Lessons I Learned From My First Job
You will always remember your first job. Starting at a new workplace is a big step for anyone. You may have heard from your friends what their experience has been like and you may have even exchanged stories. There are countless lessons that you will learn from your first job.
These are my personal favourites and I am guessing a lot of you can relate to these too.
A lovely customer makes the world of difference
I bet you have heard many stories about rude customers. Chances are if you work anywhere that requires you to deal with customers on a daily basis, then you have a few stories to tell yourself. Often times customer attitudes are unnecessary and in fact inconceivable that someone might think their obnoxious behaviour is OK in any setting.
However, while you may experience the height of bad manners from some consumers, you will also encounter some lovely customers. It does not cost a penny to smile or say thank you, but it makes a world of different to any employee. As a customer you can easily end up making someone’s day. It pays to be kind and you never know when it will come back to you.
You will make mistakes
You will make mistakes, especially when you are learning. Even your best efforts may not work out in your favour. Do not be embarrassed. As long as you try your best there is nothing more you can do. Even the most experienced workers will make mistakes. It is a part of life. Do not be too hard on yourself. You can always rectify it. Made the wrong coffee? Apologise to the customer and make another. Got the wrong size garment out? Go back and see if you have the right size in stock.
Making mistakes can feel mortifying at the time. Even the tiny mistakes can seem like the end of the world in the moment. Often you can end up looking back and laughing at yourself for how stressed you were over how minuscule the mistake really was. You will get used to the way things work overtime. Give yourself a chance. Mistakes are a learning curve, and you should treat them as such. You will know better the next time and before long you will forget all about your past mistakes.
New skills
If you have ever created a Curriculum Vitae or gone to a job interview you will know that selling yourself is a vital part of the whole process. The majority of people will refer to their skillset and how previous experiences and the abilities they gained with each are of benefit to the employer. The most valuable skills that I acquired were teamwork, communication and time management.
Teamwork and communication are very important in any role in order to get things done swiftly. I had expected to improve my skills in these areas before starting my first job but I did not expect to learn so much about time management. Balancing school work and a part-time job became necessary and because of this I inevitably and successfully improved my time management skills. I became far more efficient in this department. I began to better appreciate my free time and became happier as a result.
Do not be afraid to ask for help
If you are unsure of anything, ask for help. It is better that things are done slowly and correctly than quickly and incorrectly. Sometimes it can be daunting to do so.
However, if you do not know something then it is essential that you ask especially if it will affect a customer. Do not let your pride get in the way of admitting that you do not know something. You are putting yourself and potentially others at a disadvantage if you do not ask. Chances are your co-workers will be more than happy to answer your questions.
Do you relate to these lessons learned from a first job?