Chain stores as places to work.

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Autografe

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I am a recently retired 60 year old who is not ready to put my feet up full time. I have recently been looking for part time work and as I worked both in auto parts stores and big box stores early in my working life I am thinking about applying at Advance, Auto Zone, O'reilly, Walmart etc. Has anyone worked at any of these places recently? I am interested in your opinions as to how they stack up as employers. I have observed the rah rah meetings at Walmart and Sam's and admit to being turned off by the theatrics. Any guidance would be appreciated.
 
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I wish you lived in Buffalo and could work at the AAP or AZ's I shop at when going my cross-border-shop-a-thon for cheap prices.

The guys are morons and could use a good BITOGer to teach them right!
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Maybe Harbor-Freight? I hear they are good to work for.
 
The problem is that if you are reasonably intelligent, the ridiculous treatment of retail serfs by underqualified but know it all low-level managers will likely drive you crazy.

I personally wouldnt want to play dumb for those folks... But someone who can go in there and actually be service-oriented, though surely under-appreciated by the typical jerk consumer, would be wonderful for the folks who actually look for a bit of service when they go to shop.

That is one of my biggest gripes for going to home depot. I get the feeling they try so hard to hire to meet specific quotas that you dont get real talent, and thus you have a lot of know nothings walking around not even helpful for doing much beyond stocking shelves.
 
From age 14 to 17, I worked part-time at Publix in the Produce Dept. Easy laid back job and as a part-timer you still get benefits (must work 20 hours per week).
 
Originally Posted By: hounddog
As you know jobs are not easy to come by.The few folks I know in your age range are having a hard time finding ANY work.Age is a issue.Good luck.
I try to snap up all the "older" ones for my stores when we are in need of staff because the work ethic is much better from the "ripened generation" than this new "me, me, me" generation. Even if they just want to run cash, do prep work, and clean. It's fine by me.
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Jobs are VERY tough to find, thats why you pretty much have to be willing to do any type of job. Kids today don't want to work, they just want to play on their iToy and pick up a paycheck.


My old boss called me a month ago asking if I wanted my old job back, I said no thanks but if I knew a person looking for a job I would have given them their contact info.
 
IMO if you can do consulting it is the best field for retirees. Not knowing what you did full time before retirement I can't say that's an option for you though. I know some retired chiropractors who work part time as substitutes for others who go on vacation, and some of the engineers I know retires to work for small companies as technical advisors, some I know during the 2003-2006 time frame works for $80-$200 an hour (but spend 2x as much time interviewing and looking for the next contract), but I'm sure they make a lot less today in a recession.
 
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Are you sold on retail sales, or are there other options?

My dad retired from farming at 58, then went to work for the city. He retired from that city job at 72, and then went to work for another smaller city in the parks and rec department. He's now 82 and works every summer mowing the parks and helping out at events. He's outside most of the time, gets to work around tractors and equipment, and still gets to interact with people quite a bit.

Since it's seasonal, he only works from about May through September, then takes the rest of the year off. And at 82 he works circles around guys half his age. He makes somewhere around $20K for the 5 months of work.

Every spring the local cities look for summer laborers to fill positions like his. According to him they have a hard time finding anyone who is willing to work, and are always looking for quality people.
 
I am a retired supervisor for my states Medicaid agency. Before my 25 year career with them I was a US Navy vet ( An ordnanceman for those who know about such things. As I said I worked in retail as an associate and a manager. I was an ASE certified mechanic and managed an service center for the big box store. I worked in an NAPA store while I was in college. I also found time to work in my dad's construction company for a couple of years. I have wide experience. I actually applied with Home Depot but have not heard anything back. I received very positive feedback from the manager of the Barnes & Noble I applied at but she had no openings. There are very few open jobs right now. I am willing to work hard but some of the stores I have been in do not seem to be serious about doing a good job. The military left me very "mission" oriented and some of the chains do not seem to be serious about the mission of servicing their customers needs. I can live without the extra money but I need to feel I am working for serious people.
 
With your experience and desire to work for serious folks, I think it would be worth your time to look for a small business that could use your experience. Maybe an independent parts store or dealership, perhaps a cycle dealership? Yes its insecure and will have few benefits, but if you want to feel valued smaller businesses are the only place to be.

Good luck in your quest! Many of us are also looking for employment and will wait to hear your outcome.
 
Discount Tire is a great company that always goes the extra mile for their customers. You may fit in there.
 
Down here alot of people over 55 get a security license..The security companies always seem to be looking for part time and full time help...My friends dad came over from Cuba [85 years old] and almost started doing that within a month after coming over.

There is generally a big turnover in help in those security companies as people get fired all the time for sleeping on the job and for just not showing up.
 
Originally Posted By: addyguy
Don't know if they are in your area, but Costco apparently treat their employees vey well.

Agreed, wholeheartedly. Every time I go into Costco the employees seem genuinely happy to do their job and I frequently see employees working different roles at different times. Cashier, optical department, stocking, photo department, stocking, cashier, food court, etc... seems like a good mix of tasks so you don't just become a register zombie.

The opposite seems to be true of every Sam's Club I've been in, all the employees act like drones that are just going through the motions until their shift is over, busy chatting with each other or on their mobile phones.
 
If looking for serious work, but not in it for the money, why not volunteer work? USO, Habitat for Humanity, or whatever turns your crank. I'm sure there are outfits who need those willing to do real work that makes a real difference. The great things is you can probably try a few out and if it doesn't work out, you just tell them it's not working out and leave.

No time clock or paycheck drama, just working to help someone.

Originally Posted By: Autografe
I am a retired supervisor for my states Medicaid agency. Before my 25 year career with them I was a US Navy vet ( An ordnanceman for those who know about such things. As I said I worked in retail as an associate and a manager. I was an ASE certified mechanic and managed an service center for the big box store. I worked in an NAPA store while I was in college. I also found time to work in my dad's construction company for a couple of years. I have wide experience. I actually applied with Home Depot but have not heard anything back. I received very positive feedback from the manager of the Barnes & Noble I applied at but she had no openings. There are very few open jobs right now. I am willing to work hard but some of the stores I have been in do not seem to be serious about doing a good job. The military left me very "mission" oriented and some of the chains do not seem to be serious about the mission of servicing their customers needs. I can live without the extra money but I need to feel I am working for serious people.
 
Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit
Are you sold on retail sales, or are there other options?

My dad retired from farming at 58, then went to work for the city. He retired from that city job at 72, and then went to work for another smaller city in the parks and rec department. He's now 82 and works every summer mowing the parks and helping out at events. He's outside most of the time, gets to work around tractors and equipment, and still gets to interact with people quite a bit.

Since it's seasonal, he only works from about May through September, then takes the rest of the year off. And at 82 he works circles around guys half his age. He makes somewhere around $20K for the 5 months of work.

Every spring the local cities look for summer laborers to fill positions like his. According to him they have a hard time finding anyone who is willing to work, and are always looking for quality people.


And where would this Midwest city be? I'm on my way.
 
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