I Remember Working As A Retail Intern At Ikea, Helping People Design Their Kitchen On The Computers.

I remember working as a retail intern at Ikea, helping people design their kitchen on the computers.

I especially remember the anti-Karen I helped once. After spending quite a bit of time helping her, she asked to see my manager. I had just started out a few weeks earlier, and let me tell you I got so scared hearing those words. I told her my manager wasn’t here but that if she had something to say, an older colleague was in charge of us interns. She went to him (I was basically dying inside), and told him that I had done tremendously good work, and that she wished he told that to the manager. It was so kind. 

I also remember the young man who, upon learning I was an intern, asked me what stuff I still had trouble doing and asked for just that. We both knew he had no intention of buying that plain stone, super expensive custom-made tabletop. But he thought it would be a good occasion for me to practice with no pressure. He let me take all the time I needed to get it right. That was nice.

The old lady I helped twice, and who wanted to add some details and order her furniture in a month or so ; when I told her I wished her well because my internship would be over by then, she seriously considered rushing a little because she wanted to keep working with me. It was nice.

The three 30ish friends who worked at some factory for what I know to be low wages, that I helped for two hours with some complicated kitchen layout. They wanted to give me a tip, even though tips are far from common in France, let alone in Ikea. I refused because it was against the rules. They insisted I was barely paid and did great work. Still no. They gave me some papers back, and I found 10 euros inbetween the pages. 

The lady who also wanted to give a tip -and let me know that I should check the third drawer in the exposition kitchen. I found 20 euros there. 

The woman who thanked me for making her very shy teenage daughter laugh to tears while working on their kitchen plan. 

Wherever those people are now, I hope they’re well. Be kind to retail workers. It may not be much to you, but I can assure you we do remember those things even seven years later. This is just so important.