I've been working since I was 16 years old. I've been a cashier, a lifeguard, an after-school counselor and a few more things. Working all these odd jobs, I've experienced a lot in the working world and really learned a lot about myself. I hate blood, I'm impatient and I will never work in the food service industry again. But it has also taught me a lot about the world around me. Jobs give you a lot of opportunities to experience situations and people you thought you never would before.
Here are just a few life lessons I've learned along the way.
The boss is ALWAYS right.
Do not try and tell them they're not. It's not worth the fight and it's definitely not worth losing your job. Talk to them on the side about the problem later. They were given their authority for a reason.
Kids will tell you like it is.
I've worked as a camp counselor and a lifeguard. I'm around kids all the time and I've heard just about everything. Whether you want to hear it or not, they will tell you the truth. If you got a new haircut and they're not feeling it, they will always be sure to let you know. It's best just to smile and nod.
Never be late to an interview E V E R.
Do you really want a job? Show up to that interview 15 minutes early with a muffin and a coffee for your interviewer. Okay, you don't really have to do that, but you do have to arrive on time. I learned the hard way that if you show up late to an interview, the chances of you getting that job are zero.
Always show up to your shift.
Do not be that person who doesn't get a shift covered or simply doesn't come in. No one likes that person. Trust me. It's not professional and it throws everyone off. All it takes is a phone call or a text to let your boss know what's up.
Food is your best friend.
Being hungry at work is honestly miserable. I've gone as far as asking one of my campers at afterschool for a snack because I was so hungry. Make sure to eat something before a shift or bring a snack always. Your stomach will thank you.
Wear a watch.
Whether you work at an office or a daycare center, always wear a watch. Most of us use our phones or a computer to tell us the time, but you won't always have access to them. I'm telling you, someone will ask you the time when you least expect it and you think it's an irrelevant thing to know, but you will want to know at work.
If you are not happy at your job, don't waste your time.
I absolutely hated my first job, but I stuck through it because I had to start paying for gas myself for my car. No one likes working -- it's a fact of life -- but we have to do it. Whether it's a part-time after-school job, a simple job to support yourself through college or your professional career, your job is a part of your life. Not everyone can be a rich millionaire, so you might as well spend your time doing something that brings you slight joy rather than making you want to quit during every shift.
