INTJs in Retail

[Alienated]

I just wondered what fellow INTJs think about a career in Retail. To be specific I'm talking about working for a well-known retail store starting off as a sales assistant, moving on to supervisor, then to assistant manager and to reach the golden goal of store manager.

[SirJac]

I dislike retail. Management isn't a terribly enjoyable job since there is very little freedom and alot of stress. There isn't alot of opportunity for INTJs to do what they do best, problem solve. Either your making sure everything is going by the book, or your running around trying to put out fires. You can do it and do a good job if you put your mind to it but it's not terribly fulfilling imo.

I contemplated climbing the ladder as well. But after working in retail for several years and getting a taste of management and seeing the effect it being a manager has on people, I decided that it wasn't the career for me.

[searcheagle]

I dislike retail. Management isn't a terribly enjoyable job since there is very little freedom and alot of stress. There isn't alot of opportunity for INTJs to do what they do best, problem solve. Either your making sure everything is going by the book, or your running around trying to put out fires. You can do it and do a good job if you put your mind to it but it's not terribly fulfilling imo.

I contemplated climbing the ladder as well. But after working in retail for several years and getting a taste of management and seeing the effect it being a manager has on people, I decided that it wasn't the career for me.

Also, there is the duty of making sure all your employees follow every rule in the book.

Add to that, the customers which complain about the stupidest things.

To me, all of the above reasons are why I would avoid retail management.

[azelismia]

I don't think it pays particularly well in the long run and it's a tiring on your feet social sort of job. i'd have to be beyond desperate to do anything along those lines.

[emanon]

Retail as a career sounds like a horrible option for an INTJ. The only thinking involved is how to be socially adept and get people to buy. I personally prefer to work in some sort of sales volunteer capacity one day per year and get it all out of my system then.

[Alienated]

I had a feeling that fellow INTJs would abhor the thought of a career in Retail. So that brings me to the following question:

What could an INTJ potentially achieve in a Retail career? (regardless of how much it may be loathed at first -- starting at the bottom)

[azelismia]

I had a feeling that fellow INTJs would abhor the thought of a career in Retail. So that brings me to the following question:

What could an INTJ potentially achieve in a Retail career? (regardless of how much it may be loathed at first -- starting at the bottom)


Embezzlement and Fraud? (j/k, really)


in the sales side I don't' think anything is worth achieving really. I work in retail in the back end though in the procurement chain. a number of our buyers started out as store managers and assistant managers. Sales sucks.

[Alienated]

I guess working on the shop floor as a sales assistant can reach its limitation quite quickly. Apart from gaining "good" customer service skills there probably isn't much else to learn but despite all that can an INTJ build a nice career as an eventual store manager and then moving on to head office stuff?

[ElstonGunn]

I was a grocery store stockboy in high school. A lot of it depends on what your store sells and who it employs. In my case, I would have been annoyed to have to deal with a bunch of slack-jawed 16-year olds telling me, "Ah, uh, man, I can't, like, come in today, you know?" Of course, if you're selling Ferraris, the staff is probably a lot less obnoxious, at least on that level.

If you get into some sort of corporate, head office kind of deal, I can't imagine it makes that big of a difference on the overall function of your job whether your company sells frozen peas or electromechanical servoactuators.

[MichaelH]

I'd like to add that an INTJ can succeed absolutely anywhere they choose to. It's a question of how much energy they'll expend and how much they'll enjoy their work.

If a career in retail management appeals to you, there's no reason you can't do well at it. Many INTJs aren't social enough to enjoy that, but that doesn't mean YOU aren't. :)

[SoupNazi]

I couldn't stand retail as a 'career', but I worked in a convenience store when I was studying.. and I've kept on doing one shift a week on weekends (even though I'm working elsewhere now).

As a once a week thing, it's a nice change.. even a break... but I have told a few too many customers tu f**k off.. sometimes in those words, sometimes by berating them intellectually (not really much of a sport with the calibre of people I'm talking about, but if someone holds up my line or tries wasting my time with bullshit I have a very short fuse)

I guess that explains my screen name ;)

[azelismia]

I couldn't stand retail as a 'career', but I worked in a convenience store when I was studying.. and I've kept on doing one shift a week on weekends (even though I'm working elsewhere now).

As a once a week thing, it's a nice change.. even a break... but I have told a few too many customers tu f**k off.. sometimes in those words, sometimes by berating them intellectually (not really much of a sport with the calibre of people I'm talking about, but if someone holds up my line or tries wasting my time with bullshit I have a very short fuse)

I guess that explains my screen name ;)

I was a checker when I was 20 it paid the best for my skill level. I was good at it but I can't imagine making a life of it. low pay, all day on your feet. ugh, if you know how to type well enough to be here you can get an office job that's going to pay twice of any retail job and you don't have to kill your dogs.

[ElstonGunn]

but I have told a few too many customers tu f**k off.. sometimes in those words, sometimes by berating them intellectually (not really much of a sport with the calibre of people I'm talking about, but if someone holds up my line or tries wasting my time with bullshit I have a very short fuse)

What are you, Randall Graves from Clerks?

[SoupNazi]

What are you, Randall Graves from Clerks?

I'm usually very polite and friendly with my customers.. but once I reach my limit I can be very abrupt

Also, it's a 24hr store in the city, so we get our share of crazies. Some people just need to be told.. and some need to be kicked out. Sometimes, however, I have just reacted without what I would consider a good enough reason.

Just an observation though.. I always knew that the world is filled with imbeciles, and I don't hold it against the imbeciles .. I've been forced to call myself one on occasion. What's amazing though is how rude some people can be. Usually I'll spend the whole evening being very polite.. most of my customers are polite back.. To the imbeciles I'll smile and nod (and eventually look busy until they go away).. and then someone will come in acting like a total f**kwit, being completely rude and basically just looking for someone to abuse.. those people will cop it every time

[MintOreo]

I currently work in a department store, though only because I need the money and can't really get a different job. I usually just "clean the stockroom."
As for a career? Never. I agree with other's reasons as to why it's not a good career...