PathSource - BUILDERS' BOOKSELLER, IN-DEPTH: Avoid Projects That Don't Align With Your Goals

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BUILDERS' BOOKSELLER, IN-DEPTH: Avoid Projects That Don't Align With Your Goals

About this video

Travis, a Bookseller at a store for builders, describes what he likes most about his job, its challenges, and work-life balance. He cautions: don't let people take your time unnecessarily and involve you in projects that won't bring you closer to your goals. Even for short-term jobs, do something you really like, otherwise it will drain your energy and prevent you from engaging in productive pursuits.

Degree: Anthropology

Job Title: Bookseller

Employer: Builders' Bookstore

Job Summary: Retail Salespersons

Job Description

Retail sales workers include both those who sell retail merchandise and products, such as clothing, furniture, and automobiles, (called retail salespersons) and those who sell spare and replacement parts and equipment, especially car parts, (called parts salespersons). Both groups help customers find the products they want and process customers' payments.

On-the-Job Training

Moderate on-the-job training can be expected.

Quick Facts

Average salary

National Statistic Change Location

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$10,000 - $30,000

Projected Job Growth

14 to 20 percent

Typical schedule

Full-time, Irregular, Flexible, Part-time

Typical workplace

Indoor

Personal Qualities

People skills, Verbal communication skills

Educational Path

Education Requirement

High school degree

Recommended Education Degree

High school degree

Recommended Majors

Business
Sales and Marketing
Marketing
Public Relations
Economics
Communication

Related Careers

Cashiers
Customer Service Representatives
Information Clerks
Insurance Sales Agents
Real Estate Brokers and Sales Agents
Sales Engineers
Securities
Commodities
and Financial Services Sales Agents
Wholesale and Manufacturing Sales Representatives

View Detailed Career Data

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For a small fee, we offer transcriptions in different languages, making PathSource a great tool for English Language Learners. This feature is currently available for customers in the education field only.

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P3.instances[0].transcript.parse_transcript_data({"transcript":"What I like most about my job as a bookseller, besides handling books and meeting new people, you meet a lot of interesting people on Fourth Street here in Berkeley with a lot of different projects and ideas. Well, that is one of the most interesting rewarding parts. Dealing with the general public is also quite challenging. So I would advise, unless you wish to do that for, say, decades, you should definitely finish up that degree, like I said. And aim a bit higher than some of your peers might be doing, because you're the only person who can make it happen for you. So in regards to a work/life balance, my biggest piece of advice would be to not let people take your time unnecessarily. So many people, especially if you're competent and likable, will want to try to get you to do all sorts of things that they want to do that may or may not lead you to the goal that's right for you, so just weigh these things carefully. You need to develop a contact circle of people who can help you-- friends, of course, but professional contacts. But don't get involved in projects that may not go anywhere. You need to weigh that out, because you don't have time to waste on those sorts of things. On the flip side of the time management issue, besides others perhaps trying to take too much of your time, you will be most likely having to work 30 to 50 hours a week. So I would advise even jobs that you think you're not going to have very long, try to get things that you definitely do like or are interested in. Or you will have a mental energy drain that by the end of the day you won't feel like managing any of your other time to do anything productive-- perhaps besides sitting down watching TV, which is a dead-end route. ","file":{"id":315339,"video_id":"2874388465001","name":"1505-Travis-Bookseller2","duration":125295,"thumbnail_url":null}});