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I enjoy making money (I mean, who doesn’t?). I got my first job when I was 15 and it was pretty awesome to be able to open my wallet and see dollar bills all lined up in there. I felt independent and cool, and I enjoyed treating myself at the mall now and then. That said, I also learned A LOT from that first job, and those lessons have really stuck with me.
Especially with summer approaching, it’s a prime time to consider getting a job. While I am grateful for the lessons I learned at my first job, there are definitely things that would have been good to know before I had even started that first paying gig. Here are 10 things I wish I knew before I got my first job:
You Are Your Own Responsibility
My mom got me my first job job with her friend which was great. However, 15-year-old me assumed that meant my mom had filled my boss in all about my schedule and availability. Nope, and this became an issue when I was scheduled to work during driver's ed. The moral of the story is that no matter how you get the job, once you have it, it's your responsibility to manage it, not your parents. Source: Shutterstock.comRead The Documents You Sign
This is just good practice. If you have to fill out pre-hire forms for taxes or company policies, make sure you actually read them all the way through. It's a good way to understand better how your paycheck works (like how money gets taken out for taxes) and to know what your rights are as an employee. It's easy to get so excited about having a job that you just dash out your signature, but do take the time to read and ask any questions you may have. Source: Shutterstock.comMake Sure You Can Balance It
As much as you may want a job, it's not a commitment to take lightly. If you barely have any availability, it may not be the right time or you may need to figure out where your priorities are. Making money rocks, but it can be stressful to balance work on top of extracurriculars and deal with potentially conflicting schedules. Minimize the stress in your life by making sure a job is actually something you can commit to before you even start looking. Source: Shutterstock.comDo Something You Enjoy...
Doing something you love is a great way to make your first job feel less like work, and more like fun that makes you money. Love sports? See if there's an opening at a local gym. Like working with kids? Look into being a camp counselor. Take some time to figure out your interests and try to find a job that goes hand in hand. Source: Shutterstock.com...But Know It May Not Always Be Fun
That said, it's hard to find a job that you totally love everything about. It's okay if you don't love your first job, and it is more just something to fill your time and make a little extra cash. You may end up with a boring first job, but now you know for the future what you don't want to do. That said, if the reason you don't like your job is because the environment makes you uncomfortable, definitely speak up because while you may feel bored at work, you should never feel unsafe. Source: Shutterstock.comDon't Use Your Whole Discount
One perk of working at one of your favorite spots is getting an employee discount, but be very mindful about using this. You probably don't want to be spending your whole paycheck on new stuff you don't really need and then have no money left over! Just be conscious about if you're using your employee discount if you're hoping to save up some money for something besides what your store sells. Source: Shutterstock.comTake Your Breaks
After a certain number of hours, you're legally required to have a break. A lot of times, I wouldn't know what to do with my break and would feel like I should just put it off. Don't do that because a) the money still comes out of your paycheck whether you stop or not and b) you deserve those 15 or 30 minutes to rest up. Read a magazine, eat a snack, but just don't feel bad about taking a break that you're entitled too, even if things are a little busy. Source: Shutterstock.comWork With Your Friends
A job can take up time that you'd otherwise spend on social activities, but working with your friends is a way to still hang out and also make the days got a little faster. Just make sure that your crew can handle having fun with actually getting work done. Otherwise, that isn't professional. Source: Shutterstock.comIt's Okay To Make Mistakes
Nobody is perfect at their jobs. While it can feel scary to mess up in a job because it's more "real world" than something like school seems, just know that sometimes things won't go perfectly. While yes, sometimes a mistake could have big consequences, usually as long as you are always striving to be as responsible as you can be, for the most part you will be able to get past any mistakes you might make at your first job. All you can do is just learn from these mistakes for next time. Source: Shutterstock.comYou (Usually) Don't Have To Be Scared Of Your Boss
Okay, some bosses are terrible, but they are often the exception rather than the rule. It's your boss' job to just make sure everything goes smoothly and to manage employees. Try not to take advice or guidance from your boss as a personal attack on your work ethic, but rather as a way to keep developing as a professional. Bosses are there to guide employees, so they should be willing to talk with you if anything's up. Source: Shutterstock.comAre you planning on getting a summer job? What did you learn from your first job? If you haven’t gotten a job yet, is there somewhere specific you’d like to work for your first job? Tell me in the comments.
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