Dhanyavāda Bhagavatī Lakshmī, dhanyavāda. Thank you Goddess Lakshmi, thank you. 
It's the furthest thing from my previous field, which was IT Sys Admin but after 40 years in Data Processing, MIS. IS, IT as it's been called through the years, I'm tired of it, and not prepared mentally or financially to fully retire. After losing my job due to covid last year, and almost 16 months of unemployment, I'm doing something else.
I worked in Macy*s about 20 years ago as a part time sales associate. It was a second job. To be honest, I hated it then. We were treated like crap by customers and managers. The store had conflicting policies that let customers get away with murder regarding sales, returns, coupons, discounts, rewards, etc. When we gave in to customer demands, we were chastised by the managers for breaking the rules. When we adhered to the rules and the customers complained that we were uncooperative, the managers threw us under the bus. It was horrible.
So what's different now? Everything. The economic climate, the Us v. It (It being covid), people struggling day to day. I think people see now there's more serious things in life than screaming to use an expired coupon. The store has relaxed their dress code. Business casual is the norm. Before I went I asked what the dress code is, told it's business casual, no tie necessary. So I went for my interview in an open collar dress shirt, dress slacks, no tie or jacket. The hiring manager looked at me and said "that's perfect". I hate wearing a tie anyway. I get to wear all my dress shirts and dress slacks. We had a good interview, mostly talking about the people we knew back in the day, and "old times". My experience was of least concern... she was probably more interested in my personality. Paraphrasing Bob Seger "I was turning on the charm.. long enough to get me hired... I'm still the same... I still aim high". 
The hourly rate is better than other stores are paying. I'm not signing on officially as full time but I can schedule full time hours. I should be getting the offering email in a day or so, I just have to turn it around and start the paperwork. I'm gong to own this. Hey, who knows.. I could work my way to manager. I have management, customer service and retail experience... and maturity (really, I do! ). I'm pretty excited, really. Especially about doing something new.
It's the furthest thing from my previous field, which was IT Sys Admin but after 40 years in Data Processing, MIS. IS, IT as it's been called through the years, I'm tired of it, and not prepared mentally or financially to fully retire. After losing my job due to covid last year, and almost 16 months of unemployment, I'm doing something else.
I worked in Macy*s about 20 years ago as a part time sales associate. It was a second job. To be honest, I hated it then. We were treated like crap by customers and managers. The store had conflicting policies that let customers get away with murder regarding sales, returns, coupons, discounts, rewards, etc. When we gave in to customer demands, we were chastised by the managers for breaking the rules. When we adhered to the rules and the customers complained that we were uncooperative, the managers threw us under the bus. It was horrible.
So what's different now? Everything. The economic climate, the Us v. It (It being covid), people struggling day to day. I think people see now there's more serious things in life than screaming to use an expired coupon. The store has relaxed their dress code. Business casual is the norm. Before I went I asked what the dress code is, told it's business casual, no tie necessary. So I went for my interview in an open collar dress shirt, dress slacks, no tie or jacket. The hiring manager looked at me and said "that's perfect". I hate wearing a tie anyway.
I get to wear all my dress shirts and dress slacks. We had a good interview, mostly talking about the people we knew back in the day, and "old times". My experience was of least concern... she was probably more interested in my personality. Paraphrasing Bob Seger "I was turning on the charm.. long enough to get me hired... I'm still the same... I still aim high". The hourly rate is better than other stores are paying. I'm not signing on officially as full time but I can schedule full time hours. I should be getting the offering email in a day or so, I just have to turn it around and start the paperwork. I'm gong to own this. Hey, who knows.. I could work my way to manager. I have management, customer service and retail experience... and maturity (really, I do!
). I'm pretty excited, really. Especially about doing something new.
