How does it feel working in an office sitting 8 hours or more every 5 days a week?
Is it boring or tiring?
How about typing on the keyboard and doing paper works while sitting everyday? Is it tiring?
But have you ever imagined working by standing for 8 hours also? It is much tiring and a pain in the legs.
Why do I know? Because after working in several companies as a production operator, I shifted as a Sales Clerk.
My Dreams
I don't know why but after working many times in a factory or in the production area, I imagined myself taking different path. Its like trying to work outside the box
It's almost 3 or 4 years when I worked as a production operator but it was from different places and different companies here in the Philippines.
Whenever I go to malls, I saw the people working there. I observed both women and men in their attires. They looked formal in their uniforms especially the woman. They look neat because of their make ups, wearing skirt and high heels. They look respectful.
Not to mention, I dream before of working in uniforms as a bank teller or a flight attendant or simply working in the office and wearing uniform in skirt and high heels. That includes hair and make up. That is why I admire women who can do their own hair and make up. It's not that easy.
Being A Sales Clerk
So I planned of changing career. I was hired when I tried to apply as a sales clerk in a accessory shop. I am a very shy person but I tried being confident when I applied.
Fortunately, I was hired and deployed in a mall in Cavite area also where I live and near our residence.
It was totally a different feeling at first. I may not be working in an office nor in a bank but I was able to wear skirt and shoes with heels. I also wear make up but not too much.
During my first day, when I leave the house, I was scared to go out because it was my first time to wear skirt after a long time.
When I entered the mall and I entered the boutique, I was introduced to the supervisor. We we're 3 in the store plus the supervisor who was just visiting the store. It was just unforgettable day because we we're told to clean the aircon cover during my first day. The 2 of us were carrying it while walking outside the back of the mall to clean it even we are in our uniform. It was hard to sit while cleaning the aircon cover. We also wipe other parts of the boutique. It was as if it was not clean for a long time. It was tiring but its part of our job.
Then I was assigned to hair clips which means I will be in charge to arrange it and in charge of it especially during inventory. I will be accountable for any loss. We are assigned to different areas inside the store.
I love what I do. People entering the store are mostly girls. It can be students, or people working in the office or group of friends mostly buying hair accessories and fancy jewelries.
The other sales clerk we're friendly. They assist me in the store. Whenever a customer purchased an item, we will list the name of the items first in a piece of paper together with the 10-digit code and the price. It was really hard if customer buys multiple items. You have to write a lot.
Then after that, items listed will be punched in the computer then customer pays. It was a very old system for them. No scanner before. We we're all contractual except for the cashier. She is only in charge in the cash register. But since she was pregnant, we were left in the store and were all trained to use the cash register.
I love my job!!
Time flies so fast but I don't get bored because I can see different faces. I can go out during break time. Unlike in the factory, I always see the same place and people everyday.
When I work in the mall, you will meet different types of people buying. I also saw familiar faces like old friends and classmates. You will also be friends with the people working near your store. I met a lot.
The Weekly Pay-Out
The salary was just enough for me and what was good was the weekly pay out. We get the salary from our sales inside the store. So every payday, we have to work hard for us to get our salary every Friday. There were times when the sales was not enough for all, some will get the pay out the next day. Also, we need to deposit our sales everyday in the bank early morning. It was part of our duty also.
Until I ended my 5 or 6 months contract. During my last day, we need to inventory our assigned items to know if there were lost items during our contract. I have done my inventory during my first day. Any lost items will be deducted from our back pay. But I was not able to do my final inventory because I have an interview or important matters to do that time. I just found out that I lost a lot based on the inventory done by someone. If it was done by me, I might not lost a lot based on inventory. But it was my fault.
When I go to the main office to get my back pay, I only got P300.00 only for the 5-6.months of work. It was heart-breaking to earn that little.
But I enjoy my job. I was able to finish my contract even it was my first time to work as a sales clerk. Additional experience for me.
Thank you CryptoMax and immaryandmerry for the sponsorships. Happy reading!!
Thank you. I really want to earn more for my son and have savings.