If your job falls under the notorious customer service umbrella, chances are, you're already quite aware. But, just in case some of you were wondering whether or not you qualified, here are a few clues to help you figure it out: are you a cashier, server, front desk clerk, receptionist or something similar? Do you work with the general public on a daily basis? Have you ever been yelled at for something that probably wasn't your fault? Does the phrase "the customer is always right" echo around in your head? Do some customers magically know more about your job than you do, even though you were probably trained for weeks or even months?

If you weren't sure if you worked in customer service before, it's probably all too clear now. Even though these jobs have their downsides, the upside to having a job in the service industry is that it teaches you things like:

1. How to be the bigger person.

Like I said before, you’ve probably heard the phrase “the customer is always right” a time or two from your boss. So basically, even if the customer is very much in the wrong, you still lose because keeping that customer happy is seen as more important than winning in that moment. Trust me, it's not my favorite motto, but it teaches you how to walk away from a situation as the real winner with your dignity intact.

2. To become aware of your own manners.

If you deal with unkind people at work long enough, you will learn to really appreciate the nice ones that come through. You start to remember the customers that have manners instead of the ones who don’t, and that makes you more aware of how you act when you’re the customer. From then on, when you go into a restaurant, hotel, doctor’s office or whatever, you start to go out of your way to treat everyone with the utmost respect. You know how big of a difference it can make in your day when people are polite and courteous, so you make a conscious effort to go above and beyond to do the same for those who are on the other side.

3. How to work as a team.

How well you work together with your management and coworkers can make or break your experience while working in customer service. You have to learn to divide tasks up in a way that most effectively gets the job done, make sure no one person is stuck with the majority of the heavy lifting, and work with your coworkers when they are sick and can't come to work. Teamwork is a very valuable skill for your future and this is a perfect industry to practice.

4. How to be economically savvy.

Unless you own the restaurant or are the CEO of the hotel chain, you probably don’t make as much money as you deserve for the amount of work you’ve put in. You have to become more resourceful with your paychecks, and this teaches you valuable skills like how to properly plan out a budget that works for you and your lifestyle. It’s a trial and error process, but managing your money is definitely something you learn to do when you’re working with a less than desirable paycheck.

5. How to be decisive.

There won’t always be a manager or supervisor around to make the tough calls for you, so at one point or another you’ll be stuck in a difficult decision that you have to think your way out of. Making clear, definitive decisions is something I have learned to do better during my time in customer service, so I'm not as wishy-washy when I negotiate. This requires good judgment, sharp senses and logical reasoning skills, all of which you will most certainly use later in life.

6. Patience.

We've always been taught that patience is a virtue, but for me it's one of the hardest to practice. In the service industry, you're constantly coming across individuals who are stubborn, angry, demanding and inconsiderate. You have to learn to deal with things like people coming in to eat five minutes before close, people who let their children run loose up and down the halls of your hotel and even people who make messes which they leave for you as a nice "thank you" gift. There's nothing that'll force you to learn patience faster than working in customer service.

7. How to not take things personally.

Just like you, sometimes customers have bad days. They might take that out on you and end up hurting your feelings. After a few crying sessions, you'll begin to realize that it's not personal. Those people aren't angry with you, they might just be angry at the world so you just have to brush it off and move on. After working in customer service long enough, you develop a thicker skin which will help you out in lots of different aspects of life.

8. It could be worse.

Obviously, dealing with people that aren't very friendly isn't the most enticing job. It would be awesome to be your own boss, make lots of money and be able to hire an assembly line of people to deal with all of those problems for you. However, it's important to experience all of these hardships in order to grow as a person and as a professional. In life, you have kind people and unkind people. You come across unruly customers, but you also meet some who are incredibly patient. Working in customer service isn't all bad. I have met some of the nicest people in the world through my job. You are able to work with outstanding coworkers and sometimes you even get great discounts. Things could definitely be worse, and at least you have a job. Some people would do anything to be able to say the same. Everything is a matter of perspective, and you should always remember that.