Blog
Jobs are Important, but so is Working.
I’m talking about entry-level jobs and jobs that teach you about hard work before you launch a career.
I see young adults working at fast food restaurants for example. This is usually called an entry-level job. These jobs teach employees about being good employees. Being at work on time, working as part of a team, responsibility for quality outcomes, respect for employers, learning about taxes, and perhaps saving money are all things we need to learn to be successful in a career we choose.
There are people who enter the working world and think some jobs are beneath them. Employers often talk about the younger generation feeling entitled. I’ve written about the lack of work ethic and honesty in many of today’s workers. Many times you hear that Americans don’t want to do certain jobs.
I babysat children and cleaned our next door neighbor’s house when I was in high school. In college I worked in the theater costume shop, box office, babysat, and worked as a clerical aid in the music department office. During summers I worked as a bartender and cocktail waitress. My brother worked washing dishes and bussing tables. One of the jobs I had after college, was working in a doctor’s office. I also cleaned the office after hours.
I mention these experiences to illustrate that cleaning and washing dishes are not beneath anyone. You can learn from every job, the people you work with and for. Cleaning and washing dishes can teach you about attention to detail and time management. These jobs will also make you appreciate the people that do them when you are the beneficiary of their efforts.
Education is important to achieving the careers goals you set for yourself. There is a lot of debate about education at higher institutions of learning verses technical schools. Learning an actual skill will serve students better than earning a degree in gender studies. Colleges charge astronomical amounts of money to produce many graduates who can’t get jobs. Parents are waking up to the fact there are choices in educating their children.
My niece had an internship in her chosen field during college. It’s a good idea to find out if you really want to do the job associated with your major before too many commitments are made. During college breaks she worked in a jewelry store as a sales person and took care of people’s pets went they went away.
More parents need to evaluate how they teach their children about working. Doing different kinds of jobs before a career can help develop us as human beings. We learn about other people. We learn how to handle different situations. What is particular to one job can offer insight that may help in another field. Our economy will only benefit by an up and coming workforce not being afraid to do the hard work.
Kelly Murphy Redd, CEcD, Murphy Redd Marketing