6 best life lessons we learned from our first jobs

6 best life lessons we learned from our first jobs6 best life lessons we learned from our first jobsMy first summer job after starting college was as a fast food worker/drive-thru attendant, and more than once I felt like I was dragging myself out of bed for a paycheck. And while at the time I rolled my eyes at spending all day boxing french-fries and having to wear a truly embarrassing Ask Me How I (Lobster) Roll t-shirt, I now appreciate how time in the service industry taught me to graciously verstndigung im strafverfahren with hard-to-please customers and get things done quickly and correctly during a crazy 600 pm dinner-rush.Everyones got to start somewhere. Here at kununu, our employees have their fair share of odd and unforgettable first job experiences. No matter how far along you are in your career path, you can always look back at the different points in your career and find some important (chicken) nuggets of wisdom to use in your current position.We asked the team at kunu nus Boston office what lessons they learned from their first jobs and what career advice theyd offer new employees. Heres what they sharedGain power through positivityGetting through a tough shift or verstndigung im strafverfahrening with a demanding project is all about maintaining a positive and optimistic mindset. Bosses want employees who tackle problems with enthusiasm and grit rather than complaining and breaking down every time they get tripped up by an obstacle. You most likely wont get to choose your coworkers, schedule, or commute length, but you can always choose how you respond to any non-ideal workplace scenarios that may pop up.You can control two things your work ethic and your attitude. - Charles Lloyd, Sales at kununu USkununus VP of Marketing, Dan Sirks first job was anything but glamorous. As a teenager, he worked hauling manure for a landscaping company. Although the work was tiring (and smelly) he still thinks everyone should try to find the gold beneath the gr ime.Your job is to learn, grow and develop. See the learning opportunity in everything youre asked to do even the administrative grunt work and youll get the most out of every task. - Dan Sirk, Marketing at kununu USSeize every opportunityA former barista, our PR Director believes in seeing every job, even when its not in your field, as an opportunity to learn new skills and gain experience. She views her first gig as not just as pouring coffee but as a pathway to valuable people skills.Though you might be doing things like inventory, dishwashing or running a cash register, all of that becomes transferable skills that you can use in future jobs. When I was 18, I never imagined that getting used to working with people (taking orders, etc) would make me more comfortable doing cold calls or calling reporters live to pitch a story. Im thankful I experienced it all, because it makes me more confident in what I can do today. - Sofia Coon, Public Relations at kununu USProve your worthWhe n youre the new person at a company its your responsibility to show your employer what you can offer them and why you deserve to be there. Early on, its important to maintain a reliable and composed image in the office that makes people feel that you can be trusted with important responsibilities.Nobody cares about you. You have to earn the right to do business with people by adding value to them and their organizations. - Tim Song, Business Development atkununu USWhen youre given a thousand new tasks to finish by the end of the week, your first concern shouldnt be How am I going to get all of this done? Instead, you should take a deep breath, look over the list, and ask yourself What things are the most important to helping the company meet our goals? and start there.I learned how to prioritize my work based on what will add the most value. - Tedi Schipcka, Business Strategist atkununu USKeep your coolIf youve ever worked behind the counter of a coffee shop or manned a mall kiosk, youve known the struggle of dealing with hard-to-please customers. People skills are a huge part of any job, and its important to know how to deal with all kinds of people. As a former brand ambassador for a soymilk company and a bartender at a sports bar, kununus Linda Le Phan definitely understands the importance of keeping a smile on your face and remaining calm and collected when dealing with demanding customers.Since most of my first jobs were in the food service/restaurant industry, my most important early lessons about the workplace were about dealing with difficult people, staying patient and composed even when things are literally spinning out of control, and multitasking. Some people think that waiting tables or serving customers is easy, but it is not it gives you lessons that are incredibly useful in any work setting. - Linda Le Phan, Content Marketing atkununu USPut the customer above everything else, and keep them happy, advises our Marketing, Product and Business D evelopment leader Aaron Prebluda, whose first work environment was in the kitchen of a bustling restaurant.Make sure you are properly on-boarded and have context around what it is that you are doing in your role. Come with enthusiasm and ask a lot of questions. - Aaron Prebluda, Marketing, Product, and Business Development atkununu USConnect and collaborateStarting any new job is a scary experience. Whether you were hired to fill a recently created company position or are taking over the role of an old worker, it can be awkward trying to fit in with an office where everyone already seems to know each other. One of the easiest ways to feel more comfortable during your first few weeks is by working closely with coworkers and integrating yourself into their team.Networking isnt just important during the job search. You need to learn to continue networking throughout every phase of your career.Help wherever and whenever you can while still staying productive. - Ted Cooke, Digital Mark eting atkununu USCooke advises all new employees to find a balance between being protective with their time and forming business partnerships.Those collaborative relationships fueled by support and accomplishment are priceless and timeless, he said.Enjoy the rideAt the end of the day, kununu employees understand that work should be inspiring and engaging. If youre dedicating 40+ hours each week of your life to something you should be active, excited, and curious about the new lessons your job can offer.Worklife is endless learning. Dont plan your career live your life and enjoy it. Everything else will follow if you do what you have fun doing than just because you are good at it. - Moritz Kothe, CEO atkununuSo whether youre bussing tables, mowing lawns, or selling sweaters, remember that its not the job title that matters, its what you make of it.This article first appeared on Kununu.

FREE Webinars for Military Spouse Appreciation 2018

FREE Webinars for Military Spouse Appreciation 2018FREE Webinars for Military Spouse Appreciation 2018FREE Webinars for Military Spouse Appreciation 2018 Youre Invited to a FREE 45-Minute WebinarTIPS FOR MILITARY SPOUSESSEEKING FEDERAL JOBSA Resume Place, Inc. Military Spouse Appreciation EventREGISTER NOW TO LEARN HOW TO LAND A FEDERAL JOBClick on a date below to registerMay 11, 2018 1200 to 1245 PM ETMay 16, 2018 730 PM to 815 PM ETMay 21, 2018 900 AM to 945 AM ETBy Kathryn Troutman, Resume Place, Inc.May 1, 2018Resume Place is showing our appreciation for Military Spouse Month by offering 3 free webinar sessions on top tips for military spouses seeking federal jobs. Military spouses give so much in support of our nations freedomA 2nd career in the military family would be GREAT USAJOBS posts Competitive positions for Military Spouses. Learn about EO 13473 the Executive Order created to help military spouses land Federal jobs The military family member MUST be on PCS orders wi th their spouse to take advantage of EO 13473. LEARN about Top Tips for the best federal resume formatATTEND TO POSSIBLY WIN A ONE-HOUR CONSULTATION WITH KATHRYN TROUTMAN (value $190). Author, Federal Career Coach 2 sessions are offered. (MUST attend to win the consultation)Bobbi RossiterBobbi has been working with military and family members for more than 10 years. She also teaches the Stars Are Lined Up curriculum to Certified Federal Job Search Trainers and Career Coaches all over the world. When not teaching or conducting webinars, she can be found working behind the scenes to bring awareness to military spouse unemployment and underemployment issues. She personally likes EO13473, milspounderemployment, and milspounemployment.View trusted samples of federal resumes in established, renowned books to format and organize your resume. ur Federal Resume books contain excellent, successful FEDERAL RESUME SAMPLES.The Stars Are Lined Up for Military SpousesFIRST-EVER BOOK FOR MILITAR Y SPOUSES AND FEDERAL CAREERSWhy a federal career for Military Spouses?Great salaries, promotion potential, family friendly, family leave, training and MORE

How to Balance Work During the Holidays - The Muse

How to Balance Work During the Holidays - The MuseHow to Balance Work During the HolidaysIts that time of year again. The end is within reach, and no one can believe where this year went. I mean, really- how many times have you said that since Halloween? No matter what you celebrate this time of year, the race to the holidays is in full swing. Through Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday, and on to shopping, baking, cooking, and wrapping, there seems to be no time to take a break. And outside of holiday preparations, workplace stress loves to hang around during the holidays- it doesnt take any time off. During the holidays, over 56% of people surveyed reported that work is their primary driver of stress. Thats because we worry that work will infringe on our ability to enjoy the holidays with friends and family, and we stress about whether or not well be able to take time off from work to relax a bit. But thats a challenge even if we get the time off Only 41% of men and 27% of women strongly agree they can relax during the holidays. So, knowing all that, its pretty easy to let your job completely ruin your holidays. Here are three ways we seriously sabotage ourselves this time of year (and what to do instead).1. You Dont Plan Any Time Off in DecemberYes, thats right. Just assume that all of your other social activities, family festivities, kids concerts, and neighborhood potlucks will all fit neatly into your already jam-packed schedule. On the other hand, you know what would be better? Assuming you typically work a five-day week and have some vacation time built up, you may be able to take one day a week off each week in December. Maybe its Friday maybe its Tuesday- whatever you (and your boss) can work out.Ive done this, and I was amazed at the difference it made. Just knowing I had an extra day each week to breathe made the pressure of the season much more bearable- and quite enjoyable. 2. Even When You Take Time Off, You Stay Totally Tuned Into WorkT he holidays are the one time of the year when everyones expectations about response times lower. But instead of taking advantage of that, if you really want to be the martyr and ruin your season at the same time, keep checking that email every chance you get- even on your days off. Research shows that 60% of smartphone-using professionals are accessible for 13.5 hours per day and an additional five hours on the weekend. If you really want your job to ruin your holidays, keep this pace up on your days off- an extra 72 hours of work right smack in the middle of your holiday. A better way? Stepping away from the smartphone will actually help you enjoy your holidays more. When high-end consultants were asked to carve out dedicated times without email, they immediately reported significantly lower stress, more positive feelings about going to work, and a joy jump in their job perception.If they can do it, you can- and should- too. Really, its not as hard as you might think3. You Let Your Stress Flag Flyfruchtwein of us are stressed about work at some level, year-round. But during the holidays, it amps up. Between preparing for holiday celebrations and wrapping up the year, we feel extreme time constraints.And when we feel that extra pressure, we often end up talking about how stressed we are- constantly complaining about it and sharing it with those around us. And not in a good way. When you do that, you create even more stress for yourself. As the adage says, What you focus on grows. It goes like this Youre winded from running from one event to another, not having a minute to yourself, and then having to make one more trip to the mall. Oh, and then theres the credit card slips piling up and the report your boss needs by Friday.Guess what? Youre creating your own reality. The more you focus on and talk about your stress, the demands, and your lack of time, the more negative your overall energy becomes. Instead, what if you didnt complain? What if you anticipated go ing through each obligation on time and stress-free? What if you saw yourself enjoying the activities and reporting to your co-workers the next day about what a lovely time it was?When youre tempted to go to the dark side, reframe and think about what it is you really want out of the season- then see it happening. Yes, the holidays can be one big bag of stress, theres no doubt about it. If there was ever a time to balance your work and your life more effectively, this is it. So, give it a go and see what happens. And, happy holidays