I Worked at Wal-Mart
If you didn't catch Sunday's post, this entire week I'll be posting off topic and about me, my interests, and fun-facts about my life. My goal with these posts is to simply provide readers with a better understanding of the kind of person I am outside of the search marketing space, and to have a little fun. Without further ado, here's my forth post:
As a search engine marketer, I for one have always found it interesting to know what other SEM's did before breaking into this industry. I mean it's not like you can graduate from college with a degree in search engine marketing... at least not yet anyway. And, so one has to wonder... with so many of us search marketers out there, how did we all break into this industry and what were our jobs / careers beforehand.
The funny thing is, everyone that I've ever talked with or interviewed has always said something to the extent of: "well, I was doing this other thing, and one thing led to another and I just sort of fell into the field." Which... if you were to ask me, is exactly what I would say.
At 24 years old, I have only had 2 jobs in my life (not counting a paper route and corn detasseling duties when I was a kid). I am currently the Project Manager at All Web Promotion where I have been for the last 4 years, and before All Web, as you no doubt already figured out from the title, I worked for Wal-Mart retail.
I applied at Wal-Mart when I was 17 and worked their every bit of 3 1/2 to 4 years. As with a lot of high school kids, I wanted a little more income than what I was able squeeze out of my parents, and so I decided to get a part-time job where I could work after school and make a little cash... oh, and I do mean a little. I was hired for a floor position in the sporting goods department, but, due to a real shortage of employees I quickly found myself occupying the sporting goods, automotive, pets, hardware, toys, and furniture departments on many occasions.
In fact, as time went on I sort of became a real go-to-guy which I'm sure sounds really cool, but really just means that I was a tool... or better yet, a Wal-Mart bitch.
I was so versatile that depending on who called off and where the store was short in employees, I was often at times forced to leave the comfort of my sporting goods counter and work elsewhere in the store. Believe me when I say I've done EVERYTHING that Wal-Mart has to offer. Besides becoming fluent in every department of the entire store, some of my real bitch projects include:
Simply put, if you name it I probably did it and without any sort of pay compensation whatsoever. In fact, now that I think of it, I have to laugh a little because it wasn't until the night I put in my 2-week notice that I was offered my first raise outside of the mandatory minimum wage increases. But, that was then, and I've definitely moved on for the better.
I'd be lying if I said that working for Wal-Mart was the worst experience of my life. While at Wal-Mart I worked with a lot of great people, met a few of my good friends there (one being my now Fiancée Jackie), and learned a lot about life, work-ethic, and responsibility (if that doesn't sound corny).
To wrap up my story, I worked at Wal-Mart through the remainder of High School and then on-through College. During college, I studied in the Graphic Design & Technology field which just so happens to be what led me All Web's doorstep. And, that's that.
What about you? I'd love to hear about your past work experience even if you're not in the search marketing field. What are some of the early jobs of your life?
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posted by Karl Ribas Thursday, November 15, 2007 Read Comments (5) | Post a Comment | Subscribe  
 
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5 Comments:
Karl,
It's been great reading on your recent posts! I, much like you, have always been the go-to-gal for many of my jobs in the past - but to back track a little, 20 years ago at age 17, my first job was at Taco Bell - churning frozen meat in a huge metal container was just the best, NOT! The grease emitted from such work gave rise to those horrible teenage acne years!
Fortunately, things got better after college, I did office administration at a tool company, a medical management co., and finally a security/building automation co., before I left to start the online business.
I also dealt with a lot of cruelties of being the go-to-gal and had to perform tasks at times that were, in my mind, incomprehensible! Too many to list, but at the last company I worked for - there was this 'secret' copying machine - ingeniously placed in a corner where only a few people knew about it, and everytime I was too stressed out, I would go and hide near that copying machine (because I knew no one would find me) and take a 10 min. breather before returning to the chaos of work! lol.
But you're right, Karl, it's never, ever about the daily manual labor that we perform...but it's ALWAYS about the people we meet and the lifelong friendships we make and retain into our later years...
By
Paper Loving Gal, at November 16, 2007 2:24 AM
Thanks for your comments, and thanks for sharing your story.
Wow, I think your time at Taco Bell might actually trump my time at Wal-Mart. I can't remember an instance of when my daily duties affected my skin condition. There were a few times where I think I was subject to battery acid in automotive, but that was a simple as washing it off in the Men's room. I can't imagine having to deal with all that grease knowing that it's contributing to acne.
By
Karl Ribas, at November 16, 2007 8:36 AM
Man, those really were the glory days. There was nothing to worry about besides makin' money and hangin' out. And now, only 7 years later, we've got student loans, car payments, A MORTGAGE to worry about. I agree with Paper Loving Gal - it's all about the people and the experiences. Even if it is all in the past now. Like I said, those were the glory days.
P.S. - F$@% WALMART! KMART KREW REPRESENT!
By
Drew, at November 16, 2007 9:00 AM
Oh so many stories to tell from WalMart. I only worked with Karl for like 4 months before they decided to move me from lawn and garden to stockboy and give me a pay cut because I no longer would work in a department with a cash register which ultimately led me to tell them to shove that job and I quit. Ya i'm still bitter. But let's see there was checking out all the HOT woman who shopped wearing skimpy clothes in the summer(Code Purple I think it was), there was the time Karl shattered the glass at the sporting goods counter screwing around with a shotgun, and the infamous time we had to get an entertainment center down from the storage area and Karl climbed the ladder and dropped it which split his pants from the crotch to his ankle then decided to try and staple his pants together in order to finish work. Those were the days indeed. I thought you were gonna be a lifer there. But you've moved onto a real job with a house of your own and are getting married. Meanwhile I'll grow up sometime and join the real workforce, but until then i'm gonna enjoy going to school, living off the government, and playing video games most of the time.
P.S. Shop Home Depot: You can build it, we can help
By
Greg, at November 16, 2007 11:04 AM
wow. i've worked at walmart for six months now...
and it's true, the more you know the more they use you for all you're worth.
i've already done half the jobs our walmart supercenter has to offer.
and i'm certainly not paid enough for it.
i hope i aspire to new and better things in the near or distant future.
-wmt bitch.
By
angry-brain, at July 18, 2008 4:54 PM
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