One thing in common.
I’ve worked as a sales associate at a jewellery and watch store, IT support technician, and account manager for a social enterprise IT services company, all of which are very different roles from one another. In all these roles, it was all about building relationships with customers and clients, interacting with fellow human beings and understanding their needs. I recall a time I absolutely disliked going up to customers and talking to them.
I was 17, still in college at the time and it was my first job working part-time on weekends. I was quite shy and nervous meeting new people and working on the shop floor meant I had to do exactly that, every single time a person comes through the shop floor. It wasn’t just about making a sale to reach targets though. Unlike going to your local clothing store and picking up a t-shirt or some socks, people often bought jewellery for special occasions - weddings, engagements, presents, or simply a gift for themselves. Often these gifts have meanings behind them so selling them isn’t as simple as picking something from the shelf and packing it in a fancy box. You have to engage with the customer - find out what they like (colours, style of watch, type of stone), select two to three options from the window and guiding the customer to their choice.
When I worked at Fluid IT, it was the most life-changing period in my adult life. My work was more than just fixing computers and telling customers to ‘turn your computer off and on again’. There was a lot of troubleshooting and understanding why problems occur and whether we could replicate it or not. During my time working as an account manager, my role shifted towards project management, looking after clients and their needs with some sales work involved. Note: most of our clients were either charities or social impact businesses so they didn’t have the biggest cash flow, however, this made my work efforts more meaningful. What I mean by this is that it wasn’t just selling some IT hardware and support services to make profit, it was about working together with the client to find a suitable solution for their needs. Many of our clients were all about people, whether they are a rehabilitation centre, social carers for the elderly, vocational training centres for young people. And importantly, the company I worked for was all about people.
Today, I took some time to think back where I started to where I am now and realise I was drawn to these jobs. It was not love for jewellery, computers, or even coffee at first. It is about people. I really enjoy meeting people, listening to their stories and sharing experiences. It is very fulfilling to have a job where ‘work’ doesn’t feel like work. I love my job and that is why I love being a barista.
