers, bartenders etc. If you deal with the general public and sometimes have to put up with bad attitudes on the daily, you’re in customer service. It’s a job only the strong-willed can thrive in and something no one wants to be doing. However, we believe it’s crucial for a person to be subject to this type of job at least once in their lives, and here’s why…
You’ll Acquire a Newfound Respect
Some of y’all never worked in customer service and let me tell you, IT SHOWS!
— FUCK OFF ✨ (@chelseareneee_) January 18, 2019
Look, I’m not saying that retail is the most difficult industry to be in, but it is one of the most mentally taxing. What most people don’t know is that there’s a lot of behind the scenes work that goes on at most retail locations. As much as we like to believe store employees are there only to submit to your will, you’re wrong.
A bitter truth of the retail world is that low-level employees usually have the heaviest workloads. If they work for a large chain like Wal-Mart, those workloads are often unbalanced. Things must be done at certain times, certain ways and there are no work-arounds. Another of those bitter truths is that overtime is usually strictly forbidden. So when a customer wants to hold up an employee for their personal bidding, chances are you’re probably getting them in trouble.
You’ll Have A Deeper Understanding of How Policies Work
Speaking of the guidelines that must be followed, customers sometimes don’t understand certain policies. Discounts are not something a basic employee has the power to bestow upon you. Something as small as giving a 10% discount without authorization can get an employee fired.
If you’re arguing with a cashier about a sale that ended yesterday, it’s probably not in their power to give you what you want. What’s that? Call a manager instead? Well, escalating a situation may let you have your way, but the employee you overstepped will most likely be scolded for not preventing the situation. It’s a sad scenario but you’d be surprised how often this happens.
It’ll Round Out Your Personality
Working in retail will put you face-to-face with every personality type imaginable. Unfortunately, most of these personalities are NOT friendly. If there’s one thing to gain from learning to bite your tongue, it’s that you build a tolerance for certain behavior.
Everyone goes through a phase where everyone and everything annoys us. This too shall pass. Holding onto negative emotions will bring you down and the sooner you realize this, the better. Working in customer service will help you grow immune to negative attitudes. Difficult customers usually want a reaction out of someone and you’re better off letting that negativity bounce off of you.
Look … it’ll always suck to deal with rude people at the moment, but take the high road and you’ll leave the situation a better person. Eventually, your training will pay off in the real world. When you inevitably encounter a rude person outside of your job, you’ll know how to respond with a level head. Fighting fire with fire is never a good look, and there’s no place to learn tolerance like at a retail job. And if we’re being honest — customers usually get more upset when they don’t get a reaction out of you, which is extremely satisfying.
You’ll Learn to Have Empathy
Empathy is something everyone should have built into their personalities at birth, but it’s not. At the very least, just remember that everyone you encounter is a human being with real lives and emotions. Believe it or not, working their day job doesn’t make up 100% of their lives.
That cashier you yelled at because they weren’t authorized to provide a discount? They’re working three jobs to help support their struggling family. The customer service employee you berated because you didn’t bother to read the return policy? Her husband is sick and not getting better. All you have to do is be courteous and follow the golden rule.
You’ll Pick Up Basic Manners
This was my personal gripe when I worked in customer service. No one wants the sweaty money you just pulled out of your bra — yes, this happens. Don’t hand a cashier the crumpled up bill in your pocket. Paying a huge bill with change? You know the cashier has to count that at the end of the night, right? Is the line taking too long for your liking? Thank the customer in front of you for that. Don’t take it out on the cashier.
You’d be shocked at how unaware most people are when their basic manners, or lack thereof, start showing. Oh, and please do not throw your money at the cashier or on the counter. Hand it to them. Basically, don’t make their job harder than it needs to be for no reason. Even situations like the following, where you think you’re making things easier…
me: your total is $5.30
— ☆ﾟ.*･｡ﾟ 🛸 (@shonenjumping) August 3, 2018
customer: here’s $6
me: :^)
customer: oh wait here’s 70 cents too
me: pic.twitter.com/pljLVCxTnT
Please … Stop With the Corny Cashier Jokes
Lastly, and possibly most importantly, enough with the cashier jokes! Cashiers have heard them all and they’re never funny. Oh, you just printed that $20 bill today? Ha. This item is free because it won’t scan? Never heard that before! Just stop. If you want to make the cashier smile, just say thank you and don’t leave your trash on the counter before walking away…
This video nicely states the basic dos and don’ts of being a considerate person … and if you’re the type to roll your eyes at any of this — maybe you’re the problem.
