Ben Kitchel

I began my time at Dollar Tree as a cashier, a role I had experience in at a previous job. However, with a more experienced and knowledgeable team, I was able to hone my skills in customer service to a degree I had been unable to reach before. As I gained experience and proved my worth to the team, I moved up to assistant manager where I took on more tasks like shift supervision, handling paperwork, and closing the store. It was the combination of these tasks that taught me how to budget time and work with intent. Although it was, admittedly, not the best job, my time at Dollar Tree was all about gaining experience and finding my worth as a worker.

My role as Assistant Manager at Dollar Tree required that I:

• Monitor cash intake and deposit records, increasing accuracy, and reducing discrepancies
• Supervise day-to-day operations to meet performance, quality and service expectations
• Maintain professional demeanor by staying calm when addressing unhappy or angry customers
• Cultivate positive rapport with fellow employees to boost company morale and promote employee retention
• Complete regular inventory counts to verify stock levels, address discrepancies, and forecast future needs
• Offer hands-on assistance to customers, assessing needs, and maintaining current knowledge of consumer preferences
• Open and close location and monitor shift changes to uphold successful operations

As the Assistant Manager at Dollar General, my role encompassed vital responsibilities. I oversaw the daily routines involved in both the opening and closing of the store, ensuring adherence to security and operational protocols. A significant portion of my duties revolved around the handling of cash transactions, including the responsibility of securely transporting funds to and from the bank. I additionally took part in the task of general merchandising, where my efforts were primarily focused on consistently stocking and organizing displays to uphold the store's standards.

In my time at Dollar General I took part in several crucial tasks including:

• Offering hands-on assistance to customers, assessing needs, and maintaining current knowledge of consumer preferences
• Supervising day-to-day operations to meet performance, quality and service expectations
• Completing regular inventory counts to verify stock levels, address discrepancies, and forecast future needs
• Monitoring cash intake and deposit records, increasing accuracy, and reducing discrepancies
• Opening and closing location and monitoring shift changes to uphold successful operations

As a garden associate at The Home Depot, the majority of my efforts were directed towards delivering exemplary customer service. Most tasks required that I engage with and assist customers, providing information or other aid as needed. My responsibilities also included maintenance, merchandising, general cleaning tasks, and plant upkeep. Throughout my tenure at The Home Depot, I regularly interacted with a diverse range of customers and colleagues which honed my communication and interpersonal skills.

During my time as a Garden Associate I:

• Became familiar with different types of plants and their basic needs, such as watering and proper placement
• Promoted additional products such as potting soil and fertilizers to increase per-customer sales
• Located desired items by checking with sister locations and other departments
• Restocked shelves with new plants each day and rotated stock for optimal appearance
• Maintained plant health and attractiveness with proper sunlight, water, and nutrition
• Completed opening, closing, and shift change tasks efficiently to keep store ready for guests
• Helped customers choose optimal trees, shrubs, and flowers based on current needs