Retail For Life??? (1 Viewer)

[Nashie]

Now I have finished year 12 and am working full time in furniture retail, the industry I was literally bought up in, I am seriously considering ignoring uni and working my way up in the furniture industry (shut up, at least i have a job and a future which doesn't necessaryily involve a name badge) The industry is an interesting one to work in and I have the bonus of being fairly involved since birth/13 and I am know by the industry (ok, because of dad) but I know I can work my way up and I do know at least one guy who was earning at least 150 thousand a year by the time he was 30, without a degree

My question is (I know i asked it sort of a while ago) should I work my way up and gain the respect of my peers that way, or march in after 3-4 years of uni with a degree and an attitude? (I am thinking I can go to uni later anyway, as eventually you will be able to do uni courses fully from home)

 

[jase_]

All I'll say is that you should do what you enjoy doing. You'll have a lot more fun doing a job that you enjoy doing, rather than a job that you don't really like but you feel like you should be doing to earn some respect. You should look forward to work everyday as it will become a major part of your life, so find a career which you enjoy, whether it means going to uni or not. Also, think about what you would do in uni and whether you would enjoy it or not (since you could always do it part-time or something).

In my opinion, if you believe you can earn your way up without going to uni, then I say go for it. You will probably end up doing a lot better than if tried making your way up in an industry which you aren't interested in and know very little about. Don't let anyone force you into doing what you don't want to do.

That's just my opinion .

 

[bscienceboi]

Don't be fooled, just because some bloke was able to land a 150k job does'nt mean that you will too.

Time changes a few things. Back then maybe you would of survived without a degree but it may be preferable now.

Why not do apply yourself in a business diploma/part-time uni instead? If you have doubts later on, at least you have something to fall on.

Furniture may just be an easy way out of uni but it doesnt have to begin or end there.

 

[gna]

Don't go full time. Try manage both for about 1-2 years. See if you reckon you can go anywhere in the industry, if not obviously do part time.

Also the Uni experience is something you want in life when you look back.

 

[Epiphany]

It sounds like you know what you're going to do. Clearly you don't want to go to uni (and come back out with an 'attitude') so go for it.

No point asking advice when you already know the answer.

 

[pete_mate]

just do both

part time uni etc.

 

[Ranger Stacie]

i think you should just do what you want to do, you can always go back to uni later on

 

[Lundy]

If you don't want to go to uni, don't. A university degree involves a considerable expense of money and time, so I'd only consider taking it up if/when it's something you want to do, not just because it's something you think you should do.

 

[RanyofuBrogan?]

I would not go through a lifetime of retail. Its the worst sector to be in (other than labour-esque jobs).

I agree, it'd be depressing.

On the other hand, I find it absolutey hilarious that everyone on this forum is, I dunno, "brainwashed" if you like, into believing that everyone absolutely has to go to university, like it's something everybody does.

 

[Skittled]

Bloody hell I make long posts. Sorry about this; skip to the bottom if you want my final opinion

Furniture may just be an easy way out of uni but it doesnt have to begin or end there.

From my interpretation of your post, Nashie, bscienceboi has a good point; furniture seems to be something that you've jumped on because you've got a headstart in, and it's there and ready for you to take up; it's the easy option. Similarly, as RanyofuBrogan says, uni's not the only direction; it's just one that you could take. I personally don't see why you've gotta choose one or the other. I don't mean to sound patronising, but there's more to the world than uni at one extreme, and retail/furniture at the other.

My opinion is you should work out where you want to be - not where you feel you <i>could</i>, but where you'd like to be in your dreams. Once you've got that plotted, look at what you'd need to get there, and work out a rough path. Maybe working out a career path from scratch is hard, but given time it should come. All I'm saying is don't limit yourself to the two options...

From the wording of your post I get the impression you're swaying toward staying in retail and avoiding uni, possibly becuase you've got a bit of a headstart. However, people are very selective in their thought processes... Just to play devil's advocate;

The industry is an interesting one to work in and I have the bonus of being fairly involved ...

...but in the end for a majority of the population, everything eventually becomes just a job. What is 'interesting' about retail? I'm about to spend my 3rd year in an electronics store, and in the end even for a technogeek like myself, selling technology wore thin about 2 years ago. Granted, maybe you have a complete fascination with furniture, but I'd argue that maybe your path would be a little clearer if you were.

...but I know I can work my way up and I do know at least one guy who was earning at least 150 thousand a year by the time he was 30, without a degree

How old is he? Increasingly, the world is becoming more specialised and knowldege-based... while I don't think that uni really teaches you much more than some general ideas and a way of thinking, it gives you further specialised knowledge. At Dick Smith, we have people who are 40+, and working in retail on about $38k/year.. they're skilled (ie one's a photographer/framer, and another has just finished his PhD in agriculture), but work for $38k/pa... The manager of this store -- one of the busiest in NSW, depending on the week -- gets $47k... for the stress and hassle, in my opinion, that's not worth the money.

If you choose the base retail path (ie, being conservative; store manager -- given a few years and a promotion -- or below in a chain), in my opinion you're just lining someone elses' pocket. If your 'retail' path is further than that, in my opinion a little education can't hurt at all... If you want to become an area manager, or middle manager, or in upper management, some education will not hurt.

Most importantly, I assume at the current point in time you've got the security of being supported, while in 10+ years time you might have other responsibilities preventing you from studying... kids, house/mortgage, cars, bills.

Directly useful or not, study now while you've got the option

 

[sarevok]

surely oyu can aspire to something better tahn working in retail for the rest of your life

 

[Nashie]

This is job is not a checkout type of job, it is a serious sales job with a fair base rate and very good commission rates, the 150K was a case study type thing, and there are many similarities between him and me (both worked for/with dads, in same company, both involved from young age, etc) The company (harvey norman) is franchise based, and the only way to get a franchise to work your way up into being offered one, and then depending on your performance you can get bonuses at that level, the base rate for managers is also quite attractive, the job is rewarding in some ways with the set backs found in other jobs, I enjoy most of the work, that is serving customers and working in the industry, it is a good one to work in I feel, as it is always changing, but does not change too fast (ie. elctrical/computer goods).

The job offers quite a few options, such as travel around australia and the world to different stores (we moved with dad from canberra, to parkes to warrnambool/act, nsw, vic) the company is constantly expanding (stores in 6 countries at present) and also the company is well respected for its staff, and thus if I did ever want to get into another side of it (ie. being a company rep/whatever) i could with experience

Sorry about this, I am trying to reassure myself and decide, I am positive about the industry and am not making this choice by default, I expect my results to be quite high and I know if I put my mind to it I could do anything, but also this is a job where I can study with it (no night shift etc) and it would make it possible to do shorter courses/diplomas and even uni courses and continue working part time! I am still undecided and am just asking for feed-back, thanks for all the comments thus far

p.s. I think this being undecided on uni is due to me being fed up with the education system, (highschool)

 

[iambored]

Can you see yourself there everyday for the rest of your life? I personally, don't think retail gives as much chance for diversity of roles as some uni courses do, i often think people in retail must feel like they have hit a dead end with their job, but I don't know much about retail. you have the background to better understand what it is like and where you can go.

 

[bscienceboi]

What is the difference between:

Person 1: Degree and work experience in field.

Person 2: Degree only, no experience in field.

Person 3: Work experience only.

You have to stop comparing yourself to Mr. 150k/annum.

You mention setbacks in other jobs? How much experience have you gained in other industries?

Company expanding? Then its likely it will come to a halt soon.

You have to sit down and assess our situation followed by oppurtunities and outcomes.

 

[braindrainedAsh]

If it's what you want to do, chase it. You never know where it might lead you.


But my one piece of advice would be don't work for your parents forever, get out and see new and different things, maybe work at other furniture places to see how different businesses do things. If you just work for your parents you won't get a broad view of the world and how different businesses operate. That would be my only caution.

And doing some courses in business or something might be helpful, maybe at TAFE.

 

[Nashie]

bscienceboi... pessimism is a bad thing! I was not saying I could do that, it was a case study to show that younger people without degrees can work their way up, it is purely a case study! Ash I was never going to work for my parents forever, and am actually planing a move to canberra in a couple of months! Globalisation is another term scienceboi needs to look up, they have stores in 6 countries, they are testing the water and will eventually I am sure expand into those countries, and yes it must stop somewhere, but just remember that there are 130 or so stores in australia, about 10 in NZ and it is a large world out there and there is a market for furniture, electrical and computers almost everywhere, I don't think the expansion will stop in the near future unless they build about 500 more stores in the next year or so! Scienceboi, your comments are good to hear but, seriously, you are labelled as a sciencie kind of person, maybe if you were "bmanagementtopofmyclassboi" I might listen to your opinion more (please don't take this as being ungrateful, you are being truthful and realistic and I am trying to be as well

 

[Skittled]

Globalisation is another term scienceboi needs to look up, they have stores in 6 countries, they are testing the water... ...I don't think the expansion will stop in the near future unless they build about 500 more stores in the next year or so!

... doesn't necessarily mean it'll be as huge as the propaganda you hear suggests it will be. Take note that they just waste their breath (and confidentiality) when they tell front-line workers about the business opportunities; if you were a high level exec, might be different...

Scienceboi, your comments are good to hear but, seriously, you are labelled as a sciencie kind of person, maybe if you were "bmanagementtopofmyclassboi" I might listen to your opinion more (please don't take this as being ungrateful, you are being truthful and realistic and I am trying to be as well

I'd seriously be careful of labelling people based on the pseudonym they choose.

A bit of university level psychology: (But if it's important to you, I'm doing a BBA+BA-Psych)
We're all trying to help, Nashie; we've all got our own biases, and humans are notorious for sticking to them. From there, as humans, we are very selective to the information we pay attention to. As you said, you're trying to reassure yourself that this is the right route for you -- and in doing so, minimising the potential problems others are bringing up. Similarly, others (myself included) are ignoring the potential benefits retail has.

My Thoughts:

• You don't need to make your final decision now -- what's 'correct' now mightn't be in the future -- this goes for degrees or retail.
• You do have the chance to broaden your future opportunities now, as you can study without other responsibilities -- you have no kids or bills to pay, while eventually if you decide that retail isn't right for you, you mightn't have the flexibilitiy.
• Make sure you don't choose this role simply becuase it's there. Just becuase you're sick of high school doesn't mean education isn't for you -- the HSC is stressful, but uni's a refreshing, totally different change.

...We're playing devil's advocate, but only trying to help, Nashie. Just try to make sure you realistically weigh up the pro's and con's, rather than doing it selectively -- it's your choice in the end, but there's no real deadline it has to be made by!

 

[Nashie]

sorry if it is coming out that i am being agressive and ungrateful, i just don't like people being pessimistic as it is a really bad way to be and get shitty with people who are like that

 

[hipsta_jess]

You're only viewing them as pessimistic because they're not telling you what you want to hear (that retail with no degree is a great life path)

 

[Skittled]

You're only viewing them as pessimistic because they're not telling you what you want to hear (that retail with no degree is a great life path)

But that said most of the people on here will be goign to uni, so it's not exactly an unbiased forum.

Regardless, that's enough from me. Good luck in the future, Nashie!