Barnes and Noble

Cashier

July - September 2018 • Denton, TX

What I liked

Co-workers are amazing and fun! Made the job a cool breeze.

What I wish was different

One of the managers was pretty judgemental.

Advice

Work with people and speak up.

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Barista

May - August 2023 • Hackensack, NJ

What I liked

My coworkers and managers were very friendly and approachable. There were never conflicts among staff and everyone got a long very well. My coworkers were very dependable and trustworthy which made for an enjoyable and welcoming work environment.

What I wish was different

I wish that my hours were more consistent, but it did help that the schedule was released two weeks in advance. I also wish that inventory was kept up more, we ran out of ingredients very regularly, it was almost unheard of for an entire week to go by without us being out of something.

Advice

Be ready and open to make any drink combination people ask for. Be patient and helpful, and always offer suggestions or substitutes if you're out of something. Remember regular's orders (which will be easy the more you see them) since it makes their day when you know exactly what they want and how they like it.

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Barista

August 2018 - July 2019 • Hartford, CT

What I liked

Easy to get hired

What I wish was different

Management was not the best. Often was not given breaks

Advice

It's an easy enough job but it is stressful. Be prepared to have constant rushes

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Café Server

April 2016 - August 2019 • Eagan, MN

What I liked

The work environment was really nice. Everyone who works there has each others backs.

What I wish was different

I wish I would have been paid more for my time, considering that I have worked there for a long time.

Advice

If you help others, others will help you.

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Bookseller

May - August 2021 • Falls Church, VA

What I liked

I liked interacting with the customers and talking about common interests with my coworkers

What I wish was different

Nothing

Advice

Be a bookworm!

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Book store worker

August 2019 • Mankato, MN

What I liked

The other employees are always helpful!

What I wish was different

Advice

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Bookteller

August 2018 • Albany, NY

What I liked

I liked the flexibility of my schedule and the fact that it was on campus, so it was easy to access.

What I wish was different

I wish that my pay was more clear and that I knew clearly what my hours and taxes were.

Advice

I really think that this was a good job because it was something calm and was really a financial help in the beginning of the semester.

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Bookstore clerk

March 2017 - July 2019 • Fenton, MO

What I liked

Helping customers find the right book

What I wish was different

Company organization

Advice

Great group of people to work with

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Bookseller

April - September 2018 • Detroit, MI

What I liked

The people were great; your fellow coworkers would help you figure things out and help you deal with your customer. Barnes & Noble I work that was part of its college division so some things such as payments were little more complex as some students had financial aid. And my co-workers always willing to help to make sure I did things correctly.

What I wish was different

I wish I had a little bit more training, BNcollege ( I'm not sure about other divisions) has a bad tendency of throwing employees into their duties with little to no training of how to correctly perform the responsibilities. If you are a brand new employee you may receive a little bit more training however if you're returning employee like me or someone being moved to a manager position you may be expected to learn most of the system changes on your own or ask questions when they come up. This can be difficult when you are in the middle of a rush, which is in my experience, when most of these problems arise.

Advice

Understand that even though your job title says one thing your responsibilities are anything your manager needs you to do.

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Bookseller

March 2018 • Lincoln, NE

What I liked

My bosses are amazing.

What I wish was different

Nothing.

Advice

Be nice, and do your job.

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Barista

October 2018 - March 2019 • Rochester Hills, MI

What I liked

The people were amazing and the customers were cool

What I wish was different

The rush could get hectic

Advice

Be available at all times

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Bookseller

August 2020 • Fort Lauderdale, FL

What I liked

I enjoyed working in the on campus bookstore and learning how textbooks are managed, stored, bought, transferred, etc. I never knew it would be so important especially as a college student and I know what to look for when someone or myself asks about a book for a class. It was interesting seeing how the shipping and networking system works at the company. As someone who doesn't enjoy economics and business management I found it very educational and changed my attitude towards the managing businesses. My managers are always so helpful, respectful, and amazing individuals who help me whenever I have doubts.

What I wish was different

I honestly liked everything and would not change anything.

Advice

Advice I would share about this experience is to be open to new things. I never in a million years thought I would work for a store that the managers would ask me to help them place orders and rely on me for accurate information in other areas. I realized that the reason I despised anything to do with businesses as a career was because I was not accurately informed enough about what it entails. Now I have a new respect for those who run businesses or stores and enjoy the field. So always try out new things and get out of your comfort zone. It may be difficult at first, but you will gain so many new skills and experience that not only benefit your professional resume, but most importantly help you become a better individual.

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Sales

July - October 2020 • Newington, NH

What I liked

The people, the work, the employee discount

What I wish was different

That I had gotten a real training, I didn’t because of everything needing to move fast Bc of COVID

Advice

Use the discount

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Barnes and Noble Bookseller

August 2018 • Jacksonville, FL

What I liked

The managers were excellent, coworkers were nice, the pacec was good. Enough menial tasks to keep you occupied but enough variety that it was never boring.

What I wish was different

I wish the pay had been more livable and that I had a set schedule.

Advice

Take initiative!

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Bookseller

May 2019 • Irvine, CA

What I liked

It was exactly as I'd hoped - I needed a relatively chill retail job while working on other products, and it delivered. Being around books was nice and comforting in a way that other jobs hadn't been.

What I wish was different

It still is a retail job, and though things have changed somewhat since I've been there, all the pressures of a retail job are still there.

Advice

Don't be afraid of having a day job. Find something that's not too strenuous and usually doesn't leave you burnt out so you can work on other things.

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Bookseller

September 2016 • Morris Plains, NJ

What I liked

I enjoyed interacting with customers and organizing the store during times when it was slow or during designated project nights.

What I wish was different

I wish the management had been different and bookselllers were not hounded to sell memberships or upsell.

Advice

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Customer Service

October 2017 • Cumming, GA

What I liked

It's a good job with friendly people, good for building social and customer service skills. It is a regular retail position, but one where it is easy to bond with others over the product (books, movies, music).

What I wish was different

I have worked there for two years, and a higher salary would be nice, but it is decent for a retail position.

Advice

If you are shy and have nerdy interests, B&N is a fantastic place to work and can help you to put yourself out there more.

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Bookseller

August 2018 • White Plains, NY

What I liked

Great experience in the retail scene, learned a lot about covering with consumers and what to expect when working in various departments in retail.

What I wish was different

The approach I had the first time talking to customers.

Advice

If you are posted at the cash register your main focus is to sell memberships. Scanning, and bagging books can all be done by either machine or the costumer. Cashiers are expected to inform the customer about the recent store promotions and to get emails, and memberships.

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