I worked as a minimum wage salesgirl for 2 months. Why? Simply because I was curious. The extra money didn’t hurt either. I chose to work at a store called Lush. I’ve been a customer of the store for years sporadically, mostly deterred because of the prices. I chose Lush because:
1) I liked their products (employee discounts anyone?)
2) I admired the company’s values
3) I’d have a blast playing with the lotions and soaps all day
I told a few people what I was up to. Maybe I was a little embarrassed and scared about how they’d view me, but the main reason behind it was because I wanted to have this experience internally – without peer judgment or pressure. The few that knew reacted overwhelmingly the same. “WHY!?” Why are you wasting your time and abilities? When I responded that I was simply curious, their response was an uncomprehending “…uh…ok?” I immediately felt a little ashamed and would hurry to explain, almost asking for forgiveness and begging for their understanding.
The interview was simple: pretend to be an associate to the interviewer who would play the customer. It was over in 10 minutes. They called within 6 hours to compliment me on my awesome hand massages and offered me the job.
If you asked me to recollect a specific memory from my experience at Lush, I would honestly draw a blank. All my days blurred together into a steady hum of hustle and bustle. Cue imagery of a busy beehive. Like every job, it had its ups and downs but definitely more ups. There were its lulls but mostly activity. And you meet the most interesting people!
My greatest takeaway from this experience is how many people view sales people, including myself. I assumed that most were uneducated and lacked motivation for a “real” career. Instead, I discovered a vibrant group of people with different views and priorities. I was asked “Are you in college?” by customers daily. I initially felt such shame and embarrassment for working at such a lowly position on the social totem pole that I lied, preferring to let them think that I had this job merely to help pay my way through college. After a few days I started responding, “No, I actually graduated over a year ago!” Their facial expressions were always fairly predictable. First surprise, then embarrassment, then pity. Some even expressed the sympathy, “oh the job market is so tough right now!” to which I would just smile and continue working.
Why is it that we view sales so differently? To be successful, you have to be quick on your feet, know how to read people, and familiarize yourself with the products, among many other skills. I dealt with difficult, surly, narrow-minded people all day long and had to maintain a bubbly, courteous persona. I currently work in an architectural design firm with the job title of “project coordinator.” When I tell people this, their response is usually “Oh wow! That sounds so cool!” assuming that I have my life together and that I am “successful.” In reality, that response means nothing. It’s a safe comment as is my position. It’s socially accepted and doesn’t run a risk. But does what I do now require any more skill than working at Lush? I write emails, work with Microsoft Project and Excel (googling half my tasks of course), and report for meetings. But if anything, I feel more like a replaceable pawn here than previously. My personality isn’t needed or valued here as it was before. In fact, my boss would probably prefer that I was an emotionless, predictable automaton. I have standards and procedures to follow. There is no need or desire for individuality or freedom. Really, the only perks are that it looks pretty on my resume and that I get invited to holiday parties because it’s much less embarrassing to introduce your date as “working in architecture” than as a “salesgirl.” Quite frankly, I miss it. Computers and cubicles are overrated.
Finding My Sunrise 