I might have found a great part-time job possibility.

"traderQAMobileTestAutomationMobileBoostOn" (el-peasant) 05/19/2015 at 17:35 • Filed to: None

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Literally less than two miles away from my house, there are two auto parts stores within 300 feet of one another, Advanced Auto Parts and O’Reillys. I think a clerk at an auto parts store wouldn’t be a bad job for a teenager, but I have no clue about a day in the life of one. Anyone with such experience, please respond.

But dat two miles tho, that’s biking distance! Well, the stores are across the street from one another, with O’Reillys being on my neighborhood’s side of the street. And that street is big and can get very busy, so biking would probably only be safe if I work at O’Reilly’s, so I wouldn’t have to cross the street. During good weather days of course, which, sadly, don’t exist too often during the summer. Even though it’s just two miles, it’ll save a bunch on gas, and get me in better shape too. With a Challenger R/T at a measly 16 years old, I’ll need all the saving that I can get.

If O’Reillys doesn’t have a job opening, I wouldn’t mind always driving to work and back, at Advance Auto Parts. Again, just two miles.

Speaking of gas, there are also two gas stations literally right next to Advanced Auto Parts.

Need a lunch break? There’s a Bojangles right there in that same intersection too! See what I mean by busy!?

Here’s a map of the area.

Advanced Auto Parts - indicated with the marker

O’Reilly’s - to the right of the red-topped building, on the left side of the screen

The gas stations - the silver rectangles to the right and top of AAP. One is across the street. The lower one seems to always have prices about $0.10 higher than the top one.

Bojangles - The white/brown building on the top right corner of the intersection. One bite into one of their chicken supremes, and you’ll HNNGG more than if you owned a Diesel Brown Miata Wagon.

Jayhawk Jake > traderQAMobileTestAutomationMobileBoostOn 05/19/2015 at 17:39

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Any job is a good job for a teenager and it never hurts to apply.

If you don't like it you can always quit

CB > traderQAMobileTestAutomationMobileBoostOn 05/19/2015 at 17:44

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I used to walk to work (which was roughly three kilometres or a smidge under two miles), which isn’t too bad.

From my experience selling auto parts, there are a few bits of advice I can give:

-Know your shit, but also be ready to learn. Know what does what. You don’t have to be an expert, just have a general idea of what things do. It might make you smarter than your coworkers, which is a huge plus in terms of gaining respect (as long as you don’t act like a dick about it). And if you don’t know something, one of your coworkers might, or the customer. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.

-Customers are assholes. As one of my coworkers puts it, “no one buys auto parts for fun”. Which isn’t entirely true, but he has a point: people will not be happy. People will get angry if they have to wait for a part, if you don’t have a part, if you’re not psychic about what their needs are, if the prices are too high, the list goes on. You need a thick skin, and be able to not take things personally.

-Knowing car culture is a huge plus. Being able to make jokes about certain vehicles or knowing certain intricacies of vehicles can make a customer laugh, which is a huge bonus in this line of work. For example, being able to make electronics jokes with Range Rover owners, or informing people about current recalls out for their vehicle (I did this with Slobalts last year).

All in all, you’ll be stocking shelves and grabbing parts for people. It isn’t hard work, but it’s decent work. I’d drop off my resume, if I were (at both places, of course).

traderQAMobileTestAutomationMobileBoostOn > CB 05/19/2015 at 17:47

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Good write up, I'll keep this in mind.

dogisbadob > traderQAMobileTestAutomationMobileBoostOn 05/19/2015 at 17:47

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Good luck!

Textured Soy Protein > traderQAMobileTestAutomationMobileBoostOn 05/19/2015 at 17:50

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It’s Advance Auto Parts, not Advanced Auto Parts. Might want to get it right before you apply there. Stores like their employees to say the name of the store correctly.

Bojangles every day will negate any weight lost by riding your bike to and from work.

Dem biscuits tho.

traderQAMobileTestAutomationMobileBoostOn > Textured Soy Protein 05/19/2015 at 17:53

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That might continue to get me. One small letter, one big disruption.

And I wouldn't dare eat Bojangles for lunch every day, but yes, dem biscuits tho.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > CB 05/19/2015 at 17:58

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What he said. I worked at Canadian tire(canadian equivalent to autozone) for a few years just after high school. I’m no expert as to what everything does but having a general understanding of how a car works helps. I worked with one guy that had no clue what a sparkplug was used for? How on earth can the customer trust what you say when you don’t even know the absolute basics.

I was at the part store yesterday looking for something.

Me: “Hey I have a 1986 Chevy C20 Truck and I’m looking for an air filter”.

Kid: “Is that a van?”

Me: “no, it’s a pickup truck”

kid: “are you sure it’s not a van? the computer says it’s a van.”

Me: “well it’s a regular cab truck with an 8ft bed so no it is definitely not a van”

Don’t be that kid.

CB > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 05/19/2015 at 18:02

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Hey, I work the same gig! One of my coworkers didn’t understand how callipers, pads, drums, and shoes were all related, so I had to explain it to him. Not insulting the guy, he’s great, but they honestly hire anyone.

Hot Takes Salesman > traderQAMobileTestAutomationMobileBoostOn 05/19/2015 at 18:08

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You can run that distance, lol

But really, good for you getting a job

RustedSprinter > traderQAMobileTestAutomationMobileBoostOn 05/19/2015 at 18:13

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Well one oppo member, Amatuer, worked at AutoZone I think? He hated it, people ask the dumbest questions there and give the dumbest answers. Be prepared for that. The job will be understaffed try not to feel overwhelmed. I miss Amatuer’s posts man.

GeorgeyBoy > traderQAMobileTestAutomationMobileBoostOn 05/19/2015 at 18:16

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Eh. I would try something different.

I worked at a golf course from 15-18 and I loved every second of it.

Being outside.

Abusing golf carts.

Making connections with affluent customers that will help you later in life.

traderQAMobileTestAutomationMobileBoostOn > GeorgeyBoy 05/19/2015 at 18:50

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Considering my entire neighborhood is basically built around a golf course, that's a possibility also.

pip bip - choose Corrour > CB 05/20/2015 at 04:12

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well written.

as a dealer employee , it applies to us as well.