I could do so much better, but I can't.

[kutuup]

I'm becoming increasingly depressed lately. I'm stuck in a job I can't stand. I'm being constantly chewed out over petty things (it's a sales job) like not selling insurance to enough customers on our products or not selling enough accessories with each sale. I get my job threatened constantly over things that literally don't matter like leaving a cupboard open with some items in that customers don't even have access to. The company sucks and treats the staff like crap most of the time, like I'm supposed to feel super lucky to work there. I don't. I don't under perform because I'm not capable of it, I under perform because I simply don't care. I care about getting the customer what they want, and nothing more. I just feel like I'm going crazy in this place.

I know I'm lucky to even have a job right now, but how can I stay sane in a job where I'm constantly harassed over things that simply don't matter in real terms. I spent years in school and worked to save up for university, I graduated with my loan paid off in a scientific field (computer science), yet I'm no better off than if I hadn't bothered. I put in all that work to be yelled at by someone who doesn't know the colours of the rainbow because I forgot to wash a cup. That's not life, that's a sorry state of affairs, for ANYONE. Nobody should be in that position. I just feel like I worked so hard for no pay off, I've watched everyone I went to school with get married and get good jobs, yet here I am, I've watched them all go off and start their lives. What happened to mine? I'm 25, still single, still living with my parents, in a job I hate. My life never even got started. I've watched both my siblings set out and surpass me, my parents pity me and treat me like some sorry sack.

That's not what my life was meant to be, but that's what it is.

And people ask me why I'm not motivated at work.

[Grace]

Hello kutuup!
I'm really sorry you're being treated in this way! I understand that it's a difficult time  to get jobs, but with your university degree can't you try to look for another job which may be more in your line and probably more rewarding!
It is difficult especially when you're depressed to be criticised when you're really doing your job!
As you say, you care about the customer and this is to be admired as you're somehow entering into a little relationship with them while they're buying and this could be a little rewarding aspect of your job!
As to my experience try not to internalise every criticism that is thrown at you .... because by time it will make you feel worse .... I've been through such a time with one of my exbosses ... and in the evening after work I would find myself obsessively thinking about what he said ....... but at times what saved me was to prepare beforehand a good answer which he did not expect and that made him realise I was worth and then he'd be quiet for some time .... as I showed him that I wouldn't let him get away with all that he prefers to say! But then he had no authority to send me out of my job, maybe in your case it may be different. So you may have to be more careful!
If you're taking medication, do you feel that they're working enough to help you face what you're going through!
I wish all the best and it's good you posted!
Grace

[Pip]

I wish there were more people like you in sales. It really irritates me when shops try and sell me things I don't want such as extra insurance on mobile phones as we have good content insurance which covers phones.

[kutuup]

I wish there were more people like you in sales. It really irritates me when shops try and sell me things I don't want such as extra insurance on mobile phones as we have good content insurance which covers phones.

I completely agree. I don't believe in pressuring people to buy things they don't want. Sure, I'll offer them the insurance and tell them the benefits of it, but if they say they don't want it, they don't want it, what am I supposed to do? MAKE them want it? That would just be rude and annoying for the customer. The same goes for accessories, I'll show them whats on offer, but if they're happy with what they have already, then that's what I'm selling them. I will ask precisely ONCE whether the customer wants the insurance or accessories, if they say no, I'm taking that answer. I hate it when I hear my colleagues follow up a no with "are you sure because...", it treats the customer like an idiot, if you've already told them what the product is once, telling them again will only annoy them.

I think a lot of sales companies confuse customer service with hard selling. I'm here to SERVE customers, I'm here to give them what they want if they already know, or help them reach a decision if they're not sure. I'm not interested in what I can make in commission, which is all management talks about regarding targets. I'm interested in getting the customer what they want and having them leave happy. The rudest thing you can do with a customer is second guess them, which I see in sales all the time.

On an aside, I can't say which company I work for, but I'll give you a tip, if you upgrade your phone with this company, and they tell you you can't transfer your existing insurance policy to your new phone, you have to cancel it and take out a new one. They're lying, you absolutely can. Of course I get chewed out if I tell a customer this.

This may be the only job in the world where you get written up for being "too helpful".