Developing Customer Service Skills through Sporting Goods
Pros
Working at Big 5 is a great opportunity to develop customer service skills, engage with people from different walks of life and learn logistical and merchandise organization skills. Depending on your situation and your available time, you can move up quickly to a Manager Trainee position and from there to Assistant Manager or higher. Each advancement is an opportunity to learn more skills to better serve you in your career. It is a low stress job with little urgency, and a great "first job" for any younger person.
Cons
At times, belligerent or angry customers can be a nuisance. For the inexperienced, these interactions can make or break employment. I have known newly hired quit prematurely because they are inexperienced in dealing with these clients. These are opportunities, but they're often difficult to see. Additionally, inconsistent hours seem to be a company wide policy, which can make planning for events difficult and tricky. Maintain a positive relationship with your management.