Cashier-In-Training

I absolutely HATE the training process for a new job.

This was brought home to me again a couple of weeks ago as I waited in line at my local Winco, and again a day or two later at Walmart, and observed a new cashier in one of her first days of training. I felt so sorry for both of these ladies, I remember how hard it is to train for a new job.

It's hard enough to start a new job anyway, because there's usually so much to learn. But once you've received a minimal amount of "training," you're expected to perform while being watched like a hawk by your trainer. And in the case of retail, not only are you watched by the trainer, but by every person who comes through your line. And of course you're going to be slower than you will be someday when you're fully trained and have been working for a while. And human nature being what it is, there are going to be some impatient, in-a-hurry people who want to buy their goods and beat it to their next destination.

My first real job was as a Reports Clerk and Secretary at National Auto Parts. I was only 18, fresh out of business school and ready to take the world by storm. The lady who was quitting and whose job I was taking over was older--in fact her daughter went to the same high school I had graduated from, although a couple years behind me. My job entailed being secretary to the General Manager, Sales Manager, and Office Manager, as well as compiling reports at the end of the month (and after all these years I can't even remember what this was all about anymore). As I sat at the typewriter (dark ages--before computers) and typed up the letters from the dictaphone or compiled and typed up the reports, the lady sat beside me, watching every move, correcting me every time I did something wrong. If I remember right, she stayed at my elbow for about two weeks before leaving, and turning me out on my own. I'm sure she thought I'd blow it all and be fired. But you know what?? Once she was no longer at my elbow, I was able to do the job well enough that after a few months I was looking for more work. I also learned and helped with the payroll and some accounting procedures, and sometimes went to the Purchasing room and helped post orders on the inventory cards. Co-workers told me that I was MUCH faster than "Blanche."

Fast-forward about 10 years to my next "major" job, with Hughes Airwest. I took an Airline training course, then went to work for the same school. To make a long story short, I ended up working for this airline in Seattle, thanks to my contact through the school. There was a good deal of training involved at this job--first to learn the computer system that processed airline reservations, then the protocol for taking customer calls and making reservations. Part of the process involved listening to another agent as he/she handled each call. Then he/she listened to ME do the same thing, offering comments at the completion of the call if need be. This process lasted several weeks before I was turned loose on my own. Without someone listening to my every word (besides the caller, that is), I did MUCH better.

Recently, I had the opportunity to undergo some more "on the job training." My husband's boss asked me if I'd like to make a little extra money, as he needed extra help and was hiring. One of my new responsibilites, the only one I've been trained for thus far, involves entering real estate properties onto the web site. A job I can do at home, even though now all my kids are grown that's not so important anymore. After one hour of training by a lady who didn't hover, or at least give the appearance of hovering, I was turned loose with the CD of information I needed to enter to the web site. This was probably the easiest training session I had ever gone through. Either she was a good trainer, the job was so easy it didn't take much training, or finally--after all these years--I've learned to overcome my hangups with on the job training. I suspect it's all of the above. The job IS simple; the lady probably knew after a few minutes that we had enough computer skills that she didn't need to worry; and after all of these years, I know I can handle most any job (short of brain surgery) so no worries there! And I'm now older than anyone who's going to be training me, so no need to feel intimidated.

As a final comment, if you are in a line at the store and realize YOUR cashier is being trained, please be patient! Unless you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth, you have either already undergone--or will some day undergo--the training process.

You may have been--or may become--a CASHIER-IN-TRAINING!