Editor’s note: This article was first published in October 2015. The $6.25 hourly wage refers to the author’s job at the time.
Most university students who need to earn some extra money find work as waiters or private tutors.
Natalie Walters did something a little less conventional.
In her second year at university she got a part-time job as a janitor. She earned just $6.25 an hour, and it wasn’t a glamorous job, but it was one of the best experiences she had had up to that point. She learned some very valuable lessons that she has carried with her every day since, and she decided to share them on Business Insider.
Here are some of them:
1. People don’t usually think about others
Many people don’t think about how their actions affect others.
For example, when people use the toilets, they don’t think about the fact that someone else will go in after them, and they often leave the place a mess or don’t flush. They’re only thinking about getting out as quickly as possible so they can get on with their lives.
When Natalie started working as a janitor, this kind of behaviour bothered her. But in the end she accepted it, because she knows everyone has a lot on their plate and we’re all a little guilty of this kind of thing. Besides, cleaning up other people’s mess was her job, and that’s what she was paid for.
(See: 8 life lessons from Warren Buffett)
2. Just because someone is your boss doesn’t mean they’re the right person for the job
Nobody’s perfect. Managers are human, with flaws and doubts like everyone else. However, some bosses don’t even try to be leaders.
Even on a cleaning crew, this truth was hard for her to accept when she realised some of her bosses gossiped about other employees. She couldn’t believe they would stoop to that level of unprofessionalism, but she learned a good lesson: never put your boss on a pedestal, especially if they haven’t earned it.
Just because someone lands in a management position doesn’t mean they really deserve it or that they’ll be good at it.
3. Never be ashamed of a job
When she started, Natalie was a little embarrassed to wear an orange janitor’s uniform with neon reflective strips. However, she quickly learned not to be ashamed of her “janitor” title.
The job involves a great deal of manual labour and it’s hard work, which makes it admirable, not embarrassing.
It’s important to remember that not every job will be your “dream job”, especially when you’re just entering the job market. So it’s important to keep an open mind and never judge a book (or a job) by its cover.
4. Whatever your job, always give it your all
Whether you’re cleaning toilets or running a company, you should always make an effort to develop a good work ethic. It will help you reach your career goals and earn good references from your boss.
What’s more, when you work hard you gain confidence in yourself and your abilities. And that’s something everyone wants.
5. You value money far more when you have to work hard for it
Natalie remembers visiting her grandmother, who would sometimes give her $5 or $10 just because, and she would usually spend it on an ice cream or a cinema ticket. She didn’t appreciate how much that small amount of money was really worth.
However, once she had to scrub toilets, mop floors and take out the rubbish just to earn $6.25 an hour, she learned to truly value money, however small the amount.
As we can see, there are always lessons we can take from any experience or job and apply in the future.
Further reading
- Our flawed view of money and how it meets our needs
- 17 hard life and career lessons to learn in your 20s
Featured image: Ser Amantio di Nicolao, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
