Born into a working class means I internalised the concept of independence at a young age. While friends recount their travel adventures, holidays represent a time to make pocket money.
I’ve taken up different odd jobs since the age of 16 and these won’t appear in my CV compared to internships. But each one taught me how the world works and shaped me to become the person I am today.
Retail Associate @ a clothing brand 👗
My first ever temp job (I don’t think I knew what’s the difference between temp and part-time) at 16, straight out of O levels. Belatedly I found out that I applied for the posting through a recruitment firm hence there was a small difference in my hourly pay compared to other temp colleagues.
In short, it was a gruelling experience. I worked for 44 hours/week cause beyond that it’s considered OT. Imagine standing for so long to get blue-blacks on my feet. The things I learnt span across a wide range. From the difference in colour codes to how to deal with customers who don’t believe that we don’t have the size they want. I remembered being told to put on makeup to fit the brand’s image. But what does a 16-year old know?
Still, I appreciated every bit of kindness whether it’s seniors who chose to take up tiring tasks or temp staff telling me not to take customers’ scoldings to heart.
Lesson: Be kind.
Administrative Staff @ an events company 🛋
Straight out of A-levels, I was still as starry-eyed to make living expenses during the 8 months break before university. I applied for an administrative role at an events company — a short 4 months stint leading to an event at Expo.
Data entry tasks, calling and verifying, sending out emails and waiting for replies, coordinating with internal and external parties — a typical desk-bound jobs. Being the youngest, I was privileged to receive advice from older colleagues and watch how they worked and interacted (by extension I was exposed to how office politics works).
I remembered taking up odd roles even within the job e.g. writing short lines and becoming an announcer during the event. It was rewarding after completing the event teardown and cabbing home (after traveling to Expo for a few days straight and I stay at the opposite end).
Lesson: be open-minded to tasks so that the show can continue.
Service Crew @ a restaurant 🥘
A weird thought I entertained was to work as a service crew at a restaurant to experience customer service once more. I clearly didn’t learn from my time at the clothing brand. A huge perk was getting delicious food made by the chefs during breaks and after work. It was also the first time I touched the cash register.
Unfortunately, I also witnessed how rudely some people treated the service crew. I was berated by a couple who wanted to speed up their meal on a Friday night full-house so they can catch their movies. Till today, I recalled how another restaurant owner complimented me for my service, said she would want her staff to hold the same service standard (+ wanted to tip me!) when it had been an especially exhausting shift.
Those experiences made me incredibly patient with service crew whenever I dine out. I try to address them by their names (if they are wearing tags) and always thank them no matter.
Lesson: Be kind x2.
Receptionist @ an enrichment school 🎒
My longest part-time job. I worked every Sunday at an enrichment school catered to kids from 4–12. Kids always humbled me because there’s just no logic with them. I learnt the fastest way to calm down a crying kid, to convince parents that 3.5 years old is too young for the school’s programme, to assist to control a class full of 4-year olds who can’t sit still.
I helped to print worksheets, prepare craft materials, clean toilets, take payments, schedule classes. At the same time, I learnt the types of parenting styles, the interactions between the child and their parents, and how different their early-childhood education is from my own.
Lesson: Be patient.