Chit-Chat: Do you still believe in one another?

[Alexander Nicholi]

If you really think you're too good to start at the bottom and work your way up then life is gonna chew you up and spit you out. Working towards something is great, but rejecting the steps that'll help you get there is outright stupid.

It seems you're getting this connotation of elitism where there is none. There is a distinct difference between self-respect and narcissism.

You didn't say anything about volunteering in your post before, so I only replied to what you said. When you're 16 years old, there's absolutely nothing wrong with getting a job in a grocery store or wherever you can. When you're still going to high school, or living as a starving student(which is what a lot of people who aren't as privileged as others, such as myself HAVE to do), thinking "Oh no, I'm better that", is in fact conceited.

Moving on to what you're saying now about volunteering and things like that though, I don't disagree.

If you read above at all you'd see I did. "Volunteer if you can" is my look on things. By the way:

con·ceit
kənˈsēt/
noun
noun: conceit; plural noun: conceits

1.
excessive pride in oneself.
"he was puffed up with conceit"
synonyms: vanity, narcissism, conceitedness, egotism, self-admiration, self-regard;

Validly holding yourself to a higher work standard hardly constitutes excessive. Besides, pride isn't bad if it's not counterproductive, as Anton LaVey said.

Well, starting at the bottom gives you a lot of understanding in how the world works, you get the basics, you get basic experience, and you start to learn how boss - employee relationship works. Having had a job a starbucks for 2 years may not say "This kid is a genius in the fiscal field and our accountants agency needs to hire him" but it does say "This kid has experience in human relations when it comes to having a job, and has the willpower to hold a job for a while". It might not be a decisive factor, but it sure as hell gives you an edge. If you and I would apply for a job and we'd have the same degree, we'd have the same personalities, and look the same, but I have worked jobs before, even though it's only in a green house, I'd get the job because the fact that I didn't get fired means that I have proof that I have some basic responsibilities. Volunteering is a good thing to do too, though.

Sometimes there are a lot of career-specific oppurtunities out there that can give you experience dealing with the populace at large, ergo dealing with "customers" or some similar PR work that can be both stressful and enlightening.

Personally I find low-level jobs to be a waste. For a lot of people they're the opposite – I'm simply weighing my circumstances and coming to conclusions for them.

 

[Nihilego]

Yeah, volunteer work is pretty great and some of the stuff you can do with it makes you feel really good as well as gaining experience. It's pretty cool to be working under the knowledge that you're doing it for yourself and others as opposed to just money, too.

It seems you're getting this connotation of elitism where there is none. There is a distinct difference between self-respect and narcissism.

This is grotesquely offensive to anybody who's ever worked a "low-level" job.

 

[3749374]

It seems you're getting this connotation of elitism where there is none. There is a distinct difference between self-respect and narcissism.

Personally I find low-level jobs to be a waste. For a lot of people they're the opposite – I'm simply weighing my circumstances and coming to conclusions for them.

This sounds like something someone who hasn't worked a day in their life, and lives off their parents would say; just so you're aware.

 

[Ice1]

It seems you're getting this connotation of elitism where there is none. There is a distinct difference between self-respect and narcissism.

Well, I feel kinda offended. I currently work a job that requires no education at all, and most of my colleagues are school drop-outs, uneducated immigrants, and even someone that has been in jail. Most people would say that it is a one of the most low-end jobs possible, although I wouldn't say I lack self-respect. Although a lot of students do similar jobs, so maybe it's a cultural difference. Still though.

 

[Chikara]

If you read above at all you'd see I did. "Volunteer if you can" is my look on things.

The post I was replying to:

Get lucky enough to have a family support you just long enough to get professional experience for a career. I frankly find those sorts of jobs deplorable – the ones you mentioned, anyway. I know it may not be the most helpful thing to say.

You actually didn't.

By the way:

con·ceit
kənˈsēt/
noun
noun: conceit; plural noun: conceits

1.
excessive pride in oneself.
"he was puffed up with conceit"
synonyms: vanity, narcissism, conceitedness, egotism, self-admiration, self-regard;

Validly holding yourself to a higher work standard hardly constitutes excessive. Besides, pride isn't bad if it's not counterproductive, as Anton LaVey said.

Haha. Providing me a definition of conceit because you don't think I understand the word and its meaning is pretty conceited in itself.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with never working retail because you don't have to. But placing yourself on a pedestal because of that fact and calling it "pride" are two completely different things. One is "lucky to be in the position you're in". The other is, you guessed it. "A conceited way of looking at life".

I've worked in retail my entire life, but I make a decent living off of it, and by your wording, I lack self-respect because of it. Petty, really.

 

[3749374]

Moving on from this, has anyone had any "low-level" jobs that they learned a lot from that they can still attribute as being a good experience today?

 

[Kyoe]

There are no small jobs, only small people.

I, for one, have a great deal more respect for someone who started with nothing, and turned it into everything, as opposed to someone who started with everything and decided they were good enough for it.

Self respect and pride are traits forged in the fire of humility. They are perspectives that you have to earn. If your hands have never been calloused, then it's ego you're feeling.

Do not forget that.

 

[Chikara]

I was a cake decorator at my last job for a good year. People come to me whenever they want a simple birthday cake made :D

Definitely the funnest job I've had, it's become a hobby, even though I don't get paid as well as I did.

Here's the first cake order I ever did(and a picture of the best icing flower I've ever made omf):

Spoiler:

 

[Dragon]

I used to work in a plant that organizes electronic parts; my job was to basically tear apart televisions and those record stands that typical DJs like using~

It was tougher than it looked, haha. Like for one thing, I had to adjust fairly quickly just to keep up with the workload! I can't tell you the number of times that I was pushed to my limit, and bear this in mind, this job lasted for hours so, uuugh, the strain. XD

But it was challenging! I used to be that boy who.. you know, what sort of quiet, kept to himself, but, I haaad to start opening my mouth or else we weren't going to get anywhere, haha. Of course, this was only a temporary job for me during my late teen years, but I gotta say, the people who work there full time definitely has it tough, but they don't give up... That's pretty amazing.

 

[Alfieri]

I was nothing more than an errand boy at a tax office. Running around filing receipts and cabinets and going to the post office to deliver stuff. I didn't really do anything important besides that. No phone calls or anything, just errands errand and more errands. Although it was volunteer work and I do think it helped me be a bit more attentive to following directions.

 

[Tsutarja]

My first job was in higher education, of all places. I worked as an assistant to a college financial aid office, and I had a variety of tasks. It was a vigorous job, yet fun at the same time, because of the uplifting personalities everyone had. I was cut from the position because of lack of available funds, but I still look at it as a great way to gain resume experience.

I couldn't care less if I had to work a job of lower scale than that; if I get a paycheck and decent hours alongside a pleasant working environment, then I'm okay with that. It doesn't matter if it was a "low-level" job or not.

 

[Ice1]

Moving on from this, has anyone had any "low-level" jobs that they learned a lot from that they can still attribute as being a good experience today?

I work a couple of days a year in catering, and now I have mad respect for the people who do the dishes for big events. Getting all the crates with plates in it and the cutlery. Your arms and legs start to hurt at the end of day, and your just exhausted. Some of the people I work with on those days do that throughout the whole week, and I just admire the fact that they can hold it out.

 

[bobandbill]

My first job was more unusual than most, which was teaching karate. I've practiced it for many years and started helping out in classes for free, then got some promotions up to Sensei and had at least a class a week on my own. I still take the odd class when someone needs replacing now, which is neat, but it doesn't really add much to the wallet with the frequency it happens. Just as well I'm getting some money from uni now, plus more from tutoring when uni semester kicks in.

 

[Kanzler]

I don't think we should forget the point that you really want to look at what a job can do for you. If you're able to get a job more complex than fast-food or the most basic of retail, you should, because you want to bring your experience into the future. Teaching karate, for example, gives you teaching skills, allows you to work with kids, and manage a large group independently. I'd also recommend tutoring because you'll be practising how to explain things to peers, which is important for jobs that pay more as well as parenting.

 

[Sonata]

My first job was working at a daycare. About the only useful thing I got from that is I can deal with a lot of annoyances at once and I can write on my applications for fast food places that I have job experience with a grill.

Other than that my only other job has been stocking shelves and unloading the truck at Toys R Us.

 

[Spiff]

I've lifeguarded since I was 16. Most of the time it's just yelling at kids while you get some good color going, but sometimes you gotta act. Couple years ago I had a kid fall right off the high-dive board onto the deck, and that shit aint fun man.

 

[Nolafus]

My first and only job has been a barista/pizza maker at my local grocery store. The two departments are right next to each other, so we just take care of both. I've been doing it for about eight months now, and I really enjoy it. Ironically, I don't like coffee, and they hired me with absolutely no experience in making coffee or pizza, and it's been a great learning experience. I'm there working both departments by myself most of the time, so I have to deal with problem customers and the occasional complaint myself. It's taught me how to interact with people, that's for sure.

 

[Sir Codin]

My first job was a customer service clerk at a hardware store when I was sixteen.

 

[Hikamaru]

I have had a lot of part-time jobs that were usually short-term from 2009-2013. My first job was involved in packaging, where I was mainly sorting cosmetics into boxes. Aside from that, I had worked as a cleaner at McDonald's, labeling books in a school library, product shelving in a supermarket, data entry and then my most recent one was another packaging job, which abruptly ended due to altercations with my colleagues.

I really do want a new job, but it has to be something I know that I can do and also I have to have the right people to work with because fighting will make me hard to enjoy what I'm doing.

 

[Mark Kamill]

Im sitting in a cafe, at the end of a pyramid scheme meeting. Too close to home though, the dochebag brought me to meetna guy whos wife is sister to one of the bosses in the chain of bistros I work at.