I don't want to go home but I can't stay here
June 16, 2011 7:42 PM Subscribe
What retail skills translate to other industries?
(Anonymous because I don't want anyone to know I'm trying my ass off to leave)
I'm a retail manager, and I am massively burned out on retail management. I have been in my current situation for a year and a half now, and I have a college degree as well. Even given the current state of the economy, I'm sure I could be useful somewhere... But where?
My background is mostly other retail (store management, customer service, sales, visual merchandising, etc), and my employer kind of has a crap reputation as a retailer, so I'm very worried about how my resume might be percieved by another type of business looking at me. The reason for my burnout is simple... I have about 40 hours of straight management duties per week, that only I as the store manager can do, but most of the time, we have single coverage in the store, so I have to fit all that in, plus daily shipments, plus customer service. It's easily a 70 hour workweek we have to fit into less than 50. It's insane, and I just can't keep it up. But, I have to eat somehow, since I have no SO to nake a plan with, and sadly, the cats are only three and four, so they can't work for a few years yet.
So, basically, with a retail background, where else can I go?
(Anonymous because I don't want anyone to know I'm trying my ass off to leave)
I'm a retail manager, and I am massively burned out on retail management. I have been in my current situation for a year and a half now, and I have a college degree as well. Even given the current state of the economy, I'm sure I could be useful somewhere... But where?
My background is mostly other retail (store management, customer service, sales, visual merchandising, etc), and my employer kind of has a crap reputation as a retailer, so I'm very worried about how my resume might be percieved by another type of business looking at me. The reason for my burnout is simple... I have about 40 hours of straight management duties per week, that only I as the store manager can do, but most of the time, we have single coverage in the store, so I have to fit all that in, plus daily shipments, plus customer service. It's easily a 70 hour workweek we have to fit into less than 50. It's insane, and I just can't keep it up. But, I have to eat somehow, since I have no SO to nake a plan with, and sadly, the cats are only three and four, so they can't work for a few years yet.
So, basically, with a retail background, where else can I go?
Logistics. Stocktaking. Loss prevention. ECR & POS sales.
posted by DarlingBri at 10:16 PM on June 16, 2011
posted by DarlingBri at 10:16 PM on June 16, 2011
People skills will get you a massively huge distance in this life. Don't underestimate them.
posted by Solomon at 11:53 PM on June 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Solomon at 11:53 PM on June 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
Customer service - dealing with cranky customers.
People management - dealing with a diverse group of employees.
Make sure that you tailor your resume to fit the job you're applying for.
posted by radioamy at 5:20 AM on June 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
People management - dealing with a diverse group of employees.
Make sure that you tailor your resume to fit the job you're applying for.
posted by radioamy at 5:20 AM on June 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
Consider, however, that in retail, your experience likely involves getting kids that don't give a damn to show up and do their jobs; In a professional environment, people will tend to do at least that much by default (and usually expect some flexibility in when they show up, so don't go all timeclock-Nazi unless they really abuse it), and your role will involve more of a project-oriented focus and keeping upper management off your guys' backs.
If willing to go back to school, a degree in accounting or project management would go a long way to getting you in at most companies.
posted by pla at 8:19 PM on June 16, 2011