I’ve worked a lot of jobs. The typical part-time jobs that teens work, the jobs you work in college, jobs during my finding myself stage, and my “real-life” job. When I was in graduate school I had visions of myself graduating with a job or finding a job pretty quickly. Things didn’t happen that way.
As luck would have it, at the time that I graduated Colorado was in a pretty deep Recession (story of my life). So, I continued working at Starbucks and picked up an additional job working at a high-end olive oil store.
When you are in the process of looking for a “real-job” it’s easy to just live on money that you’ve saved from a previous job, unemployment if you’re getting it, or odd jobs. Getting a part-time job is a wonderful way to stay in the habit of working, being accountable to others, working with clients, and continue to be engaged in society. I never thought that I would end up working at Starbucks for 3 years during graduate school. I also didn’t imagine that I would continue to work at the Olive Oil store for 2 years after I landed my “real-job.”
When I hear people say that they are: too highly educated, beyond that type of work, or convinced that something will come along soon before they would consider working retail or in food services they kind of piss me off. Work is work. I never thought that I would pay thousands of dollars and then work at a coffee shop. I did it though because I had to eat, and I had to do something that was a positive forward moving action. People forget that things CHANGE. Even I forget this as I complain about how long I’ve worked my current position. Things will eventually change-because they always do.
If you are standing on the edge of the abyss and refuse to get a job…I can only encourage you to rethink any prejudice you may have against this type of work. These jobs have value. I am still friends with many of the people that I worked with and recall those years of making coffee and selling high end olive oil fondly. Starbucks and the Olive Oil store hired me when no one else did. I had a schedule, I had to be focused and “on-task,” I had somewhere to be and people who depended on me.
I don’t regret any of the part-time jobs that I’ve done, these jobs taught me about: being dependable, being friendly, customer service, remembering details, the ability to stand for hours, the ability to clean public toilets, how to manage stock, how to do inventory, how to count change back, how to up-sale, how to do a cash/credit card end of night deposit, how to handle ridiculous orders (Starbucks!), how to handle up-scale clientele (Olive Oil Store-rich South Americans and Denver Nuggets players), dealing with difficult customers, and I am sure there is more. If you have people in your life who need work and refuse to work part-time remind them of the value of these jobs. They are nothing to sneer at. If I found myself looking for work I would find another part-time job (unless I was granted unemployment-I think you lose those benefits if you work) in a heart beat.
Starbucks 4 Eva!
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Plus you will always know how to make a caramel macchiato and save yourself money in the future when you make it yourself!
I actually really love knowing how to make a really good cappuccino. I want to get an espresso machine in a couple of years so that I can make fantastic coffee drinks.
Good advice here! I worked part time at a restaurant and a clothing store immediately after graduating with my BA. I kept my restaurant job even after I got my “big girl” job, but had to quit when my schedule got too crazy. I’m very glad I did it, because I now have a skill to fall back on in case I need extra money quickly.
I’ve had a lot of people tell me that they’re holding out for “something better.” No one is telling them to work retail/food/etc. forever and the expectation is that they are trying to do what they’ve actually trained for. I’ve met a lot of depressed people who could have doing something, anything while working towards their end goals. Now, I can use my coffee skills/retail skills/and olive oil skills (all of the skills that I listed) they serve me well in my current job-which is my big girl job! LOL.
I totally agree. I never thought I’d have such a tough time after getting my M.A and I worked as a housecleaner briefly. I’ve had a lot of jobs as well, some glamorous, some not but I am always happy to work. I don’t think I am above anything, and I would sure do anything to prevent borrowing money or moving back in with my parents!
I just cleaned a house last night and spent an hour cleaning trying to clean out some “Super-Poo” from a toilet. I have an M.P.A. and a full-time job. I get a bit frustrated when people say that they are above/beyond doing certain types of jobs. I was feeling pretty humble last night. Not gonna lie! I was feeling very fortunate to have an opportunity to work for some extra money and will appreciate the money!