"Alright, you're hired," is all I hear before the little marching band in my head begins to play and the colorful display of internal fireworks start to explode. Is this real life? Did I actually just get a job? Wait - did I want this job? Holy crap I have a job now . . . I am an employee of something . . . ahhhh! Insert freakout here.
*Pushes pause *
Okay, so what's wrong with this picture? Aside from, you know, everything. Here I was all excited for my interview, hoping I would do well, not really thinking about what would happen if I truly did land the position; then I get the job. Suddenly, I've gone from an old Joe-schmoe to a high-ranking, part-time worker with a salary weighing in at the hefty amount of minimum wage. This means I am not longer just a student; I am an employee of a business that is counting on me to provide good service and be dependable.
I wish someone would have drilled this into me before I applied, because as I was sitting back and considering the new responsibilities I had just agreed to, I became frightened. Maybe I would have trouble making it to work on time every day. Maybe I would struggle with being assertive enough to do my job well. Maybe it would be difficult to adapt to being a teen with no work experience at all to being a staff member - just like that.
I had trouble sleeping the night I was told I'd gotten the job. A million thoughts were racing through my newly-hired mind. They were littered with self-doubt, worry, nervousness, and even some regret. Maybe I wasn't ready for this job after all . . .
*Unpauses movie *
"They call this 'signing your life away,' but I like to think of it as setting the commitment to work in stone," explains my boss she opens a manila envelop filled with a thick packet of papers. I gulp down a wave of nerves as I grasp the pen in my left hand. I read the first paper, which asks me a bunch of boring questions such as whether I'm comfortable with sharing my ethnicity with the company, what age I am, where I live, if I like puppies . . . well you get the idea.
Yep . . . yep . . . check that box . . . circle that answer . . . fill in that blank . . . sign my name for the bajillionth time . . .
Finally, paperwork is complete. "All done!" I say with as much enthusiasm as I can muster up. Truthfully, I'm kind of really freaking out over here. Not only is my hand exhausted from all this paperwork, but I'm missing the beginning of The Vampire Diaries. So not cool.
"Now, let me show you around back," my boss states while getting up. She doesn't smile. She doesn't tell me whether I should follow her or not, but I figure that's what I'm supposed to do, and I do just that. I walk into a cluttered, yet interesting "behind the scenes" portion of my work. (By the way, it feels really weird saying my work. Still not fully used to it.)
I spy some of the employees staring at me. "Looks like we've got some fresh meat coming in," I hear one of them shout from across the break area. Eek.
*Pauses *
Now, I know what you're probably thinking, which is that I'm pretty dumb for letting this whole job-experience get to me. It doesn't sound like that bad of a situation. In all honesty, I completely overreacted, but the point is, this could be anyone who is as uniformed about working as I was. Sure, I took the required careers class at school, and yes I had done various jobs such a babysitting and mowing the grass, but the transition from simply a student to a working member of society was difficult at first. I was a schoolgirl by day, but I was a money-maker by night.
That didn't come out right.
Going back to what I was saying, nothing can truly prepare you for working other than work its self. Don't be scared or intimidated by paperwork, grumpy bosses, or teasing coworkers. Don't focus on what you're losing, such as free time and a more relaxed lifestyle. Instead, direct your attention to everything you gain, which includes friendship, work experience, time management skills, people skills, a sense of responsibility, and, of course, da money.
Lastly, make sure you stick with your job at first even if you have a slow start. The first few weeks are always going to be rougher than usual, but if you keep with the job and see it through, I can promise you that you won't regret giving it a chance. It's worth it in the end to set aside the insecurities and nerves, which, trust me, will come, and to be confident in the beginning. You'll do great! (Hopefully)
*Pushes fast forward *
It's been a bit of a shaky start, but I finally am feeling comfortable at work. I'm loving the new privileges I get here, such as free pop, getting to play whichever games I want during break, and spending time with kids without being responsible for them. Each day is a different and means I have a new job to do, depending on what my schedule looks like. I might not have as much free time as I used to before I took the job, and maybe I do miss having those extra hours to myself on the weekend, but it's worth it at the end the day to know I've worked hard and earned my paycheck.
And hey - working at Chuck E. Cheese is pretty great :)
