Real Work - A Belated Introduction

[kyrasantae]

Work boots, no iPods, name tags, no slacking, uniforms, strict attendance, no slacking, rules, rules, rules, rules, rules. I still don't even know yet what my responsibilities are. Did I mention no slacking?

The longer I sit here, the more a sense of dread falls over me - and I start to think, "what have I gotten myself into?" But the rational part of me tries to remind me that this is a part of growing up - to be faced with responsibilities that bear consequences if they're not fulfilled.

I figured out why the lady interviewing me yesterday talked kinda weird... she's a Newfie, and the drawl was even more annoying today.

forgottenlord:
How much I wish it was a year ago and you were still with me...I would not then be so afraid of this. You could be there to tell me how to do these warehouse jobs and we could hang out and share stories and you would understand. To be honest I think that without someone like you close to me in my life as I once did, everything seems so foreign and intimidating. Somewhere in my heart I think I actually loved you and still do. But it's too late now, and I still can't give you what you want from a girlfriend.

Four hours of flash videos tomorrow and Friday!

I get 10% off at the Wal-Mart (including the McD's inside) for the first 4 weeks, until they issue me a real staff discount card that I can use at *any* Wal-Mart. Anyone need anything?

Comments

[voxwoman.livejournal.com]

You'll be fine. No matter how long you stay there, it will be a good "learning experience" for you - but remember working retail is not like working in an office. And both are better than waiting tables. (I've done all 3 over the course of my life).

[forgottenlord.livejournal.com]

You loved me as a best friend, never as a lover - and in your fear, you need that friend

Moving on:
- All low end service jobs work on the concept of Taylorism almost without exclusion. Whether the Manager's mindset is founded on the Taylorist disdain for the average employee or not is irrelevant to the need to operate on the Taylorist level. The few exceptions tend to involve commission. Pretty much, the Taylorism model requires that everyone be cropped and molded into the same robot. That means rules, rigid timing, etc - and of course, no slacking
-I can't remember the name of the test, but there was one that determined that the most important thing to Employee motivation was making them feel wanted. Taylorism prevents this so they try to "compensate" for the Taylorist model by trying to make you feel like you are a part of the company "family". How do they do that? By making you wear a uniform. So Daddy is the second richest guy on the planet and you get a 5 dollar outfit - thanks! I feel real special now.
-The reason so many look at these jobs on your resume is because this is the test of how you'll fit into society. Can you follow instructions? Can you stay on task? Can you follow the rules without too much difficulty? Yes, it is possible for this test to be bypassed, but it is much more difficult and often requires and equally impressive resume based upon either volunteer or school performance (or extensive talent). You can fail the test, but until you pass it, it's hard to move on. By the way, the bar for passing is very low.
-You'll be working with a lot of people who genuinely don't want to be there. They'll do just enough to get by. You don't have to be the best, you just have to be better than them, and you will be noticed by management. If you have a "can do" attitude, you'll be able to beat them without trying. If you don't have that attitude, you will have to work harder at what you do feel confident about or volunteer for those things whenever you see the opportunity.