What you learn about the nature of work in your first part-time job
Most of our first work experiences aren’t easy. The jobs involve a certain amount of hustle, grind, physical labor, or mundane, repetitive tasks. They’re the kind of jobs people view as boring or unsatisfying beyond the paycheck they provide.
However, everything we do in life is an opportunity to learn. Despite the work being less than engaging, you still benefited from these important life lessons. You learned:
The value of humility
Work needs to be done, and someone needs to do it. Nobody is “above” doing certain kinds of work.
The value of people doing the work
No matter the job people are performing, they are worthy of respect. Nothing teaches that lesson more than being on the receiving end of disrespect. When someone talks down to you because you’re in a lower position, you’ll remember (hopefully) not to do that in the future.
Work isn’t always enjoyable
To function in society, you need to be able to put up with some level of discomfort. Even if you’re lucky enough to work a well-paying job, you’re still going to have to do tasks you don’t enjoy. Completing repetitive, mundane tasks in your first part-time job is good practice for dealing with discomfort.
Taking direction
One thing you’ll learn in your first part-time job is that your boss calls the shots. Not all bosses are created equal. Some you’ll like, some you won’t, but you have to do the work they assign—within reason.
To please other people
The working world is all about relationships and personal interaction. If you’re in customer service, as so many first-time jobs are, it’s your job to help people. You learn pretty quickly that keeping customers happy is essential to having a good day at work.
How to work with different kinds of people
Just as you won’t love all of your bosses, you won’t love all of your coworkers. Some will be friendly and helpful. Others—not so much. You’ll never be done learning this lesson—none of us will—but you’ll get a chance to practice in your first job.
Learning the value of money
When you’re young, you don’t always connect things with their monetary value. Even if your family talks openly about money, you don’t understand that the food on your table equals the time and energy someone sacrificed so you can all eat.
When you get your first job, that disconnect about what it takes to get money clears up fast.
No matter how much your parents try to teach you “the value of a dollar,” it really doesn’t sink in until it’s your sweat that earns the dollar.
You gain more understanding of what things are actually worth. Suddenly, that pair of sneakers your parents won’t buy equals five or ten hours of your work.
Getting your first paycheck—and giving your first payment to Uncle Sam
Getting your first paycheck is a life lesson as well. You probably had your pay all figured out. You worked x number of hours, multiplied that by your hourly wage, and expected that amount to show up on your check. Then your eyes pop when you see how much is deducted from your pay for taxes and Social Security.
It doesn’t take long before you learn the difference between your gross income—what you earn before payroll deductions—and your net income, otherwise known as your take-home pay. From here on out, you know to factor in those deductions when you’re expecting your next paycheck. That’s another benefit of taking that part-time job as a student.
