(Still) Unemployed and in need of encouragement

[dreamintwilight]

My orientation is slated for the 18th. That's if all my paperwork and background check stuff comes back in time! So, now it's just the waiting game since I filled out the info to start my background check yesterday.

I'm not really looking forward to going to the orientation, to be honest. It's downtown (not used to navigating around by myself) and I have to take the train in for an 8 am orientation. The ride in is an hour and then depending on where the building is, I have to plan time to walk there from the station. Sounds like it's going to be a very early morning...and it's supposedly until 3-4 pm. Yuck! Hopefully it's a one time deal though and the rest of the stuff is at the branch, which is only about a 30 min. drive from my house.

I'm starting to get nervous! I need to buy some comfy flat shoes too. All I have are flip flops and high heels, haha.

 

[katiesue1506]

Hey Marisa,

My training was for 7 days 8-4 (but we got out early on most days) and I had to drive to Ann Arbor and figure out that city on my own too. I then had one full week of in house training at the branch for a 40 hour work week. After those two weeks I was able to start my part time schedule. When you get into the bulk of the material make sure you really pay attention to check cashing guidelines and verifying the negotiability of a check. I can't tell you how many people get their pay checks and try to cash them a day early.

I'll also tell you that it takes a while to become comfortable enough with transactions to where you're able to talk with customers and provide good service. Just don't make yourself nervous, if they have to wait, they must wait--- also don't let people bully you by saying "well I do this all the time with the OTHER tellers that know me"... that happens quite a bit too. The number one thing I've learned (at least where I work) is that you have the discretion as to whether you do certain things or not, and if you aren't comfortable putting your job on the line for that one customer or transaction, don't do it. We've had people lose their job over one check...

 

[dreamintwilight]

Yeah, I'm still waiting to hear all the info for orientation and training. I'll probably hear more within the next several days and next week (I'll be in Cali - so I'll be checking my e-mail frequently!) They said the training is on the computer and should take about 2 weeks, but could be less or more depending on how fast I complete the levels. It sounded like the computer training art of it would be at the branch too.

Thanks for all the tips, Katie It's funny how people get into a routine and anything differing from that is the slightest inconvenience for them. I experienced a lot of that sort of attitude when I first started at Starbucks. "Regulars" would come in and give new people a hard time for not making their drink exactly right (even though it was really perfectly fine) or expecting to get freebies from everyone just because one of their favorite baristas normally gave them an extra shot of espresso or something.

I'm sure I'll have plenty to bug you about when I finally start my training and working with people, haha. It helps that my husband was a bank teller for a short period of time too.

 

[Jer's Girl]

Congratulations Marisa! Shesh. So much has happened while I was away!

 

[dreamintwilight]

Thanks, Nicole! Glad it was all good things to have happened while you were away I've been keeping up with your progress in your thread!

So, I thought I was going to spend the day doing some errands and enjoying the weather, but nooooo...this background check process for my new job has been QUITE the hassle. They are really taking it seriously. I mean...I understand. I would want trustworthy people handling large amounts of cash. But, wow!

I've been searching all over my house looking for old W-2s to verify my employment! I even provided contact info for my past employers (and even spoke to them personally when I had a hard time finding a couple W-2s and was trying to see if they had copies) who said they spoke to the background agency this morning. I don't understand then why I needed to provide more info if they were able to reach my employers?? Sounds like my previous employers aren't keeping up on their responsibilities!

Anywho...I FINALLY found all the W-2s I need. Now it's just a matter of waiting on the agency to approve all my documents. It took me FOREVER to get the agency representative to tell me that PDF format for scanning my documents was acceptable. She kept on reading her script and tell me that "it takes 2-4 hours for the documents to be process..." I understood that part! I just wanted to know if PDF files were okay! Haha. Sheesh...people should listen better.

I'm just a wee bit frantic at this point. I'm going to California next week Monday-Saturday and am hoping all the necessary documentation is received before I leave, since I obviously won't have access to my papers while I'm gone.

That's my rant Yay, for having a job though!

 

[Jerman]

Congrats Marisa! I am so very happy that this is finally working out for you! Good news, you certainly deserve it. I hope that you really enjoy it and wish you health and happiness my cyber pal.