Monday 9 September 2019

12 Life Lessons I Have Learnt Since I Entered Work/Employment




Having worked in several places during my lifetime so far and currently working at Costco, these are the things that I have noticed and picked up on: 


You might not love every single aspect of your job - yet I do enjoy doing what I do and getting paid for it. 


You develop proper communication and people skills, which one can argue you can't really get at college and university - working in a field such as retail, for example, forces you to open up and talk to your colleagues, customers. Yeah, you do that whilst studying... the thing, however, is that college/university is 3/4 years maximum. After that, you and your peers go your own separate ways. At work, when you work with people, unless they or you, quit or get fired, you are with them for, well, life. It's the skills the employers teach you that teachers, lecturers, college tutors tend to overlook that is fundamental and this helps to prepare you to deal with people in the real world and real-life situations. 


Work for yourself and make yourself proud


I'm here to work to earn money, not friends - sure I can strike up a conversation and be friendly towards and with my colleagues but that is during work. What happens at work tends to stay at work and so I don't socialise with them after working hours


To speak up and to become more approachable towards others - I am and was always an introvert growing up as a child and teenager and this was a real challenge in itself, but what made working in a place such as Costco, where I am at the moment, extremely beneficial, are the people I surround myself with I converse with on a regular basis. When you work in any line of retail, you'll have to deal with interaction: that's interacting with customers and with your colleagues by verbally communicating with them. Most of my coworkers are friendly, approachable and of whom I get on well with, easily. This enables me to boost my self-confidence and to help me come out of my shell; that and that I didn't felt like I was afraid of them mocking me and making me feel like I'm smaller than them and that they treated me as an equal. I could strike up a conversation just by saying a few words, and after that, it goes on from thereon. 


To not take everything someone says to you personally and at face value - I was and admittingly still is, in some ways, a sensitive person who takes things to heart and I'm a firm believer of 'if you have nothing nice to say, don't say it all'; at the same time, sometimes and not all of the time, what my colleagues do say is one I shouldn't take offence to and get so worked about so easily and get upset over: and that therein rings some truth. It's just their tone that I take issue with, more than anything I guess. I realise now that by taking things too personally is a sign of low self-esteem; that and perhaps s/he is being critical and that it might not be intended as a personal attack, nor do they hate me. 


Knowing that my intention is to do my utmost best by going as far as possible with my efforts - I take pride in what I do and on a good day, I give it 110% by showing my commitment, being able to juggle a range of tasks and knowing I am making a valuable and noteworthy contribution to the company/store and my colleagues for whom I work for 


The customer is not always right - just because you pay for a service/good does not entitle him/her to disrespect and treat employees like garbage. Anyone who works in retail knows some customers will do or say anything to get an employee into trouble or make them feel like we are not worthy of our jobs. They will push our buttons to make us feel guilty, even though we are doing our best by swearing at us or ridicule us just to get a reaction out of us. Sorry, but that is just not on. 


To have respect for those who work in foodservice retail - that includes knowing that when I go to a restaurant/fast food place not to leave the rubbish on the table, but to clear it up myself. I know now how it feels when I see messy tables and I am having to clean it up. Yes, it's part of my job, but some take the mick by 'deliberately' leaving their rubbish around and knowing I am there to get rid of it. Still, I do my thing and put them in the bins. 


Being able to straddle the line between humility, empathy and self-worth - the satisfaction of having a job is one thing, but also by spending a long time doing it and familiarizing yourself with the routines and knowing how to do it by yourself, makes you feel proud, and yet it's not something one would boast in. Rather, it makes me understand from my colleagues' own point of view. I am a person who is very hands-on and can multi-task for as long as I know what my role entails. Working in retail, hospitality and in any sector dealing with customers face-to-face also involves putting his/herself in their shoes and in understanding what they want. I also think that by being understanding and being on the same wavelength as some of your colleagues, you develop a sense of who they are and knowing that deep down that pretty much almost all of them are not so bad and of whom, in fact, are pretty nice people. 


To take the initiative and undertake tasks with minimal supervision and under high-pressure situations - such as when it gets busy during the weekends, it's knowing how to cope with each predicament: when the bins overflow I have to change them, clean and wipe the tables, sweep the floor, replenish the cutlery and sauces, when someone wants to know where something is, I point them at the right direction - all at once. It's knowing how to keep things under control, without letting them get out of control. And if and when it happens, it's down to me to rectify it as quickly as I can, which is also why I have to be extremely fast in everything I do  


Kindness goes a long way & patience is a virtue - it's learning how to keep your cool & maintaining your composure when things don't go your way or go according to plan. It's also about timing and not rushing into things, but also being respondent as possible. Also, kindness does go a long way - I say thanks when possible and a simple and gracious 'thank you' from my colleagues & members makes me smile on the inside and it also encourages me to do even better. 

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