Column: Any job better than no job at all

By Rachel Allred

Published Sept. 17, 2010

In order to learn fiscal responsibility and pay for school and living essentials, many of us college students hold some kind of job. You know the typical things college kids do to earn an extra buck: waiting tables, sacking groceries, answering telephones, sweeping floors, writing columns... Sometimes we get lucky enough to find a day job we enjoy that helps us on our way to reaching our future career goals.

Other times, however, we hate our jobs. The snobby, insensitive guy at table nine and the overly demanding lady at table 34 have gotten on our last nerve. If one more crazy person walks through our checkout line, we swear we're going to lose our marbles. And if another immature jokester prank calls the office, you don't even wanna know what's gonna happen!

While working these jobs, it can be easy to assume an attitude of grumpiness and apathy. We ask ourselves, "This isn't a fun job, and I'm sure as heck not going to do this the rest of my life, so what's the point in caring anyway?"

We hope once we've successfully received our diploma and established a career in our chosen field, work will be better and our job will be something we enjoy. It doesn't always work out that way, though. There will be days when we dread going to work, even when we've progressed from bus boy to manager. I'm sure we've all had an experience with one of those "I hate my job" kind of professionals.

I've had those workdays, and those jobs, when it all seems pointless. But here's the point: whether we're running errands for our jerkface boss or running a major corporation, we need to put a little heart into our job for the sake of ourselves, co-workers and the people benefiting from our work. When it's our turn to be the benefactor and not the worker, we expect no less. We want to receive what we're paying for, and unsatisfactory customer care can really dampen a day.

I've had several experiences with poor customer care and professionalism recently. One weekend I went to an amusement park with a friend. I happened to go on a day I was sick with a flu-like virus. Bad idea, I know. After a few rides I was expectedly feeling pretty crappy. I wanted something light to coax my stomach and decided to buy a smoothie. The vendor didn't seem to know or care what he was doing, and after I paid a small fortune, he thrust the smoothie at me. I don't think I'd ever been more excited for a smoothie, and I don't think I've ever been more disappointed in a smoothie. It couldn't even be considered a smoothie. It was soupy, watery and disgusting. The fact the vendor had been consciously careless, and that my smoothie was one from the black lagoon, upset me greatly.

I've had to make several calls to patient and customer care personnel. Lately the phone lines have been connecting me to some real crabs. From their aggravated "Hi, what do you need?" to their forced "Have a nice day," they emanate frustration for no apparent reason.

Even if we don't love our job, we need to be grateful to have one. Many aren't that lucky.

Whether a professional or an amateur, we need to act professionally in the workplace. As difficult as it might be, the workplace is a place to put our best effort into whatever we're doing. Not only is that a part of having a good work ethic and character, but it creates a standard of living. If we can do our best at a job we don't enjoy, we'll certainly succeed when we finally land our dream job.