Working at Eddie Bauer: The Beginning and End of it.

I still remember the day I walked into the Yorkdale branch of Eddie Bauer to drop my resume. The person who took it is now a manager. But word usually is that sales associates tend to not give you the time of the day for a possibility of an interview with the manager. So that in itself was rather surprising. I also remember how I took the initiative to drop my resume at 20 other stores including Tommy Hilfiger,Roots Canada,Armani Exchange and more. Few of them took informational interviews but it never really mounted to anything substantial. But once the associate at Eddie Bauer gave me the chance to sit for an interview with one of the co-managers,I certainly felt hopeful. I sat through the interview with the co-manager and I was starting to lose hope.Primarily because retail wasn't ever a place I truly wanted to delve into. But I wanted to take chance and prove myself that it can be done. But the co-manager was convinced enough to link me to the interview with the head-manager. 

Two weeks later,I sat through the interview with the head-manager and I really felt positive that I might be landing my first ever retail job. Fortunately I was right and given an offer to join them the following week for training. As time passed,I slowly started to delve into this world that I so feared. It worked so well. We are usually given person dollar amount goal per hour and take it from there. If you are meeting your goals and exceeding on it, then you will be accordingly given more hours. It was a tough balance with full time studies and extra-curricular activities but I did it. I even chose to stay back in Canada for the Winter break,just so that I could earn some money to pay for my rent,conferences that I am currently scheduled to attend etc. It was a hard time to settle especially to a 40 hour schedule during the busiest time of the year but for some reason I enjoyed it. 

But somewhere inside me felt burnt out with the whole aspect of being at a retail position. It's a competitive place that really requires you to keep up on things. I'll be honest,I started reflecting on my life and realized it was not my calling. Sure I could make some great sales. I have had days where I really exceeded on my sales goal and got recognized accordingly. I know how to talk to someone and try to get the key information that would aid me in finding them as to what they are looking for. But for some reason,I want to help people without an agenda of some sort. I want to help them just because I want to and I can. 

I recently got some key positions that I am looking forward to making the most out of. But for now I have decided to resign from Eddie Bauer. I didn't terminate on a sour not. Not that. I was extremely blessed to have a rather amiable end to this journey. It was overwhelming to say goodbye to this place where I learned so much and helped me be a better person. But all good things come to an end and I hope to always be in touch with some of the associates and managers because they made it special for me at the end. 

I don't know how the future will play out but I am ready to focus on this semester and really do well! I am hopeful if anything for the new chapter of my life!