I really need out of retail...NOW!

[daves87rs]

Man, the job search really needs to quicken here....

What we figured would happen (though a bit sooner than we thought) is taking over this year...online shopping is beating the retailers down...fast! Sears, Target and now Macy's will be cutting back or laying off in pretty large numbers (Sear's like 15%). I work for a niche retailer (and former wall street darling), and we saw a pretty big drop ourselves. This is not somewhere I want to stay (granted, I am quite good at sales/customer service!) Resumes are flying left and right at the moment....and linkedin is getting kinda quiet....


I've already been trying to make a major push ( Need to pay for that Master's degree somehow) to get into stuff I'm good at, and new stuff as well (health care and recruiting), and while there has feedback and interviews, it's just now coming fast enough. Doesn't Help I'm kinda stuck in this useless (but very Beautiful) State....


I've been laid off and few times in the last decade-and I fear it is going to happen again soon....

Thank you for listening to my vent.....


Dave

 

[Merkava_4]

Originally Posted By: daves87rs
online shopping is beating the retailers down...fast! Sears, Target and now Macy's will be cutting back or laying off in pretty large numbers (Sear's like 15%).


But those same retailers have their own online shopping sites; so what's the problem ?

 

[Gasbuggy]

URBN? I'm not sure what your position is but the place to be in retail, and a transition that can be made without too much difficulty education or experience, is to convert from stores to corporate in buying. Once you've got some experience you can cross into many different fields. All sorts of businesses need Buyers and the skill set is applicable across many fields.


Also, try to get a job where you want a degree, solve that paying for it problem.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
But those same retailers have their own online shopping sites; so what's the problem ?

Well, that doesn't do much good to floor staff.

Someone here on BITOG mentioned ages ago, and very smartly, that Sears gave up the opportunity of the century. They could have been Amazon. It's not like Sears lacked experience or logistics in receiving orders from remote locations and shipping them out. They seemed to hang onto the telephone and postal mail a little long, in that regard.

 

[eljefino]

I'm a pessimist but legitimately impressed Sears didn't declare bankruptcy on Dec 26th. Their competency level (touched on above, and the opposite of Amazon/walmart) deserves it.

I got an email saying I had $10 SYWR surprise points to use on clothes. I find a $10.00 t-shirt and get it shipped free. It may have been on clearance as it came from "some random sears somewhere." AZ could learn from this for their $2 synthetic.

Having used that, their algorithm immediately gave me another $8 for Kmart. Bought a 10-pack of socks for $8.99. Kmart is UPS'ing these socks to my local Sears. I have the tracking number.

Their shipping logistics could use some condensing. WM and Sam's Club have both logos on their truck trailers, for example.

 

[dlundblad]

What is your degree in? (It doesnt sound like it's sales?)

Look for a company with positions related to that and apply away. Tell them your major and they might even help pay for school.

 

[Mr Nice]

Where in Michigan are you located ?

Yes, online sales cannibalize sales from retail stores. Macy's announced 4800 job cuts yesterday. I work in healthcare so naturally I suggest you look in the healthcare industry.

Be patient and network, network.... You'll find a new job.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Break out and do something different.

My top technician here made 72k last year plus some bennies. He came to us from Dollar General stores where he was a manager.

Completely outside of his comfort zone, but he loves his job. Complete freedom, self supervision, and great compensation...

 

[montero1]

Are you willing to relocate?

 

[Andrew1972]

Originally Posted By: montero1
Are you willing to relocate?


+1, you need to develop a better career in an area conducive for career growth and then return home to potentially telecommute.

 

[grampi]

My wife works at a Target and she hates it. They don't treat their employees very well, and she's always stressed to the max. The worst part of it all is that we don't even need her income, it's just a want for her. I keep telling her to get out of that place and go find something else, but she's been there for 11 years now and she fears change. I keep telling her nothing is going to change for the better until she makes it happen. In a way I feel bad for her, and in another way I don't because she won't do anything to make the situation better...

 

[86cutlass307]

Working on the supply side might be the way to go, probably have to relocate though. My area has a 120-140K combined population and our Sears folded up in mid-December. I'm no business expert but, every time I was in the store, mostly for tool purchase, it looked more and more like a dollar store. Sears has done it to themselves, you have to reinvest, keep evolving with the culture change.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Worked in retail for 4 years while I was in college. It was extremely frustrated.

In addition to the poor decisions that come down from "corporate" and missing the boat one some thing - Sears - , the stores are so poorly managed it is amazing that anything gets done.

It is frustrating always working different hours. Frustrating not knowing when your hours are going to be cut. When I worked at a large retail chain, our "Executive Store Team Lead" found out that she can get a bonus if she meets labor targets for the month. However, there was no penalty for missing sales goals or not getting work done.

So, guess what happened every other month? Everyone was working 15 hours a week and that was it. She would get her bonus. Then the next month, we would be working overtime because the store would be a complete disaster.

 

[Danno]

I have 2 kids in post-secondary school that work at the same Wal-Mart part-time.
My line to them is:
Perfect place to earn some income, learn how to deal with all facets of humanity and also make sure you apply your college degree as retail is a tough, tough place to earn a decent living and make a career.

 

[ls1mike]

I was just going to ask are you willing to move?

PSNS (Puget Sound Naval Shipyard) is hiring

https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/425354300

It is a pretty good gig and gets you in the door for Federal Service.

I can help you with a resume.

 

[pandus13]

Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
But those same retailers have their own online shopping sites; so what's the problem ?

with the exception of warehouse personnel, truck drivers and executives/management and some (contracted) infrastructure and IT, who do you think is American/US anymore?

 

[Mr Nice]

What salary do you NEED to make... $20, $25, $30 an hour ???

USA Jobs.gov is great but there is a very long lead time from applying to interview. My brother works for the VA and it's a long process.


Maybe post your resume (personal info deleted) on BITOG and see if you get some bites from folks in your area.

 

[The motor guy]

Yeah. I think you won't really make decent money unless you get into the corporate side of retail. I worked at lowes and the ASM's made 50-60,000/ year I believe, but they also worked 50hr weeks minimum. So you spend 11hrs working random hours 5 days a week.

 

[bmwjohn]

I would suggest STAR 12. There are 3 colleges, all in Kansas City area, that run profitable continuing ed programs all over the country and on the internet that provide 2 hour to 2 day business seminars on practical topics. STAR 12 is one that provides all you can eat courses (35? courses) for 1 year for $300 to $500 total. No tests, PDF completion certificates, practical business topics that look good on resume and teach you - 2 day OSHA, Intro to HR -Lilly Ledbetter, ADA, EEOC, GeNie, office organizing, intro supervision, social media for business, improve Excel, many more, quickest cheapest way to enrich resume and show you are improving and upgrading. Not as good as MBA, but way cheaper quicker.

 

[KitaCam]

America may have a high productivity rate, but also works overtime (those 60hr work-weeks) and fewer holidays (than EU countries) to get it....

Many companies going to part-time employees with no benefits...the solution I think is for those companies to pay for productivity withIN that part-time framework.