Retail Management - how to break free?

Wherediditallgowrong?

I'm 27, been with this firm for 4 years, a store manager for 2 of those.

Theres little prospect for advancement beyond the 16k a year I currently earn within the next 10 years at least, partly due to my failure as an academic (dropped out in 3rd year) and my firms dim view of low level employees. The only way it will happen is if the company starts expanding aggressively, sadly that isnt on the cards.

I believe for the work I do the salary is more than fair, I have no say whatsoever in managing our liabilities, our store overheads, staffing and all marketing/new lines are drip fed to us nationally via a regional office. A trained monkey could do what I do, colleagues in a similar position believe that because the stores individually are successful they should see a greater return for their efforts, I don't!

Thats not to say I'm unhappy with getting an easy ride, that was the initial attraction. Things have changed alot though and I'm finally ready to push myself, I want to work in an environment where my efforts are reflected in my own returns aswell as benefiting any potential employer equally.

Job hunting has been totally fruitless, I have no professional credentials beyond retail and no qualifications to fall back on. All my experience has been within rudimentary customer service roles with a little generic office work sprinkled on top, hardly demanding top dollar these days. Theres loads of opportunities to move sideways, sadly the fundamental problems of low level management in big companies exist everywhere . Attempts to move into events management or even hotels/hospitality would require me to go in at an entry level, even though we'd only be talking a 3-4k drop in salary that would be crippling for me and thus not an option. The only Sales job I have been offered has been in a call center, the word from most of the companies I've applied to join has been that I'm too OLD to be considered as a trainee(!).

Going back to school? Honestly haven't thought about it before now but maybe I'll have to, I refuse to go back into a heavy physics degree, would need to start fresh, nobody needs a 35 year old graduate rocket scientist. Infact I know now I can apply as a mature student which should help with funding issues, its a path I'd rather avoid. Leaving Uni at the time I did seems crazy looking back, all my old Uni mates are flying high if facebook is to be believed. Once upon a time I was top of the class with this lot, every time we had a result or grade come back it was always my phone going mental, I was the benchmark for a long time. I guess I thought life would be easy without higher education, I'd love to go back in time and give myself a proper good punch to the face..

Starting something on my own? Back in my student days I used to import all sorts of counterfeit rubbish into this country to sell on eBay (was young and stupid, had no conscience/idea of why it's illegal, I look back at those days with hatred). Beyond that I've never tried anything, it wasn't even hard as the folks I was buying from were just excited to get real British currency (at the time it was worth something!) so would sell to me at any price I asked for. I've never seen an Ad in the yellow pages for a bloke whose good at problem solving and adding numbers together, I don't have any sellable skills.

I've no idea what to do, there must be people out there in a similar position or have been in the past? That is, being stuck in the mire of low level management, of a chain outlet but wanting more.

Is it the case that I should simply be grateful for having any kind of job at all given the way things will be going over the coming years. Think that goes without saying.

podperson

I have been there, used to apply for a lot of jobs where I had the experience and skills for it but they were more interested in qualifications which is extremely frustrating. I am currently doing Open Uni to get my degree since there is no way I could currently afford to stop working to go back to uni. It is quite hard work at times but am finding most of the work enjoyable and if you are on any benefits or a low income it is possible to get help with course funding. Also if you have already completed part of a degree there are options to use that as credit towards getting a full one so you wouldn't have to take as many courses.
What kind of qualifications is it that these companies are looking for, lots of colleges do night classes in business management etc. if that's something that would boost your prospects.
Regarding self-employment it is an option but making able to do it full time and make a decent living from it is extremely hard work, especially in the current climate, and think you would need to have a specific idea or a niche market to focus on.
Perhaps sit down and think properly about where you want to be, whether you want to stay in your current industry but at a higher level, whether you want a change of direction, or whether you would prefer to work for yourself, and then list what you would need to do to make that happen and how feasible the options are.
Good luck with it.

Wherediditallgowrong?

Thanks for the reply podperson.

Where I want to be is the same place 100% of people want to be, I want to earn 25% more money per year. Its all relative but for me that would represent a massive increase in my quality of life, I'd be happy living as I am now and in the same place, with just a bit extra to keep the wolves from the door.

In an ideal world I'd be working in an environment where I had more influence on the £ I earned, be it in commission or bonuses, but beggers-choosers etc.

I think the Open Unieversity could be an option, though theres no guarantee that'll get me anywhere with it where I am now, I guess it would give me a better standing elsewhere? Best option for me would be transferring to an engineering degree of some sort, aerospace/manufacturing would be closest to the work I've done in the past, that would be a massive massive task and theres no question that I would have to study full time.



Beyond working in a situation where I am in control of my own income, I don't have a clue what I'm doing.

Has everybody whose been in a similar situation simply gone out and picked up some qualifications?

scotsbob

Wherediditallgowrong? wrote: »

Has everybody whose been in a similar situation simply gone out and picked up some qualifications?

Yes. I left school at 15 with no qualifications. Worked as a shipyard labourer, bus conductor, shop assistant, office clerk. Then realised I needed qualifications, did my Highers at evening classes and then went to university and got my first degree.

However I had a specific profession in mind and a degree was the only way in. Just going to a university and doing a random degree just for the sake of having a degree may not always work.

If you are managing a retail store then maybe some of the larger companies, with career structures, might interested in you.

Maybe you can take your skills of organistion, ability to motivate staff, administration, stock control, dealing with the public etc etc to an agency and see what they can offer. If you have management or supervisory skills then they are transferable to areas other than retail.

Good luck.

Skillz2

What kind of retailer do you work for? I ask as earnings can differ vastly from one retailer to another depending on the sector. For example, in mobile phone retail, store managers can earn anything up to 50K from managing a store team of about ten. Also high street retail can provide avenue into retail banking pretty much all of the major high street banks consider people managers from other retailers as they provide full training. I might be that need to move company whilst I accept that is difficult in current climate it is not impossible.

woohoo_postingid

I worked for the Dixons Group for around 5 years as a retail manager and grew steadily to loathe it. Day after day of rude customers, unrealistic management and 60 hour weeks including weekends, bank holidays etc etc. It got to the stage where I dreaded getting up in the morning as I knew what sort of day I had in front of me.

What did I do ? I took a year out (although still managed to work 16 hours per week), went to uni to do a Masters degree in Computing. Once I finished, I applied for a job which I was offered (albeit on not great money) and now 4 years and a lot of hard work later I've worked my way up to the stage where I now earn pretty decent money, to the extent that I'm actually quite content with my lot at the moment.

Yes, it was a risk quitting my job, but I had the belief in myself that I could do it and looking back, it was one of the best things I've ever done in my life.

gempink

I trained as an nvq assessor in retail/management/customer service, great way to be in retail without being in retail if u see what i mean!
some companies take on trainee assessors and u train whilst being paid a full time wage, which is much higher than your current salary

lalli_pickle

Have you looked at Aldi? They seem to offer high wages for a retail store even the till staff are advertised at £8-9ph which must be almost what you're earning now, assistant managers are £20k+ and you can apply online (I assume you don't work for Aldi but then you know what they say about assumptions).

Also there are lots of jobs advertised for 'a bloke whose good at problem solving and adding numbers together', try accountancy or any of its varients Most employers will also pay for you to study so you end up with a qualification. It's also quite logical and mathy so if you were good at physics then it may suit you.

I would say you need to work out what you want to do before looking for a new job, are there certain aspects of your current job you like more than others, then focus on other jobs where you can do those. What would your ideal job entail? For example, do you like working outside or in an office; do you like talking to people or would you prefer a job where contact was limited; Do you prefer to wear a suit to work or jeans. Really you're in an ideal situation because you have a job so you can take your time looking around for another. In the mean time why not concentrate on the parts of your job you enjoy and don't let the little things stress you out, life's too short just let all the negative elements wash over you and impress everyone with your zen attitude

Finally work out what transferable skills you have, get a good cv book out of the library, you'd be amazed at what experience you do have!