Grocery store jobs

I am nearly 20 and still never had a job. I have applied to 15 stores at the mall with no calls back. My last resort is Walmart/Meijer. How is it working at these stores? How often are people rude to you? And have you witnessed any "weird" things working there?

I'm about to apply after I watch some south park live stream on YT, eat and take my aderrall.. lol

I wouldn't worry about your age in case you are. I got my first part time at 24.

Anyways back to the point. I never worked in grocery stores but I worked in retail. I worked at Macy's (department store). Honestly, customer service sucks. I've came across very aggressive men who looked like they wanted to deck me. The older women are probably the meanest customers I've dealt with. (I worked in the lingerie department)

I think what you'll deal with is impatient people. Like, if there's only 3 registers open; expect tempers. Some customers try to use expired coupons or will try to get a discount. I don't shop at Walmart a whole lot but some of those people are quite different.

Luckily, if you have a good manager and coworkers; they'll always have your back. They're usually the ones that make your days way better.

If you're that kind of outgoing person and can handle stress, go for it. I don't think I could ever have that kind of job without getting really fail or just have weird convos with people ahaha. And I'm really asocial and stuff due to my Aspeger's/asd so yeah.

Maybe when I was like 10-12 and had no idea about this I probably could though, **** got worse after that.

I think it kind of depends on who you are as a person, and where you live. I've worked in a grocery store for roughly 2 years now, and I've very rarely had any of these issues I always hear people talk about. I think that if you give out good karma you receive good karma in return. Obviously if you're there and act like you're better than your job, hating it, and would rather be home, it's going to drag on and people will probably notice that and see you as an easy target and treat you poorly in return. Sure, there are annoying people, but usually you're able to palm them off to someone else after dealing with them for a short while, and have them deal with them - which you'll find after it's done, it'll turn into a funny story to tell people rather than something to make your blood boil. I hear so many stories of people complaining about their jobs and customers, and I've just never experienced it; not sure if I'm just lucky or if people are exaggerating.

Where I work is the busiest store in the area, largest flower supplier, and is located in a relatively rich part of the area, so we do get a fair few of uptight customers, but it's really nothing intolerable. Though I feel like if I worked in a more communal, suburban area it would be different. That said, I do live in Australia, and my view of America is very stereotypical, sculptured by how the media portrays it, so I'm assuming it's not going to be nowhere near the same as it is there as it's a completely different culture. What I'm saying is, despite everything I hear about it, I've never really experienced those issues.

Yeah, don't worry about your age. I know some people who haven't worked part-time at all. Working retail can be hell. Depending on where you work, you might encounter at least 3 really rude/weird/creepy people per day. Customers can be rude and demanding and downright unreasonable and your boss could be the same way. Try not to take what people say or do to you to heart. This has never happened to me, but I think some of the more common horror stories I've heard is people using changing rooms as bathrooms... People are really difficult to deal with. After a while, I just became immune to what people thought of me and just focused on doing my job to the best of my ability and getting a paycheck. Honestly, it depends on where you work and what your coworkers are like. At some stores, I feel like the workers are way ruder than the customers.

Can someone please help. I'm in the middle of an APP and nobody is awake or here to help me!! The prev question asked about my last job... I put that it does not apply to me. The next question is a question asking why I left my last job and theres no other option. Should I just choose any answer?!?!?!



Section 1
For each question in this section, select the most appropriate response.
10.**Why did you leave your last job?

**lack of recognition

**lack of opportunity to advance

**poor work assignments

**disliked supervision

**disliked co-worker(s)

**poor pay or benefits

**poor location

**to return to school or training

**to take a better job

^Yeah as long as you're legal age you're fine and yeah don't worry about not having a real job or that stuff. Also I can tolerate stress well in those cases and following orders, but yeah anything small talk social occasion and I'm derped for life lol.

helenkeller said:

Can someone please help. I'm in the middle of an APP and nobody is awake or here to help me!! The prev question asked about my last job... I put that it does not apply to me. The next question is a question asking why I left my last job and theres no other option. Should I just choose any answer?!?!?!



Section 1
For each question in this section, select the most appropriate response.
10.**Why did you leave your last job?

**lack of recognition

**lack of opportunity to advance

**poor work assignments

**disliked supervision

**disliked co-worker(s)

**poor pay or benefits

**poor location

**to return to school or training

**to take a better job

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I would put "to take a better job" and then explain in your interview that there was no option that applied to you. Technically, you are looking to take a better job because a job period is better than no job at all, and you're trying to leave your "job" of not having a job haha.

Our local mall is on its last leg. Sears, macys just closed.. JC Pennies is closing like 170 stores and our mall somehow didn't get hit with a closing. I tried 15 stores there and nobody is hiring because the business is so bad. I am going to be getting an stna degree within the next year so I am always guaranteed a job. I am set for the rest of my life due to wonderful parents. I just need a job now. Thanks for all the wonderful advice.

Pyoopi your small comment def made my entire day. I feel lazy and worthless every minute of the day for not working. Every time my boyfriend or my dad hands me money I didn't work for I die a little inside knowing I didn't work hard for it. I was a lazy kid but at least I'm not a lazy adult. I have my dads work ethic, it just hasn't had its time to shine yet. Eveyrone moves at different paces and even though I knew this my whole life I'm finally being able to accept that. It just sucks when everyone you went to school with (esp the kids that broke me down and made me feel like nothing) are doing so much better than you. Even some of the people who had kids in high school are doing better. But honestly its motivating me to be the best me possible.

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Thank you!

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My mom keeps telling me not to worry. She is horrified because she thinks I am an ass and she thinks I will be rude to customers. I would never do that. I'm actually polite and willing to help others. It really sucks when you're trying to buy something and need help but the employees suck!

My boyfriend works at target, and the person who did this to me no longer works there from what he says. But the person wasn't trained and they refused to take my 50 dollar bill. My mom had to use her cash and pay for my perfume.. Which wasn't an issue, but just a burden, you know? That's more time she had to waste getting a new 50. We went straight to the bank before it closed and my money was obvi real, they just didn't believe it was and refused to take it! The marker showed up black like its supposed to, and she RUDELY scribbled all over it and kept shining it in the light. It was very insulting because I called and management agreed that his employee would NEVER do that. I didn't go to our local target for one year. ****, Id have a job there because I LOVE target, but he asked about getting me a job and there's rules against that sadly. But he could get in family if he wanted. I'm not mad though, its just company policy

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Sheila I just somehow seen that you stated you have Aspegers! My brother has it too and he is very anti social as well. I am anti social myself, by choice though. I hope you're doing well.

I've worked at grocery stores and in retail for many years. The grocery store I worked at was a small family owned one. It was alright when I worked there. There's some rude customers sure but you get that anywhere. Sometimes there's drama between coworkers too but again that can happen anywhere.

All in all it's a fine place to start and having sine job experience on your resume, even if it's a grocery store or gas station, is better than no work on your resume at all.

Best of luck to you! And I agree with mermaid above for the question you posted.

Thanks for the good luck wishes! x

I wouldn't worry too much about it, I had to look for a job for over a year cause most places wouldn't hire me because of my hair/piercings. One of my managers now even told me that if he was the one who interviewed me he wouldn't have hired me (he apologized for it and told me that he was actually very grateful they hired me)

It is very hard to find a job now, even one with no experience you're making minimum wage at. Don't feel lazy and worthless for not having one because you're putting the effort into looking for one. Customer service is a pain, and I work in a resturant and to comment on what someone said earlier I've noticed older women have been the rudest to me at work. People are weird, we have one guy who comes in and buys a drink and then goes to the back and takes handfuls of silverware and condiments and we can't do anything because technically he bought something. Nine times out of ten customers are going to blame you for mistakes even if it's not your fault because they need to blame someone.

It can take time to get through applications, especially for popular places like the mall, I would try to wait it out a bit, or maybe call the places you applied and ask to speak to the hiring manager, and see where your application is in the process and say how much you'd like a job there, yeah it's begging but it'd probably be better than Walmart. I know a lot of people who work or have worked at Walmart, mostly because where I live the options are Walmart or the Casino, which is where I work. But then again I live in a really small town and the Walmart is near the seediest place in the area where there are a lot of tweakers so that's like 90% of the clientele.

Kyoko said:

Nine times out of ten customers are going to blame you for mistakes even if it's not your fault because they need to blame someone.

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I can also agree to this. When I worked at a fabric/craft store, a lady came up to the register with like x10 small tubes of expensive paint. I started scanning them and she was like "The price is wrong, they're on sale." The other cashier, knowing I was new still, told the customer that the sale ended the day before. The customer then proceeded to swear at me and go on about how it's my fault and that we're wrong because the sale's paper said it ended that day. She wanted me to call the manager, so I did. Well, the manager never came up after 5 minutes so the customer swore at me about how "fking incompetent" I was and left, leaving the paint at my register.

Turns out she was wrong. The paint sale did end the day before that day.

And yes, she was an older woman to also agree to older woman being rude.

Thank you Kyoko your comment made my day. I just have no job experience and that is why nobody will call me back. I do think that people should look past tattoos and hair and mods because that doesn't define someones work ethic. I had tapers and they were only an 8g and I wanted to go bigger but I don't have them anymore because I want to take an stna class and if I have huge holes in my ears an old folks home wont hire me. Even at school this dancer was forced to wrap around a damn rose tattoo that had her grandpas name on it! I think its disrespectful. My dad is a rad rocker and has tattoos that are stories to parts of his life but people see it as unprofessional....

KaydeeKrunk I applied at the mall three or four months ago, called every store, and did more than one application. Some places here don't give out paper and make you do it online. When you do it online some places wont let you put in more than one until a certain date (30-90 days)

And my mom even told me herself, if I pass the stna course when I take it, and work in a NH my mom warned me about the old women. She said most old "fellas" are wonderful but some of the old women are just MEAN and BITTER.

My sister owned a restaurant that went OB. But a lot of the regulars were wonderful and some are still in my life to this day. One person who died, shoved me against the wall and slammed my head into the brick wall. Just for messing with him. I was ten he was like 70-80???.... I know I shouldn't have took his hat but I was joking around and he was a regular who came literally every day, everyone was extremely shocked and their jaws dropped when he did it because everybody was like family. They were so shocked they didn't even have words for it. Unless there were out of towners otherwise, there could be an occasional rude person but I never witnessed it myself other than that one time.

helenkeller said:

Thank you Kyoko your comment made my day. I just have no job experience and that is why nobody will call me back. I do think that people should look past tattoos and hair and mods because that doesn't define someones work ethic. I had tapers and they were only an 8g and I wanted to go bigger but I don't have them anymore because I want to take an stna class and if I have huge holes in my ears an old folks home wont hire me. Even at school this dancer was forced to wrap around a damn rose tattoo that had her grandpas name on it! I think its disrespectful. My dad is a rad rocker and has tattoos that are stories to parts of his life but people see it as unprofessional....

KaydeeKrunk I applied at the mall three or four months ago, called every store, and did more than one application. Some places here don't give out paper and make you do it online. When you do it online some places wont let you put in more than one until a certain date (30-90 days)

And my mom even told me herself, if I pass the stna course when I take it, and work in a NH my mom warned me about the old women. She said most old "fellas" are wonderful but some of the old women are just MEAN and BITTER.

My sister owned a restaurant that went OB. But a lot of the regulars were wonderful and some are still in my life to this day. One person who died, shoved me against the wall and slammed my head into the brick wall. Just for messing with him. I was ten he was like 70-80???.... I know I shouldn't have took his hat but I was joking around and he was a regular who came literally every day, everyone was extremely shocked and their jaws dropped when he did it because everybody was like family. They were so shocked they didn't even have words for it. Unless there were out of towners otherwise, there could be an occasional rude person but I never witnessed it myself other than that one time.

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Oh wow, yeah that really sucks... =/ After putting into a ton of places, and even one where I met the owner, it was a super small store that sold cashmere, this lady LOVED me and she told me to call back after she went on vacation and I did and left a message and never heard back from her. I ended up getting hired at Subway as my first job and as soon as I started working there I heard back from 2 more places (also fast food) so I stuck with Subway.

I don't have any advice to offer, but I'm in the same boat about not ever having a job at 22. Man I wish I got over my social anxiety long ago to avoid putting myself in this position. I've been applying to places as well. Hope for the best for you!

I wanted to offer up another piece of advice - if you haven't tried this already you definitely should!

When I applied at the major retail store I worked at for awhile, after submitting the online application (which I did at the store because at the time I didn't own a computer), I walked over to the HR office and talked to the lady there, asking if she'd received it and if there was anything on there that I could clarify, introduced myself, yada yada. She actually gave me the job that day just because I had come in to do that.

I would definitely recommend that you take the extra step to go meet with the person who does the hiring after submitting your application. If the job is kind of far away you could even call. Thank them for their time and tell them you hope to get to meet them sometime soon.

Sheila said:

If you're that kind of outgoing person and can handle stress, go for it. I don't think I could ever have that kind of job without getting really fail or just have weird convos with people ahaha. And I'm really asocial and stuff due to my Aspeger's/asd so yeah.

Maybe when I was like 10-12 and had no idea about this I probably could though, **** got worse after that.

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I too have Aspergers. I've worked in customer service for fedex and a petrol station too. I can confirm these are not the right kind of jobs for us.
But then I can't seem to find any that are the right type of job for me anyway. I suck at aspects of every job I can think of.

Update: I have an interview/mouthswab on tuesday for stocking fruits at the store!!!!
Did a phone interview today!

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Fearthecuteness said:

I too have Aspergers. I've worked in customer service for fedex and a petrol station too. I can confirm these are not the right kind of jobs for us.
But then I can't seem to find any that are the right type of job for me anyway. I suck at aspects of every job I can think of.

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How about a factory job? You get to just work on lines every day. And if someone talks to you, and you ignore them, that's okay because you cant let a faulty machine part to pass on the line.. it could get ya fired