A long time ago I got a part time job selling mobile phones while I was at College. (The educational level between School and University)
When I left college I started working there full time, three years later I took over as the manager of the store.
It’s been seven years, six months and three days since I took over the store and as of right now I have one more day to work there.
About two weeks ago I was on holiday and I got a phone call asking if I’d cover in the stock control department at head office due to low staff levels. My experience with the company’s systems apparently made me qualified but the truth is I had no idea how to actually do the job. I understood what they’re meant to achieve, I’ve spent ten years telling them what my store needs, but I’ve never had to actually done their job.
Then it turns out that while I’m covering the department I’m in charge. The director who oversees things is on holiday and so is the department supervisor. All the other staff in the department have been sacked or quit.
Except there is now one staff member, I get a brand new person dumped into my lap on my first day and told I need to train him for the job. Train him? I don’t even know what I’m doing.
From here things start to go right.
It turns out the new guy was a damn good worker. Between us we get things figured out and get loads of work done. Another week in there and we’d have caught up and had things running beautifully.
Toward the end of the week I get called into the Managing Director’s office and he suggests I should apply for a new job role he’s just created. Supervising the entire stock operation of the company. Something one of the directors used to do, but hasn’t really done well due to other duties.
I applied, I got interviewed and today I got call to let me know I’ve got the job. There are nearly one hundred branch managers in the company so to be chosen by the big boss to take over everything stock related is one hell of a compliment.
So that’s it. One more day in the shop, a weekend off and I’m no longer in retail. No more irrational customers. No more breaking the bad news when someone breaks their phone and thinks that’s a warranty issue. No more sales targets.
I’m an office monkey. I’m a department manager. It’s going to take some getting used to after being a retailer my entire adult life.
I don’t even have an official job title yet but I’m very excited.
