I've worked retail since I was 15, literally started like a week after my 15th birthday. I'm 19 now, with almost 4 years of work experience with some gaps in between jobs. I know I'm not the only one in that situation, but for a lot of people, that's not “normal”.
You'd think having a bunch more experience than some of my peers would help you find a new job easier in case you lose one, but, I've been experiencing the opposite. I know I can't 100% verify it, but I feel like it has to do with both me having a foreign identity(I'm white with a western name, just foreign citizenship and work experience) and also having “too much” experience. Won't go too much into the former, but for the latter… well I just know it's true.
They need “new blood” to imprint on, to mindlessly do their bidding, and they'll do it, because they've got no frame of reference for what a job actually is. I've literally been told by one (very) short-term employer that I'm not “malleable enough”.
I'm (sorta?) lucky to be employed again since a couple months, but, I feel like I'm still treated as “less” than some of my older coworkers simply because I'm young and thus “inexperienced”. Hell I know this because we literally get less permissions in regards to customer services, such as being allowed to take returns. Even when going through basic training it got explained as if I had never seen a cash register before, which might be true for some people getting their first “college job”, but they knew I had 3 years prior experience.
Also customers thinking they can get away with more with young, and thus “naive” cashiers such as not showing ID when requested, not following store policy with returns, curtains items being on sale, or just generally being a bit of a jerk in one way or another…. as if I haven't been fighting with these hicks for almost 4 years now. I know what I'm doing. But neither customers or (older) coworkers seem to realize that.
That turned into more of a personal rant than I expected, but I hope my main point is still clear. I've worked for practically my entire teen life, and I feel like that goes massively under-appreciated and I honestly feel like I've wasted these years. I still got the money from it I suppose, but, the “work experience” really didn't matter it seems. I don't even know what to say to be honest. Peace out I guess, and for those working retails jobs, stay strong!