Looking at my classmates around me begs the question, how many of them actually work part time. Education and good grades to many of my friends is the utmost important thing in their high school experience. This surpasses even the thought of working a drive thru line at McDonalds. As a part time employee, I have gone beyond the walls of SDSS to learn life skills in the customer service industry. The skills and leadership I have acquired from working at Meridian Farm Market has given me the confidence to become a better person and move up in the company. This could one day help me to reach beyond the tiny farm market, and achieve my goals in University where I hope to study management and business. Customer service is all about putting the customer first, whether that be dealing with complaints or refunds. Making the customer feel like they are welcome and cared for is a big concern for customer service workers. Asking questions like “How is your day going so far?” or “How are you today?” can be very welcoming and improve the customers experience while shopping or whatever customer service they are getting. I have dealt with some difficult customers in the past. I have had a lady throw a loaf of bread at me and some customers storm out of the store because we don't have the product they came looking for. It is very difficult in these sorts of situations to put a smile on your face. The best way I fix the situation is to ask the customer if they would like to order a certain item to the store or if they need a refund then anything under $20 is free of charge. Having that balance of producer and consumer benefits not only the company, but a higher chance of that customer coming back to our store. Three things I have learned working in the customer service industry is that each company can only have two of three things: quality, great customer service, and fair price. Meridian where I work, has only quality and great customer service. Why? Because when customer service is the number one priority it becomes the company's reputation. Quality can drive prices of food up and that is why Meridian lacks in price and thrives in quality. All of these examples of production I would have never even thought to research if I hadn’t gotten my hands dirty and put myself to work. I believe it is a life lesson to work at a young age because the skills and knowledge I have acquired have set me apart from my classmates who have had allowance and money handed to them their whole lives. Don’t get me wrong, it is a privilege to only worry about school. I find that the money is not the main part of working a part time job but the experience that you can take out from it, and apply into the real world. Having a little extra cash to spend while still living rent free in your parents basement is something that can teach a young adult the importance of saving. I have learnt to save and put money away in a separate account to save for whenever I need it in the future. Just by doing that it has taught me another life lesson that i would've never received in the public school system. When looking at the real world there are many internships that people don't get paid for. Having a part time job and working at minimum wage should be taken advantage of especially at a young age because it shows younger people a little sense of what the real world is like. Having a minimum wage job builds confidence and personal development within oneself which can lead them towards further successes in their future. It all starts with an application.
Riley M
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