The retail industry is typically the gateway into the workforce for most individuals at a young age. It’s really our first encounter with cause and effect, as well as rewards and consequences, as professionals: you do the work, you earn a paycheck. You don’t do the work, or you don’t show up, or you don’t perform, then you don’t get paid, your hours get reduced, your pay is deducted, or you just get fired.

But when you leave retail for greater opportunities–especially after earning that degree–you feel this sense of never wanting to go back, remembering all the stigmas and negative moments you experienced: closing late at night only to be there to open first thing in the morning, working long hours on holidays, dealing with difficult customers or those customers who refuse to leave before closing time. And when the holiday season arrives, these stigmas are only magnified.

There’s also a stigma that working in retail, despite its great challenges, shows a lack of success or aspiration–that you have settled for mediocrity and have no drive to grow or to continue learning or to push for greater opportunities. I’ve experienced this and all the other stigmas first hand, both in my past history working retail, and my current status working in retail, and one can see that it should be an even greater motivator to get out and stay out.

However, the pandemic and the planetary shutdown of 2020 found numerous workers being furloughed or losing there careers (not just jobs, but whole careers) altogether. Additionally, once the money from the stimulus and unemployment expired and no new position acquired, forced them to make the decision of going back to retail for a regular check and benefits, or scraping whatever cash they could through odd jobs, DoorDash or Instacart.

So I took the desperate plunge and accepted a retail position after nearly six months of applications and a single interview led to nowhere. I knew I would have to sacrifice tons of family time than I ever had because the schedules are “flexible” and would never coincide with that of my wife’s work. But it was something I had do, and when the wine and beer mega store just down the road from me offered me a merchandiser position–knowing full well that they could not offer the desired salary even though they wanted to–I took it.

One year later, I’m still here. Though it presents its challenges and my job hunt continues, returning to retail has been one of the better decisions I’ve made in my career. Based on my own experience, here are a few reasons why you should work some form of retail as you continue your search:

1. Avoid and minimize complacency

One of the negatives of the inflated unemployment payments was that it gave people a reason to not accept job offers, or caused job seekers to take their search less seriously. Many were filing for positions simply to file for positions whether they were a match for the job or not, and then go back to what they were doing.

Which was what? Was it yard or house work? Was it binge-watching How I Met Your Mother or all the Marvel movies in order? Was it playing all the Assassin’s Creed games to completion?

I sometimes found myself scrambling to apply for a job at deadline before moving back to a film or some other vice. It was during one of those scrambles that I saw the complacent loop I was falling into, and feared what would happen once the extended and inflated benefits expired. Something had to be done.

Despite the schedule demands and stigmas, working hard in retail while job hunting or taking classes helps rebuild an internal stability and dignity of knowing you are earning (for you and your family) and working your ass off. The regular movement and interaction with people, whether positive or negative, can actually benefit you both physically and mentally. It is an opportunity to exercise and expand your work ethic and exercise patience, making the down time you find at home feel well earned.

2. Learn something new and get paid for it

There is so much to learn in retail, from the company’s founding and business structure, to the different departments and procedures, to the different products you’re being employed to shelve and sell.

I’ll use my own case as an example. The wine and beer franchise close by has always been my go-to for wine, beer and cigars. But further in-depth study by means of employment showed that it’s more than a wine and beer shop. For many vineyards, distilleries and even breweries across the planet that aren’t as well known as some major labels, the company is the primary means of distribution both nationally and internationally

I’ve also had the opportunity to try different wines and beers from all over. Despite my wife having been in the wine industry for a number of years and spending trying different wines with her, I’ve begun to pay more attention to everything from the soil where the grapes are grown, to the nose and palate, and to even the history of the wine itself. I’ve truly learned through taste the difference between oaked and unoaked and know what to expect from the two. I’ve learned–and currently preach–that an excellent bottle of wine does not need to cost hundreds of thousands dollars, or a nice champagne doesn’t need to cost thousands of dollars, or that an endorsement from Rick Ross doesn’t mean the product is actually good. The same concepts apply for beer as well, and the learning only continues as new products are brought in. It’s continuation of learning without paying tuition. In some cases, the company may even pay you a bonus for completing different exams!

Another bonus working retail: employee discounts. Whether it be buying groceries if you work for a grocery store, electronics at Target or wine and beer at Total Wine, that benefit is a great thing to have.

3. Promotion and further opportunities

My previous employers never had a trues career ladders or maps for anyone to move up within the company. Move around, sure. But no moving up any job ladder.

Though it might not be your ideal situation to begin with, the vast size of the retail company you work for means there are plenty of opportunities to move up to a higher position, especially if it’s a larger franchise. You have the supervisory personnel there who can share some insight or speak to the right people should you wish to move up. In my short time at my store, I’ve seen some of my colleagues go from cashier or merchandiser to supervisory positions at other stores.

I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have been placed with our store down the road from us, as everyone there has not only been professional, accommodating, friendly and helpful, but also have taken a significant interest in me as one of their own, ready to help and answer any questions or concerns regarding products, environment or promotions. I have found different opportunities that reflected my own aspirations, and my higher-ups have been nothing short helpful and supportive, even if it meant they could lose me in the process.

Keep an open mind, both inside and outside the box.

4. Comradery

I will always remember and be thankful for my time as a shop associate at a golf course in New Jersey. I was far from home, far from my family, far from my fiance in Virginia. I was experiencing a culture shock on a daily basis and learning to adapt to interacting with citizens from all over the tri-state area and beyond, not to mention a whole new industry for me as a non-golfer. The thing that makes me fond and thankful for what was a difficult time on my own was the comradery from both the staff and even the people I served.

Companies I worked for after that showed a certain lack of comradery, and were not without their drama. One company had a manager exercising intimidation tactics towards a subordinate. At my last job, no one knew I was gone until they came to my desk one day and saw that is now suddenly being used for storage.

In the world of sales and retail, there is also drama all around. My tactic has been to be nice and understanding to everyone as much as I can, and to lead with a sense of humor that can at least help lift spirits and produce laughs as often as necessary. And on my days were the drama or stress is weighing me down, that same sense of humor is what I’ve been met with to help alleviate the strain.

But it takes effort. The stress can still skyrocket, and you do have to leave the majority of you baggage at the front door before jumping into it. But bring enough of yourself to remind the team around you that you’re part of the team too, and that you are all in this together, no matter what.

5. Empathy

That stigma of being looked down upon as a retail worker is strong. It can truly weigh on the mind and really prevent you from reaching your full potential if you allow it to. What you should embrace–especially coming into retail with an established career elsewhere, knowing you’re earning way below your worth–is the humility and empathy towards your fellow service workers. You don’t know their full stories. You don’t know how this mother ended up working at a McDonald’s, or that thirty-something year-old found himself pushing shopping carts. What you do know is only a fraction of what they go through every day, and that they not only deserve respect and manners from you, but need it.

Conclusion

The 2020 pandemic brought about great uncertainty for both our personal lives and our professional aspirations, leaving so many people jobless and desperately trying to figure out what their next, best move should be. Some like myself have opted to take the challenging, high stress, lower paying occupations with the long hours for the sake of our families. I am personally one of four at my store who joined after being furloughed or let go at the dawn of the pandemic in the United States, and one of two with a family. One is a now a manager, and another is passing exam after exam en route to being a wine genius.

But nothing lasts forever, and that’s a comfort to remember if you’re going into retail with fear in your heart. One may move to manage a different store. One may move to corporate. One may leave the company altogether for other opportunities. Your move into retail will be challenging no matter what, but so should all your endeavors.

It does not have to be the end unless you want it to be. I’ve shared my experience to the present day, and why everyone facing similar hardships should find their desired retailer and join (if hiring). It is ultimately up to you to open your mind and heart in order to fully thrive.