So I came in for a normal day of work today and something just wasn't right in the air. I work at a shoe boutique called Marmi at the mall. It's an upscale shoe store for older women. Well, i came in and I notice that there is an unknown man working at the store with us. I knew that the store manager was going out of town on saturday but she said she would be working on friday. I ask where Joan (store manager) is and I was told that she got fired. I was totally shocked because she's a great salesperson plus she's worked for the company for awhile. To be honest, she was somewhat in cahoots with corporate which even shocked me even more that she was fired. She's sold shoes for 40 years. Even though, I had my moments with her...she was like a mother figure to me. So I come in, my name is on the board with my goal for the day. Then the guy says that he needs to talk to me in the back and tells me about Joan being terminated then tells me that they are letting me go because they don't need part time people anymore. I wasn't exactly convinced that was the case so I asked if they had more to do with it. I can't remember if I mentioned or He mentioned job performance, I got written up because of that due to low sales/attitude with the manager that happened last week. I got mad at her because she took a customer i was waiting on underneath my nose. But most of the business comes in the morning and I work the nights. Other sales associate who is full time hasn't been doing well either and there have been a lot of times where my numbers per hour and sales have been higher than her. I've had a great month..business has been wishy washy tho. Some weekends have been great for me and some not so good.

I'm still shocked that my store manager was fired but yet again, at times she wasn't a team player. We always take turns waiting on customers....she didn't believe in that. One time, a customer asked for Dennis(sales associate) and she convinced that lady to let her wait on her...while the lady bought $800 worth of shoes. Basically stole the sale underneath his nose! Maybe she got fired because she wasn't being a team player, just trying to save her own ass. Corporate came last week and it didn't go over well.

I am just really upset, i've never been fired let alone written up before. My mom was sympathic and my dad, well he's bipolar so he doesn't seem to get anything. I still have another job...working in a nightclub. However, I took a break for that because I was working 12-13 hour days with the shoe store and the nightclub. I'm supposed to be on call in a couple of weeks then starting up with coat check November 15. I have a couple checks coming in (nightclub, shoe store, mj viago ticket difference refund, mail in rebate for phone) so I will have 4500 in the bank. No payments except for a cell phone bill and rent my parents charge me (only like 200 something a month). so i have plenty of money....no need to really worry right now.

I really liked working there even though I wasn't that great at selling. I worked with 3 other people including the manager and we all got along great. The store manager even offered for me to stay with her when I was having trouble with my family. I always gave Sandra(other sales associate) a ride home and we would always be chatting away. That was my gurl.

I'm 23 year old college graduate working a shitty part time job. I graduated in 4.5 years and went to the one of the top universities for my major. I worked my ass off to get a degree. And I still don't have a career job. I applied to 20 part time jobs and had 6 interviews and got 2 jobs out of that. I've applied to even more career jobs. This year has been a nightmare for me...MJ died, living at home with parents after living on my own since i was 18, family trouble, job trouble. I just feel completely helpless and hopeless.


[Edited 10/2/09 17:46pm]
[Edited 10/2/09 17:47pm]

This is why I like the laws in England - the employers have to go through processes before letting you go. The lady who had worked for 40 years would have had a strong case to take to an employment tribunal - the employer would have also had to take into account her pension, age and how many years she had worked for them.

Also even part-time workers have rights and you cannot be fired on the spot. Grievance/disciplinary meetings have to be raised before that can happen.

I know that sometimes people see England as a soft spot - but sometimes I think the laws in England are right and protect the workers.

it may seem like the end of the world but it isn't. something will come along

You might very well find this turns out to be one of the best things to ever happen to you. Seriously.

doesn't working for a faceless corporation suck?

I can't believe that you had a written goal for the day...as if sell shoes, make a commission wasn't enough.

I hate working for a corporation.

I feel bad for you. It appears to me that since they fired your store manager as well as you, the company was laying off a bunch of people to cut costs. If they were honest about it, they should have just told you that instead of making up some excuse to write you up and use that as a reason for your termination.

But you're not the only one struggling. I haven't been able to find a permanent career position in the last two years. I have been working as a temp off and on, and it's been frustrating. But at least you have something to fall back on. But don't give up. Keep looking for that career position you want, and eventually you'll find it.

so should I look and apply for a part time job? Or should I just wait on the other one until I go back to my other job? Spend all my time looking for career jobs and sending out resumes?

BoOTyLiCioUs said:

While I would go back to your part time job, I would continue sending out resumés.

As the saying goes..... when one door closes ..... another door opens

Something better will come along, be positive

shorttrini said:

so just keep the one I have right now and look for a career job.

BoOTyLiCioUs said:

Just continue to look. I graduated with a duel major in Poly sci and criminal justice, I have been in sales for the last 20plus years. Talking to people and helping them, is what I am good at. I would continue to look for a job, period. Think about the things that you like to do and look accordingly.

shorttrini said:

so did u ever get a job in your field?

BoOTyLiCioUs said:

NO. See, I had always wanted to be a lawyer and believed that majoring in poly sci, was the way to go. It was not until I got to college that a professor told me that you really don't need to major in that to become a lawyer. The reasoning is, god-forbid, you don't pass the bar, what are you going to do, teach Poly sci? Besides, they teach you all that is needed to become a lawyer, while your in law school. You live and learn, I guess. I enjoy what I do for a living and would not trade it for anything in the world.

BoOTyLiCioUs said:

NO. See, I had always wanted to be a lawyer and believed that majoring in poly sci, was the way to go. It was not until I got to college that a professor told me that you really don't need to major in that to become a lawyer. The reasoning is, god-forbid, you don't pass the bar, what are you going to do, teach Poly sci? Besides, they teach you all that is needed to become a lawyer, while your in law school. You live and learn, I guess. I enjoy what I do for a living and would not trade it for anything in the world.

shorttrini said:

law school is only one year, i believe.

BoOTyLiCioUs said:

In the US, getting a J.D. (law degree) requires 3 years of full-time study and that doesn't include taking/passing the bar so you can be admitted to actually practice.

jone70 said:

oh never mind then. that wasn't my concentration so I didn't know about that. stop making fun of me My major had 4 concentrations...corrections, legal studies, law enforcement and one other I can't remember it off the top of my head. My concentration was law enforcement.
[Edited 10/4/09 17:13pm]

BoOTyLiCioUs said:

I'm not making fun of you! I was just puzzled that you thought getting a law degree only took 1 year. I only know all that stuff because I work with a bunch of attorneys and law school student interns. Some of the interns are not smart at all, and I'm thinking, "well hell, maybe *I* should go to law school. so-and--so made it in and they're an idiot!" But then I remember I would be nearly 40 by the time I finished, at least $100K more in debt than I already am with my grad school student loans, and I don't particularly find the idea of being an attorney interesting. My job's just kind of boring.

I hope you get back out there and on to bigger and better things. good luck!

I'm sorry to hear you were fired. I'm in retail too and know it's a dog-eat-dog job. Without a doubt you'll find something better soon, with your education and good credentials. Sounds like it's their loss to me.
[Edited 10/6/09 17:48pm]