Customer Service When You Enter CVS

October 22, 2013 / 0 Comments

By Michael Liberman- Transitions to Work Graduate

When I first started Transitions to Work, the Director, Madeline Wenzel, told me I would be doing a 3 month training to learn register and customer service skills. I started the class and was taught how to use the cash register, stock the shelves, how to keep the store clean and how to properly greet customers.

One week after completing the training course, the staff from the Transitions to Work program helped me get a three month internship at the CVS in Government Center. The internship would give me a chance to apply what I had learned in the training to working in a real store. On the first day of my internship one of the co-workers in the store was showing me how to stock shelves. I was given an aisle and I had to put items on the shelves and keep them clean. I did that and I loved it.

A little while into my internship, my manager came up to me and told me that she wanted to hire me as a Greeter in the store. I went home and thought about the position of Greeter and made the decision to accept the offer. As a Greeter, it is my job to stand by the door and say “Hello, how are you today, do you need help finding anything,” and I tell the customer to have a great day when I finish helping him/her. If the customer needs help, I walk them to the aisle and show them where the item is and explain to them the sale of that particular product. I make sure to use all of the GOT (greet, offer and thank) steps I learned during my training to each customer so they all continue shopping at our store.

I have been working in this CVS for about 5 1/2 months and I really like the people I work with. It feels good to be making money and making some new friends too. My experience working at a CVS has been great. I have even been employee of the week twice!  Everybody keeps telling me what a good job I am doing and to keep up the good work. Getting such positive feedback from my manager and co-workers makes me feel good.

Michael with CVS manager Lianne Tan

The Store Manager of the store recently sent me an email sharing a customer comment. “This store is amazing. All the staff here is helpful and especially Michael. He is the face of your store and it’s so nice to have him walk me to my items and take his time to explain to me about the products. I really appreciate him!”  My Assistant Manager thanked me for all of my help and greeting customers as they walk in the store and told me that our customer feedback is positive when I am working. I continue to provide good customer service to the customers so they will continue shopping in this store.

As I am working I am meeting some more people to talk to. A graduate from the last Transitions to Work CVS session just started an internship in my store and I recently helped her by showing her what I do as a Greeter. I started working here on March 26, 2013 and I am happy that I had the opportunity to get this job. I am glad to have been a part of the Transitions to Work program and I am grateful to the Ruderman Family Foundation, Combined Jewish Philanthropies, CVS and Jewish Vocational Service for making this program possible.

 Michael is a graduate of the Transitions to Work Program.  He is 21 years old and lives in Sharon, MA

Transitions to Work is a collaboration among Combined Jewish Philanthropies, The Ruderman Family Foundation and Jewish Vocational Service, to build relationships with employers to raise awareness about inclusive hiring practices and to engage corporate partners to consider young adults with disabilities as qualified, committed candidates for appropriate employment opportunities.  Transitions to Work provides an extensive 12 week training and internship program to enable young adults with disabilities to develop the skills needed for employment and place them into jobs that provide earnings and a sense of purpose.  

Read our last post: Siblings Need Support Too
Come visit us on Facebook to learn more about inclusion of people with disabilities