Today's economy is diverse and full of opportunities. While there are some
people that are able to study a subject or skill and then upon graduation
jump right into their career, more and more people are choosing a less
traditional path to their careers. Before starting their careers, they try
many different kinds of jobs. I believe having many different kinds of jobs
helps establish a foundation for success in one's future career.
The most compelling reason that recent graduates nowadays are choosing to
work many different kinds of jobs is that it help them figure out what they
truly want to do. People are realizing that if you find a career you love,
you will not have to work a day in your life. In the long run, this is a
very smart move. If people take the time to test out many different jobs,
they will know which one is the job they want to do for the rest of their
lives. I know many people in older generations that talk about how they
did not have a choice in their career. They always explain how they started
teaching or nursing simply because that was the best option. They are not happy
with their careers and with regret that they could not choose the best career.
Working many jobs helps young workers determine their future careers.
In addition, gaining experience in many different kinds of jobs helps make
people more competitive. When companies hire employees, they look for
applicants with diverse backgrounds and a range of experiences. This is
practical business sense, since a person with many different experiences
can be expected to do many different kinds of jobs. For example, an information
technology company cannot just hire employees who know about computers.
They must hire people who are familiar with the content. If the company is
responsible for creating an educational database for history teachers,
having employees who have had prior experience in education and history
is the most valuable. By holding many different jobs before starting a career,
a person can be more competitive in the job market.
Once you start your career, having a diverse background will help you accomplish
more with your job. For example, my father first worked as a waiter before he
became a writer for an advertisement agency. One of his first accounts was for
the restaurant T.G.I.F. My father used his experience as a waiter as inspiration
for the advertisement campaign they ran. The restaurant was so pleased with my
father's work that they signed an exclusive contract with his company. Soon after
that he was promoted and later went on to become the youngest manager of the
creative department in the history of this advertising agency. Using knowledge
from past jobs gives you the perspective to rise quickly in your career.
Holding many different jobs before starting your career is a smart thing to do.
Building your resume with a range of jobs helps you decide which career is best
for you. The various experiences not only make you more competitive than other
job applicants, but they also help you be a more valuable and resourceful employee.