A Glimpse Into the Job of a Retail Sales Associate #WorkforceStories

When I was a kid, I dreamed about becoming a doctor someday (specifically a Pediatrician). When I attended college, I changed my major several times as there were different careers and areas of study I was introduced to and became interested in. I wanted to be an Elementary School Teacher, a Doctor (again), an Accountant, a Marriage and Family Therapist and a School Counselor. My full-time career now is that in Social Media and Marketing (aka blogger), but I am still curious about the careers of others and what inspired them to go into their jobs, as well as what they do in their different positions.

I recently discovered Kronos, the leader in workforce management solutions. With tens of thousands of customers worldwide, Kronos helps their clients manage time and attendance records, worker’s schedules, absence records, HR and payroll, hiring, and labor analytics solutions and services.

Kronos has published the “1 in one hundred million” Web Series – a site devoted to sharing the personal stories of people who do the many important and too-often unrecognized jobs upon which we all rely. From their very first days, Kronos solutions have always focused on the work that people do. That’s why they’re proud to celebrate these special individuals who reflect the character, the commitment, and the passion of today’s workforce.

You can subscribe to the “1 in one hundred million” Web Series for free and watch every month as a new episode is aired featuring a different worker. In the video series, ordinary people in the workforce are featured and they tell their stories.

o Ep: 1 – Firefighter
o Ep: 2 – Trauma Nurse
o Ep: 3 – Produce Manager at grocery store
o Ep: 4 – Union Electrician
o Ep: 5 – Hotel Front Desk Agent
o Ep: 6 – Restaurant Server
o Ep: 7 – Teacher
o Ep: 8 – Baseball Bat Maker, was MLB pitcher
o Ep: 9 – Major in National Guard, works security for major events
o Ep: 10 – Justina Pratt: Safe Start Swimming Instructor at the YMCA, Lake Nona, FL
o Ep: 11 – Royce / Alligator Wrangler
o Ep: 12 – Shannon NeSmith / Truck Driver
o Ep: 13 – Zach Feary Stern Pinball, Chicago
o Ep: 14 – Jenny Theuman, Zookeeper
o Ep: 15 – Mike Perez, Sous Chef, Hearty Boy Caterers, Chicago
o Ep: 16 – Jennifer Miller, Retail Sales Associate MJ Christensen Diamonds

These are some really inspirational episodes and gave me a better view into different jobs and the amazing people who do them. One episode that really resonated with me was Episode 16, which was about Jennifer Miller – a Retail Sales Associate at MJ Christensen Diamonds. Jennifer Miller considers herself part saleswoman and part psychologist and she has learned a lot about retail and how ai in retail is becoming important for these business as well. To be successful in jewelry sales, it’s important to have a “good pair of ears” and be able to listen to a client. She often feels like she is a bit a psychologist being a part of people’s intimate moments. In fine jewelry sales, Jennifer often finds herself in the middle of her customers’ relationships – and they love it.  “I find that I’m a bit of a psychologist behind the counter,” she explains. For her, a successful sale isn’t about carat size or dollar amount, but it’s about helping customers make the most of important life moments: Weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, and holidays.

Jennifer loves what she does! She sells jewelry priced anywhere from $39 to $750,000 – and everything in between! She has sold diamonds and jewelry to many couples for a variety of occasions – wedding engagements, anniversaries, birthdays, proud moments, and other celebrations. She has many stories about helping nervous customers pick out the perfect gift for their loved one. One of her most memorable stories is of a couple in their 70s – the woman had overcome her fear and was finally ready to get her ears pierced. Her husband bought her a pair of diamond earrings and Jennifer got them champagne to celebrate the occasion She feels being a part of someone’s special moment is what her job is all about.

Jennifer Miller is a humanitarian, world traveler and jewelry sales specialist from Chicago. She loves the way jewelry brings people together, and loves how it’s based on relationships. A people-person by nature, it’s no wonder Jennifer took her expertise halfway around the world to work with women who create handmade, recycled jewelry to help eradicate extreme poverty. “To serve a bigger purpose,” says Jennifer, makes every day a success.

Last year she worked as a volunteer in Uganda with the BeadforLife program, whose mission is to create sustainable opportunities for women to lift their families out of extreme poverty. BeadforLife sells handmade, recycled jewelry in the US and N. America to help raise awareness for the eradication of extreme poverty. Jennifer’s trip there was to work with the women who create the jewelry and sell it to the non profit, and to shine a mirror on them to say emphatically, “I believe in YOU.” Specifically, she learned about the 6 month entrepreneurial training programs that serve the poorest of the poor- those living on less than $0.60 a day.” Working with the program allows Jennifer to take her skills used in jewelry to serve a bigger purpose.

Be sure to head on over to the “1 in one hundred million” Web Series  and check it out for yourself!

Did you have any idea what it was like to be a Sales Associate? What episode did you like the most? What job would you like to learn more about?