Retail store employee, question about job

[matt3D]

Hi, I am a college student and retail store employee at a clothing store in a mall. This is my first real job and so far it's been going well. My question is, is it necessary for me to try and get to know my fellow coworkers more on a personal level? Or even just a little? I feel that if I can become friends with some of my coworkers, I will have a more enjoyable time at work. I usually talk to my coworkers when I can and try to make a little conversation if we are close by and doing similar work. I've got a few numbers and talk to some of them once in a while but I don't feel like I'm their friend. This job will only be temporary for another year or so. After, I will look for an internship under my major which is computer engineering.

Thanks,
Matt

 

[SSSnail]

You don't have to be friends with them, just be sociable. But, it's always good to have a friend of sort watching your back. Definitely never be an ass.

 

[rommelrommel]

Retail has high turnover as it is, if they know you're temporary it will be harder to become friends with them.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

ive never worked retail, but id be careful about trying to pick up chicks at work.

 

[darkswordsman17]

Not sure how long you've been working with them, but unless you hang out with them outside of work you're probably not going to become good friends with them as you're just not gonna get to know them all that well just at work.

But be careful about the ones that are working that job as their primary income, especially if they're young. I knew quite a bit of them, and they didn't really understand that college was an extra level of work as well, and so when their shifts were done they'd be in party mode like at least 3-4 days a week. Which that's fun too but probably not feasible every week in engineering/comp sci unless you've got your shit together.

You might be better off trying to socialize within your degree/department.

 

[mikegg]

I have a friend who pretty much sleeps with all her coworkers.

My advice: talk to the girls.

 

[OCGuy]

ive never worked retail, but id be careful about trying to pick up chicks at work.

If someone is so socially awkward that they have to ask an internet forum of they should build friendly relationships with co-workers, I doubt they are the type with the confidence to "pick up chicks" at work.

 

[bigrash]

I think you're doing the right thing by talking to them, but there's no need to force a friendship unless you have stuff in common.

I used to work at a large department store in college. 15 years later, one of my closest friend is someone that I met there. Funny thing is he also met his wife working there.

 

[matt3D]

Not sure how long you've been working with them, but unless you hang out with them outside of work you're probably not going to become good friends with them as you're just not gonna get to know them all that well just at work.

But be careful about the ones that are working that job as their primary income, especially if they're young. I knew quite a bit of them, and they didn't really understand that college was an extra level of work as well, and so when their shifts were done they'd be in party mode like at least 3-4 days a week. Which that's fun too but probably not feasible every week in engineering/comp sci unless you've got your shit together.

You might be better off trying to socialize within your degree/department.

I agree 100% At my work I would say that 3/4 of the employees are going to college.

I have a friend who pretty much sleeps with all her coworkers.

My advice: talk to the girls.

Haha, yea I am, I'm talking to a few girls right now.

If someone is so socially awkward that they have to ask an internet forum of they should build friendly relationships with co-workers, I doubt they are the type with the confidence to "pick up chicks" at work.

The more I think about it, the more I realize that it is indeed wise to be friends with coworkers that have the same interests as I do. I didn't mean to ask how to be a friend with someone or pick up a girl, I can do that already lol. I just wanted to hear what people would say, I like hearing peoples' opinions.

 

[OverVolt]

You are 100% correct in that being friends AT WORK makes the shift go better, but it is usually a little weird to hang out with work friends.

And then they invented bars.

 

[matt3D]

Hey, just a little update guys. I have been together with my girlfriend for a little over a month now and she is a coworker at my job... Thanks for all the advice!

 

[Destiny]

Hey, just a little update guys. I have been together with my girlfriend for a little over a month now and she is a coworker at my job... Thanks for all the advice!

Congratulations!

Sociable with workers (girls) at work = profit

If you don't end up dating a girl co-worker, she will at least introduce you to her friends (or see them when they visit her at work in the mall).

 

[Wyndru]

ive never worked retail, but id be careful about trying to pick up chicks at work.

Hey, just a little update guys. I have been together with my girlfriend for a little over a month now and she is a coworker at my job... Thanks for all the advice!

Haha, nice!

I actually met my wife at a retail job when we were in high school :awe:

 

[mmntech]

It's critical to be sociable and on good terms with your co-workers. Actually liking the people you work with can make retail hell a lot more survivable. Hating them makes it considerably worse.

 

[Sonikku]

Make friends, spread deceit, play company politics and form political alliances. You'll thank me when you have back up after other people screw up and attempt to shift fault to you or your friends.

 

[Paladin3]

My wife and I worked together in our teens and it created several problems for us. I left the company and she was eventually promoted through management, working for many years with hundreds of young adult employees who dated and caused all kinds of drama.

Sexual harassment is a huge concern for companies, especially in California where we were. Companies will fire someone in a bird's heartbeat rather than ignore a sexual harassment complaint.

Young immature girls would come crying into my wife's office because they broke up with their coworker boyfriend, sometimes using phrases like "sexual harassment" or "hostile workplace environment" to get the ex in trouble. At the very least she would have to separate the two employees, often reprimanding and counseling one or both. In the worst cases someone got fired.

You'll also have problems if one of you gets promoted over the other, so bone up on your company policy on employee dating.

As long as both of you are mature and keep the relationship out of the workplace you should be okay. If you do start screwing every girl in the department just make sure you don't piss any of them off.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

Hey, just a little update guys. I have been together with my girlfriend for a little over a month now and she is a coworker at my job... Thanks for all the advice!

way to ball 'er. good thang you didnt listen to me...