10 Things Working in Retail Teaches You About Life

What you can learn from your time in the trenches.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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Retail jobs are almost a rite-of-passage for most style-conscious folks. It almost makes sense—you love clothes, so wouldn't you love selling them too? It's like the nerd who dreams of getting paid to work at the comic shop! Except the grim reality of the business is that well—it kind of sucks.

It's not all bad. You have the opportunity to make new friends, get a sweet discount, and get a first-hand look at the clothing business. It may not be pretty, but you do learn some valuable lessons. These are 10 Things Working in Retail Teaches You About Life.

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10. The customer is often wrong

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9. There is absolutely nothing "in the back"

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8. You'll sometimes have to clean up other people's messes

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7. The holidays are NOT the most wonderful time of the year

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6. How to sugarcoat things like a pro

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5. Your discount shows you who your real friends are

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4. A little humility never hurt anyone

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3. People in the service industry deserve respect

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2. The world is full of dickheads

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1. What it means to actually "work" for your money

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