Getting a first job can be a scary, but exciting time in one’s life. Almost every person will eventually choose a career path, and in order to do so, it is necessary to use the first job as a stepping stone. One of the most important aspects of getting a first job is learning to overcome the many obstacles and challenging experiences involved with being a good employee. Learning to deal with authority, learning to work with others, and learning to deal with customers are all challenges that need to be overcome in a first job. Having your first job is frightening, but it is also a great learning experience.
For many people, one of the major challenges of getting a first job is learning how to deal with authority. In the book “Authority: Deal with It,” by James Lorimer, Lorimer discusses how every person wants to be in charge of their own decisions, yet “reality sets in when we realize that there will always be someone to whom we need to answer — our parents, our teachers, our employers, etc” (Lorimer 3). Learning to be a good employee means appropriately dealing with the boss. This includes following all of the rules set forth by the managers and supervisors. This also includes following all orders given. Learning how to deal with authority is a very important part of a first job because it is something that will stick with a person for the rest of their working career.
Working with others is another skill that is often learned through getting a first job. Teamwork is defined my Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary as “work done by several associates with each doing a part but all subordinating personal prominence to the efficiency of the whole” (Merriam-Webster.com). Teamwork is a skilled which is learned through getting a first job because it is necessary for people to learn to work as a team with the other employees. This is important because working as a team can make everything easier if done correctly. It is also possible to learn from teammates and other employees. Learning to work with others is a very important skill that is gained by getting a first job because it teaches you to understand and get along with other people in a professional manner. Learning how to have strong customer service skills is a major aspect of getting a first job because customer service skills are one of the most important parts of being an effective employee. In the article “The Importance of Customer Service” by Chris Haycox, Haycox describes how “every employee must understand implicitly what is expected of them when interacting with customers” (www.businesstoolchest.com). This is an imperative thing to learn during a first job because customer service is one of the most important parts of any business. Without customer service, the customers are not happy, therefore the company and bosses are not happy, and therefore the employee may be in danger of losing their job. Therefore learning how to provide exceptional customer service to customers is a very critical skill to learn. One of the most important aspects of customer service is remembering that the customer is always right.
Although getting a first job may seem overwhelming and challenging, the outcome will be very rewarding because this experience, and the lessons learned from it, will stay with a person for the rest of their life. Some may believe that a first job is insignificant, but it is an imperative stepping stone that will teach a person countless lessons and skills. Learning to deal with authority, learning to work as a team, and learning strong customer service are all skills that will help a person throughout the rest of their life. No matter what path a person chooses in life, they will always use the skills that they learned during their first job.
References
Haycox, Chris. “The Importance of Customer Service”. 2 Feb 2011. Business Tool Chest. .
Lorimer, James. “Authority: Deal with It.” Lorimer and Company, LTD. Toronto. 3.
Merriam-Webster Dictionary. “Teamwork”. Merriam-Webster.com.
