Set Me Free

The Assistant Manager at EB left last week.  He wasn’t a bad guy buy any means.  I know I was frustrated with him in my last post.  The store had gone to shit while he’d taken over.  However he was a nice guy; a gentleman really, and he was great with customers.  He could tell you what game you’re looking for before you even know it.  But he wasn’t assistant manager material, and I think he knew it. The other girl who was working there has also left.  She was booted out of her parents place by her stepfather apparently and moved away.

Where does that leave the store?  Well the temp manager has totally changed the store around.  He didn’t get all his work done so he came back this week, and he came back with another manager to help him.  Not only that be we hired 3 new people.  We hired a contract manager to act as manager until our real manager is back from paternity leave, we hired a guy I used to work with years ago at EB, and a new guy.  (Who is WAY weird.. but nice albeit).   Also, another guy we where worried about gave his notice yesterday.  He’s a hard worker, but his attitude sucks.

I have to say that it’s been a really long time since I’ve been so happy to have a job.  Now, I would stay at home in a heartbeat if I could, but EB is just way to exciting for me.  I’m such a nerd!  I actually was restless on my lunch break because I wanted to get back out there and work.  Isn’t that crazy?!  I just hope it lasts.  Nay, I pray it lasts.  I also pray that I can do my best for this job, and that I can always be excited about it!

So I started my new job (again..) at EB Games last Tuesday.  I’m not really sure how to describe my first few days there… Well, I left the first day and I was very upset.  I couldn’t sleep that night because I as so anxious and stressed.  Why?  Well, let me see…  I walked in, and I got no instruction.   None.  The assistant manager just assumed I would walk in and get to work.  I kid you not.  He says “So, I’m going in the back to do work.. you remember how everything works right?”.

“Uhh.. no”  I say

“Well.. it’s only been a year..” he replies (with quite a shocked look on his face).

“No, I’ve been gone for two years Brian.” I reply, a bit angrily I might add.

At least when he went to the back to work I wasn’t by myself.  There was another girl with me.  But they never did actually show me the tills.  The first time I used the till was when the assistant manager was on his lunch break, and the other girl decided it was a great time to take the deposit to the bank and leave me all alone on the floor for about half an hour.  So I just guessed at how the till worked.  I picked it up pretty quick, it was familiar, but damn if I couldn’t remember everything.  But..it gets better..

When I get to my lunch break I go to use the bathroom.. I walk in and almost puke.  The toilet is covered in something orangey-yellow, and it’s totally surrounded by used paper towel and toilet paper.  There is a paper moat around the toilet.  I’m guessing nobody had taken out the garbage in quite some time.  The sink was worse for wear too.  It was blaaack.  When I got home that night, I was really thinking that when I saw that bathroom, I really should have just walked out and said “Screw it!”.  (Yes, *I* was the one who ended up cleaning the bathroom, toilet and all on my next shift)

Today was the second day that the district manager was in.  I don’t know how long the current assistant manager will be there.  He left the store crying actually.  (Mostly from the DM, but also his cousin had died, so rough day for the guy).  I had talked to the DM and pipped up about an assistant manager position, he said he would consider it.  Now THAT shocked me.  When I was hired back, they told me that I WOULD be ASM, they just put me in the system as “Full-time” employee until they could get the paperwork through.  Now they are just “considering” it?

Now I’m wondering why I left my other job.  It had fewer hours, yes.  But it was clean, efficient, paid more, and I had made some friends.  Okay, I know why I left the other job, but still.  What have I done?

There is a temp manager staying up just for the week to help clean it up.  So hopefully it gets running better, and I suppose I could hope like crazy for the ASM position even though I know I’m not really in the running anymore.  There is another guy who works there who is being considered.  He’d be okay at it too.  He’s okay with working hard and constantly, he knows everything he needs to, and he’s currently employed; he’s not new.  I would have to re-learn everything, why do that when you already have someone who’s just as capable, plus knows what’s currently going on promotion-wise and store-wise.  So now I’m stuck at a dirtier job that pays less.  Working my butt off no less.

I really hope a promising job pops up soon (ha! didn’t I say that right before this one came along?).  I want maybe a retail-less job?  Any ideas anyone?  *sigh*

So it looks like within about 2 months I’ll be an assistant manager (again) at EB Games.  At first I was very excited.  Why?  Because we needed the money.  It was an answer to my prayers, to have enough money to pay the bills and make ends meet.  When I kneeled down and prayed I didn’t make specifications to a job I’d like (okay, that’s a wee bit of a lie) I mostly just asked that something ANYTHING would come up.  Well it did, and now I feel trapped.

Okay, let me rephrase all of this.  I am absolutely and totally grateful that I have a job.  A Full Time job that I know, co-workers that I know, and a job that I liked before.  But I feel trapped in retail.  I feel so out of my comfort zone a lot of times in retail.

Most people who know me, know that I can be very traditional, and I’m very set in my ways when it comes to how I think people should act.  When I have angry or rude customers in my store I’m flabbergasted that anyone could be so rude to someone else.  (What’s the point in being so rude anyways?!).  It shakes me to the core, and I take it WAY to personally.  Which I realize a lot of jobs are like that, but this job is based solely on interacting with strangers and making them happy.  I even have to do it when they blatantly are rude to me, and my place of work.

Ideally I want a job where I don’t interact or have “customers”.  Because “customers” feel like they have the right to walk all over you some days.  Or they take out their stress on you, which can build up.  I know they can’t (or I “shouldn’t”) affect my feelings, but it does; I let it happen.  I really wanted (and some days still do) to be a paelontologist.  (Also a missionary.. but that kind of bit the dust, more of a fantasy now).  Do you know how many “customers” paelontologists have?  None thank you very much!  Sure they might have to impress the boss, or a financial supporter.  Thats politics though.  I think I can handle that, it’s more civilized. (hah!)

I do like EB Games though.  But if I ever do get frustrated and quit, what do I do? Well..find another retail job I guess, cause that’s what I’m good at.  No, I can’t sell you your own shoes.. I’m just nice, and efficient.  Work done + a smile.  That’s me.