Your Service Industry Job Is Worth the Struggle
If you have an exit strategy
You’re standing there with your back aching and your stomach growling under fluorescent lights that are just begging to be replaced. There is obnoxious music in the background or a bit too much chatter from a customer to be able to focus properly. “When will I get out of here?” “Am I going to stay stuck with nothing else lined up?”
When reflecting on their work experience, many creators complain about their previous entry-level or associate jobs, especially the public-facing ones. Whether it stems from memories of tired feet, rude customers, or low pay, everyone has an opinion on their service industry background.
Don’t get me wrong, the service industry has a lot of growth to do, but it does provide some value in personal and professional development, specifically for people looking to start their own business. There is no better way to gain interpersonal entrepreneurial skills than interacting with the real world and all the people that come with it.
Workplace Culture
Retailers expose employees to large-scale operational practices in a temporary environment. Since most people don’t rely on this job forever, workers have a chance to understand how a business runs without feeling pressure to become over-involved in the long run.
They get to see first-hand what they like and don’t like about management, policies, and regulations without their entire career depending on those results. From there, laborers will have more insight into what they are willing to sacrifice for company benefit and what personal values they’d rather uphold.
This knowledge will eventually inform production and client standards for their own endeavors. Rather than having compromised values or questionable ethics, creators can grow a personal foundation that leads to consistent growth year over year.
Patience
It’s true. Customers definitely test an individual’s patience. There will be days where it seems like it’s a privilege to interact with so many people because listening to their life updates or personal stories is a bit entertaining. Plus, these diverse perspectives can help to inform one’s personal worldview, which later plays a crucial role in lifestyle development(discussed below).
Other days, it will feel like a burden. People will be demanding, pushy, and rude. Employees will come home drained and unmotivated. For better or worse, workers must remain calm and dedicated, even when it seems like the impossible.
Doing anything creatively or independently is challenging. When achievement hinges on the ability to pivot out of seemingly impossible circumstances, this grit will come in handy.
Boundaries & Limitations
Due to its demanding nature, any service job will teach someone a great deal about their personal and professional limitations, while showing how to maximize the time given.
Yes, there will be days when a resignation letter seems very tempting, but this experience demonstrates how to recognize when it is appropriate to push past previous boundaries and when drawing a line in the sand is necessary.
It’s important to recognize the difference so burnout can be avoided, setbacks don’t occur as frequently, and obstacles merely become untaught lessons or inexperienced challenges.
Self Exploration
Working means that there is income coming into the bank. Not everyone has their life figured out. Working a routine job while leaving time to explore other endeavors is worth the investment. How can a person contribute to the world if they don’t have time to explore their place in it first?
Even if certain fields don’t provide an optimal amount of free time, employees can’t bring a client home with them. This means their work-life balance presents a chance to explore other hobbies, interests, side hustles, or career development opportunities. Well, as long as their boss doesn’t call them in too often.
Worldview
It’s true workers encounter people on the job that they probably wouldn’t come across individually. This is the perfect way to gain real-world knowledge on various topics such as adulthood, networking, finance, and many other niche interests.
By taking the initiative to start engaging in conversations with customers, employees can personally gain useful tips and advice that family members or personal friends may not provide. If expanding worldview is a top priority, staff members can work in an industry that caters to people in an aspirational lifestyle, including high-end retail, country clubs, or specialty shops that tailor to a particular interest.
The important aspect is working in a challenging and inspiring environment.
Farewell Procedure
If you choose service as a long-term career choice, then more power to you. Some of the brightest, most driven people I’ve met permanently work in the service industry. For those who want to pursue other career goals, an exit strategy is crucial.
Service environments provide the perfect opportunity to hone in on what your goals and aspirations are, but spending too much time working on another job can allow goals to merely become fantasies.
It is crucial to dedicate time to creating a routine/schedule that coincides with the job. This allows space to develop and attain personal progress.
It’s not impossible to be productive until your shift starts. Plan times to work before or after your outside responsibilities.
Hubspot recommends writing regularly to become a good content creator, which can only be done when you set aside time dedicated to improving your craft.
Find ways to network with others so professional connections aren’t limited to people working in one industry.
58% of entrepreneurs worked in the corporate world before starting their own businesses. Since up to 80% of jobs are found through networking, it’s important to start reaching out and meeting new people through organizations or social groups.
Remember, if you are older than the age of 25, go to work for work. Unless those personal relationships inspire success, the job is there to provide you with income to support yourself, not a distraction.
Apply for other jobs while you have one. Retail is steady in the sense that employees probably won’t get fired if their performance resembles anything decent. Use the time to leverage opportunities to find the right job without feeling pressure to accept offers due to a time crunch or limited finances.
Don’t trade one mismatched job for another. Try freelancing or applying to positions that use technical skills you want to develop. The goal is to ensure the next job is a step up from the last, so the investment and energy are worth it.
Finally, practice good workplace etiquette by filing your two weeks notice appropriately. Maybe maintaining relationships with former service employers isn’t a top priority on someone’s list, but it’s important to get into the practice of mutual respect, even when personal investment is lacking.
No, a retail job is probably not a dream job, but leaving properly helps build up a tolerance when motivation levels become low. If you have the grit and stamina to smoothly transition out of this position, you’ll be completely ready to step into another one that, hopefully, leads to even more personal growth and satisfaction.
