My First Job

      So today I finally am going to talk about something other than Genesis because the Genesis Academy is over. Some of you know that I got my first job at the start of the summer at the technology store on campus. I really enjoy working there and I have learned a lot about computers and also about how to treat people. So today I thought I would share some things I have learned so far while working at the tech store. (The ones marked with asterisks (*) are mostly only applicable to my specific job.)
      Be nice to people. This sounds so incredibly simple and obvious, especially in a retail environment, but it's necessary. Customers feel much more comfortable shopping when you are nice to them, and are more likely to trust your recommendations. The easiest way to be nice is to just smile at people. People will feel happier and more relaxed while they are there. At the end of the day, if you are kind to them, they will enjoy being there and will most likely come back if they need something else.
      Try to address concerns before they are made. What I mean by this is that you want to try to cover as much information as possible so people don't have to ask too many questions. For example. when I am describing a computer's warranty, I also try to talk about what the warranty covers. That way, they don't have to ask me what the warranty covers, which is what they will most likely ask anyway. By doing this, you sound more professional and the customer will feel better about their purchase.
      Help people choose the right computer*. People are often uninformed about the advantages and disadvantages of different computers, so it's best to ask them what they need the computer for. People often think that buying the most expensive computer is necessary, when often times it is not. I don't try to sell the more expensive computers, I try to help the customer. I judge what the person will use their computer for, then recommend one they would like.
      Try to answer more than the question requires. When people ask questions, sometimes they don't quite know what they are asking. This is especially true where I work, because most people do not know as much about computers as I do. So when they ask a question, I try to find out what they are trying to learn, and then tell them what I think it is they are asking me about.
      Never say "I don't know". This is a lesson that I had to learn while answering phone calls. The person asked me a question I did not have the answer to, so I said "I don't know the answer to that question". This may seem like a weird thing to not be able to say, but after my manager explained it to me, I understood why. When you say "I don't know" or anything along those lines, you sound unprofessional. Your job is to help the customer in as much as possible, which means if you don't know the answer to a question, you have to find it. What I say now instead is "let me ask my manager", or "let me look that up for you".
      Visual is always better than audible. People understand things much better if you show it to them rather than if you tell it to them. One way my coworkers and I use visual aids is by giving every customer that walks in a price sheet. This way they don't have to keep asking us about prices. Another way I use visual aids is by showing customers the computers we have on display. They feel more confident in their choices if they can look at the actual computer.
      Learn from other people. In my case, I try to learn how to speak and act by observing my manager when he interacts with others. He does a very good job being professional and kind to customers. I also learn from the customer when they bring up questions I don't know the answer to. If a customer asks me a question I don't know the answer to, 9 times out of 10 I will know the answer next time the question is asked.  
      These are just a few things I have been learning at my first job. Some are more straight forward than others, but they are all very important where I work. Most of these are applicable in daily life, such as being nice to others and learning from others. I still struggle to do all of these things, but I get better the more I practice. I hope you can learn from these tips I've learned.
-Smart