Ma Aye Aye Khaing (right) displays some jeans to a potential buyer at Pretty Girl Style shop in Dagon Centre.

WORKING as a salesperson at Pretty Girl Fashion Style in the Dagon Centre is a great job says 20-year-old Ma Aye Aye Khine, even though the centre is one of Yangon’s busiest.

She says she saw a job advertisement for the shop six months ago looking for someone who is able to deal with customers and be patient, so she applied.

“I couldn’t believe my ears when Pretty Girls Fashion Style employed me, I was so happy and I never thought that I would get a job at that kind of place.

“For my age and education the job is very good and the salary of K40,000 isn’t bad either,” she says.

Before landing the job at the store, Ma Aye Aye Khine says she worked a variety of different jobs at breweries and printing shops since she was 15. And despite being relatively young she says she works to support her family – something that keeps her spirits high when times get tough.

“Although I have done plenty of jobs I never get tired of my life because I have to think about my family,” she says.

As the eldest of three siblings, she tries to support her family, which moved from Myaungmya in Ayeyarwady Division to Insein township six years ago, as much as she can.

“My family is very happy and proud of me,” she says.

Ma Aye Aye Khine says her working hours are long – 9am to 9pm – and she has to leave home at 7:30am to get there on time.

While she clearly enjoys her job, it hasn’t always been plain sailing and Ma Aye Aye Khine says there were a few problems when she first started.

“I’ll never forget the time a customer asked me how much a pair of jeans were and I told her that the price was K13,500. She handed them back to me and left the store.

“After a few minutes she came back and told me she would buy the jeans and gave me K10,000. But when I told her again that the trousers cost K13,500, she got very angry and left the shop saying that I’d told her the wrong price.
“I think she misheard me but I learned plenty from that experience.”

But that is not the only lesson her job has taught her.

“The store owner teaches us that we must always explain things to customers patiently, even when they aren’t buying anything. Also, we’re taught that the customer is always right,” she says, adding that she understands the importance of being patient with customers because some become loyal customers.

“I like my job because we’re always dealing with different people and I love my colleagues too because they are very good natured,” she says.

But work is not everything for Ma Aye Aye Khine and she is also a second-year Myanmar major at the University of Distant Learning.

“I study when I get home because I can’t attend classes like other people but I never feel bad about my life. I’m proud because I’m supporting my family and studying at the same time,” she says.

Although she’s pleased with her present job, Ma Aye Aye Khine has other aims she wants to fulfil, like being a famous singer.

“To be a singer is really just a dream for me,” she says cheekily, “but it’s a dream I can fulfill by singing loudly while I’m taking a bath,” she says before abruptly turning serious.

“If I have the chance one day I’d like to take some nursing classes. I know they are very expensive but I hope to be able to afford them one day. If not I think there’s a chance that I’ll end up being a salesperson my whole life,” she says and her mischievous grin is replaced by a more sober expression.