outreach specialist

Deseret Industries

Pro: 
The building I worked in was new. I felt most of the managers (If not all cared.). It was easy to get hired here. If you let them know a couple of weeks in advance you can normally get time off.

Con:

There is no sick pay or paid time off. Hours are just below full-time with no benefits. Pay is minimum wage. The staff and managers at my store were usually friendly. The store I was at was very understaffed. How well-staffed these stores are fluctuates a lot and so does the staff around you. It's designed as temporary employment. 

Pro:
It was easy for me to get hired with this being my first job.

Con:
 You only have up to two years to work there before they start pushing you to find better-paying jobs elsewhere. 

Pro:
Since this is the case they also give some job training occasionally that they paid you for doing (At least in many cases.) and I believe they genuinely try to help you move on.

Cons:
Due to this, it's hard to know how understaffed it can become due to so many people leaving and how unreliable staffing is. There were a lot of good people around me and many good things about this job. I was desperate when I took it. I had some issues with how the place was run though. The company was founded by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or the Mormons. They felt to be in upper management you needed a temple recommend. In order to get a temple recommend you have to live your life exactly as their church sees fit and talk to a higher-up member of the church to be sure that you are doing so. I feel this is an issue because management are the only people who can really work there beyond the two years and even if someone did enough to earn it (As a woman I knew who did not have a temple recommend I felt did and I'm sure others did as well.), you can't. There was someone else who if I recall correctly had one and did good work but didn't make it that high either. Still, it shows a potential and dangerous bias. They had pizza parties for some teams although my team never got any and was always the one to help others.  This showed a bias where some were rewarded and others were not. I admit each team had its own manager and due to that, this may be part of why. 

Pro:
They did eventually do a few positive reinforcement type things that helped and I earned being able to go to a pizza party.

Worth noting. :

Also although I had a medical condition (Improperly diagnosed at the time) they tried to be accommodating of any issues. 

However, there was a time due to one of my new (at the time) diagnosis we had an issue.  We were critically understaffed one day and I had traded shifts for someone so I felt I had to go feeling relatively fine in the morning. My team lead did notice I seemed unwell but the manager did not and felt I should stay. It was bad but thankfully they didn't fire me. Her manager (The only other of the two managers) was busy and I didn't want to bother him. I later learned that had I talked to him it would've worked out sooner. I uncharacteristically and briefly snapped and was worried about being fired. Thankfully I wasn't I really feel they did their best to understand. I was worried and downplayed it a little not knowing how severe it was. My diagnosis symptoms started just a couple of years before I got that job. I still didn't understand them until over 4 years passed it's been a little over 5 since I stopped working there now.   In retrospect, it's been a few years and with the correct diagnosis, I understand what I felt was real just uncommon as it's not a common disorder. I feel we could have communicated better but it meant a lot to me that I received support and wasn't fired over it. 

Conclusion:

Not going to lie even now I have mixed feelings but if you're thinking about applying just consider what I've said (If you read this far) and make your own decision. 
Ultimately the job was great for what it was, which is temporary employment. 



Deseret Industries is a program that is meant to help people develop work skills for jobs in the real world, it's only temporary, and the longest you can stay there is one and a half to two years, depending on your needs and situation. A typical work day for me on the dock would be helping customers, greeting them, handling their donations, offering them a receipt, so on and so forth. When I'm not receiving donations from customers I'm either condensing the carts to take inside, cleaning up the outside area, making receipts for customers, or doing whatever area needs help since we're usually the first people they pull to help out other areas. Deseret Industries isn't really a typical workplace other than that, though. It's a place meant to help you go to school, get a forklift certification, get better interview skills, stuff like that. I learned how to handle stress and deal with a heavy workload despite the circumstances. Some days were really hard, especially Saturdays in the summertime. We would get tons of customers with their cars packed full of things. It was really physical work. But it can definitely help you build muscle and lose weight. I also learned how to work with people who aren't always easy to deal with, I kind of just learned that is common in every work place, someone who isn't always a team player, has poor social skills. That's how most workplaces seem to be though, you get a mix of people and that's okay. Management was good. Most of the managers were friendly and helpful, and always fun to work with. Some of them are great people.  Co-workers was a mixed bag. I won't go into details but people go to Deseret Industries to change their lives. Some of the people I worked with didn't always carry their weight or contribute to the team, and that would be frustrating for me because I always made a point to do my best. The hardest part of the job was Saturdays, by far. It was the longest shift you would work on the dock and sometimes the workload was insane, we would have to have other areas send people to help us because we would have a hard time getting customers donations sorted in a timely manner due to the workload, having cars lined up all the way to the front of the side entrance. The most enjoyable part of the job was meeting and getting to know new people. I always made a point to be friendly and try to make people feel welcome as often as I could.

The main purpose of the program Deseret Industries provides for workers is to get them a long-term job that can turn into a career. To help with this, they will help you learn what skills you have and what you are passionate about and then help you find a job to match both of those categories. What you start out doing may not be what you do for your entire time here.

I came here for work experience so that I could get a job that could help me pay my way through school. I worked on the Donations Dock and helped unload cars. While some may call it labor intensive, I found it exciting and fulfilling. I would spend some days preparing the dock for the day's donations, others accepting or declining the donations, and a few closing up the dock once the store closed.

Over my time here I have learned strong customer service skills, how to price items for the sales floor, how to open and close the Donation Dock, and how to drive an electronic forklift.

Management was helpful in resolving customer complaints, disagreements between employees, and in helping you determine what you wanted to do with your life. They were very supportive and friendly.

The culture of the workplace was a friendly and fun one. Nobody was above anybody else and we were all looking for a better job at some point. We all knew that and we all respected each other without regard to age, prior experience, or any other factor.

The hardest part of the job was Saturdays. They are almost always extremely busy and we were about half staffed for the entire time I was working at Deseret Industries. Despite that, we still received donations from over 1,000 cars most Saturdays and got things cleaned up for the rest of the weekend. Breaks were only 10 minutes, so it was difficult for some employees to keep track of how long they had been on their break, which could add to the stress of Saturdays.

The most enjoyable part of the job was the customers. They would come with stuff that they had worked really hard to decide was worth donating and most were extremely friendly, even when we had to turn down some donations. If I needed to work here again, I'd definitely be willing to.

There were no benefits (such as healthcare), since all employees other than management were part-time employees, though they did help you to find the necessary forms to fill out to acquire those things.

What is the best part of working at the company?
The managers are so caring and helpful. They work hard to help you become your very best self.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Each person is going to find their own stress issues. But deseret industries is the one place where they are going to be able to work on those stress issues are not be thrown out on their ear.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
The work environment is like any place of employment. You are expected to work, if you have a problem you can talk to your manager and work things through. If you have a cultural barrier you can work through it with your manager without fear of being made fun of ridiculed being disparaged or deprived of your rights. This place of employment is actually a learning environment to help people move on to better employment and gain skills both for mental and emotional stability as well as better trade skills.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
I clock in at 8:30, I help unload used books in the books section, then go to the men's section and work on merchandising to make sure the men's area looks very nice before the store opens. By 9:00 we usually get a rack of used clothes that we are hanging up on the round rocks we call rounders where people shop. Throughout the day we are expected to put away six of these racks of clothes as well as keep the dressing rooms clear of any clothes or hangers that people leave there, pick up clothes that people leave on the floor in our department, straighten any hangers that are askew on the rounders, and generally make our department look very nice. One of my other responsibilities is to serve our customers and answer any questions that they may have as well as to act as a backup cashier. From time to time my manager will come to me and give me instructions for project that needs to be done and ask me to have the team carry out the instructions. That is my job too divvy out assignments to my coworkers as I am a lead in the men's department. And that usually takes me until I clock out at 3:00.

Deseret Industries is a fantastic place to work.
The first thing I do is clock in, then walk out on to the sales floor, greet customers on my way up to the cash registers to see the cashiers that are presently working and to read the paper work of whose is coming on, who called in sick if any, and see who I need to get set up on a register. I also take time to greet each cashier and see how they are doing and to see they need anything.  The next step is  to check with the job coach to see what they need for me to do on my shift and who needs to be trained that day.

I always learn something new at Deseret Industries.  Things change on a day to day basis.  I believe the biggest thing that I have learned at DI is how to be a great example to others and be a better team player no matter what obstacles get in the way.

My co-workers are a blast.  Some of them test my patients with them, however, I become a stronger person because of them, some co-workers think they know everything and feel like they are better than anyone else, those kind just keep me humble and stay on level ground, and the ones that are level headed, positive, and energetic are the ones who makes work fun.  

The management at Deseret Industries is the best.  They are willing to take the time to talk to you, teach you, laugh with you, cry with you, praise you and never ever put  you down.  They work right beside us all the time.

The hardest thing about the job, is to make sure that of the paper work  is done correctly, making sure the bosses are doing the paper work correctly at the registers so that the Customer Service Leads are not getting in trouble for the staff's mess ups.

The most enjoyable part of the job is meeting new people every day, helping customers, the daily devotionals, seeing the co-workers getting the jobs out side of DI that they trained so hard for at DI to get.  For me I just love to be able to help others and be of service.  Therefore, I am able to do that at my current job.

A typical day at work would be to show up and go straight to work according to the task as assigned each day by the supervisor or sales coach. 

What I learned at D.I., it being one of my first jobs, that the workforce is not all that easy nor is it too difficult. To be very honest there were times where I struggled to be consistent and always on my feet but that was part of my training as a newborn in the workforce. So many skills is what I basically aimed for while working for D.I.

Management to D.I. were like family. They always had the right things to say when even an employee decides that they might re-evaluate their employment there. I was one of those employees one time but I was told by one of the big bosses one day that no matter how hard I try to avoid the problem at work, it would always come back someway or another. So in this being said, I felt as if my parents were there tutoring me all over again on how to stay positive in any situation or trial.

My co-workers were my best-friends. They have helped me in so many ways both in and out of work. I learned that socializing with the customers professionally while working is a good way to build good character and it also gave you a good name around the company. At the end of every day my friends would tell me that they envy the attention I got from the customers but I so tell them that without them, I would not have ever learned how to be as good as they were being that they were in the workforce before me.

The hardest part of the job was during and ended at the start of my work time at D.I. as I had mentioned before it was one of my first jobs and yes I lazy but I had overcome it over time while concentrating on learning new skills and moving up in the company.

My favorite part of working there was when I got promoted to become sales floor lead. It was one of the greatest days of my life! Knowing that the responsibility that my supervisor had was put into my hands were some big shoes to fill but I was ready to take the challenge.

I worked here for 8 months.  The first three months, I was a Sales Floor Associate.  A typical day there would be dealing a lot with customer service and team working to get the daily goals done.  We have to put products that the production team has produced on to the store shelves and organize the shelves.  When we had time, we also helped with the other department which dealt with furniture and large items.
Co-workers there are great.  There are many who are willing to help and get the job done.  There are also a couple people who does not want to be there, do the least amount of work and just be there for the money.  Other than that, co-workers were really well.
After the first three months, they moved me to production sales.  I produced the electronics there and brought them out so customers can have a look and buy.  I did a lot of cleaning, testing, and pricing in that sub department.  The main department was producing all the small items such as dishes, plush, toys, albums, etc.  I would help that area when I had time.
Management there was not all so bad.  They were extremely helpful in helping workers get their long term goals done so they could move on and the company can bring in more people to take advantage of the work place.  It was basically a program that helped people get on track and back on their feet.
The hardest part of the job was my last 5 months.  I worked by myself a lot doing a 2 man job.  I learned how to be independent, I learned how to develop my own skills to work when It was hard to work.  The most enjoyable part of the job was working around people that were of the same belief and being able to learn how to work with other departments and people.

I was a cashier, and merchandized the displays in the women's department. I LOVE customer service, and am told that I have a gift for interaction with customers. What I really enjoyed at this non-profit organization was the company culture. It has been a warm, and friendly place to work.
 About half the time was spent on the register, while the other half was stocking the wall displays, and four-way racks that line the aisles. Clothes are arranged according to color within each size. The store is a high-end thrift store, with a department store feel. It is very clean, and customers commented on how we didn't seem like a thrift store at all.
 I learned that I am fully qualified to train new employees, as an associate with seniority it was my job to train new associates as they came on the floor into women's, and onto the cash registers. Many of the new employees were young and had not been employed before.
Management has been wonderful to work with, showing humor along with giving useful tools and feedback. I have really liked the three managers that I have had the most contact with. Really fine people.
Co-workers have been diverse, with varying levels of experience, and commitment; giving me an opportunity to vary my approach with a variety of management styles. Sometimes this was the hardest part of the job, sometimes the easiest- always one of the most satisfying.
Interaction with customers, management, and co-workers has consistently been the most enjoyable part of this work atmosphere. The satisfaction of a well displayed department was fleeting because if the display was well-done, the items displayed sold fast, which was very satisfying, but short-lived. I love that we are always busy, that was my most favorite part of this position.

So with it being a job training program, the typical day would depend on what your schedule is and what part of the store you are working at. You aren't stuck in one section the whole time you work at Deseret Industries. You are allowed to move to different areas and learn about them depending on what goals/career choices you have set for yourself. You have an assigned job coach that helps you set up and work on your goals as well as work on job skills that will help you with your future job. I love working there but sad to say that it is not a permanent job and doesn't pay much, it's to help you prepare for and find a desirable job that will help you get towards your dream career job. It is a friendly, safe and helpful place whether you work there or not. It is very well kept and doesn't usually appear to be a thrift store but it is indeed a thrift store. Out of all of the positions there however, I personally enjoy working on the donation dock the best. It is fun to greet the people who donate and help them with the stuff that will go to someone else in need. Of course we can't take everything so as needed, a polite pass of the item and (to keep things calm) a piece of paper with the list of items we can't take is given to the person donating. The only position I have not taken part in during the job training program is housekeeping. I will miss working there when I leave soon but I will still visit as a customer. I'm sure they too will miss my everyday "Good Morning!" shout out.

Working with Deseret Industries has been a diverse and engaging opportunity to expend work experiences.  It has included my first management/team lead position as well as supervisor training.  I had the opportunity to work with many members of the management team, each of which was a joy, a boost of confidence, and a growth experience in their own right.  

The best parts of this job were the the people I worked with.  There was a variety of different backgrounds from which my co-workers had come from and in most cases gave me the opportunity to expand my cultural knowledge of peoples I had not before met.  

I very much enjoyed the confidence of my superiors and the opportunity to gain supervisor experience.  I was also fortunate enough to have almost every member of my crew be easy people to delegate tasks to and communicate with.  This was even the case in the event of some crew members being in the process of learning English, or in some circumstances requiring other team members to act as an interpreter.  These experiences gave me a growing appreciation for the dedication and efforts of my team members.

The least enjoyable parts of this job were the occasional communication breakdown.  This was usually not the case with co-workers who were in the process of learning English since those people were generally very pleasant and easy to work with.  Other circumstances required a little more patience, but overall did not take away from a very friendly and supportive work environment.

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