Welcome Wal-Mart shoppers!

[mcooperstein]

Well, yesterday I went for a job interview at the local super Wal-Mart store. I had filled in a job application months ago online, and got a call last week asking if I was still interested. So, I went down. I was the only one amongst several other people interviewing that dressed nicely. The other people had jeans and t-shirts. I thought this was strange, but Wal-Mart isn't known for it's employee haute couture. So, I did my first interview of three. Then they immediately did the other two and offered me a job on the spot. They need a 'sales associate' in electronics, which is where I applied for. My hobby is computers and electronics so I should fit in.

I feel kinda funny taking this job. It's the first non-professional job I'm had since I was in my 20's. I'm now pushing 56. I've been a computer programmer working software engineering for 20+ years, and lately a critical care nurse. When my wife went back to medical school 15 years ago, I ramped down the computer gig and worked out of the house while taking over her previous gig: home schooling the kids and taking care of me! So I became house dad, got two kids through college, and am working on the third. In the interim I thought a nursing career might be interesting, so I went back and got a bachelor of science in nursing and started working. Nursing at my age wasnt a great idea for reasons I wont go into here and I found it hard to do. So I went on hiatus and havent worked since february. Well here I am today, about to become a Wal-Mart salesperson.

I have regrets that I'm having to deal with. Mostly because I feel like I failed as a nurse. My wife isnt giving me any pressure one way or the other, but...well. I suppose the reasons I'm posting this is because I've always 'worn my emotions on my sleeve', and venting here is as good as any place!

Why do we have this stigma where we define ourselves by our work? I'm not a nurse, a software programmer, a truck driver? I suppose of all the jobs I've done, the one I'm most proud of is just being dad! But I still can't shake this depression. Maybe I *need* to work, just to get out of this funk. Maybe I'll love selling computers, HDTV's and electronics junk. I hope so!

Mark

[DJ Downunder]

Congrats Mark...I hope it works out ok for you.

No more code browns to worry about... ...I'm sure you know what I mean..

DJ

[DSKYZD]

All the kids will love you, Mark! You'll have the keys to the cabinets where they keep all the video games. Being as outgoing as you are you'll likely enjoy sales and therefore do well at it.

Be excited!

[Boxer]

Mark,
I have some of the same concerns as you. Being an artist has taken me to so many different jobs over the years to just bring in some dough. It wrecked one marriage and delayed an "adequate" career choice by about 20 years and will affect my retirement possibilities. But I've had a blast and have few regrets.
You know what you love to do and if that equates into earning money or not, so be it. You have to live with your choices and life is not about getting to the end safely. Its all about enjoying the trip and loving those close to you.
I did a 3 year stint in the Air Force followed by college and part time jobs for 3 years. Then one year in business with my brother followed by a couple of years working in the oil field in Louisiana. I would not give up that experience for anything. I really loved it! But it wasn't me. I was attracted to Atlanta where I started doing picture framing, illustration, portraits, anything to keep the kids in clothes. This went on for 15 years and lost me my wife of 18 years in the process. Then I picked up a teaching certificate 20 years too late to make a difference in retirement benefits. I'm not really a happy teacher either though, as it turns out. Maybe Wal-Mart has a place for me too!
You're lucky in that you have a good professional spouse who can foot the main bills. But that doesn't really help your feelings about yourself. My step son is a nurse and he also is very unhappy but has a wife who pushes him to perform. I see disaster in the works there. Disasters don't need to happen to good people.
The Wal-Mart gig may turn out to be exactly what makes you happy. Then again it could lead to something else. I think I personally would like to be a motorcycle mechanic next! Whaddaya think?
Groove on baby! Be hoppy!...and enjoy the ride.
P.A.

[Just-Beeming]

Vent away. It's healthy.

Nursing
You did not fail...It is a tough thankless job.

An Oncology RN for 17 years I know some things about survival in this profession.
It is only by being a motorcycle rider that I am able to continue in this profession. I think you will agree that the successful nurses that you meet have wide, very diverse consuming passions . Passions that are thier life force and the job just a means to accomplish.
It is the only way I can continue what I do. Others think I am a little nuts.
They do not realize that riding is not something I do to be cool, show off, make a statement....It is what I must do to make some sence of the stuff I see. It is complete release of my professional side and nurtures the joy I felt at 14 riding with my Dad. I think the word is BALANCE.

I think it is terrific that you are willing to explore and try something new.
You have done your deed. Raised the kids, put them through college, supported your wife. It is your turn to see what you like to do. If it can align with your hobbies all the better.

Don't worry about the job/status junk after all, you ride the best motorcycle ever made.

Go have fun with this.

JB

psst DJ...I think code brown is universal language but do they use the term 'Fumunda-cheese' in Austraila? just curious

[machew01]

Mark, nursing failed you.

mac

[DSKYZD]

Phil, I don't think there are any happy teachers. They're dealing with the result of lots of society's problems.

[ray82609]

Sounds like you at least don't have to keep working at a job you hate just because you can't afford to start over! I would love to be there!
-Ray

[OU812]

My father was a Chicago high school teacher for 30+ years. He got attacked one day by a student, and lucky for him they offered an early retirement within one year of the "attack". Needles to say, he was happy to get out.

[sjbmw]

So, got any good deals for us?



congrats.

love the electronics dept.

[wncbmw]

Mark - good luck with Phase III (or is if VI) of the career track! I would guess that nursing is a stressful environment and probably not for those of us, let's say, up in years somewhat. I wish you the best.

Let us know if any 'forum' specials are available!

I am fortunate that I still enjoy enough parts of my job to keep from feeling the need for a drastic change. I like the challenge of the work I do (and for some reason, the more challenging projects seem to come my way. My boss says it is a complement. ) but certain aspects get me frustrated. More so as I get grumpier in my old age. True in any job, I suppose.

I have to say, working at the local bike shop or outdoor store has appealed to me occationally!

And hey, I am married to a happy teacher. Happy because she is an ex- teacher. 34 1/2 years in special ed will do that to you!

[JCsman]

Maybe I *need* to work, just to get out of this funk.

That may well be a true statement for most of us.

The job you loved, Dad, will always be there. But with your kids through college, the immediacy is way off. Nursing, nothing wrong with anyone leaving a job they don't care for....more folks should try it.

But, defined by the job? I try not to think that way. Most of the very unhappy folks I know define themselves in that singular way. Heck, ask the folks on this board to define themselves. I'm sure the job would pop in there, but so would things like Dad (or Mom), rider, gardener, photographer, etc, etc, etc.

However, I do believe most of us need SOMETHING meaningful to do ... even if there's no pay involved.

I've seriously thought about a hardware or garden center as a retirement job. I like both topics and it would give me a reason to roll out of bed. My other option pays even worse. I periodically tutor kids in HS math. It pays, but I can't imagine asking for money for that, but it's rewarding as all get out. With either option the pay would be way down, but, I hope, I'm nearing the point where big dollars won't be as important as low stress.

But, heck McC, pushing 56 is the prime of life - I won't be 56 for quite a while (OK, OK about 7 weeks) so I know where you're at. I do know it's old enough that a constant, high stress level can take a terrible toll. I'm glad you got out from under.

[iowabeakster]

Why do we have this stigma where we define ourselves by our work? But I still can't shake this depression. I feel kinda funny taking this job. It's the first non-professional job...

Mark,

Sorry to hear you are down.

We have a very nasty social structure in place. This structure determines status. Doctors and senators on the top...Wal-mart employees, food service, and most ridiculously "stay at home parents" at the bottom. We have contempt for those at the bottom, even when it may be ourselves.

In other words, we judge ourselves through the eyes of others.

You know what kind of person you are, what kind of father you are... Don't let any other fool (or all of them!) dictate your level of self-respect.

Don't live second hand.

It ain't easy...

Best wishes,
Kirk

[Beemeridian]

7689

[mcooperstein]

Ladies and Gentlemen (and other miscreants !!)

Thanks for the kind words! I really appreciate it. I guess I really am in a 'funk' as has been pointed out. I'm hopeful this job will help me to get over it! If nothing more, it consumes an awful lot of time which in a way is good for me, keeps me busy. And, busy this job keeps me!

I'm just finishing my 2nd week here. This has to be the second hardest job I've ever done, next to nursing. Well, physically hard at least, not mentally challenging. Wal-Mart doesnt allow their employees to sit, ever except on break. There are no stools at the checkout counters, nada. I come home at night pretty crippled. I have some pretty debilitating arthritis and I'm hoping that all this physical activity will help and not hinder. I'm not so sure. I see my doctor tomorrow and I'll find out what he has to say. I'm on 'pain management' these days, and take a lot of narcotic to keep me functional. It's a fine line between functional and sedated, and I have to be careful. Anhyway, I've had to increase my dosage of drugs to overcome the pain from being on my feet all day. It works, but I'm not happy about the physical stress that this job is creating. I'm going to tell my boss that I want to go to part time after the 1st of the year. That should alleviate some of the stress, we'll see!

I like the job overall. The people here are very friendly and willing to help everybody, all you have to do is ask. This is unlike nursing, where I met more jaded hateful people then I have ever met in any of my previous careers (but thats another story!). I'm working in electronics which I know a lot about. I've sold gobs of HD TV's, and can explain the technology to people, although around here it's a waste of time as these HD TV's sell themselves, all we do is turn them on, make sure they're tuned in to the Wal-Mart in store HD channel. We also sell computers, which I also know a lot about. Unfurtunately, Wal-Mart doesnt really promote them, they just have them locked up in a bin and if a customer wants one we sell it to them. We have nothing setup on display, no pictures or brochures. If they want to know specs I have to read whatever is on the box to them. Thats it. Consequently they don't sell many computers, which is a shame as they have some good product, including Dell, Gateway, ATI and Compaq.

The hours are hard, as I have a schedule that alternates schedules. I never work graveyard (they're open 24 hours/7 days). Many times I work 2pm till 11pm, which is hard as I never see the family, everybody's either at work or school or asleep!

So, we'll see how it works out. Thanks again for all your concern!

Regards,
Mark

[Shaman]

In all seriousness look at it like this.

You are in a position to give people REAL advice, and without the pressure of commission. Whether the people know it or not, you are going to help then invest their money in a product well.

If you were not there 'educating' people spending hard earned money and trying to squeeze out what they can afford at wally world, one of those others that had shown up in jeans/t-shirt and no real interest would be doing it instead of you.

I put myself through college while working at Service Merchandise in Electronics. I gave actual, real advice and steered people to their best match of products. MOST of the other sales folks just tried to upsell people to the highest cost item and the insurance to match. They lied out their ass and pretended to know way more than they did.

[kiteman]

Just to throw my two cents in..

People work for lots of different reasons, but first and foremost is to earn a living. The bills have got to be payed. Others need to feel like they are contributing something to society, but anyone who is working is contributing in one way or another. I can't buy the fuel for my bike without the contributions of literally thousands of people that had something to do with getting it to the pump. The driller, the people working on the oil tanker, the refinery, the trucker, the person at the register etc., to name a few. They may not all be "Rock Star" jobs, but there can be no argument that they all made a contribution. The same can be said for the guy who sets me up with the monster HD flat screen......Being happy at what you are doing is what counts.

Quitting a secure, well paying job that makes you unhappy is not a failure, it is a choice, and one that in my opinion is respectable.

There is no doubt that a great deal of satisfaction can be garnered from an occupation that you love, but I feel that no matter what you do, or how much you may like your job, a gainfully employed person who leads a balanced life is basically selling days of their life for money. It's not called "Spending your time" for nothing. I have a great job and earn a decent living. I work with phenomenal people and have a positive influence on people every shift that I work, but there are a lot of other things that I like to do. We obviously have a very finite amount of time on the upper side of the grass, and all things being equal, I would just as soon spend what time I have with my family, travelling, surfing, running, etc. I'm not alone here, as retirement is the carrot that keeps many on the conventional track. Getting paid to play sounds good to me....

You have accomplished more than the average bear. (Not that it matters, if the average bear is not going to be the yard stick that you wish to be measured with). Putting two kids through college is no small feat. This in itself is a selfless and monumental deed. You have brought educated "contributers" to the collective table. You have been a nurse, obtained degrees, put a spouse through school and managed to be a good enough person to convince another person that being with you is better than not. The way you earn your keep is just a piece of what makes you who you are, it certainly doesn't define you as a whole.

On a lighter note, the great Jack Handy once said, "Anybody who has an identity problem had better wise up and get with the program".

Good luck!

[Sunbeemer]

Mark, you've got a good life. Enjoy it. It won't last long enough.
Like the songs say:
Do what you like! (Cream)
The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time. (J. Taylor)

[DJ Downunder]

Mark...Can you tell me which Wal-Mart sells this mirror... ..pic deleted by me..just kidding Mark.. ..hope it's going well.

DJ

[scottybooj]

Mark,

Check out Ibunex from Core Products for your arthritis. It's a topical Ibuprofen cream with Bromelain and Glucosamine. My patients LOVE it. It allows for precise delivery of the anti-inflammatory without going through the stomach and minimizing any hepatic impact. You have to get it from docs...if you need it, I can get it to you. Hopefully, we can get you to ween off the pain management dingle.

Good luck man and hope to see you at the Bash!