Photo by Gabrielle Henderson on Unsplash
We’ve all worked a job we didn’t particularly love. The work might not be fulfilling, or the work culture and people aren’t a good fit. You might even have a strong urge to start a new role after several years of working in the same job. Either way, jobs are a stepping stone to learning and growing as you work towards your career goals.
Thanksgiving is coming up, and I want to take the opportunity to say that I am still thankful for the experiences I had, even at the jobs I didn’t love. So, how did my previous jobs shape me into the person I am today?
Help Build Transferable Soft Skills
A few years ago, I was working in an administrative role I was unhappy with. I primarily applied for the job for more stability and out of curiosity. Although the work was interesting, over time, it eventually became mundane. I was bored and seeking a new challenge. However, this particular job allowed me to develop various transferable soft skills such as organization, time management, and teamwork. These skills are crucial and applicable in every workplace, and I could apply them for future positions.
One time, my team leader informed the team that we had several new hires. I saw this as an opportunity to take on a leadership role, and I communicated this to my team leader. My team leader appreciated my efforts and desire to take on a more significant part, where I demonstrated my ability to train and supervise the new team members. This experience made me realize that while there are aspects of the job that we may not enjoy, there are ways for you to create opportunities for yourself. Don’t be afraid to communicate your ideas and propose projects based on your skill sets and desire to learn, benefiting both yourself and your employer.
Expand my network by working with diverse groups of people
I learned from my various work experiences that the people I work with matter a lot. I enjoy working with people of differing backgrounds and personalities. Having a diverse workplace allowed me to expand my network. Many of my colleagues have different career experiences, skillsets, knowledge, expertise, and perspectives to learn from. This helped a lot when we would bounce ideas off each other during meetings and delegate tasks based on everyone’s strengths and expertise.
Working with people of diverse ages and ethnicities also helped me develop cross-cultural sensitivity and communication skills. I had colleagues who share their cultural foods during our potluck events and educate us about their holiday celebrations, such as Eid Mubarak and more.
Gain valuable work experience as a well-rounded individual
Every job I had was a great learning experience which made me stand out in my resume and cover letter amongst other candidates. I can demonstrate how well-rounded I am as an individual. As I reflect on my previous jobs, I can associate various soft and technical skills that I developed with the tasks performed in each role.
Some examples include:
Processing applications (attention to detail)
Interviewing potential candidates (oral communication skills)
Preparing monthly budgeting and forecasting reports (analytical skills)
Organizing community and lunch and learn events (networking skills)
Drafting job postings (written communication skills)
Learn more about myself and my values in the workplace
What’s so great about the jobs that I didn’t like is that they gave me more clarity about my strengths, values in the workplace, and non-negotiables in my career. There is no shame in exploring different career paths and figuring out what you might like by eliminating what you don’t like. I also learned more about my areas for improvement and work ethic as I work well both independently and with a team. Most importantly, I realized that my passion lies in writing and creative work.
Even if your current job isn’t your ‘dream job,’ there are ways for you to cultivate passion and meaning in the workplace or outside of it. I’m fortunate to do what I’m passionate about as a freelance editorial writer with TalentEgg. They have many resources, career guides and job postings accessible for students, recent graduates, and young professionals like us!
So what aspects of your job do you like? What lessons have you learned from your work experiences, and why are you thankful for them?
Originally Published at TalentEgg.