I came to Borders after early retirement and I generally enjoy it. The pay is lousy, but worrying about the job is a thing of the past. When I walk out the door at the end of the shift, the problems are left behind for someone else. The previous post is right--Borders is looking for people who truly want to work here. You have to like books and, if your store cross-trains like most of them do, you'd better be willing to at least do back-up calls to the cafe. Like the previous poster said, you are going to be expected to talk to people you don't know, people with whom you may not be comfortable because they are younger, older, different than you in some way. You will be expected to be proactive about reshelving the books that migrate around the store, straighten shelves, etc. etc. You should know something about books, but you can learn on the job and there are usually enough other people around to answer questions if you aren't comfortable with a particular genre. For instance, I know nothing of the manga books and the graphic novels so popular with the younger crowd. If approached about such books, I usually call over a younger staff member who does know more. On the other hand, I am regularly called on for advice on classical music, which I do know something about, and for reasons I do not fully understand, I am asked by younger staff members for advice on easy listening and swing music. Apparently some of them think I am actually old enough to have been a teenager when Benny Goodman and Bing Crosby and the like were at their prime and that I was there when Sinatra started his career, etc. etc. I'm old but I'm not that old. Everyone kind of finds their niche in both books and music and you tend to get to know those areas pretty well.

One thing not mentioned by the previous poster, you have to stand on your feet for hours at a time. That may not sound difficult, but it is if you have always had a desk job. Borders doesn't believe in periodic breaks except for lunch breaks. I was told I could ask for a ten minute break every two hours, but the reality is that the staffing level in the store would never allow that. Personally, I'm not comfortable asking for a break, so I don't do it. I never had to ask for breaks in my previous life. It's hard to start now.

A final thought: if you're taking early retirement, you aren't a twenty-something. Are you going to be able to take direction and supervision from a younger person? The supervisors in my store (all very young) are very good about being respectful of my fellow older workers, but I see the opposite in some other retailers. Some readers won't like seeing this, but taking direction from someone 30 or more years younger when you've always been the one giving direction can be a challenge. I approach this situation with an open mind. I assume the young supervisors know a lot more about retailing than I do, so I listen to them and do what they ask. It works both ways, too. They know they have little management experience and sometimes they come to me to ask my opinion on some management or supervisory action they are planning on taking.

The pay at Borders is lousy, but it isn't a bad job. If you're a reader, the discount is great. Good luck.

1. Live within walking distance of work (you won't be able to afford a car}.

2. Live with parents (you can't afford your own place).

Oooops. These are the requirements for full time employees.

Everyone makes fun of the pay, but minimum wage here in Idaho is 5.35/hr. Since we're so close the Washington, they bumped it up to 7.00, which is livable for a college student, I think.

Hey does anyone know the minimum age requirement for working at borders?