I am a Cashier.

Yep, I'm a cashier, a cashier for one of the largest retail stores in the country. I won't say which chain but just know it's NOT Walmart.

I was first a cashier about 12 years ago, at a Craft Store that no longer exists. I really enjoyed cashiering and after working as a Merchandiser for about 8 years, I decided I wanted to return to cashiering. I needed to find a business that would hire me as a cashier even though I hadn't worked as one for so many years. The first place I set my sights on hired me and I have now been working for this company about 15 months.

When I first started working for this store, I was very happy there. I was doing what I enjoyed and done with the merchandising I had become burnt-out on. The fact I was only making minimum wage and only working about 18-22 hours a week didn't matter too much at the time. I just needed a job to help with emergency expenses,  give my family a little fun money, and get me out of the house. I was comfortable in the atmosphere of the place and liked almost everyone I worked with.

Things have changed as things will do and now I need to get out of there and find a better paying job with more hours. The biggest eye-opener was my Husband telling me we must divorce. Suddenly I saw myself as alone and having to support myself. I know there is no way this could happen with the job I have. I realized I have no skills to get a better job, I had chosen to stay home and raise my son instead of pursuing a career. I had mistakenly thought my marriage was forever.

In addition to this realization, or along with this realization, I began feeling that my job was degrading. Friends and family seem condescending to me over my choice of jobs and where I work, telling me I could do better. I am tired of wearing specific colors of clothes to my job and having to push credit cards and surveys. Many of the other employees I began working with have moved on to other jobs. I now see myself alone in a sea of new faces and feel I am not progressing in life as they are.

I still enjoy cashiering, it is the only real job skill I have but it is time to move on. I have began applying at other stores, ones that pay more, but am having no luck so far.