Like most college students, I began sophomore year with an open heart and mind. I had gone all of freshman and the summer after without a job, and frankly, I was tired of having to ask other people for money or having them cover me for a meal out. Going back to freshman year, I probably could've had a job, but I really wanted to focus on academics and living a college life. Sophomore year, I realized I had a car and knew enough about how college worked, and that if I wanted a job, all I really had to do was apply and tell them my school schedule and when I could be there.
I realized that part would be relatively simple.
I began applying to places like Ross, Dicks Sporting Goods and anywhere I could find online or easily drive to. One day I was driving past a Party City that a friend of mine worked at and had previously told me they were hiring, so I submitted an application, got a call for an interview, got an interview and got a job the same day.
Keep in mind this was for Party City around Halloween, so I was only seasonal and wasn't expecting anything but to go to work, do my job and come back. However I got more out of it than that. My managers were incredible in every way. To this day, I still put them as references on job applications.
A month goes by, and, sadly, Halloween is over, and I was told they no longer needed my help. Honestly, I was devastated. But I soon began to realize how lucky I was for being devastated. I had some of the best coworkers, managers and customers I could've ever had. I was lucky that I was devastated because plenty of people my age have the opposite of the experience I had and are anything but devastated.
To this day, I still keep up with coworkers and managers through social media and occasionally pop by the store to say hello and catch up with them.
Through this job, I bettered my communication skills (I'll leave it up to you to guess how good they were before). I learned how to think quick on my feet in order to help customers faster with getting them what they want. Giving that I had to basically memorize the store, my memorization skills grew a lot, which, in the end, helped me improve my study habits. I learned how to save up the money I made and use it for practical things for the future. I learned how to leave all my problems at school and focus on the customer and what they needed.
Having tried all summer to get a job and not getting a single one, I was pretty bummed, and Party City helped me boost my confidence because of this. Ever since getting that job, I've gotten every job I have interviewed for because I felt like I knew what I was doing. Granted they were fast food, but even then you have to look and act presentable at the interview.
So here is my thanks to Party City from a college student who was needing money but almost ready to give up on the job search. That was truly a one in a million first job experience for me.
