Hired at Lowes: Lawn & Garden for a second job

[YoungJRNY]

Since I'm still an internship with schooling & with bills needed to be paid off like student loans and all that BEE-ESS, I decided to take up a seasonal second job for more money to help out with bills. I just got the job at Lowes Lawn and Garden sales associate. They had 3 positions where they would of liked to put me, but they needed a person of need immediately in Lawn and Garden so I decided to take that since I'll be outside with plants. I have great people and personable skills but I admit, I'm not the home-body handy man, especially gardening.

Any gardener's out there? Anyone work at a Lowes Lawn and Garden center to give me tips on an already stressful work schedule? I go in for a drug test Monday and been offered $10 an hr.

[YoungJRNY]

Sweet. I'm like fuckin Bruce Banner right now. 62+ days of p90X. 40-50 LBS got nothin' on me, son! Lmao Hulkin'-up just thinkin' about it

[YoungJRNY]

Possible and I brought that up in the 3rd interview process but they feel I'm more suitable as an Associate givin' my background working in the T-shirt industry my brother owns. Not looking forward to knowing the in's and out's & training of hundreds of lawn mowers, top soils, fertilizers and plants, not to mention every day stupid costumer questions demanding all the answers. I'm going to have to research this she-ite. Hulking up and carrying out heavy equipment is a bonus. I always loved doin that stuff. I don't mind heavy lifting.

[Everett]

Your gonna pass the drug test right trav? Good luck with it.
Maybe I should look into that line of work again. Been doing machine operation
last couple years. Not that bad of a job but I think I could be better doing
something else.

[Arianddu]

As a semi-decent gardener (I can make things grow, I just hate weeding), if you are going to be expected to give customers gardening advice, these are the things I'd advise you bone up on first:

1. What grows well in your area - which means knowing if your area is prone to frost, drought, salt (i.e. near the coast with sea breezes), soil type, average rainfall. Your company training should cover some of it, but it's worth your while doing a bit more digging (boom! boom!) to get some ideas about what are 'easy' plants for your area and what are trickier.

2. Make sure you understand which fertilizers are needed for different soil types. This is the one that drives me crazy in the chain hardware stores with garden centres attached, as opposed to nurseries - staff who don't understand the difference between a wetting agent, a soil conditioner, a soil lifter, a plant food, a compost and a fertilizer. They all do different things, and different ones are needed for different soil types and different outcomes; they aren't interchangeable. I **hate** seeing people who aren't sure what they need being told to buy a nitrogen-fertilizer when they've got heavy clay soils and need a soil lifter, or people with sandy soils being sold wetting agents when they need compost.

3. Get to know your garden tools. Seriously, make sure you know the difference between a spade and a shovel (and between shears and secateurs). The quickest way to piss a serious gardener off is to be dumb about tools, ESPECIALLY when it comes to the quality of the tool. I'm happy to spend $20 on a cheap rake because I'll only use it to rake over topsoil once a year, but a garden fork I expect to last 20+ years and I'm prepared to pay for it; if you're going to sell me tools, I want to be sure you know what you're talking about.

If you can, get to the library and read a few gardening magazines from the last two years. Like everything, gardening has its trends, and for the type of place you're working, you're going to get more of the trend-followers and fewer of the hard-core gardeners (who are unlikely to ask you many questions beyond 'do you stock...' and 'where do I find the...')

Good luck with it

[Enigma869]

As a semi-decent gardener (I can make things grow, I just hate weeding), if you are going to be expected to give customers gardening advice, these are the things I'd advise you bone up on first:

1. What grows well in your area

Easy answer....People. Tell the buying public that there aren't a lot of midgets in your part of PA

2. Make sure you understand which fertilizers are needed

Tell them to let the family dog defecate all over the lawn. It will grow like never before!

3. Get to know your garden tools

Lots that I can say here, but this would probably be a woman's area of expertise

If you can, get to the library and read a few gardening magazines from the last two years.

Don't do it, Slim. Your woman will dump you, and you'll never get laid again once word gets out about how you're spending your free time

[artist4perry]

My son is working as a dishwasher at a local restaraunt. All part of making ends meet these days. Hang in there!

[DrFU]

You've already got the most important qualities you need, Trav ... Just work hard and don't be an asshole ... That puts you ahead of about 99% of people in any workplace.

[pinkfloyd1973]

Your gonna pass the drug test right trav? Good luck with it.
Maybe I should look into that line of work again. Been doing machine operation
last couple years. Not that bad of a job but I think I could be better doing
something else.

Seriously, you want to work retail?

[YoungJRNY]

Thanks for the replies, Arianddu & Fu I'll be sure to follow your advice. Even though I don't plan on staying there long & since seasonal work for the next 3-4 months or so works perfectly with my intern schedule, I still want to make a good impression and work hard for their team. I'll be getting some additional money in my pocket even after my bills are paid off in the midst of it so it's good to have extra spending money for the summer as well. It'll also give me something new to do to keep my goin, I don't mind extra work on the side.

[YoungJRNY]

Your gonna pass the drug test right trav? Good luck with it.
Maybe I should look into that line of work again. Been doing machine operation
last couple years. Not that bad of a job but I think I could be better doing
something else.

Lots and lots of Green Tea my man Haha, nah, I'm as clean can be. I don't consume any of that trash.

[Everett]

Your gonna pass the drug test right trav? Good luck with it.
Maybe I should look into that line of work again. Been doing machine operation
last couple years. Not that bad of a job but I think I could be better doing
something else.

Seriously, you want to work retail?

No choice at this point. I'll take what I can get. 12hr shifts suck.

[YoungJRNY]

Your gonna pass the drug test right trav? Good luck with it.
Maybe I should look into that line of work again. Been doing machine operation
last couple years. Not that bad of a job but I think I could be better doing
something else.

Seriously, you want to work retail?

No choice at this point. I'll take what I can get. 12hr shifts suck.

Yeah man, same here. It's a tough society to grow up in. I feel like I have a lot to offer and even in the midst of graduating and doing internships in my I.T Field, there isn't much money right now anywhere. All the system administrator's jobs are almost untouchable for a first hire and that's where the money lies (some places won't even let you anywhere NEAR their server room.)

Instead of that goal, I've been working the basic computer repair shop and the money absolutley is non-existent (I'm now learning the head admin at the company I am at only makes $25-30 grand a year, which is lousy IMO.)

I also work out of my house and go to customer calls around my local area and I make more doing that than actually on the job wages in this field. If something doesn't happen soon to where I can actually make a buck and not worry about just getting ahead in gas money, then I'm going to have to look elsewhere and that potential is in the Steel Mill with my father. I could have a spot there any time and I would basically be set for my life (near the $80-85 grand a year mark) but I'm still weighing out my education to see if things get better as far as the economy is concerned.

[pinkfloyd1973]

Didn't mean to sound snarky with my post, I work for one of the largest retailers while I go back to school. Let me tell you firsthand that it royally sucks.

[Arianddu]

Thanks for the replies, Arianddu & Fu I'll be sure to follow your advice. Even though I don't plan on staying there long & since seasonal work for the next 3-4 months or so works perfectly with my intern schedule, I still want to make a good impression and work hard for their team. I'll be getting some additional money in my pocket even after my bills are paid off in the midst of it so it's good to have extra spending money for the summer as well. It'll also give me something new to do to keep my goin, I don't mind extra work on the side.

That's exactly the mind set you need, and it can get you places, honest! I can name seven friends (and myself) without thinking who got their foot in the door in their current industry because while working in retail, their attitude impressed a customer who then offered them a job or asked them specifically to apply for one. At the very least, it gets you a good reference, which can make all the difference. And there's no reason to have anything but pride in doing your job well, even if the job itself sucks.

Good luck with it.

[Everett]

Didn't mean to sound snarky with my post, I work for one of the largest retailers while I go back to school. Let me tell you firsthand that it royally sucks.

It's all good homie. I did wally world for a yr and a half. Job was ok
only mangement were pricks.

[Peartree12249]

Your gonna pass the drug test right trav? Good luck with it.
Maybe I should look into that line of work again. Been doing machine operation
last couple years. Not that bad of a job but I think I could be better doing
something else.

Seriously, you want to work retail?

No choice at this point. I'll take what I can get. 12hr shifts suck.

Yeah man, same here. It's a tough society to grow up in. I feel like I have a lot to offer and even in the midst of graduating and doing internships in my I.T Field, there isn't much money right now anywhere. All the system administrator's jobs are almost untouchable for a first hire and that's where the money lies (some places won't even let you anywhere NEAR their server room.)

Instead of that goal, I've been working the basic computer repair shop and the money absolutley is non-existent (I'm now learning the head admin at the company I am at only makes $25-30 grand a year, which is lousy IMO.)

I also work out of my house and go to customer calls around my local area and I make more doing that than actually on the job wages in this field. If something doesn't happen soon to where I can actually make a buck and not worry about just getting ahead in gas money, then I'm going to have to look elsewhere and that potential is in the Steel Mill with my father. I could have a spot there any time and I would basically be set for my life (near the $80-85 grand a year mark) but I'm still weighing out my education to see if things get better as far as the economy is concerned.

Don't give up and don't settle by doing something you hate! Life is too short. Yes, times are tough right now but they'll get better, my husband's neice's husband graduated with an accounting degree years ago when jobs were very scarce, it took him well over a year to get a job as an accountant. But eventually he found one, got his CPA and now 20 yrs later he's financially very successfull and a partner in an accounting firm. You're a smart hardworking guy. What you need to do is network. My niece is brilliant, 4.0 all the way through high school and college. She graduated with a degree in math. and wanted to be an actuary. However the university she graduated from didn't have a major in actuarial science, so even though she had already passed 2 actuary tests while she was still in college and was working on her 3rd, no employers would even talk to her. She went and discussed it with her professor, and he had contacts in the insurance industry. Called some up, she got her interviews, got hired and now in her 40's she's a vice president and her house is paid for! The best way to find good jobs is to network. That's how I got all of mine. Good Luck!

[ebake02]

Didn't mean to sound snarky with my post, I work for one of the largest retailers while I go back to school. Let me tell you firsthand that it royally sucks.

Indeed it does!! I'm still at Kmart and I'm not thrilled at all. The problem with my job is that their parent company is losing money by the truckload so they've been cutting corners lately (under-staffing is their favorite) and it makes my job that much harder. I'm optimistic that I'll find something new and better so I'll live with it until then.

[stevew2]

Good luck,my daughter just got a job at sams club for $11.00 bucks and hour ,she had to pass a drug test,and she passed, thank god.Thats good you got a job ,my best to you.

[steveo777]

Good luck,my daughter just got a job at sams club for $11.00 bucks and hour ,she had to pass a drug test,and she passed, thank god.Thats good you got a job ,my best to you.

Isn't sams club the luxury elite class of walmart? I didn't realize you redneck hill billies had those kinds of stores there.

Seriously....glad you and your daughter are making progress!

[artist4perry]

Thanks for the replies, Arianddu & Fu I'll be sure to follow your advice. Even though I don't plan on staying there long & since seasonal work for the next 3-4 months or so works perfectly with my intern schedule, I still want to make a good impression and work hard for their team. I'll be getting some additional money in my pocket even after my bills are paid off in the midst of it so it's good to have extra spending money for the summer as well. It'll also give me something new to do to keep my goin, I don't mind extra work on the side.

Things going well?

[YoungJRNY]

Thanks for the replies, guys. I took a drug test Monday and my manager said it'll take a few days for the results to come back. I should hear from them by the end of this week and then it's setting up orientation for the next few days for new hires. That'll consist of signing forms, papers, work scheduling, tours & all day computer testing about the company, etc. Sooner the better.

[AR]

Since I'm still an internship with schooling & with bills needed to be paid off like student loans and all that BEE-ESS, I decided to take up a seasonal second job for more money to help out with bills. I just got the job at Lowes Lawn and Garden sales associate. They had 3 positions where they would of liked to put me, but they needed a person of need immediately in Lawn and Garden so I decided to take that since I'll be outside with plants. I have great people and personable skills but I admit, I'm not the home-body handy man, especially gardening.

Any gardener's out there? Anyone work at a Lowes Lawn and Garden center to give me tips on an already stressful work schedule? I go in for a drug test Monday and been offered $10 an hr.

This could be your foot in the door with Tom Scholz and Boston.

[Don]

Since I'm still an internship with schooling & with bills needed to be paid off like student loans and all that BEE-ESS, I decided to take up a seasonal second job for more money to help out with bills. I just got the job at Lowes Lawn and Garden sales associate. They had 3 positions where they would of liked to put me, but they needed a person of need immediately in Lawn and Garden so I decided to take that since I'll be outside with plants. I have great people and personable skills but I admit, I'm not the home-body handy man, especially gardening.

Any gardener's out there? Anyone work at a Lowes Lawn and Garden center to give me tips on an already stressful work schedule? I go in for a drug test Monday and been offered $10 an hr.

This could be your foot in the door with Tom Scholz and Boston.

Or getting your name on a gringo hitlist administered by the local migrant pendejos.