In the fast paced world of college we're all trying to make our resumes the best they can be and attain the most experience humanly possible to excel in the real world; but remember College Students, just because you're new in this world of business and professionalism doesn't mean you're worthless. Like everyone else, your time, work and opinions matter. So I've complied a list of things that will show you if your job, organization, or club is screwing you over. When you put your foot down and you respect yourself, many more doors will open for you. If you don't care about yourself no one will care for you.
1. They don't value your contribution to the organization.
Have you ever realized that people actually pay other people for their time, dedication, and efforts in jobs that no one else wants to do? It's this weird concept that goes by the name "compensation." When I work nine hours at my job I expect my hard work and dedication to my organization to be reflected in my check. In our technological world, all forms of mass media include ads that bring back a percentage of revenue to the organizations. This is what makes sites like Buzzfeed so successful, they produce hundreds of videos - some good and some bad- but all those ads reflect back toward their monetary profit in said organization. There's a reason why several online media sites do this, because no matter whether the content succeeds or fails, someone somewhere saw an ad for shampoo that they don't care about but the company does. When companies forcibly create and produce massive amounts of junk, for no monetary profit, it becomes exploitation of creative ideas from idealistic, unrealistic college students that don't know any better. How could anyone value your efforts and hard work when they don't even cut a piece of the pie to feed you; a pie that you helped bake.
2. There's no I in TEAM...except when it involves the organization.
I worked for an organization in the last year that really showed me the power of upper management. I thought I was a pretty great employee, I always came in on time, worked hard and did what I had to do, mainly focusing on my duties and school. So three months into the job I realized that management had fired all the paid part time employees that helped around and there were only two part timers left. So we split the duties of all the other 3 employees that were let go. One day my manager called me into her office and told me that I had to take on more responsibilities, because the other person, let's call her J, could not keep up with her. So I asked if I was going to get a raise for picking up all this extra work and I was greeted with the response: "Randy, this goes beyond just pay, this is for the good of the company." I did not take this lightly because my work and time was just as valuable as any other employee that worked there. I left the company because they did not care for me, they only cared for the extra work I picked up and for the money they saved by firing three other employees that were great at their jobs. When your job tries to cut corners to save money and tries to make a few people do the jobs that are supposed to be spread evenly, that doesn't show loyalty. It shows greed. When your workers are over worked and under paid-- if they're even being paid- it creates an environment of unhappiness and frustration.
3. It makes you hate what you used to love.
Many of us who are just learning the way the world works might feel like we have to bend over backwards for jobs/organizations, due to a sense of responsibility and duties. I'm here to tell you in the famous words of Tyler Durden: "You are not your job!" You owe it to yourself to be happy and be happy with the work you produce. Your voice is very powerful, your ideas are very powerful, and you are very powerful. I've learned that you must walk a line where you respect your self and your craft. Sometimes you join a job or an organization because you feel that it's in your best interest, and it just doesn't pan out that way. So I guess this one is for all the employers that I have and will have, you're pretty freaking lucky to have me and I will always make myself valued, cared for, and stimulated. I'm more than just a clueless college kid; I'm a thinker, a writer, a creator, and a hard worker. Employers sometimes lose focus on the fact that many of their employees work hard for them, and trying to take advantage and cut corners is not the way to do business. So respect us, value us, and show us our worth. Give us a piece of the pie that we helped create, because without workers companies are just people in conference rooms giving commands to empty rooms.
