My first job

It was expected, in fact demanded that I found a job instantly without much thought given to whether I would enjoy it or not. 

My mother actually found the job for me which was at a city centre hotel in my hometown.

My job had the posh title of Trainee Manager. Little did I know that this was in fact just a mask for a general dogs body. However, being young and very naive it never really struck me that was actually what I was. 

I remember clearly being shown around the hotel at all the different areas that I would be fully trained in and also that I would be on day release to college to achieve my diplomas in hotel management and catering. 

BANG! My first day changed all that! My first area to train in was the kitchen. Now looking back I realise why they had no staff in the kitchen and the head chef was a raving acholic. 

This was my baptism of fire into the workplace. From the relative security and calm of high school. The work hours were a huge shock to my system. I went from school hours to split shifts doing 9am-2am and then back in for 6pm-11pm. They were incredibly long hours and keeping in mind I was only 16 years old.

Many of the people working there were lovely. I have fond memories of an Irishman called Joe who couldn’t teach me enough. Unfortunately there was also a lot of people who were just plain nasty and enjoyed exploiting my naviety of life. 

When I started I thought, well I least I get a day to go to college. Not a chance! I had to go to college on one of my two days off Really that’s a six day week for a pittance of a wage which incidentally reminds of a stupid night where I got involved in a poker match with fellow workers and lost a weeks wages. Now that was a difficult one to tell my mother! She was not best pleased which is putting it mildly!

We of course, all of us, have to have a first job and I’m sure plenty of people have had hugely positive experiences. Although my experience was totally negative it has an enormous amount of positive results in my life. 

It has actually given me a very good work ethic. I am certaintly not frightened of hard work and although I am now self-employed when I have worked for companies in the past I have always respected all the people I have worked with, and I have especially tried to pass on my knowledge to the younger ones in the workplace. 

Saying all that I grew an inner strength to never be trod upon or used in the workplace by anyone and value my worth and what I can contribute in the workplace. 

I lasted in the job for nine months, but many valuable lessons were learnt and the biggest lesson for me was to respect yourself and all those around you. 

What was your first job? I would love to hear.