Wandering

Exit Interview

2007-09-12T09:34:00.000-07:00

I know, two posts in the same day. Don't you all go dieing on me now.

So I got a wonderful letter from my former place of employment's HR department requesting my feedback on the company. It was an exit interview/survey. Oh the fun I had filling this out. It consisted of several questions regarding the overall company as well as several about my manager above me. The company as a whole I gave a middle of the road response to with shots being fired at specific things that bothered me. My manager on the other hand, they are gonna love reading about him. I made very clear the level of ineptitude this man exhibited on a regular basis and his role in the majority of a solid staff leaving the company. I also had the chance to talk about any "unknown issues" HR might want to know about. Guess how large the part about my Assistant Manager's experience was? I even made sure to include the little part about a rather non-responsive RD. It made me smile to put this in the mail this morning. I hope for once the shit rolls uphill. When you got enough people pushing it it can happen. We shall see.

P.S. I actually found two grammar/spelling errors on the exit interview. Want to know what I wrote in for the questions regarding my boss's and corporate's ability to communicate?

First day at the new job

2007-09-12T09:15:00.000-07:00

So I was officially an hour late for my first day at my new job. Luckily it wasn't an issue. They had changed to a 4 days at 10 hrs schedule in the period between me being hired and when I started. Beyond that it was a rather interesting first day. I am working on the most annoying "game" you could possibly imagine....no really, try harder because I am sure you haven't grasped the monotony that will be consuming my time for at least the first couple of weeks of my work. I will tell you all more about it once I see you all.

That being said I managed to crash and corrupt the program I was working on with one of the things I tried while testing it. Nothing like getting congratulated for breaking something on your first day. I decided I wanted to see what would happen if I called the phone I was testing while in the middle of a download of an expansion pack for the "game". It dies. It dies a horrible terrible death that doesn't even let you back into the program once it kicks your ass out for being so cruel an heartless to it. Retesting that bug for consistency was fun. Nothing like having to wipe the program off the phone and reinstall it each time you kill it to make sure the bug is repeatable. Not to mention I found it at 11:45 right before everyone was suppose to go home. Woohoo.

Overall it was an interesting first day. I am glad to be doing something new even if it is repetitive. Looking at the others in the lab it should be no problem to jump up the ladder rather quickly. Hard work doesn't seem to be in their vocabulary. Hardly working does though. I am looking forward to working hard at work and then enjoying my 3 day weekends. It shouldn't be too bad.

TTFN

Home Run

2007-08-29T22:49:00.000-07:00

I have a new job. I am finally leaving retail forever. I will be working on video games for cell phones less than 3.5 miles from my home. I can bike to work from now on. That is such a wonderful thought. I will have weekends with my wife. I will have 40 hr weeks and if I have to work more than that I WILL GET PAID FOR IT!! Oh how happy I am inside. My last day is Saturday September 1st. Oh how I will smile as I leave that place for the last time. Thanks for all the support from everyone. It has been a bumpy ride getting out of there but it has been achieved and I shall be free. Muahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Guests

2007-05-24T20:40:00.001-07:00

Mike and Nikki will be here tomorrow. Woohoo. Now if only I had more time to spend with them. It looks like I get to work ALL weekend long :( I guess that is life. At least I have my evenings to stay up way too late and have fun playing tons of games and hanging out with friends. Talk to you all later.

Strike One

2007-05-20T08:51:00.000-07:00

So, I got a wonderful letter from the folks I had my interview with a week or so ago. Unfortunately it was not a job offer. It looks like the hunt shall continue. Either way though, it was a good experience. I know the questions that I probably didn't do as well on and I know how I would respond to them next time. It is just a learning process and not something I have had to do in a long time. I will keep you all posted but in the mean time I am still stuck at GS while everyone else around me heads out. :( I am gonna miss you all. I don't know how I am gonna handle this without you guys. Thanks so much for all the support through the last couple of years. I am glad you all are pulling free. Now just wish me luck on getting out as well. TTFN

Interviews

2007-05-07T19:26:00.000-07:00

So I have not posted in a good while, not that I ever did with any regularity in the first place. Time to change that a little. I am writing because of my inner excitement at the prospect of a new job. I go for a second interview Weds. and am hoping that I make the final cut and can get out of the hell hole of a job I am in at the moment. Here is to hoping. I also have a possible interview with another company in the next week or two. They rescheduled that one and said they would give me a ring once they worked out the details of the new position they were hiring for (we will see). So all of you people out there keep your fingers crossed for me (all two of you) and I hope to write with good news some time soon. TTFN

BOO!!!

2007-01-19T21:52:00.000-08:00

Did I scare you?

Fear

2007-01-08T13:25:00.000-08:00

What do you do when you are afraid? I procrastinate. So today I was suppose to go out and look for new job opportunities. What do I do instead? Clean the house. I have to feel like I still accomplished something since I am so scared of finding a new job :)

I would like to say I have no idea what is causing this fear but I would be lying. Right now I have a solid income, a great store and staff and decent job stability. I have been doing this kind of work for over 8 years now and I know what needs to be done (although my staff does have to remind me sometimes). Now I want to take all that and throw it away and jump head first into the unknown. It is like being 5 and standing on the 3meter diving board and looking over for the first time. Actually it is more like jumping off a waterfall into a pool below. The prospect is so beautiful and wonderful and exciting but also so scary because you don't know what lies beneath that churning water. When I was young that jump would have been made without a second thought. Woooosh. Straight into the cold and refreshing water. I would look back up at that cliff, climb out, run up and do it again all day. Now though...I have so much more to lose. Or is it just perceived loss? Who knows. Either way I am scared of what this job search may bring.

In the past jobs have fallen into my lap. I moved up quickly and into better paying positions without a problem. Now for the first time I am having to really look for a job. I am not sure exactly what I want to do, I just know that it will no longer be retail. I think I am afraid of failure. I have always done well at what ever I have worked at so I am not sure why this is so different. It may be because I want to change fields and I am not sure what skills I have and where they would be applicable. It could be the fact that my job and career affects more than just myself. I just know that I am afraid. I need to make the jump though. I don't have my heart into my job and I am rather unhappy with how the company I work for has been shaping up over the last two years. It isn't where I want to be anymore. For my own happiness I have to get over this fear and move onto something new. I need to see if that water is as inviting as it is scary. It is time for me to face the fear that has been haunting me for over two years now. It is time to take a leap and see where I land. Wish me luck ;)

It's over

2007-01-04T10:06:00.000-08:00

So another holiday season has come and gone. What a wild ride this one has been. I have to say though, even with work being the most chaotic season I have been through yet, this Christmas was great. For the first time in several years I was able to have a blast shopping and finding little things that were perfect for the people I care about. Not all of those gifts have been sent yet but for me it isn't about the time of year. It is about the thought behind it.

My wife and I were both absolutely crazy this holiday. Her work had her tied down due to the project she is working on coming to a close this month and well, I work retail. That should say it all. Even with all that pressure we got our tree up (a real one, I love the smell) and lights up. We had the radio playing Christmas tunes most of the time and she even got in her baking. It just felt like that special time of year that I used to love so much. The last few years we have hardly had time to enjoy the season. This year we made time.

Neither of us are seriously religious and although I grew up Christian I wouldn't call myself one now. I would say I am a spiritual person but the more I have learned about other religions and schools of thought I have found it harder to believe any one set of ideas is totally right. That being said I still love this time of year. There are some thoughts, ideas, and beliefs that just ring true to me during this celebration. The feeling I get when I see a smile on my friends face when he opens the FLCL shirt I got him or the smile when my wife gets all her music playing on her new MP3 player, or the Amano book I got for another friend makes this season so wonderful. Knowing your friends and sharing what you love with them is great. Even while I was working, the chaos and greed I saw was split apart by that parent who was so happy to get the perfect gift or the child who said they would wait patiently when we didn't have a game in stock. It made my day. It over ruled so much of the negative side of the holiday greed we see at times. All that kindness and sharing and friendship is the true spirit of this holiday and this year I was able to share in it so much more than I have been able to for a while.

Retail has had it's toll on my holiday spirit. This year I fought back in one of the more trying years I have worked in it and I am glad I did. It showed me that the effort is well worth the rewards and that nothing is stronger than our own spirit. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and thanks for being a part of mine. Sharing it with you makes it all worth it.

A day in the Chaos

2006-12-21T20:37:00.000-08:00

So, another wonderful day has passed in retail during the holidays. Let me say, OH MY FUCKING GOD!!!

Today was just crazy. I got in around 1pm this afternoon and didn't stop until 9:40. I had enough time to get a drink and a candy bar about half way through the day and that was it. My assistant mngr. was about to kill one of the newbs and also was still getting over her cold. I sent her home an hour early because by the time 4:00 rolled around she could hardly talk. That woman is amazing. I don't know how she does it half the time. I sure as hell don't know how I would do it without her. She could have had a store five times over. Unfortunately she is smart. She knows better than to make such a silly mistake as moving up in the wonderful world of retail. Every extra level comes with a larger boat load of crap you have to deal with.

So where she has passed the trials of hell and fire, the newb got burnt to a holy crisp. He will be on his way as soon as his warm body is no longer needed. C'est la vie. That is why I love the holiday season. You find out who can make it and who can't rather quickly. Is that cruel of me? Just curious.

Now with all the chaos came many moments that make me smile. The one reason I do enjoy retail is that I love helping people. Now I know that I could be doing that in many different fields and in probably more substantial ways but for now this will have to do. I absolutely love it when people are so glad to have a friendly knowledgeable person helping them out. One that isn't pushy but just enjoys what they do and likes to help a person. That is me. That is why I like this job from time to time. This holiday has had a large number of people come in who really enjoy shopping with us for just that reason. We as a staff have gotten a tone of "I love shopping in your store," "you all are so helpful," and "Thank you so much." That kind of feedback makes my day. We have a group of people and a store that isn't pushy, gives honest opinions and genuinely cares about making the customer happy. Can someone please tell Corp. America that this kind of business DOES WORK!!!!!! This is what running a business should be about. Not about the bottom line. I imagine those who run a business for love of what they are doing know that. My parents did when they had their restaurant and so many were sad when they closed after 10 years of service. That is why I have stayed in this job for as long as I have. I really do enjoy this job at times.

In this industry the higher ups have slowly sapped that idea from this job making it something that a trained monkey could do and in the end I am sure that is the kind of person they want in their stores. Nothing like a yes man answering your questions. "Is this a good game?" "Oh absolutely. Your 10yr old will love Grand Theft Auto." Nothing is sweeter to my ears than the mother thanking me for telling her what was in a game when the child was trying to pull the wool over her eyes. Is that mean of me as well? Just wondering ;)

So to top off all the wonderful comments today my Ast. Mngr. and I both got a gift from a loyal customer. He is an MD who has been coming to us for ages. He and his children love games and we have always tried to be straight with him on what is good and what sucks and over the last couple of years we have gotten to know him rather well. He is one of those genuine people who really is kind hearted. The kind of person who became a doctor so he could help people out. Well, we helped him make sure he got a Christmas present he was hunting for, and for that he was kind and gave us a nice little gift today. Neither of us did it expecting anything in return. We just knew it would put a smile on his face and on his kids. For that he put a smile on ours by showing that caring really is repaid in kind. Those comments from customers and that kind of holiday spirit is what really helps me through the long days during this time of year. I couldn't do it without the people I have around me in the store and if you all ever find this silly page of mine I want you to know I love you guys, you rock, and happy holidays to the best crew I could ever wish for.

Where to now?

2006-12-20T20:47:00.000-08:00

So, I just turned 30 this past week. It doesn't change anything in my perception of life but I was reading a few of my friends blogs this evening and started thinking about where I am headed. I am a retail manager for a company that drives me nuts. The only thing that has kept me where I am for this long has been the great people I have around me. I love the people who work for me. What I don't love is that I am their boss. It puts a wall up that I despise. The people I work with are some of the best people I know and although I try and tell them just that, there is always this separation between myself and them. I am not sure if it is something I project, just basic differences between myself and them or just a fact of being their boss. Who knows.

Anyway, I just thought it would be interesting to start putting a few thoughts down some place. Maybe the writing of multiple papers for school the past few semesters has touched on a nerve. It should be interesting to see what happens when I am writing because I want to. I will apologize ahead of time for the stream of consciousness writing that I am prone to do.

So back to direction....I have none. I don't know what I want to do when I grow up. LOL I am a manager for a Gamestop after all. I am a big kid who has to act like an adult. I am such a goofball and I can't show it half the time. Ok, off on another tangent. I told you this was gonna go all over the place. You were warned. What would the world be like if we all showed our true colors all the time? We never do. We go around always showing bits of who we are and hiding the rest. We may find good friends that we can entrust with more of our true selves but how often do we show all of who we are to anyone? We all long to find that person we can do just that with but live our lives in fear of how that person will react once we do. I am so much more secure than I once was and yet at time it still frightens me. Maybe that is why I am doing this now. To open up in a world that constantly forces us to close down. Take my job for instance. I constantly have to keep myself in check. My language has to be appropriate for the person I am talking to. I have to make sure that I don't overstep my bounds with my staff or customers. I have to double check everything I say to my boss to make sure I don't leave a bad impression. It can be a frustrating task at times to constantly monitor how you react and portray yourself to those around you.

My wife is one of the few people I can truly be myself around. It was the most wonderful time of my life opening up to her and with every little thing I revealed finding out that she accepted it and in most cases echoed it. I never thought that I would find someone like that in all my life. That being said there are still times I don't say something or share a thought, but in the long run I know I can share anything with her and all will work out fine. There is no thought so refreshing as finding someone who knows you and you can truly be yourself around.

That being said I also find differing views and understandings to be just as interesting. I love learning how others perceive the world. Seeing differing views on topics is so enthralling. That is most likely why I have enjoyed going back to school so greatly. I also think it is why I have always enjoyed games and movies. They are mediums in which a person can create a world for everyone to experience. It is such a rush exploring those worlds. Games and movies are controlled environments though. People are even more interesting for the fact that they are constantly changing and dynamic. The one thing that retail has given me is a much larger view of people and their personalities. Some I have enjoyed glimpsing into and others have just scared the ever loving hell out of me. Either way it has been an interesting ride.

Well I think that is it for now. Time to turn in for the evening. I have another fun day of holiday shoppers to deal with. Maybe next time I will finally get into where I am going.