My boss says I ask too many questions. I also feel like I m not being properly trained?

Question

I started a new job as an ASM 2 days ago. I was told during my interview/orientation to ask any questions I have. I was told to redo a shirt wall. My trainer(other ASM) didn t fully explain how shirt walls are supposed to look nor did the paper show that everything needed to be layered. The third time she had me go back she made me move more racks of shirts around then complained it took me too long. Same thing happened with bathing suits. I feel like they expect me to know how things should be in a new store w/out having the patience to explain it to me(should ve been the first thing explained).

I did ask whatever questions I had bc I d rather get it right the first time. The GM called me out in front of the other ASM yesterday instead of making our conversation private. She starts telling me how bad of a job I m doing. How I should ve known shirts didn t go with pants due to me having management experience(w/ it being clearance I thought it went on the same rack). She told me I ask too many questions. She made me read all of my responsibilities in front of everyone, & asked me if I could handle it. I told her yes, & was sent to the back to think about if this job is for me). She never told me the day before(day 1) I was doing anything wrong. I was told how great I was doing.

Again, I feel like they expect me to know the ins and out of the store w/out proper training. I don t know how to feel at this point. What do you all think is my best option?

Answer 1

I think you are right that you didn't get the proper training and your employer is mishandling the situation.



You may of took a position that you maybe in over your head as well, but I don't fault you for that

Answer 2

Search for a new job. Don't quit until you have something for-sure lined up that you're hired for, then give two weeks' notice and tell the general manager, "Sorry, this isn't the type of position that I applied for. There's not enough training and I'm expected to be a mind reader."



You may lose them for a reference, but you just started, so there's no need to even list them since you have previous work experience. In fact, if you find another job and leave them in the same month, it literally looks like you never had that employer and the minor gap could have been waiting for the hiring process at the other company. If anyone asks in an interview, just say that you're not working and give previous job references. Try to schedule interviews for your off days. You'll find something else that isn't so condescending.



That is how a lot of retail is nowadays, unfortunately. I did it for about 10 years.

Answer 3

If you think you can take it, then I would just stick with it until you do learn the ins and outs. You could complain to corporate, I'm sure they would not appreciate the way the managers are acting. If you do that, they will probably do something and one of two things will happen: things will get better or those managers will hate you in which case they will get worse. In the case of the latter, quit.

If you think that you can get another job easily, then you could just start applying and quit whenever you get the new one. Or just quit now and if you can take a break from earning money. If they can't be reasonable now, they probably won't be in the future.

Answer 4

Welcome to modern retail. It sucks. You are expected to hit the ground running. Whatever training you get is going to be cursory. Encouragement to ask questions is lip service. Respect for your dignity or your privacy--are you kidding? You're paid so little that they don't mind going through a half-dozen workers who "ask too many questions" and "need too much training" in order to luck out on somebody who can just do the quick and dirty stuff with minimal supervision.

The best solution is to find another line of work. It sounds as if you're a little too smart, careful and conscientious to succeed here. But if you stick it out, try turning "asking questions" on its head. Given a specific assignment, repeat your understanding of that assignment to your manager. "Okay, you want me to organize the bathing suits. To me that means hang them in size categories, make sure the hangers all face the same way and step back and see that the whole display looks neat. If that's not right or if I'm missing anything, please tell me."

Best of luck.