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November 20, 2006

Applying at Walgreens

So last week I put in an application at Walgreens.com. For some part-time work, days. Nothing too exciting. I'd like some experience (been a SAHM forever and spending money. It took about 20 minutes to fill out the application.

A few days later I get a call from a manager at a Walgreens other than the two I applied for. She asked if I would consider working at their location. I told her yes. She asked if I could come in, finish up the application there, that it would take about 20 more minutes. I told her I would be in early next week.

Finishing up the application happened to be on the "to do" list for today. So, an hour before the kids were to arrive home, I hopped in the car and ran over, hoping and praying that I wouldn't be too long and would be home in time.

I got to the store, asked the cashier for the manager. As I waited, I glanced around at the Christmas decorations, the customers. A woman walked up, right past me and to the cashier. She introduced herself to the cashier (weird, don't we employees know each other ??), who summoned her my way. I then introduced myself to her and initiated a handshake with her limp-as-a-fish hand. She said something inaudible and looked confused. As I followed her to the back room, she handed me off to someone else with not so much as a sentence fragment. I thanked her and followed lady number two.

She took me to a computer. "It doesn't work well, so I don't know... we'll see if we can get it to work. If it doesn't you might need to re-apply all over again." She wrestled with the computer. I stuffed my hands in my pockets and glanced around the room reallyreally NOT wanting to have to fill out that thing again and knowing that the only reason I would have to is because of the lady's ineptness. Out of the corner of my eye I could see she was extremely frazzled. Impatient. She had me enter my social security number and when I did the computer went to a blank screen.

"UGH!!" She threw her hands up and turned to the room behind her, having me follow her in there to a different computer which didn't seem to be co-operating either. "See, now this one isn't going to work either," she spat. This is the one we print all our signs on." She looked at me as if that was significant and turned back to type into it again. The caps were sticky. She was furious. "What are you applying for?" She turned to me.

"Oh, pharmacy, cashier. What's available?"

"Everything."

Uh...huh.

"See? UGH!! They don't work." I didn't respond, not knowing what to say. "When they do work, they're great, but when they don't..." A screen came up listing supplies. She closed it and tried to logon again. She shook her head and grabbed the phone on the wall. With controlled violence lacing her voice on the intercom, she called someone to the room. Within seconds a man appeared, listened to her complaint and swiftly logged on. Without turning to me he asked what hours and position I was applying for.

"Day-time, part-time."

He turned to me. "We don't have any part-time positions. All night and weekends."

Again. Not... quite sure what to say here. I looked from him to the blank stare of the manager, back to him. I felt a bit sorry for them as well as disgusted. This is the front-team representing their store? Thank goodness I'm not someone who really gives a crap. But man, after spending this 10 minutes in the back room I didn't even want to work there. If I did, it would have to be as manager to clear out the whole place and build it back up. Day-um.

I looked at their unapologetic (more like, can't believe you wasted OUR time) faces. I smiled. "The lady on the phone didn't mention that. Well. OK then. Have a good one!!"

I left. Without looking back. What an unappealing prospect for employment. I guess I fortunate enough to not really need that job. I truly feel for someone that would. For someone that would have had to get a sitter (or leave the kids home alone) bus across town, or waste what little gas they had only walk in that door, excitedly anticipating some hours and find that the management staff doesn't have it together enough to make the trip worthwhile. Puh-the-tic.



Comments

Yes, I would love to get a job at Walgreens of Laurel

Posted by: Kissie Moffett | January 29, 2007 11:23 AM