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100% commission at Nordstrom
I am not a reader of this publication. I simply was walking by the stand at a pizza joint, saw the paper, had nothing better to do and decided to read it while I waited. I usually have some small glimmer of hope that anything I read will give me something worthy of taking away from it.— March 22, 2013 8:49 a.m.
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PART II: The corporate structure isn't for everyone. I'm glad Jessica found that this is not the niche for her. I'm saddened to think people who would want to enter into the retail world would read this and think they could understand what retail is about. If anything they should take away from the article, it's that the writer has low accountability. I hope the readers see that the negativity in this piece is overwhelming. Again, I look to the title, the cover photo, and then think - what was the relation? Let's say if she can't handle the front side of the business with the customers, why not try support? She could just as easily have tried her hand in stocking or perhaps visual merchandising? She never mentions trying her hand any where else since her distaste for sales has taken over better judgement. She has a job, and a good one at that, but decides to just quit rather than learn to do it better? She hates her boss, but doesn't ask her or request feedback? She looks to others and sees what she wants to see in them by assuming the worst and later finding out there was more substance (or monetary value, which she felt was how you judge) to the person. I digress. Overall, I thought this article was going to be inspiring. What I came away with after putting it down was a sad feeling of what the work place has become. I'd love for someone to tell me that they don't know how to do something, but say something like, "But I'm going to learn since I need to know this to do a better job." That would be something spectacular to hear. Rather than make excuses or blame everyone else, someone takes the time to have some accountability. Ownership. Pride. These are values I think Jessica would benefit greatly from when she finds the time to improve herself rather than dish out the world she clearly doesn't understand to others. Good luck, Jessica. The world is a big place.— March 21, 2013 10 p.m.
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PART I: I feel the title of this article is misleading. I suppose in someway or another, I was going to be inspired or find a piece of advice in an article showing a happy, youthful, style-centric girl with the title of "100% Commission at Nordstrom." However, after reading this article I found it quite the opposite. I instead found myself disappointed that Jessica wanted to tear down the retailer and not look to herself. The reason most people dread going into retail stores is this writer's assessment of them. It took me a while to reflect on this, but I think I've come to appreciate what the article really is - a youthful person who has not yet found their professionalism. Instead of them taking ownership of how to do a job, they instead blame everyone else around them for their own inability to adapt. With any job in retail there are similarities to her description, but that could be said of almost any job where profit is involved. To keep your superiors off of you, do a good job. To create an atmosphere where you can make connections, you need to reach out and network. To give great customer service, one must be selfless and assume nothing of anyone. I find it sad Jessica dumps all of her angst in working a difficult job onto others as if to say, "It's their fault for not teaching me." This is a common thread in the quickly unwinding professional workplace. Someone can be given only so many tools to do their job. At a certain point that person must take it upon them self to learn the next trick of the trade and get some tools of their own. If you don't know how to do something, then ask someone who does. Not just ask someone who does, but ask the BEST person possible to show you how. When you learn it from them, then go to another and ask them how to do it, too. When you get enough examples and you think you can make it your own, then do it and do it with confidence.— March 21, 2013 10 p.m.