Sears

Hi, My name is Keith Siragusa. I am 23 years old and I graduated from the College of Staten Island with a bachelors degree and made the Deans List do to a high GPA. Getting a career job is tough these days for a college graduate. I decided to apply for a job at Sears which is located in the Staten Island Mall. I decided to apply at Sears because I honestly like Sears and I shop their often and it has a good reputation. Sears called me for an interview. I went for an interview with the human resources woman, Maryanne, and I was hired immediately. Maryanne recommended me to the Lands End clothing department manager, Patricia(Pat) P. I than went for a second interview and met with Patricia. She spoke to me and told me all about the department. It went very well. She gave me the job and I was very grateful. Any job that I have I take seriously. This is the honest truth about what happen during my first two days on the job.On Tuesday, Febuary 12, 2013, I had my job orientation which lasted three hours. After orientation was over, Maryanne said the manager would like you to come into work for training the next day if you can? I said yes. The next day, Febuary 13, 2013, I started my first official day of work in the lands End department. My shift was from 11am-4pm. The manager was there and she instructed one of the employees to train me. The manager than said to me I need to give you a Lands End Handbook. This probably widely explains the department in greater detail. Everything went well. The employee, training me, explained all the different types of clothes, materials, and sizes. I kept notes in a small notebook. The employee than showed me how to fold the clothes properly and she suggested I use a folding board which would make it easier. I did. She than explained that all the sleeves on the long sleeve shirts need to be cuffed. Another employee took over and helped me out. I went around the department and cleaned, straightened out the clothes, cuffed sleeves, and folded clothes. I was getting use to everything. The two employees helping me were very nice, friendly and we got along great. At the end of the shift, Patricia scheduled me to come into work on Saturday, Febuary 16th, 2013 from 11am- 4pm. On saturday, I clocked in for my 2nd day of work at the Lands End department. I am still learning cause it is only my 2nd day of work. Everything was fine at the beginning of the day. I reported to the department to start working. The manager, Patricia was there, the employee who trained me was there, and two other employees. I got along great with all the employees. They like me and we were all very friendly. They were all helping me since I was new. The manager was friendly to me and she was showing me how to identify the clothing in this book with a number. This is how you determine which areas to hang the clothing. I listened and I was getting it. At one point, I helped Patricia out. I helped her lift this very heavy umbrella to put on display. I was happy to help her. After that, I went back and continued to hang up clothes and identify them in the book. Than the manager instructed me to clean up in the mens department and work my way down towards the end of the department. And so I did. I picked up all the litter. I straightened up the clothes/hangers. I folded clothes. I helped a couple customers out. I must have cuffed every sleeve in the department. After that, Patricia told me to straighten up two shelves that had shirts on them because they were a little messy. And so I did. These shirts were folded in a different way and I was not familiar with that fold. And so I figured it out and folded the shirts as best I can. I made it as neat as possible. The employee who trained me said it looked good. But the manager called me over and thought I could do better. She said you got to know how to fold or it will not work. Meanwhile I was folding fine the first day. So I asked should I take all the shirts off and fold them? This way they would all be neatly done. She said No just make them neat. So i did it again. Than she came over and showed me how to fold those particular shirts. She said Ill give you one more chance. I could not believe she said that. So I went back to the shelves and folded them again and then I smooth them out with my hand to get all the creases and wrinkles out. The shirts were folded and stacked neatly. Patricia than came back over and she said your still working on that? I thought she wanted me to take my time and do it right. So that was confusing. She was still not satisified with the shirts. Keep in mind, This is only me second day on the job. But I told her that I will learn how to fold properly for next time. Ill practice it at home. She understood that I was trying. But than she told me to just continue cleaning the department. Than she walked away. So I continued cleaning. My shift was ending soon, I was doing some last minute cleaning in the department. But than I noticed Patricia quietly talking to another employee near the back of the department. I over heard her talking. I can't say she was directly talking about me but she used the word "THEY." I over heard say "they should be doing what there suppose to be doing." " They are beyond the training now." She had to be referring to me because there was another employee they recently hire as well. She was referring to the new employees. Keep in mind, This is my second day and I am still learning. I felt this was unprofessional for a manager to do this. If a manager has concerns about employees it should be talked about privately in the offices and not in the department where employees can over hear. I went to clock out. My shift had ended. Than I went back to down to the Lands Ends department to see Patricia in order to find out my schedule. I saw her and she said I wanted to talk to you. She said, "I'm sorry but through my observation its not going to work. She said, "We gave it a try and its just not going to work out. I was polite and I told her well thanks for giving me a chance. She did not give me a clear explanation as to why she was firing me. She did not give me a specific reason. So I told her should I tell Maryanne/human resources and let her know because I was suppose to go and see Maryanne anyway to do a phone survey. Every new Sears employee has to do the survey. Patricia said, "No, no you dont' have to see her." I was surprised that all this was happening. I went to human rsources and spoke to Maryanne anyway. I had a private word with her and explained the situation. She was surprised by this because it was only my second day and I was still learning. I expalined she didnt give me a clear reason. I didnt slack off and I took this job seriously did everything I was suppose to do. I told maryanne I guess she was upset about the folding of the shirts. As I mentioned earlier, Patricia was suppose to give me a Lands End handbook she never even gave me that book. Maryanne said she will have a word with her. If there are any other positions that open she will call me. Another strange thing worth mentioning, on day 1 the second employee who was helping me train said, "We really haven't had anyone good." I think about that and I feel the manager let others go quickly. As days went on, I tried calling Maryanne to see if she talked to Patricia and find out what the true reason was for firing me. Eventually I got a hold of Maryanne. She told me that Patricia went on vacation and that she would talk to the district manager about the situation. This looked promising. She said she would call me back about it. But I did not hear from her. I felt I was not given a fair chance. Thank you for taking the time to read this.