Sometimes recent graduates from high school or from college can get stuck on the thought that their first job has to be awesome. Awesome pay. Awesome hours. Awesome people.
If you find yourself caught up in this kind of thinking its not going to help you move forward. Holding onto these expectations of awesomeness may cause you to miss out on great opportunities.
A first job doesn’t have to be awesome. A first job, even one that doesn’t pay a lot, gives you more than a paycheque; it gives you opportunities to:
1. Build up your work ethic. Show up, ready, on time. Learn how to bring a good attitude, even when you don’t have it. In other words you learn to be professional.
2. Figure out how to relate to a boss. You are going to have to figure out what your employer wants and how to deliver good service without losing your soul and identity to their good days and bad days.
3. Develop your people skills. Learn how to relate to customers or clients, fellows employees or work group members. Get to know what happens inside of you in a variety of situations.
4. Learn how to add value to an organization or company by aligning yourself with its mission and values.
5. Earn some money and learn how to pay the bills.
Finally, its a plus, when your first job gives you the opportunity to develop new skills and knowledge sets that can add to your career development. It’s possible to be more than a “cog in the machine.” As you settle in and show yourself to be responsible, ask for and accept responsibilities. That’s when a first job becomes awesome.