The sucky thing about getting a new job is that you actually still have to go to the old job for a bit. NOT FAIR. Today my floating dreamy happiness ended with a thud as I worked for 7 hours on my feet without so much as a single break to catch my breath because apparently, the day after independence day is GO OUT AND BUY SHIT BUT BE AS BITCHY AS POSSIBLE ABOUT IT day. Whoopeeeee.
Some more retail rules for you.
1. If you see a piece of clothing that you enjoy, and it comes in many colors that you like, only take one (or two, if you are unsure of sizing) to the dressing room with you. You don’t need to find out 6 multicolored times that that size 18 ain’t gonna cut it.
2. If you are returning clothing, please understand that there is paperwork to do - we will need your signature. We might need to see your driver’s license. It is busywork, and annoying, we know, but we have to ask you to do it. Don’t flip out at us because you’re stressed and “can’t handle” the two measly signatures we need you to do.
3. Sorry, that coupon won’t work for that top. No, there is nothing I can do about it. Yes, I understand the wording on the coupon is vague. But please understand that I don’t care one bit, so you can stand there and fume at me that this is FALSE ADVERTISING, and all I will do is nod sympathetically. Take it to corporate, bitch, I don’t get paid enough to care.
4. Do not ask if we have extra coupons to give you. We don’t. Don’t ask us to take expired coupons, we can’t. Don’t give me the pathetic old woman sad eyes, they don’t work on me. I remember what a pain in the ass you were the last time you were in the store.
5. Take everything on the clearance rack with a grain of salt. Is that the only pair of pants like that on the rack? Maybe you should ask us for the price first, before you fall in love with it. People treat clearance racks like it’s happy fun mess time at the toy store, so things get moved around and put back in the wrong place. Please ask us to scan for the price first (we don’t mind! really!) instead of pitching a total BITCH FIT while checking out when you find out that they’re $5 more than you thought they were (see how there’s a whole bunch of them ONE RACK OVER? ). Again, I DON’T CARE ABOUT YOUR ISSUES!
Hopefully, these will be my last lessons in retail - I only work 2 more days there. w00t! Giving my notice was not as painful as I thought it would be. Mainly because the store manager’s response was “oh really? I’m leaving, too!” She’s going back to new york to be closer to her kids, which is understandable. So 3 of us in total are leaving the store - ha! Maybe if you PAID, better, unnamed-woman’s-clothing-store, you’d RETAIN MORE QUALITY EMPLOYEES!
I did spend an hour after my shift SHOPPING for BUSINESS CASUAL clothing, which is fun and frustrating at the same time. I caught a few hours of a “what not to wear” marathon yesterday, which helped. Though, please help me with this, all you business casual moguls out there: according to Clinton and Stacy, dressy bermuda shorts (just above the knees) can be business casual with a dressy shirt and good shoes. IS THIS TRUE OR FALSE? Very confusing - I bought a pair, but they were drastically on sale, so I’ll still keep them even if I can’t really wear them for work. I ended up with a dress, a skirt, two bottoms, 3 tops, and a pair of open toed sling backs (black) for $180. I shall be STYLING at my new job…I hope. Maybe I should do a blog fashion show? 
I hope everyone had an enjoyable 4th. Kev and I celebrated by sleeping in, fooling around, and then going out for the sushi buffet at Ru San’s. Because nothing says “HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!” like all you can eat maki. Later in the evening, we met up with Jane and family, along with blogless Diana for a light dinner (big bowl of gaspacho, and then split a berry cobbler - YUM!) and then fireworks in downtown Decatur. Lovely!
T-minus 9 DAYS until I start my new job. CAN’T WAIT!
Awesome!!!!!!!!! I missed the bit about you getting a new job so W00t!!!!!!!!!! That is great - congrats! I hope you will have more money to buy yarn and fun type knitting stuff with - ha!
I personally wouldn’t think Bermuda shorts (even nice ones)=business casual. But I’m getting old and out of touch, so I could be wrong.
Obviously, since I’m such a lazy bitch and don’t work at a real job, I have no firsthand experience, but.. I recently read an article on business casual, and the biggest point they made was no shorts, no how, no kind, no way, EVER. I think nice slacks and a non-revealing top are always good, as is a skirt and ditto top, of course. Jim had a boss who was asked not to go see clients because her clothes, while fun and funky, were also so short and/or revealing, that they were a total distraction. While I’m sure the client enjoyed the show, the point of the meetings was sonehow missed at times. Better to err on the side of too fancy than not enough. And that’s all I’m going to say about a topic I know nothing about.
One of the the VPs at my office wears bermuda shorts and I think the people under her feel comfortable enough to wear them dressed up, but my boss wears a 3 piece suit, so I don’t wear them. Although, I have been know to wear kahki skirt with pockets and a polo t-shirt with my work place’s logo. I also wear long jean skirts with dress tops. (I’m not sure if this matters or not, but I work at a college.)
Don’t you dare wear shorts to the office. Ever. There is also NO SUCH THING as formal shorts, I don’t care what anyone says. Add flip flops and many types of open-toed shoes to that list of things not to wear to work. I don’t care how many sparkles & crap are glued on the flip flops, you can’t wear them to a garden tea at the White House. Depending on the environment, open-toed shoes can be a safety issue.
Some work environments are more casual than others. You know I wear jeans & tennis shoes to my “office”, but if I had to work out of our main office that a VP is in, it’s button up shirts, slacks and generally heels for me. It’s a good idea to observe your co-workers’ attire the first week and begin supplementing your wardrobe accordingly.
Pay special attention to the dress of your supervisors and take your cues from them. You can’t go wrong ever if you dress to the same level of formality as your bosses & they do notice that sort of thing, especially if you’re under dressed. After all, there are some old guard bosses that think women shouldn’t wear pants to the office and that pantyhose is a must. However archaic the person in charge seems, just remember they’re in charge & you’re ultimately there at their pleasure (especially in a right to hire, right to fire state).
The best job I ever had was as a receptionist at a now defunct company. I wore slacks to the initial interview. After the interview, my connection to the job suggested that at the follow-up, I wear a skirt. I nearly vowed to not go back to interview because I was wearing completely appropriate attire, in my mind. Since I really needed the job, I sucked it up and wore a suit. Once I was hired, I lived out of slacks, a jacket and tennis shoes since no one could see my feet. I also re-taught myself to knit while sitting at my desk.
Okay. This was a long response.
Thanks for the tips, everyone! I kept a good eye on what people were wearing during my interview. The guys were wearing slacks and button downs, the women were wearing…well…a variety of things - from suits to black khakis (is that a contradictory statement?) and knit tops. It’s so easy to be a guy…
Anyway, I have black, brown, and gray slacks, with some nice blouses to wear, as well as some skirts. When I get a better feel for the office, I might be able to expand. We’ll see!
Also, the only shoe rule that I was given was “no flip flops,” so no problem there. I bought a cute pair of black peep toe sling backs which I think will do me very well in the summer. I’d like to get something similar in brown or tan, too, so I’m keeping my eyes open!
Ditto Melissa’s response. Shorts don’t belong in the office. Period.
Sounds ilke what you got will work just fine.
I’m so super excited for you!
Hugs.
My work is casual, so I could totally get away with the shorts. And my friend Lori works for Pfizer and she can get away with them, too. But do not judge anything by me, since I can also wear jeans and sneakers to work.
Congrats on the job!!!