02 Aug 2020

You may just see your job as a means to an end. A way to finance festival tickets, a fresh pair of jeans or plane tickets. What you may not realise is that, during the hours you slog away at work, you're subconsciously picking up a tonne of skills that make you a better human. Even if you think your job is monotonous and uneventful, you're collecting more lessons than you think.

1. Communication

Nah, I'm not just talking about your DnMs with your coworkers. The real communication skills you pick up from your job come from talking to people on all types of realms. For example, you learn how to respectfully talk to your boss, how to talk to a customer razzing you for reasons out of your control (classic) and how to talk to co-workers when trying to solve something.

You're always navigating how to communicate your opinions, ideas and facts to all types of people in all types of moods and circumstances and that is suuuuch a transferable skill. 

2. Work ethic

Not to brag but I gained such a gnarly work ethic when I was younger to the point of constantly having nightmares that I was late to work. Bless.

Now don't get me wrong, I love to chinwag and muck around a little at work but with a good work ethic, my boss can rely on me to get the job done. Not only that, being dependable scores you brownie points from your coworkers as well. 

Having a good work ethic early will make or break the rest of your career! 

3. Positivity

Work can be a real drag and yet you're still breathing. Keeping a cup-is-half-full rather than a cup-is-half-empty vibe at work makes your job all the more enjoyable and consequently transfers into the rest of your career and the rest of your life.

Being able to accept, yep, work is pretty crap sometimes but I'm just gonna send it and have a g time, is pretty powerful!!! Good vibes only.

4. Conflict resolution and problem-solving

Oh, man. There are always issues at work. Maybe your boss has asked you to do a task that makes no sense. Maybe a customer is being especially difficult. Maybe a co-worker didn't show up for their shift so you're left alone in a rush period ... Being able to problem solve and work around conflict is a soft skill that you'll carry for the rest of your life. Who would have thought that every time a customer yelled at me for their food taking too long, I'd gain some self-development points. 

5. Teamwork

Teamwork makes the dreamwork people! Look, we have all worked with someone that is 'my way or the highway' or someone that's suuuper slack. It's never a pleasurable experience. 

Learning how to work with others, how to problem solve, listen to others, be dependable, sometimes lead and just be likeable is sooooo important. 

6. Listening

The biggest thing I hear employers rant about is their staff's inability to listen effectively. No matter what job you're in, opening up those ears of yours is essential to smash some tasks out without mistakes and misunderstandings. 

Being able to listen to others as well, perhaps listening to a customer as they make a complaint, then empathising and not jumping the gun when replying, is a skill that you use in your everyday life.

7. Being comfortable as the fool

You will make mistakes in life, especially in your job. Being able to admit defeat, embarrass yourself but then learn from those slip-ups is a skill for life. The amount of cutlery I'd smash at my cafe job or awkward things I'd say to customers at my retail job made me just embrace feeling like a fool.

So, next time you're heading to work, think about all the things you're learning to make you a better you. Pretty red hot when you think about it.