Part-time job at Target

After going to a Christian college for a semester and not being able to afford to continue (they didn't accept state scholarships, and I could only work on campus which didn't cover full tuition), I moved back in with my parents and went to community college. They told me I could only stay if I got a job and paid rent. I hated going around applying for jobs and interviewing. I applied to restaurants, fast-food restaurants, and grocery stores. Finally, I got interviewed at a Super Target. I didn't feel it went well. I was very shy and lacked social skills.

But I got a call later saying I was accepted. I learned that the only reason I got the job was because I delivered a thank you note to HR to show gratitude for the interview. That is something that my mom pushed me to do and I did grudgingly.

It turned out that they made a good choice, as I was one of their most efficient workers. I started work at 4am and unloaded boxes from semi-truck trailers. We would put them on a conveyor line, and sort the boxes onto pallets according to where in the store they were to be stocked onto shelves. I had the corner right at the start of the line. I sorted boxes of clothes, electronics, diapers, and baby food. It was the place everyone hated. Every box label that came off the truck had to be checked. Then stacking the boxes were difficult because of their various shapes and sizes. But I got good at it. It was almost like Tetris, getting them to fit on the pallets. Whenever I had a day off on a truck day, it would take two people to replace me.

Then I took another job that everyone hated: working in the giant cooler stocking milk and yogurt. Even though it was constantly cold, I liked being able to work by myself and away from customers, listening to J-pop music on earbuds hidden by the coat hood.

While those were my main, specific responsibilities, I also stocked the rest of the store: food, office, furniture, clothing, and electronics.

I worked there for 5 years. I didn't enjoy it, especially getting up so early. But I didn't want to go through the job application process again to try and get something better. With my technical skills, I probably could have, but I didn't have confidence in my social skills. I felt stuck there, until I quit to focus on my final semester in university before graduating and getting a job in Japan.