Those of us who've done time at a retail store know there's more to keeping it running smoothly than stocking products and jockeying a register. It's a fine mix of customer service and business savvy.
If you've got the drive and know-how, but feel like it's a long ways from working the retail floor to sitting in that cushy office chair, don't despair.
It's not impossible to climb that ladder ' you've just got to know where you're grabbing.
While some of the more menial tasks associated with retail might appear pointless, putting your time in at the bottom doesn't have to be fruitless. Sometimes gaining experience in various departments can help you gain a better understanding of how a business works at a macro-level, says Monique Diotte, career advisor at the University of Windsor's Odette School of Business. It can make you a more effective manager with a more long-term perspective in your approach.
As an entrepreneur and a business student, Sunny Khangura has learned this lesson well. Like my high school teacher Mr. Davis always said, ÔÇÿarm yourself with knowledge and utilize it to the max', he recalls. The more experience you have and knowledge you develop, the more an individual stands out from the next candidate. It's true that some people work their way up from the ground-floor, but sometimes there are other ways to prove yourself.
While attending Humber College of Business, Khangura heard from his classmate Meetul Shah about the Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) program. A program operated by Advancing Canadian Entrepreneurship (ACE), SIFE aims to help students become adept at business through the development of projects that better their communities. At the time, I was working for myself, doing video production and providing DJ services for various private events, says Khangura. His classmate's passion about starting a SIFE group on-campus inspired him. Being an entrepreneur at heart, I spoke with Meetul and offered my services to assist with the start up at no cost.
Success with the help of ACE and SIFE.
As he became more familiar with the program, he assumed more of a hands-on role in the campus group and opportunities arose from there. Through SIFE, Khangura was offered a summer internship at Walmart that carried on as a part-time job while in school, doing special projects for the company. He has now accepted a full- time position as an Assistant Store Manager when he graduates. The ACE Student Success initiative had helped generate an interest from employers in recruiting a SIFE student, he explains. I wouldn't have had the opportunity to meet with employers at that particular time in my education without the program.
Once you've got your foot in the door, it's important to maintain the upward momentum. It can be hard to get noticed, says Diotte. Offering to take on anything that helps the team achieve common goals and making yourself the ÔÇÿgo-to' person definitely helps. When things go wrong at work, opportunities can arise.
Some people are lucky in that they find themselves in a situation that can make them shine, says Laurent Lapierre, an associate professor at the University of Ottawa's Telfer School of Management. A crisis can provide a chance to show commitment to the firm, but it can also be risky, he warns. It can reveal a person's lack of managerial potential.
The importance of networking and communicating.
Another way to advance is to keep communication open. If there's no formal performance feedback provided, ask your boss to help you identify areas for growth, offers Diotte. That way you'll know your boss is paying closer attention to your performance and you'll understand how you can develop to meet your goals.
It might seem obvious to you, but it doesn't hurt to let others know of your ambition. The first step is letting your employer know you're interested in moving up, says Khangura. Once a manager is aware of an associate's development plan, they'll do their part in developing an individual to the level where they can perform that particular job's duties.
Checking your attitude and pre-conceptions at the door is advisable. Avoid assumptions that you won't have a good relationship with your boss, says Lapierre.
Carefully determine what your boss expects from you. Put simply, they will invest more time in helping you progress if they view you as having the talent and commitment to help achieve managerial objectives. It's also important not to burn out on the way to the top. Good friends have pulled me aside from the beginning and, even if it was only half an hour or so, we would hang out at a coffee shop, says Khangura. My family also stresses the importance of home-time. Those are the key ingredients in achieving a balance.
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