Ask the Experts:
How to Stand Out to Your New Employer

Question:

I am interning as a cashier for a well known grocery chain. I want to stand out and look good to my superiors. I have good people skills and was thinking about conducting a survey to find out what our customers like and what we can improve upon. Do you have any suggestions?

First Answer:

You have a great idea, but you absolutely must think it through and then propose it to your supervisors in a way that doesn't threaten them.

Absolutely do not implement any ideas that fall outside the realm of your written job description without written permission from the appropriate party within the chain - which in the case of the survey idea is a senior marketing staff member at the corporate level. There are many considerations in designing customer surveys, such as customer privacy, validity and relevance of data, and potential impacts of conducting the survey in the first place.

But keep on brainstorming and sharing your ideas with your bosses. Meanwhile, focus on serving your customers with speed, accuracy, and friendliness, and working effectively with your colleagues.

-- Tracy Laswell Williams, certified job and career transition coach, accredited resume writer and founder of CAREER-Magic.com

Second Answer:

Being enthusiastic, motivated and creative are great ways of showing your value to a new employer. It's prudent, however, to clear these initiatives with a superior so that they are aware of what is happening and can guide you on the best way to handle surveys in order to maintain the good customer impressions.

You may want to inquire as to whether there are any customer opinion feedback forms the company uses. If there are none, ask if you might draft one for your boss's consideration. Remember, your main function is to offer great customer service as a cashier. If you're doing that, you're impressing not only your superiors but also the customers and everyone is already quite happy.

May all your Entrances be through the doors of success!

-- Yvonne LaRose, career and professional development coach, Career and Executive Recruiting Advice

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