While doing a master’s degree at the Australian National University, I worked as a Retail Assistant at ALDI, Canberra, Australia.

My responsibility entailed restocking shelves fully on daily basis. I maintained and cleaned the store floor and shelves as and when due. In addition, I operated manual pallet moving equipment as well as help our customers in an effective, efficient, and professional way. I equally operated tills and calculated change.

Pros

• Improved people skills: My communication and interpersonal skills were greatly improved due to the different training and workshops I was exposed to. I was also able to meet, interact and network with people from all works of life.
• Pay: The hourly pay was also encouraging as it really helped me to meet numerous financial challenges.
• Work flexibility: There were many shifts available. I was able to choose the one more convenient for me so that it would not interfere much with other activities I had.
• No entry requirement: It does not require any formal education. It is just one’s ability to communicate effectively in English. Hence, I was able to work despite the fact that I was still a student.

Cons

• Monotonous job: When I was 6 months into the job, I got tired as I was doing the same tasks over and over (monotonous). I was also working at an inconvenient hour which somehow affected my studies.
• Job security: In addition, there is no job security as people are hired today and the next, they are fired.
• Difficult customers: Some of the customers were difficult and troublesome. Hence, handling them and making sure they were satisfied always was a herculean task.
• Body pains: I had body pains especially waist pain due to carrying heavy objects.

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