is a courtesy clerk job Aspie friendly?

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brea593
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07 May 2013, 3:26 pm

Whats your experience? too much social interaction?



OliveOilMom
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07 May 2013, 3:28 pm

What exactly is a courtesy clerk?


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eric76
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07 May 2013, 3:38 pm

OliveOilMom wrote:
What exactly is a courtesy clerk?


I think it is someone at a place like a grocery store where people can go to pay some bills, make change, buy stamps, return merchandise, ask for information, ... .



brea593
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07 May 2013, 3:44 pm

Bagger is the unofficial title. The primary duties of a bagger revolve around putting groceries into a bag and then into a shopping cart. Upon requests, baggers may take the groceries out to a customer's car or supply other forms of service. Other duties may include cleaning the store, cleaning the bathrooms, collecting carts, sweeping the store, fixing and maintaining the bottle recycling machines, giving customer assistance, putting items customers initially intended to purchase but changed their mind about at the register back on the shelf.



Vertex
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07 May 2013, 4:58 pm

brea593 wrote:
Whats your experience? too much social interaction?


My brother was a Courtesy Clerk. It can be very social, depending on the store. For example, at one point his store had an "Eye Contact" policy, though it was later retracted when they realized that it made customers uncomfortable.You may be encouraged to exchange pleasantries with the customers, but if you're polite and have a high tolerance for people, you should be fine.



AardvarkGoodSwimmer
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07 May 2013, 5:09 pm

A lot depends on the particular boss you get. Some are reasonable, and some just aren't.

==========

One trick I've used is that I sometimes like to read the same book twice. So if it's a used book and I don't mind it getting lost, I will just leave it in the break room. Also it can't be too personal a book. And then, there's something there to draw me there early. And it's no longer uncomfortable getting there ten to fifteen minutes early. Maybe there will be a little bit of conversation with someone who is nice. If not, I'll have my book. And then I can easily clock in five minutes early, and that's a definite positive. And then I can work at a good 'steady-eddie' clip, not nervously, or taking deep breaths if I do, just present and doing a good, solid middle-of-the-road job.



tourettebassist
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07 May 2013, 5:20 pm

RE; Brea.... I did that job and was considered a "service assistant", doing all the things you mention. There were people in meat and dairy who were assistants too. We did a variety of jobs.... I was so (aspie) meticulous with evening floor buffing, I became the Monday night floor cleaner. A lot of time alone (you don't always bag). As a bagger , it's your choice whether to interact with the customer or not. These are all things a aspie would love to do .... I DID.

RE:Eric.... I have a degree in grammar so this stood out as the correct definition of "Courtesy Clerk" at a "Customer Service Counter". Clerks are generally more involved with people (as opposed to a assistants). There's also dealing with irate and downright mad people.... all different..... all impassive.... all just there for themselves... This would NOT be a good atmosphere for a aspie to get into.

BUT.... I don't know. I don't know.....I lived in the north then moved here and the one food store here is owned by the same company, but the name and format are different, so a lot of cashiers know me as a former food sevice assistant. But they have a different title for the job. So, I'll have to ask again , as I can't remember.................

I would ask for a 'job description' from a manager ( the dairy, or produce. or some of the people on the floor - they're all sub-managers, so you won't have to give the general manager a preconception). I'm just transposing from my retail experience.



Ann2011
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07 May 2013, 9:05 pm

brea593 wrote:
Bagger is the unofficial title. The primary duties of a bagger revolve around putting groceries into a bag and then into a shopping cart. Upon requests, baggers may take the groceries out to a customer's car or supply other forms of service. Other duties may include cleaning the store, cleaning the bathrooms, collecting carts, sweeping the store, fixing and maintaining the bottle recycling machines, giving customer assistance, putting items customers initially intended to purchase but changed their mind about at the register back on the shelf.

Doesn't sound bad. At first, I thought you meant the customer service desk, which I would not recommend - way too much interaction. But as a bagger you are sort of ignored.



Tsproggy
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07 May 2013, 9:14 pm

Image

"When you've met one person with Aspergers, You've met one person with Aspergers."

Every, single, person in this field will have different experiences. The only way to figure out if it's right for you is to test the waters, if you don't like it, don't swim.



BTDT
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08 May 2013, 7:49 am

It can be a good job, particularly if you can remember and follow all the rules they have for dealing with customers. Even better if you can function well in the presence of angry or hostile customer while doing your job.

But, if you have memory issues, don't bother.



Last edited by BTDT on 08 May 2013, 11:11 am, edited 1 time in total.

BlueMax
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08 May 2013, 10:36 am

You're not necessarily expected to engage in conversation, just bag their groceries, smile, and move on. 20+ years ago I did okay in the job - provided I kept my big mouth shut. ;)



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04 Jun 2013, 3:08 am

This was my first job and the only job I liked and felt I could accomplish ok. The social interaction parts can be problematic but there isn't a ton of it. Just try to focus on bagging and let the other people do the other stuff if you can.

I did so well at this job they promoted me to stocker and I didn't do as well stocking... I would lose interest because it was so tedious and you have to work at night so tedious and tired would put you to sleep. A lot of the guys who were stockers were macho jerks and I couldn't really deal with them.

But the time management issues with aspergers were the problem with stocking I think - I have really bad executive function issues.