What would happen if we were prepared?
Not once I entered my work ready. I'd always learn on the go. However, before I entered a job market for real I've got multiple different part time or per project gigs.
For once we'd be bored. Or the truth is we'd be at peace, but no matter how hungrily we seek peace, we unconsciously prefer chaos as a state of mind?
Not once I entered my new job role ready. I'd always learn on the go. However, before I entered a job market for real - meaning before I've got my first full-time job in the office with contract and everything - I had multiple different part-time or per-project gigs.
Why?
Well, I had two main reasons.
The first one was that I needed money, so the most obvious thing was to earn it. 🤷🏼♀️
The second one was that I wanted to land job as better as possible when I finish uni, and at the time a certain girl, older than me, told me that I need to volunteer and work as much as lousy jobs as I can so I don't have to do it later.
Little bit elitist, but it actually worked.
The (un)happy flow went something like this:
First job ever - handing out leaflets. I was in high school, probably third or fourth grade. A friend of mine landed us the job, and we had to share branded paper for a few hours on weekends in the city centre. To random people. Who more than often would say no and pass angrily rather than smile and nod.
At first I was devastated - I mean what cost you to just be nice and take the flyer? You have no obligation. Anyway during the time I got used to it. I smiled & waved more, cared less.
This wasn't the job where I learned not to take things personally. But I definitely got to be okay with being rejected in the public space. Oh, and since that date I take flayers from everyone. Ever.
Second job - sorting goods in supermarket. So this is something I did during summertime when I started the uni. Nothing too demanding, right? Most of the time. However, this was the first time I realised there is no out. Once you start working there is no way out - until you drop dead or you're ready for retirement. Which in Eastern Europe counts as dropping dead. Also, there is no I don't feel like doing it. No matter what, you need to show at 07am, and do the work. Every. Single.Day.
This wasn't the timeline where I developed depressive behaviour just yet, but I started understanding what I don't want to allow to myself. I realised I don't want to get third-party excuses to rule my life and get me low payed job. I'll do, learn, perform.. whatever it takes.
Third is a charm you would say - and it really was. I started working in a bilingual kindergarten and language school. To this day it was my favourite job ever. I was the happiest. I was really joyful about going to work. I learned how to deal with toddlers, and how to deal with adolescents. And all that in two languages. Those three years happened while in the same time I had courses at my uni about linguistics (I turned it into how to teach mother tongue as a foreign language) and methodologies & didactics. Everything was perfectly combined. People were supportive and nice for once. This was the only time I thought I could do this forever and ever. My bills however thought differently.
Along with that job, I was hired per project to handle hiring and some event management task on one event project. I was part of the team since the first season, until the 10th. Five years straight. The longest I was in any collective. And I hated it. Every single day of it. But I blindfolded myself with a vision of doing something greatly, being part of something bigger than me. Long story short - I wasn't. But I learned how to handle huge amount of multiple tasks at one, I developed a high level of resilience. And I became a person that can crack any type of insolvable problem in a second.
Oh, and last but not the least - working as a waitress. This one was probably the most demanding day-to-day job. On one hand, I wasn't ready for such a need of physical endurance. And from the other - running a kindergarten and a bunch of adolescents in the same time is a piece of cake in comparison to dealing with drunk men. I think I've learned more about the social incompetence of society than in any other workplace. And my adolescent ego was trained daily. Or better say - nightly. To this day I respect this profession probably the most, and I always leave a tip.
While all these jobs had almost nothing to do with the latter ones they helped me prepare for:
work discipline - showing up is what makes you reliable, and that's always favourable
self-awareness - understanding what's for me and where I need to push myself helped me the most through career-building
proactivity - if you manage to refill the glasses before you even notice they are empty, the tip is growing, no matter how simple this worked in other industries for me everytime.
understanding people - if you cannot put yourself in other people's shoes, being a good marketer or a great manager won't be an attainable goal
And overall, learned me to respect all types of work.
Next Sunday, I'll share more on what else helped me prepare for my current career plan.
Meanwhile, share with me what helped you prepare for the path you're currently walking. :)
Love,
Bojana