While some of us may have gotten really lucky with our first real job (be it out of college or high school), for most of us it was filled with more learning experiences than anything else.
No matter what we had originally anticipated for our first real job, it probably hit us like a ton of bricks, when we realized that money was not overflowing out of our pockets, and we actually had to work ridiculously hard for even a small amount of money.
We were no longer the Carrie Bradshaw that we thought we would be, and we were then left contemplating how we could have actually prepared for this harsh reality. And while the truth is that we couldn’t prepare, the lessons that our first real job taught us can be taken with us forever, and used as life experiences to pass on to our children.
Here are LifeDaily’s 7 Things Your First Real Job Teaches You:
1. You have to prove yourself
Your resume may say one thing, but your actions will say another. Your boss won’t promote you on your first day, and probably not until a while after. You may start at the bottom, but if you prove yourself, you can then be thought of as as great as you said you were, and it is only then that you will move forward with promotions, bonuses, and so fourth. You have to remember that you’re going to make mistakes, but what a boss wants to see is that you will demonstrate that you’re capable of working past them, and growing out of them towards improvement.
2. You are not entitled to anything
Some of us have always had a sense of entitlement- our generation is actually known for it. Back in the day of our grandparents, and parents, there was no such thing as entitlement, because they had to work very hard for everything. If we were born into a very affluent family, we may have a sense of entitlement, but the reality is that no one is entitled to anything- everyone must work for their success. You are not entitled to your dream job just because you went to college, and you are not entitled to make $100,000 a year just because you’re smart. Nothing comes without hard work.
3. Money isn’t everything
You will soon realize with your first job that money certainly isn’t everything. If you are at a job you want to be at, you probably will not mind the lack of money (better known as entry level pay) as much, however if you are at a job that you dislike, the lack of cash might really get to you. Most of us in our first real job are have a lot to prove, as mentioned above, we will not make as much as someone on the job for 5 years. With that said, we learn that money isn’t everything, and although others may be making more than you, it does not mean that they are happy.
4. It is not enough to be on time- you have to be early
Most of us may have learned from our first real job that being on time means being late. If you have to be in at 9, and you are not by your desk ready to go by 8:45, then you are late. Do yourself a favor and eliminate the stress that being late gives you, and just be early, because if you’re early, you’re on time. While you may think your boss doesn’t realize if they are busy doing something else, he/she does, and they take note of everything. Being consistently early will be appreciated.
5. Hard work actually does pay off
As cliche as it may sound, applying yourself does pay off- even if the end result is a minimum wage paycheck. A first real job done well gives you a sense of accomplishment, where you can rejoice for the hard work you put fourth, knowing that for the moment, you weren’t getting much in return. You will even feel a sense of triumph knowing that you are paying your own bills, and you’re doing it yourself, which is something that no one can take away from you.
6. Success is relative
One of the most valuable things you can learn in your career, and in your lifetime, is that success is relative. A Lamborghini and a Chanel bag isn’t a measure of success for everyone. Everyone is on a different path, and no matter which direction you are going, you have to do what makes you happy. Whether it’s working as a secretary at a publishing company to get your dream job as a writer, or working in the mail room at a company to work your way up to the top. You have to follow your own path, and chase after your own dreams.
7. You have time
You always have plenty of time. You do not have to land your dream job in your 20s, your 30s, or even your 40s, because the road to getting to your dream is what makes it worthwhile in the end. It’s your journey that makes you appreciate your dream when you finally get to it, and by then you will probably create a new dream for yourself. Just keep learning and keep growing.
Which of LifeDaily’s 7 Things Your First Real Job Teaches You did you like the most?
Please share any first real job lessons that you have learned in the comments below.
[Featured Image Credit: seenheardknown.com]
7 Things Your First Real Job Teaches You is a post from: LifeDaily