I try...and I try...and I try...and I still hate retail...

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Sat May 24, 2008 3:13 pm

I've been working for Gamestop since late last September, and have gotten about 8-12 hours/week, with one or two exceptions. While ever other company seems to be crapping themselves (not without reason) over high gas prices and the economy in general, Gamestop has made record-breaking profits.

My boss isn't the problem, it's the absolutely appalling lack of money that the company invests in people. We are, thanks to him, the #1 store in our region, which stretches from here in Colorado, up through Minnesota, and yet he gets inadequate hours.

A few weeks ago, he offered me the chance to become keyholder-the position right below assistant manager, because there is one vacancy. But there's little chance that I'll make the cut with a grand total of 4 hours this next week. (Oh, and for those of you who have seen GameStop TV in our stores, the company has decided that it should be displayed on huge HDTV's in every store-HDTV's that are larger then any in our interactive units.)

I should have just titled this thread "Retail sucks", but what other jobs can I get if retail and grocery are all I have on my resume? I know I have good skills (I'm no salesman, though); I'm an excellent writer. I have enlisted the help of the Colorado Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. Now, I don't consider myself disabled because of my anxiety, but if they can help me, why not? And I do count my blessings, which are many, but I want to live independent of my family; I've never even had a car or apartment of my own. Heck, I've never even had a credit card.

Right now, I just feel like this Michael W. Smith song (GREAT song):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtRG275T9eA

PsikyoPshumpPshooterP · Sat May 24, 2008 3:25 pm

theres so many jobs out there..dont limit yourself to GS because i hate going to gamestop, let alone working there..

honorless · Post by **honorless** » Sat May 24, 2008 3:40 pm

What is your degree in?

If you don't have one, quit kidding yourself. You don't need help finding a job. You need help going to college. (Or SOME sort of vocational school or set of classes where you can get a certification for those skills you supposedly have.)

Otherwise—with relatively few exceptions for extremely hard-working, talented, lucky or connected people—your life is going to be a string of retail, grocery, menial labor et cetera jobs until you eventually retire. And if you're unwilling to continue your education, you may need to learn to accept that.

tl;dr: marry a rich bitch

PC Engine Fan X! · Post by **PC Engine Fan X!** » Sat May 24, 2008 3:51 pm

honorless wrote:What is your degree in?

If you don't have one, quit kidding yourself. You don't need help finding a job. You need help going to college. (Or SOME sort of vocational school or set of classes where you can get a certification for those skills you supposedly have.)

Otherwise—with relatively few exceptions for extremely hard-working, talented, lucky or connected people—your life is going to be a string of retail, grocery, menial labor et cetera jobs until you eventually retire. And if you're unwilling to continue your education, you may need to learn to accept that.

tl;dr: marry a rich bitch

What honorless says about marrying a rich bitch is the golden ticket out of your situation...it'll help if she is of "Trophy wife material" as well. ^_~

UnscathedFlyingObject · Sat May 24, 2008 4:20 pm

Since you have a degree (whatever it is.) Find yourself some internships (they're usually less demanding) and start building up your resume. Right now, I'm working at my school as tech support. The pay is great (for the position,) but I'm quitting 'cause I'm not learning anything new. I just went to an interview for an internship, and I think I did pretty well. They'll be paying me $5 less, so I'm not so happy, but I'm hoping I'll be learning a lot since I'll be working with network engineers and the like.

bay · Post by **bay** » Sat May 24, 2008 5:14 pm

i dont have a degree.

college and me didn't really agree on the subject of calculus.

theres no need for a degree, it just helps you get your foot in the door at many places. even with a degree you are left to your own skills and drive to not only get the job, but keep the job.

the best thing a friend of mine told me when i was quitting college was that all i gotta do is take what i like, what i'm good at, and find ways to do work doing that.

like scubadiving? teach scubadiving, give scuba tours to tourists, write guidebooks to sell about good places to scuba.. if other words.. * scuba *

i recall dave having a degree, so if he really likes what he studied, he can use that to get the foot in the door. sure, starting out in professional jobs can be hard, but dont give up.

honorless · Post by **honorless** » Sat May 24, 2008 5:39 pm

Ah, disregard the last post I made then. Well, except for marrying a rich bitch. That part's still valid.

The vocational people should be able to help you. Your school or whatever may have networking crap set up for alumni too, so you might want to check that out too.

UFO's idea is probably one of your best bets. Internships, co-ops, whatever. It's a great way to get experience before diving in...and relatively likely to lead to job offers, speaking as someone who's had this happen twice now.

Willingness to move or commute may also help. Pardon my next big stupid assumption, but if your GS region is that large it implies there aren't very many people there...meaning there aren't that many opportunities in your area.

Super Laydock · Post by **Super Laydock** » Sat May 24, 2008 7:07 pm

hey, at least we love you Dave.

This is your place in our world.

As long as you and your loved ones are doing fine, don't worry too much about career opportunities.

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Sat May 24, 2008 9:06 pm

Super Laydock wrote:hey, at least we love you Dave.

This is your place in our world.

As long as you and your loved ones are doing fine, don't worry too much about career opportunities.

Thanks, I appreciate the support.

My family is doing OK, at best. My parents are both in their early '60's, and my Mom is not in good health. She has just been diagnosed with a lung condition: COPD. There is no cure for it, and it is one of the leading causes of death among women. She never smoked a day in her life, but she did have Pneumonia once when she was about 3, and then again when she was 60-and that one was misdiagnosed 3 times.

She's covered under my Dad's healthcare plan that he has at work, but, despite medication that she's on for the COPD, her lungs aren't getting any younger. Thank God we have a great general physician.

My brother has OCD bad, but is older then me, and simply refuses to get the kind of help that he needs, and hasn't worked in like 4 years.

I have a BA in Political Science, but the problem with internships is that I don't know if I can afford not to be making money, and not all are paid. The State Department has an Office of Religious Freedom, and they do have internships, but-whether paid or not-room and board out there wouldn't be cheap. Although religious freedom is an issue that's near and dear to my heart.

The problem with GS is that I need some longevity in my resume, bad. I'll have worked there a year this September, if I can make it that long. I love the people and the products, but retail sales is NOT me, and the stress is starting to take a toll on my anxiety, on the few days that I'm actually there. I found out today that another keyholder position wouldn't be available until the fall, but I don't want it anyway.

So, I definitely know that this will be my last retail sales job, whenever it ends.

Super Laydock · Post by **Super Laydock** » Sat May 24, 2008 10:05 pm

dave4shmups wrote:My family is doing OK, at best. My parents are both in their early '60's, and my Mom is not in good health. She has just been diagnosed with a lung condition: COPD. There is no cure for it, and it is one of the leading causes of death among women. She never smoked a day in her life, but she did have Pneumonia once when she was about 3, and then again when she was 60-and that one was misdiagnosed 3 times.

She's covered under my Dad's healthcare plan that he has at work, but, despite medication that she's on for the COPD, her lungs aren't getting any younger. Thank God we have a great general physician.

Now, I don't believe in god. Still I hope (praying is an awkward word for me) future will be kind on your mother.[/quote]

My brother has OCD bad, but is older then me, and simply refuses to get the kind of help that he needs, and hasn't worked in like 4 years.

Having been diagnosed with that since I was 14 I think I have "some" authority on this.
I have it in the most severe way my psych's could identify and I am doing quite fine now due to medicine. Get your brother to a psychiatrist and get him on prozac/Anafranil or the likes. It'll improve his life and he'll be better off with it.

I have a BA in Political Science, but the problem with internships is that I don't know if I can afford not to be making money, and not all are paid. The State Department has an Office of Religious Freedom, and they do have internships, but-whether paid or not-room and board out there wouldn't be cheap. Although religious freedom is an issue that's near and dear to my heart.

Having the degree alone should take you through a lot of (though admittedly not all) job interviews. It shows about your capacity to analyze certain things which is a good quality.
Don't put yourself down for having no resume to speak of and just believe in your qualities. Resumes (not sure on the spelling there...) are overrated. Your presentation in a real job interview would be much more important.

Persevere!

The n00b · Post by **The n00b** » Sat May 24, 2008 11:16 pm

Dave I no longer even feel like contributing ideas anymore when you make posts like these because I always get the same impression....slacker. Not slacker in like the "I refuse to get a job" kind of slacker. Slacker as in the kind of slacker featured in the movie "clerks" or the guys with a master's degree working as a full time bartender.

I believe you purposely limit yourself. For what reason, I have no freakin clue. You are the freakin keyholder for a gamestop when you have the chops to manage the place. Why didn't you apply for that job? Are you afraid of failure? Congrats, welcome to life. You will fail again and again and the only way you learn to deal with it is by getting good at picking yourself up.

Am I wrong Dave? If I am, prove it by putting your resume in for every car salesman, administrative, professional, tutoring, or even teaching position advertised in your local paper tomorrow. Basically if the job looks like it's for "grownups," go for it. Then see who calls back.. If anyone asks you in for an interview, take a good look in the mirror and ask yourself "if complete strangers think I'm hot shit, why can't I think the same thing?"

Motorherp · Post by **Motorherp** » Sun May 25, 2008 12:20 am

I'm a firm believer that anyone can acheive anithing they desire if only they really want it. And by want it I dont mean just desire it but actualy dedicate themselves to acheiving it adn make the necissary sacrifices. I speak from experience. I once found myself in a dead-end with no obvious ways forward but I knew waht I'd like to do. I never thought I could acheive it though cuse I didn't have the right background or trainting and there was too much holding me back. In one momernt of clarity (thanks partialy to an ex, god bless her she was an angel) I dropped everything and set out to acheive my goals. It sounds hard but really its not. There really is noithing holding you back, you can just leave your old mundane life behind and start on a new path if only yiu have the guts to do it , take the risks, and give up what you have. Excuse me if I'm rambling but I've had a few to drink, I just sympathise with your situation. I used to work in Ticket Master and now I'm a pro game developer. It never would have happened though if it wasn;t for that one moment of clarity and the determination to make the sacrifises and to stick with it afterwatds. Decide what it is you really want and just fucking go for it is what I'm trying to say.

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Sun May 25, 2008 12:47 am

The n00b wrote:Dave I no longer even feel like contributing ideas anymore when you make posts like these because I always get the same impression....slacker. Not slacker in like the "I refuse to get a job" kind of slacker. Slacker as in the kind of slacker featured in the movie "clerks" or the guys with a master's degree working as a full time bartender.

I believe you purposely limit yourself. For what reason, I have no freakin clue. You are the freakin keyholder for a gamestop when you have the chops to manage the place. Why didn't you apply for that job? Are you afraid of failure? Congrats, welcome to life. You will fail again and again and the only way you learn to deal with it is by getting good at picking yourself up.

Am I wrong Dave? If I am, prove it by putting your resume in for every car salesman, administrative, professional, tutoring, or even teaching position advertised in your local paper tomorrow. Basically if the job looks like it's for "grownups," go for it. Then see who calls back.. If anyone asks you in for an interview, take a good look in the mirror and ask yourself "if complete strangers think I'm hot shit, why can't I think the same thing?"

You are wrong, I don't have the skills to manage the place-if I'm already stressed out as a Game Adviser, what do you think would happen if I tried to run the place? Besides which, there's no way to do so without working your way up; you can't just apply for management jobs in GameStop-or any company, for that matter-unless you have previous management experience, or a BA or BS in Management.

I have already expressed that I am not good at sales, that doesn't mean that I am limiting myself in anyway. Different people have different skills, and I'm just not a salesman.
'
I do agree that I'm capable of a lot more then I'm doing now, but in the proper context.

trivial · Post by **trivial** » Sun May 25, 2008 2:07 am

You should never traumatise a woman with sexual intercourse. Not for love nor money.

bay · Post by **bay** » Sun May 25, 2008 9:39 am

trivial wrote:You should never traumatise a woman with sexual intercourse. Not for love nor money.

trivial · Post by **trivial** » Sun May 25, 2008 10:06 am

You should quit. I should know; I'm a medical doctor.

If you know who I was talking like, don't you, don't you wish you never, never met her?

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Sun May 25, 2008 5:00 pm

trivial wrote:You should quit. I should know; I'm a medical doctor.

If you know who I was talking like, don't you, don't you wish you never, never met her?

I don't know what else you're talking about, but I can't quit. Despite my degree, I left too many jobs too early, and I've burned a lot of bridges. I did this after graduating college. I wouldn't do that with this current job, I've learned my lesson. My jobs during, and before, college were 3 month deals, during summers. So what it all boils down to is that I've never worked a job for even one year. That's the problem with leaving Gamestop, unless I find something better, which I will try to do.

trivial · Post by **trivial** » Sun May 25, 2008 5:36 pm

shit dave, I was just quoting the Slacker movie as though it were appropriate.

I have a terrible employment record too, in my case partially caused by working on and off for family. It isn't the end of the world. Economy's in the toilet but I got a job last month. I think I'll keep her.

The n00b · Post by **The n00b** » Sun May 25, 2008 8:59 pm

dave4shmups wrote:You are wrong, I don't have the skills to manage the place-if I'm already stressed out as a Game Adviser, what do you think would happen if I tried to run the place? Besides which, there's no way to do so without working your way up; you can't just apply for management jobs in GameStop-or any company, for that matter-unless you have previous management experience, or a BA or BS in Management.

I have already expressed that I am not good at sales, that doesn't mean that I am limiting myself in anyway. Different people have different skills, and I'm just not a salesman.
'
I do agree that I'm capable of a lot more then I'm doing now, but in the proper context.

Jobs are usually stressful, time to get over it. I don't know how it is where you are at but over here, places like Little Caesar take on management trainees just because they have a degree. There are lots of other employers just looking for a guy like you too but if you hide from them, they'll never find you.

So when will the "proper context" happen? You sound like you're just waiting for something to happen. If you really believed that BS about not having experience you would be enrolling in community college classes...

I know, I know I'm harshing your mellow or some shit but I used to suffer from anxiety attacks back in the day and it led me to a situation much like your's. Of course I only let it affect me for about a year and a half but I got fuckin sick of letting something like that run my life. It WILL run your life, btw, Dave. You can avoid responsibility hoping it will go away but it'll still be there when you are 45, living with your parents, and bagging groceries. Anyway years ago I made the decision I'd rather have an anxiety attack every freakin 5 min then let it have another say in my life...and then one day I noticed the anxiety had skipped town

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Sun May 25, 2008 11:07 pm

The n00b wrote:
dave4shmups wrote:You are wrong, I don't have the skills to manage the place-if I'm already stressed out as a Game Adviser, what do you think would happen if I tried to run the place? Besides which, there's no way to do so without working your way up; you can't just apply for management jobs in GameStop-or any company, for that matter-unless you have previous management experience, or a BA or BS in Management.

I have already expressed that I am not good at sales, that doesn't mean that I am limiting myself in anyway. Different people have different skills, and I'm just not a salesman.
'
I do agree that I'm capable of a lot more then I'm doing now, but in the proper context.
Jobs are usually stressful, time to get over it. I don't know how it is where you are at but over here, places like Little Caesar take on management trainees just because they have a degree. There are lots of other employers just looking for a guy like you too but if you hide from them, they'll never find you.

So when will the "proper context" happen? You sound like you're just waiting for something to happen. If you really believed that BS about not having experience you would be enrolling in community college classes...

I know, I know I'm harshing your mellow or some shit but I used to suffer from anxiety attacks back in the day and it led me to a situation much like your's. Of course I only let it affect me for about a year and a half but I got fuckin sick of letting something like that run my life. It WILL run your life, btw, Dave. You can avoid responsibility hoping it will go away but it'll still be there when you are 45, living with your parents, and bagging groceries. Anyway years ago I made the decision I'd rather have an anxiety attack every freakin 5 min then let it have another say in my life...and then one day I noticed the anxiety had skipped town

Well, my anxiety has pretty much died at this point, (as far as panic attacks go) but I just do not want a job where I will backtrack from all of the progress that I've made with my Psychotherapist, and other doctor.

And if I let it run my life, I would never have learned to drive on the highway, like I did 2 years ago, or try things like flying again, which I also did 2 years ago. I've taken a tough stance against it, but that doesn't mean that I'm going to ignore medical advice against what jobs not to take-for instance, anything graveyard will severely screw up my chemicals, so I don't do that. Nor am I going to stop listening to my body. I don't call that "avoiding responsibility", rather, being responsible. I can appreciate that you've been through panic attacks; it's a nightmare for anyone, but please try not to sound so condescending. I know, like anyone else does, that jobs are stressful; a completely non-stressful job is not what I'm looking for because it obviously doesn't exist.

I have no money with which to go to community college, and neither do my folks. And as far as experience goes, I've already made it clear that if my work experience shows that I've never held a job for even a year, that's not good.

At any rate, I know myself better then anyone and I'm going to work with Bayaud Industries to try and find something that fits me best.

Ed Oscuro · Post by **Ed Oscuro** » Sun May 25, 2008 11:09 pm

dave4shmups wrote:I just do not want a job where I will backtrack from all of the progress that I've made with my Psychotherapist, and other doctor.

Psychotherapists aren't gods, no need to capitalize the title.

p.s. get out of GameStop, it's a dead-end job in a market with an uncertain future at retail

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Sun May 25, 2008 11:18 pm

Ed Oscuro wrote:
dave4shmups wrote:I just do not want a job where I will backtrack from all of the progress that I've made with my Psychotherapist, and other doctor.
Psychotherapists aren't gods, no need to capitalize the title.

p.s. get out of GameStop, it's a dead-end job in a market with an uncertain future at retail

I know they aren't gods, I capitilized it because it's a job title. A market with an uncertain future??? Video games rake in more then Hollywood; Grand Theft Auto IV was the biggest entertainment launch in history, and the GameStop has over 5,000 stores and growing. The company is just run by a guy about as generous as Robert Mugabe. And yeah, I know the little guy get's the shaft at most companies, but at least most get more then 20 hours/week. I got more hours then that working at Safeway, back in 1994, which was my first job-and I was getting paid $5.20/hour.

I don't think it's wise to quit one job before you find another. Although I won't stay much past September (assuming I don't find something better before then). It's just a job that is providing more stress then the income is worth.

Ed Oscuro · Post by **Ed Oscuro** » Sun May 25, 2008 11:26 pm

dave4shmups wrote:I know they aren't gods, I capitilized it because it's a job title.

Again, unnecessary. It's like...hello, I am a paleontologist.

A market with an uncertain future??? Video games rake in more then Hollywood; Grand Theft Auto IV was the biggest entertainment launch in history, and [snip]

Yeah. How much of that $500M did you rake in, sweetcheeks?

And have you ever heard of things called digital downloads or ad-supported content? GameStop corporate might be making money now, but I doubt this is a job anybody's going to retire on if they start now (unless you include "beaten into a coma by mall rowdies" in the category).

Enjoy bitching about your shitty job, I guess.

The n00b · Post by **The n00b** » Sun May 25, 2008 11:48 pm

oooohhh medical advice? So how much money is this psychotherapist making off you and his "babysteps" program?

Dave come on what's the worst that can happen if you got a real job? Anxiety attack? no one's ever died from one...
Get fired? So get another job
Get stressed out? Take a walk, have a beer, and then screw a hot chick
psychotherapist loses a patient? He'll find another one

Any other worst possible outcomes?

Specineff · Post by **Specineff** » Mon May 26, 2008 2:55 am

Anxiety is nothing to be taken lightly. It's like the feeling you had when you woke up from a nightmare when you were a kid, all sweaty and scared, heart pumping and the adrenaline still rushing through your system. Imagine that, but when you're awake, at random times during the day.

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Mon May 26, 2008 4:50 pm

Specineff wrote:Anxiety is nothing to be taken lightly. It's like the feeling you had when you woke up from a nightmare when you were a kid, all sweaty and scared, heart pumping and the adrenaline still rushing through your system. Imagine that, but when you're awake, at random times during the day.

Exactly, thank you for stepping in. I should have know that I would be mocked, as usual in a thread. "Babysteps", are necessary to start with, but she got me driving again, but I'm sure you, the n00b could've done better. And yes, as I'm aware that I don't rake in a lot of that money from Gamestop, thanks for the sarcasm Ed.

I'm through arguing my point or trying to prove myself to anyone on here, which I don't need to do. So keep up the usual "let's mock Dave" crap, which has been going on on this site since I joined. Oh, and BTW, Malc, who started this site in the middle of a period of anxiety didn't do so for this crap.

szycag · Post by **szycag** » Mon May 26, 2008 5:50 pm

Gamestop gets away with paying people the bare minimum because of unassuming aspergers types who love video games so they think it's the perfect job. I'm a pretty anxious person, and with me it IS a disabling thing, I can hardly stand walking into that place. Maybe you could sell cellphones or something, dry cleaning, something like that. The difference is people who come in there usually know what they want already.

Just pick something no one could possibly be interested in and get paid way more for doing the same job, and probably half the customers too, at least more tolerable ones.

Pixel_Outlaw · Post by **Pixel_Outlaw** » Mon May 26, 2008 6:58 pm

Gamestop does not try to appeal to non mainstream game players. They simply carry more games than the local Wal*Mart. We used to have a Software Ect in the mall but they have gone downhill ever since they became GameStop. Also it smells bad inside that place.

Sorry about the job man, that sounds terrible.

Ed Oscuro · Post by **Ed Oscuro** » Tue May 27, 2008 1:09 am

dave4shmups wrote:I'm through arguing my point or trying to prove myself to anyone on here, which I don't need to do.

Glad you get the point, Dave.

Honestly I feel bad for you and n00b mocking anxiety is beyond the pale, but I was curious as to whether you could be prodded towards rethinking your career. Your choice, of course.

Specineff · Post by **Specineff** » Tue May 27, 2008 3:59 am

Also, for the record, I know firsthand what an anxiety attack feels like. I had a horrible stomach infection that kept me from drinking even water, which lowered my electrolytes, which caused tremors and anxiety attacks and clouded judgement. It took a monumental effort to get out of the house to go to work and to the hospital, and it's something I don't wish upon anyone. Ever.