- Eliane Boucher is a 43-year-old mother of two children living in Cranston, Rhode Island.
- She got a part -time, seasonal retail job after becoming redundant from her distant high position.
- She said she was refreshing to see co -workers in person.
This strong essay — to based on a conversation with Elian Boucher. Hasten edited for length and clarity.
After buying my company, I was fired by my high role of director. I had seen most of my team already influenced by work, so I could see my holidays coming. It was difficult to find out when it became official, but at least I had time to prepare for what was another.
Since my work would get out of start in August 2024, I started looking for other jobs Similar to what I would have. When I saw that they were not very advertised, I expanded my search for the types of job responsibilities I liked, even if they were in different industries. The problem is that there is not much work now to apply in my warm area – especially as the technology industry is so hit.
I needed a job to provide my family
As a single parent For two children, the financial impact of not having a job was approaching from the moment I discovered my job was being removed. I set aside some money, but confronting a long time to avoid income and leaving my savings was scary.
I know Only unemployment would not ensure enough to survive a single -income family.
But it was not just the money I was thinking about. In fact, I was more concerned about the impact of mental health of sitting at home every day, all day, looking for work and Waiting for people to respond to my applications. Demoralizing and a depression recipe. I do better when I am planned too much-up to my ADHD.
In October 2024, I had an email from an outdoor retail store, which I have done, respect and I want to ask people to apply for part -time, seasonal work during the holidays.
I have found through research that in Rhode Island, I could earn a certain percentage of money from a part -time job and still collect unemployment. It would be a way to increase my income without sacrificing unemployment payments.
Since getting the shifts as I continue to seek another full -time job, I have wanted to see co -workers in person and dress up to leave the house.
I like to help people
One thing I know about myself is that I need meaning and purpose in my work. If I get out of bed and spend hours working, I want to feel that what I’m doing is worth it.
When working on digital health, the goal was found on macro level things, where I was focused on the greatest food and micro -level things where I helped my colleagues push projects together.
In the retail environment, meaning and purpose can also be found. Like to help a client get what they need – maybe someone who has lost a lot of weight and doesn’t know what size they are either a woman whose husband is just diagnosed with cancer and needs a pair of shoes of cloud. These seem like small problems to help people fix, but I can help relieve their stress and feel that I’m doing something good. This feeling makes me excited to go back the next day – to see who I would meet and what problems I could solve.
I have learned important skills
I have also learned that retail people should be too fast to identify the client type and what level of help they need and then actually help them.
In my previous role, I was treated with customers and supported sales teams. I had to think about who the stakeholders were and how to create a message and change things for them. The same thing is retail, but in the hyperdrive.
You will have many clients in a single day. They all have personalities, needs and points of different prices. You have to work quickly with each, adjusting your communication style and flight tactics. Is a really strong group of skills. We probably value it as a lower level work type, less desirable in general, but the skills you get for sale and managing people are great.
I will probably still work shifts after finding a full -time job
I’m not trying to fascinate retail work – I know there are many weaknesses for it. It can be very hard work, it is often paid, and you can get hard customers.
Although I worked on a retail when I was much younger, already appreciated how difficult it can be, my last retail job has made me more charming and empathetic. I can joke with the person who is a grocery shop clerk how difficult it was because I am in their shoes.
Once again I get another full -time job, I hope to continue to get shifts here and there to continue working in the retail environment.