Blah new job!

[AgonySceneGirl]

Ok i recently got a new job, not the greatest job in the world but it pays the bills.

I've never worked this kind of job, cashier. And i seem to be having difficulties. I'm still in my training week so its to be expected. But today is my last day on training and i still dont understand how to use some of the machines. The people i work with seem to be getting impatient and frustrated with me. But the problem is - they arent really showing me how to do it. My first night on this machine, my 'trainer' was "walking me through it" but all she did was "do this this this and this" and walked away. And has done that every time since, and gets frustrated as hell n pissed off when i screw up. I've only used the machine maybe 6-7 times. And i've only gotten it right like twice. Am i just being stupid as hell here or is my trainer forgetting the fact that i have no idea what the fuck i'm doing? What do i need to do to get the proper training in the place? She's really good friends with the manager so if i go up and talk to the manager, i might dig myself a grave and look even more like a dumbass.
thanks

ASG

 

[Bandit58]

No I don't think you're stupid. I think your trainer (if you can call her that) has no idea how to teach

Do you ask her to repeat stuff to you? Does she actually show you what to do? Does she stand with you and watch you, and does she pull you up (in an understanding way) if you're about to make a mistake? How long has she spent teaching you in this first week - doesn't sound like much time at all.

Is there someone else who can train you? Other people might have a better system or a different way of helping you to learn.

 

[akazie]

I agree with Bandit your trainer has no idea how to train people or she is way too self-centred to worry about doing her job properly. You might be better off just winging it if she is friends with the manager, you don't want to make enemies.

 

[emap]

Speak with the manager. Friends or not she is not doing what she is supposed to be doing, a cashier who cannot use the machine costs the company money. If you do not speak to the manager he or she has their job on the line because of something your trainer didn't do.

Honestly, it really sounds like your trainer either has no idea how the thing works herself, or is not there to work, just to stand around doing nothing and get paid for it. Next time your at work and she is right there, ask. Ask what this button is for, what this does until either she tells you how it works or walks away.

 

[AgonySceneGirl]

No I don't think you're stupid. I think your trainer (if you can call her that) has no idea how to teach

Do you ask her to repeat stuff to you? Does she actually show you what to do? Does she stand with you and watch you, and does she pull you up (in an understanding way) if you're about to make a mistake? How long has she spent teaching you in this first week - doesn't sound like much time at all.

Is there someone else who can train you? Other people might have a better system or a different way of helping you to learn.

I ask her to repeat herself and she does, but does it even faster the 2nd time. Her idea of showing me something is "do this this this and this." <Doesnt work that way. When i'm about to make a mistake, she says 'Hey stop!" and fixes it herself or just does it herself, she doesnt show me what i was about to do wrong. I have only been working there since tuesday. She 'trained me' 4 out of the 5 days. Today was my last day in my training, and i still have no clue how to use a 2 of the machines. out of 4...<sad i know.

 

[jeepman6]

I ask her to repeat herself and she does, but does it even faster the 2nd time. Her idea of showing me something is "do this this this and this." <Doesnt work that way. When i'm about to make a mistake, she says 'Hey stop!" and fixes it herself or just does it herself, she doesnt show me what i was about to do wrong. I have only been working there since tuesday. She 'trained me' 4 out of the 5 days. Today was my last day in my training, and i still have no clue how to use a 2 of the machines. out of 4...<sad i know.

The only sad part of any of this is the person doing the so called training or should I say no training. You should talk to the manager about this because it's also a reflection of the manager and how they perform their job. If the situation is not resolved by talking then maybe this is not a business you really want to work for.

 

[tenchikoi]

I worked as a cashier for over 7 years at a major grocery store chain. The only thing I hated about it was dealing with the public. Most customers were horribly rude and demanding. A lot tried to rip us off. But when I was trained, I was just thrown in there with an experienced cashier watching from behind and instructing me. People were even more rude when they realized I was in training. I never understood why people can't be more kind to each other. But I made loads of mistakes and she let me make them before stopping me, showing me my error, how to correct it, and then how to do it right. Sometimes I had to go over things several times before I got it, but in time I was an old pro myself. You might try coming in at a less busy time and asking the manager for some better quality training.

 

[Chicago Ken]

From the legal perspective...

It's way more expensive to fire you, so just do your best to learn your job. Don't worry about your trainer either way.

 

[SweetErika]

Hi ASG,

I appreciate your frustration. I've been the newbie and had shitty teachers, and it sucks!

I think I might say something like this to her:

I really appreciate you taking the time to help me learn to do this job. I know it can be a pain to have to train and help a newbie on top of your job! And I'm sure you can remember what it was like to be in my shoes, learning all of the procedures in a relatively short time.

I do have some questions and need clarification on some things. I've noticed it really helps when someone takes me through a procedure step-by-step, having me do everything and repeat the steps as I do them under their guidance. I've also noticed I learn from mistakes best if I understand the basic reasoning of why it's wrong.

Would it be possible to go through the procedures you taught me again, with me doing the work and taking you through the steps once I get it, until I'm more solid on them? I'm just hoping to be as independent as possible so I don't have to bug you or the manager and do a really good job here.

If she seems uncomfortable, you could also suggest that sometimes you've found it helpful to learn the same thing from different people, so perhaps you'd benefit from the manager or a talented coworker taking you through it.

The main thing is to approach her in a non-confrontational way, teaching her how to teach you in a way that she'll likely agree with. If you can phrase something so she can believe it was HER idea, you'll probably have even better luck. For example, instead of just going over her head, plant the idea that learning from different people can be very effective so she can feel good about handing you over to someone else for more training. It's a win-win, as you'll look like a smart, caring, proactive employee, and she'll look like a better trainer or person with good ideas.


But I do agree with the poster who said that if they're not willing to train you until you feel comfortable and get it right using different techniques, you should keep an eye out for other jobs because it's likel a place you don't want to work at all.

Good luck!

 

[AgonySceneGirl]

i spoke with the manager tonight and she switched my schedule around so now i will be working 3rd shift next week to get the correct training by the managers mom <who is a sweet heart and always steps up to help even when she isnt clocked in. So come this time next week - i'll hopefully be trained completely and not have to worry about getting in trouble for not knowing shit. thank you guys. i appreciate the advice!

 

[Angellika]

Ask your trainer to go over the whole thing with you slowly, maybe after work or before- and take notes. It is her duty to train you and she shouldn't say no. Explain you want to be able to do your job right.

 

[SweetErika]

Ask your trainer to go over the whole thing with you slowly, maybe after work or before- and take notes. It is her duty to train you and she shouldn't say no. Explain you want to be able to do your job right.

I'm pretty sure this is no longer an issue for ASG, since it's been over two MONTHS since she was in the initial training and she worked it out with another manager, according to her other posts.

What's with this superfluous bumping of old threads, Angellika? If you're looking to increase your post count, there are a ton of threads in the Playground and elsewhere for that very purpose. Mindless games, fluff threads and people desperate for feedback on their pics abound in the Playground, GB and AmPics!

 

[infinity706]

I really think some people don't even look at the thread dates.

 

[SweetErika]

I really think some people don't even look at the thread dates.

No, some don't. But it's pretty clear she's going through old HT pages, since she bumped a bunch of threads from early-mid July in a row.

The unfortunate thing is that a lot of newbies especially don't look at thread dates and waste their time replying to long-solved problems. That, and new threads often don't get the attention they warrant because they're buried under a ton of obsolete threads that were bumped by a troll or yahoo on a quest to pad their post count.

 

[AgonySceneGirl]

lol 2 months later.. fail!
would someone please put the dates in BIG BOLD BRIGHT SHINNY COLORS so people that dont like to actually read will have no choice?

/beg