What do you do?
Joan Muse

Where do you work and what is your title?
       I am the store manager at the Westside Goodwill.
What do you do there and/or what are you responsible for?
       I supervise five employees, make sure the store is wellstocked, interact with customers, solve problems, run the cash register when necessary and make sure the store is open on time and that we close on time.
How long have you been doing this kind of work (total)? How long on the Westside?
        12 years total and I will have been on the Westside for 1 year in January 2006.
What do you like best about it (other than quitting time)?
       I like meeting people and helping them shop. When customers find treasures for themselves, it is most satisfying.
If you could change one thing (other than pay), what would it be?
       To find a way to make this building bigger so that we could serve the Westside better.
What part of your work did your training/education never prepare you for?
       Most of the managers have worked for Goodwill in other areas. By the time you reach management, you have experienced most situations that could arise. Goodwill provides a lot of training for managers and staff.
What makes working on the Westside special?
       People!!! The people that live on the Westside take life at a more calm pace. They have time to smile and answer when asked, “How is your day?” We see some of our customers daily and others once or twice a week. This makes the store friendlier and a happier place to work.

“What do you do?” is a regular feature in the Westside Pioneer. If you know someone who has an interesting job on the Westside (but doesn’t live here), he/she might be a candidate for this column! If you know someone who might qualify, give us a call at 471-6776.