How many people in this world get up to go to a job that they honestly enjoy and find deeply rewarding? I would wager that given the vast number of fast food establishments, Tax Collector offices, and Port-O-Potty cleaning companies, there are a disproportionate number of people who don’t jump out of bed with enthusiasm to greet the day. However, Americans tend to label the value of a person based on what they do for a paycheck every day. Almost immediately upon meeting someone new, after the small talk of introductions, the conversation will invariably turn to “what do you do for a living?” Does our human need to categorize people and make quick judgments leave us missing out on opportunities to make connections or see the value in someone?
It is indeed human nature to label, categorize, and even stereotype in order to take quick impressions and use these to guide our interactions with others. Obviously early humans, in the evolution of society, needed ways to make fast and accurate judgments about who would be a potentially trusted and valued member of the group, and who would not. In spite of centuries of history, our homogenous tendencies emerge in youth and are seen throughout early childhood. Boys tend to hang out and play with other boys of similar types, and girls do the same. Socioeconomic differences, cultural differences, racial differences; all of these aspects have an impact on the formation of play groups and niches.
In adulthood, our selection of a mate is based largely on initial attraction, but the predictors of longevity include common religious beliefs, education, and socioeconomic status. This refers not only to how we were raised and what type of jobs our parents held, but what type of job we perform and the amount of money we bring in. This standard of judgment is particularly true for men, more so in the last fifty years than is trending currently, however men are still evaluated largely by their career and buying power. Does this mean that the blue collar worker operating a forklift on the highway is intrinsically less intelligent or less valuable than the CEO of a Fortune 500 company?
While I would never be so STUPID as to complain about my job in a public forum, let us say, hypothetically, that a reasonably intelligent, college educated, critically thinking person such as myself were employed in an assistant type role; a role that involves making copies, running errands, and generally being subservient to others. While this does not describe my current role, because obviously I rank higher than a trained monkey, if I did in fact perform these tasks, should I be labeled as nothing more capable than an assistant? How would a person such as myself come to that place in life? Is a person’s job an accurate predictor of their skills and capabilities, or is it simply the outcome of a series of situations, decisions, and opportunities (or lack thereof)? As a case study, let us trace back my employment history.
Age 15: The first job I ever held was at my agility instructor Patti Hatfield’s business: Creature Comforts Pet Resort; a boarding kennel for dogs and cats. It may be sad to say that this ranks among my favorite jobs, but I spent the day hanging out with lots of dogs in the outdoors. Sure, it was a lot of hot, sweaty work cleaning out runs and cages in the summer heat, or cold, wet, freezing work hosing things down in the winter, but it was a great first job. There is a simple satisfaction that comes from performing manual labor all day and returning home exhausted. Studies actually show that manual workers, particularly those with something to show for their efforts, such as having built a house for example, report a higher level of life satisfaction than those who are forced to sit behind a desk all day. Humans, it seems, were not designed to stare at a computer for eight hours a day.
Age 17: My next position was at the then newly built PetsMart on the Southside of town. I was hired initially as a bather/brusher in the grooming department, but due to the lack of groomers in the area, was quickly giving the opportunity to train and become a commissioned groomer. This was a lucky turn, as the free education I received there led me to my first specialized, and profitable, skill.
Age 18: My first year of college was spent in Sarasota, FL. My intention was to become an animator for Disney, so I attended the Ringling School of Art and Design. My parents could not afford to help with my living expenses, so I spent my weekdays at school, and the weekends working at the local PetsMart grooming department. I put in a grueling 12-14 hrs every Saturday, and 9-11 hours every Sunday. I didn’t eat, I didn’t use the bathroom, I groomed dogs. All day. Both days. It damn near killed me, but I made enough money to support myself right out of high school, and only working two days a week. Unfortunately, given the absurdly high private university tuition, my scholarship only paid the equivalent of a public university. I decided after one year of exhaustion that art school was not worth the massive debt I would graduate with, and so I returned to Jacksonville.
Age 19: Back at home for a short time, and enrolled in the local community college to finish my AA degree, I got a job at the local vet clinic I’d taken my dogs to for years. The vet who hired me, whom I admired and respected, left to take a job as the state veterinarian, and was replaced by someone incompetent. I left that job in a blaze of glory, with a resignation letter so scathing that it made the resident vet, and my former boss, lock herself in her office to cry. Hey, I saw her do some awful crap, and I called her on it. That’s how I roll.
Age 20: In need of a job, I went back to PetsMart. At this point, I had only held animal related jobs and was going to school at the University of North Florida in pursuit of a Bachelor’s Degree. This time, I was offered the chance to complete a Pet Training Instructor accreditation course that would enable me to offer obedience classes in the store. I was extremely fortunate to have an amazing teacher who led us through a two week program involving behavior modification, clicker training, and a week spent working with local shelter dogs. At this time, I was taking college courses in psychology that introduced me to the works of B.F. Skinner, Pavlov, and others in the field of behavior modification. Although the job was commission based and involved a lot of selling, which I detest, I learned a lot about working with groups of students and gained a large degree of self confidence in my ability to present information to a wide variety of people of all ages and personality types.
Age23: After working two years as a Pet Training Instructor, I had to leave that position in order to take the last couple of evening classes I needed for my BA in Psychology. After graduating, I got a short term job at another animal hospital. I again held the illustrious honor of scooping poop and cleaning up vomit. On the other hand, I made some great friends and spent the day around dogs.
Later that year, a friend of a friend was able to get me my first “real job” at an insurance agency downtown. I had no idea how to be a secretary/admin/officer worker. Although I was obviously intelligent and capable, they bounced me around to different departments over the year and a half I was there I believe in an effort to find the right "spot” for me. We never found it. The eighty year old owner of the agency decided to do some cut backs and laid off the three youngest employees in the company. I literally danced out of the office with my severance check in hand and sung my way home.
Age 25-26: I tried to start an online business making sculptures and doing pet portraits. I worked two days at the local animal care and control and was emotionally scarred. I competed in agility a lot and got a MACH with Kaylee. I accumulated a LOT of credit card debt. Lots of wise choices were made in these years.
Age26: I finally succumbed to the necessity for another real job, as much as the last one had broken my spirit, and ended up at Brandon Pest Control. At least there was a dog there occasionally. When not being visited by the adorable beagleness that was Brandon, I learned a lot about customer service, using the computer, coordinating employees, and doing payroll. I got bored and frustrated by the lack of anywhere to go once I’d learned everything I could, and left after a year and a half.
Age 28: After spending a few months in North Carolina trying to create a life outside of Jacksonville, FL, I ended up coming back to Jacksonvile, FL. Got a job with another little insurance agency through Craigslist. It was a young couple my age that were just starting out and sharing an office with the owner of a local dance fitness company. Jay, the dance fitness/health guru was totally awesome. The other two, were not so much. Still, I learned a lot more about the world of business and made some good connections. After a year and a half of this, there followed a few months of grooming for a fledgling groom shop which resulted in a lot of nothing, working weekends as the lifeguard for the dog park (essentially yelling at people for not following the rules), and a couple months at the Humane Society (which although paid nothing, was difficult to leave). I also continued to do some side work for Jay, and basically held four part time jobs all at once. That was an interesting and strangely rewarding experience.
Age 29: Finally I scored another “real” job with the University of Florida as an Admin Assistant. While the work was boring and completely lacking in challenges, I gained so much by watching my incredible, high energy, multi-tasking boss take care of her equally high energy, multi-tasking, inspirational boss. She was extremely supportive and helpful and I looked forward to seeing her each day. This job ultimately led me to moving up into my current position, which is along the same lines as my old supervisor’s position.
Age 30: So here I am. With a degree from Stanton (one of the nation’s top ranking high schools), a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, and a background in art, animal care, grooming, training, payroll, customer service, and administration, where do I go next? I failed to mention my side job of teaching agility classes, but that is so much fun it is hard to declare it work. Knowing my background, would you judge me differently now that I am no longer just an “administrative assistant” but a person with a wide variety of educational and working experiences? Would you like to hire me and pay me lots of money? J
So I ask again: is a job just something you use to pay the bills, or does it help shape who you are on a more fundamental level? The knowledge I gained in school, as well as the time management and social skills I gained from age 5 to age 18 have been as influential on the way I behave as my jobs have. I now look at my working life as a series of continuing educational opportunities. Each position has exposed me to new information, experiences, and people. They have shown me where my strengths and preferences lie, as well as exposed my weaknesses and taught me which jobs I do not enjoy performing. I am not just an assistant; I am in training for the person I will be in five years, ten years, and fifty years from now. I will not let my job define me, limit me, or prevent me from walking down whatever path I choose. I know I have things to offer to the world, and I know the things I really enjoy doing. Now I just have to figure out how to turn this knowledge into a career I enjoy.
Or I could win the lottery.
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