:D

Well, I figure it's been nearly a month since I last updated (or at least three weeks which is close enough that most people wouldn't care) so I thought I should do a little update of my own since everyone else has. Not that there's anything exciting going on in my life right now. I mentioned I got the job at Macy's, at least I think I did. And that's about all that has changed. I, honestly, hate working in retail so it's definitely not my favorite job (at least at Payless I could try on shoes when there were no customers around. It's kinda hard to try on comforters and pillows--though I do like feeling how soft those are--or sheets and towels). Most people are reluctant to have you help them for one or two reasons. 1) They don't like being pestered by sales people that are only in their face because the associates get paid commission for selling and 2) they don't really know what they're shopping for but don't really want to admit that so they'll say they're just looking and no matter what sort of questions you ask you'll never get a straighter anser than "I really don't know right now, I'll just keep looking." Of course, it's probably this attitude that automatically commits me to being a failure as a sales associate. Oh well. That's why I got a degree in English and not retail.

In all honesty, I've only worked four days on the floor. My first day was my buddy training and that was on Halloween, one of the two nights I had plans to go out and do something. Work just HAD to get in the way of my plans...(the first night I wanted to go to a poetry reading but I had to do the POS training and the 22nd from 2-8 was the last available time slot). However, I learned quickly that even the permanent associates don't take being a sales associate as seriously as they should. And that is why they will forever remain to work in a mediocre job while I some day end up an owner of my own publishing firm, because I have an amount of dedication that they don't. When I am expected to do a job, I am bound determined to do it well. I don't get why these people I work with get half of what they are paid for on commission because they spend their time sitting behind the registers while the customers float around the department finding what they want on their own. Doesn't register in my mind as being ethical to put your sticker on the item saying that you sold them that item when you did nothing but be lucky you were the person they went to at the register. That is the example I got my first day. Suddenly my confidence was boosted exponentially.

However, my first week of working by myself was both disasterous and wonderful. I had some really great sales! It's amazing how much people will spend just so others will think they're worth something. Okay, so that might just be me being facisious and jealous that I don't have that kind of money to spend so my bed set is perfectly matched to my curtains in such a way that is exotic and original. I'm pretty sure most people are just luckier than I am when it comes to the financial department. However, I worry myself over nothing. I have a job while many people don't and I have a degree while many people will never accomplish such a task. Anyway, back to work. My first day by myself I was accredited for having an "outstanding" sale. I didn't do anything. A lady had four REALLY expensive things that just happened to total to over $450. Thankfully I'm not on commission so I don't have to feel guilty about this. Now, don't get me wrong, I would have helped the lady if she would have accepted my help. Any questions I asked were answered with a shrug and whatever feeling. Well, that put me off so I left her alone but I still go the credit for the sale. Go me! The only thing that would have made the sale perfect was if she had either opened a Macy's star rewards card or used her Macy's card. Which leads me to the disastrous part of my week: I didn't even get one person to apply for a Macy's card. That is a big no no on the Macy's team. I am required to have at least ONE person apply for a card. It doesn't necessarily have to be someone opens an account, just an application. Well, I failed miserably. By the time I was actually getting the courage to TELL people how much they could save by using their Macy's card, I was pretty much out of time for my work week. Oh well. I'm not entirely sure how strict they're going to be for seasonal people anyway. I'm sure if I were to want to spend the rest of my life working there I could really try a lot harder and get at least two or three applications filled out. However, I'm not strong enough to handle rejection. Just being scorned for suggesting "And if you use your Macy's card today you can save an extra 10%" was hard to deal with. Even being told "no, I'll just pay with cash" when I ask if they're going to use their star rewards card is so disheartening to me. Then, on top of that, I'm worried about having to tell someone that they aren't approved for a card. How embarrassing is that! On the other hand, I'm pretty sure that just about anyone can get a card because I can get cards to places like that and I don't have ANY credit at ALL. That's what I get for being a college kid!

However, I am getting pretty lucky on my scheduling. I haven't had to work a single Sunday yet and I'm not scheduled for the next two, I believe. That is very nice and comforting because it gives me an opportunity to participate in my usual Sunday activities. It's nice to still have this day to relax and just plain think (sometimes). I guess I can't really complain too much about Macy's. They're doing what they have to and can to survive as a store and I'm sure they know better than me as they've been around for 150 years now.

In other news, my hunt for editing jobs is still being continued. I've applied to two internships (same ones as before) and found out one has already been filled (yes, that made me a little upset as it's been less than a month since I applied before and there was no mention of when they'd choose a winter candidate) so I'll be applying for the spring opening by the end of this week (when I can get to a MAC to open the files they sent me to return my application and proofreading test (which I'm not very excited about because I don't do well at that....how do I expect to survive as an editor?!?!). I've also been told about a job opening for a company that is in Kirkland, which is quite a ways away from where I'm living now so if I can get that job I'll be moving very quickly. I'd really like to get a place of my own so I can move the rest of my stuff out here so I don't have to keep thinking about all the things I have at home that would be really super helpful for me now that I don't have because my car was too small and/or I didn't think to bring that item at the time.

Well, I guess this is getting long enough and I'm sure it's not that entertaining anyway to read about my complaints and woes. Enjoy life!