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Message
How can I escape retail management as a career?
Posted on 8/29/19 at 11:44 am
Posted on 8/29/19 at 11:44 am
I worked retail all through college to help pay bills, eventually working up to a full time position with much needed benefits and income for my wife and I. After we graduated, she found a good job in our area that has put her on a professional track the last 10 years or so. This is a small town with few options to use my degree (English), so it was easy to continue working up the ladder where I was at. One management position led to another and while it wasn't ideal, it was bearable to support our lifestyle and build a financial foundation for us.
I'm just past 30 now, and I have to escape this hellhole. We had a baby last summer and the erratic scheduling, complete lack of weekends off, etc are destroying my ability to spend time with my wife and child, not to mention putting additional strain on my wife who has to parent the baby alone all day on the weekends and from 4pm-bedtime on nights that I close.
Our area is primarily healthcare driven (4 major hospitals) and contains a state university and a large chemical company. I've been applying for every entry level job in logistics and operations that I can find (entry level pay would be roughly what I'm currently making which isn't an issue), but I worry that everyone sees "Assistant Manager" on my resume and throws it in the trash. No interviews in about 8 weeks of applications.
I'm trying to highlight my experience in hiring, training, scheduling, sales forecasting, and loss prevention. At this point I really don't give a shite what I'm doing, so long as it's Monday-Friday with reasonable hours. Is there a secret? Does anyone know of a career track that my experience might feed into? My dream job would be technical writing in the industrial sector (applied for 2 positions - no interview) but I'm not sure how many opportunities I would have in this area.
I'm just past 30 now, and I have to escape this hellhole. We had a baby last summer and the erratic scheduling, complete lack of weekends off, etc are destroying my ability to spend time with my wife and child, not to mention putting additional strain on my wife who has to parent the baby alone all day on the weekends and from 4pm-bedtime on nights that I close.
Our area is primarily healthcare driven (4 major hospitals) and contains a state university and a large chemical company. I've been applying for every entry level job in logistics and operations that I can find (entry level pay would be roughly what I'm currently making which isn't an issue), but I worry that everyone sees "Assistant Manager" on my resume and throws it in the trash. No interviews in about 8 weeks of applications.
I'm trying to highlight my experience in hiring, training, scheduling, sales forecasting, and loss prevention. At this point I really don't give a shite what I'm doing, so long as it's Monday-Friday with reasonable hours. Is there a secret? Does anyone know of a career track that my experience might feed into? My dream job would be technical writing in the industrial sector (applied for 2 positions - no interview) but I'm not sure how many opportunities I would have in this area.
20
Posted on 8/29/19 at 11:47 am to Muthsera
quote:FIFY
Assistant to the Manager
Sorry....
Posted on 8/29/19 at 11:47 am to Muthsera
You could always get on with a distributor as a sales rep. I’m sure you know plenty of distributors and their managers.
Posted on 8/29/19 at 11:55 am to Muthsera
Would you consider teaching?
Good hours, lots of holidays, good benefits and if you've got the skills, it can be highly satisfying.
Good hours, lots of holidays, good benefits and if you've got the skills, it can be highly satisfying.
Posted on 8/29/19 at 12:02 pm to Muthsera
If y'all don't have oilfield, you should move to a place with oilfield
Posted on 8/29/19 at 12:04 pm to Muthsera
quote:
much needed benefits and income for my wife and I.
I would start by learning when to use “me” and when to use “I”.
quote:
with few options to use my degree (English),
Well this is embarrassing.
Posted on 8/29/19 at 12:08 pm to Muthsera
Network, network, network.
Posted on 8/29/19 at 12:15 pm to Muthsera
apply with the vendors that your retail location does business with
Posted on 8/29/19 at 12:30 pm to MikeBRLA
Assuming OP treats message boards as casual speech and does know how to appropriately use me/I, he might well consider teaching. LA has several paths to alternative certification, depending on whether you want to earn a master’s degree along the way or just want certification. So look up teacher cert at the nearest college/university. Teaching has family friendly hours, but it’s not a walk in the park or appropriate for everyone. (Empathy& communication skills are required, and lots of unpaid extra hours)
You’ve got to get out of the retail ghetto and start making connections with people who can help you. Join Rotary, Lions Club, or whatever service organization in your community attracts the most professional people. See if you can find a local Toast asters chapter. Get involved with these orgs, demonstrate to the members that your retail mgmt expertise translates into working well with others. They’re gonna be the connections to your next job, since you seem to want to remain in the same location.
You’ve got to get out of the retail ghetto and start making connections with people who can help you. Join Rotary, Lions Club, or whatever service organization in your community attracts the most professional people. See if you can find a local Toast asters chapter. Get involved with these orgs, demonstrate to the members that your retail mgmt expertise translates into working well with others. They’re gonna be the connections to your next job, since you seem to want to remain in the same location.
Posted on 8/29/19 at 12:32 pm to Muthsera
English degree?
Do technical writing work for a large corporation
Start your own writing firm (companies will oh you to write and proof for them)
Go to law school
Teach
Work for a publishing company
Start an online editing / review company
Do technical writing work for a large corporation
Start your own writing firm (companies will oh you to write and proof for them)
Go to law school
Teach
Work for a publishing company
Start an online editing / review company
Posted on 8/29/19 at 12:55 pm to Muthsera
quote:
few options to use my degree (English),
What were you thinking would be options to use a degree in english? Small town or large city, nobody wants an English major
Posted on 8/29/19 at 12:59 pm to Muthsera
quote:
I worked retail all through college to help pay bills, eventually working up to a full time position with much needed benefits and incom
quote:
We had a baby last summer and the erratic scheduling, complete lack of weekends off, etc are destroying my ability to spend time with my wife and child, not to mention putting additional strain on my wife who has to parent the baby alone all day on the weekends and from 4pm-bedtime on nights that I close.
Damn. This sounds eerily similar to my wife.
And just FYI, when we had our first child, she left large, corporate retail to work for a local boutique.
Her pay was cut almost in half, but working a set schedule (the store closed at 5 pm) was definitely worth it.
Posted on 8/29/19 at 1:00 pm to Muthsera
quote:
Our area is primarily healthcare driven (4 major hospitals) and contains a state university and a large chemical company. I've been applying for every entry level job in logistics and operations that I can find (entry level pay would be roughly what I'm currently making which isn't an issue), but I worry that everyone sees "Assistant Manager" on my resume and throws it in the trash. No interviews in about 8 weeks of applications.
I would consider looking for programs with your university to expand your opportunities. May hospital management or something similar? The process of obtaining a new advanced degree would give you contacts in the desired field and open up new doors for you. It sucks, but an English degree is not very marketable.
Posted on 8/29/19 at 2:06 pm to Muthsera
Does your company have a central organization? Maybe try pivoting into a more central/support position if it is the hours/stress that is driving you crazy. There are worst jobs out there than retail 
just remember its never as bad as it seems
just remember its never as bad as it seemsPosted on 8/29/19 at 2:06 pm to Muthsera
What do you do with an English degree, other than teach, or work jobs that don't require a specific degree (or a degree at all)?
If you don't want to teach, you need to either go back to school, or find a job in which you won't use your degree.
That's surprising in this economy, unless your particular city isn't doing too well in today's economy.
Is a move an option?
If you are 30 and have been in retail since college, how close are you to a regional / unit director type position, something that is more 9-5ish?
If you don't want to teach, you need to either go back to school, or find a job in which you won't use your degree.
quote:
but I worry that everyone sees "Assistant Manager" on my resume and throws it in the trash. No interviews in about 8 weeks of applications.
That's surprising in this economy, unless your particular city isn't doing too well in today's economy.
Is a move an option?
If you are 30 and have been in retail since college, how close are you to a regional / unit director type position, something that is more 9-5ish?
Posted on 8/29/19 at 2:10 pm to Upperdecker
quote:
What were you thinking would be options to use a degree in english? Small town or large city, nobody wants an English major
bullshite
once you reach a certain level of experience all non-professional degrees are equal. i have a history degree, i went into hotel management, then project management, now i own a construction company
Posted on 8/29/19 at 2:58 pm to cgrand
I would consider some things that might bridge you out of retail like Hotel Management, Cell Phone Sales, Enterprise Rent A Car. Many of these companies have good benefits and are viewed well when moving into other jobs. I’d look into entry level field sales type positions like Pharma Sales or small devices sales. Many pharma companies are hiring young entry level people right now. Just google top 20 pharma companies and start applying. Also look for small device and hospital sales. The same thing applies and with healthcare all around you its likely the most stable type of position you can find without moving. Also, many hospitals have PR type departments. I would go in person and ask to set up an appointment with the PR and or Marketing Directors. Maybe produce some examples of creative or technical writing you’ve done in the past. Those are just my thoughts but I would anchor it to something related to healthcare and hospitals unless you want to move.
Posted on 8/29/19 at 3:00 pm to Muthsera
Going to graduate school would be a good pivot.
This post was edited on 8/29/19 at 3:01 pm
Posted on 8/29/19 at 3:22 pm to Muthsera
Do the hospitals use epic or some other tech EHR? You can try and work on the hospital software
Posted on 8/29/19 at 4:01 pm to Muthsera
If you're willing to go into a field that has nothing to do with your degree, look at taking at least a class or two in it. Even with "Assistant Manager" on your resume they'll key in on the fact you are actively taking classes in the field you applied for. It may not put you at the top of the list but it can improve your chances of getting at least an interview.
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