What I Learned from My Other Jobs

Free Money Finance has been sharing information about jobs had in high school and college. I thought this was a really cool idea. After all, I wasn’t always a freelance writer. I did other jobs, too! And learned plenty from them. Here is a sampling of some of my former jobs:

• Cashier at a craft store (high school): Learned that it can be inconvenient to work on someone else’s schedule. But I also learned the value of doing the best you can at whatever job you are doing, and that others value your competence.
• Piano teacher (high school): Learned that it is much more pleasant to set your own schedule and be able to set your own rates. Of course, when you teach lessons, you still have to consistently provide the service you are being paid for. But I could decide my own hours, and choose to take fewer students.
• Cafeteria worker (college): Learned that work study is a great way to help you get through college. Also learned the value of a job with benefits. No, my part-time work study job at the cafeteria did not include health benefits. But it did include free food — anytime I wanted it. Talk about a benefit!
• Radio DJ and underwriting director (college): Learned that I enjoy media and communications. I also learned the value of getting paid for doing something you enjoy. Even making a little less is worth it if you enjoy your work.
• Resident adviser (college): Learned that a home business can be a great thing. I got paid for doing something based out of my dorm room. I could set my own schedule, and go about my business from my living quarters. Convenient and helpful.
• Cashier farm and ranch store (post-college): Learned that sometimes it really is who, and not what, you know. I don’t know about farm and ranch products. But I did know the owner of the business. And that meant I got a cashier job. Networking is valuable when you are looking for a job.
• Office coordinator and Classified sales for local newspaper (post-college): Learned that I would rather write for a newspaper than sell ads for one. This job set me on the path to freelancing by inspiring me to go back to school and get my M.A. in journalism.

It’s pretty ease to see how my other jobs taught me things that I use now. Indeed, my jobs taught me the value of having flexible hours, working for myself and a number of other skills. I still network, and I still try to work hard and do my best.

What did your previous jobs teach you?

Image source: Quadzilla99 via Wikimedia Commons