Youthful Optimism

It is refreshing to watch new college graduates as they search for their first job and begin their careers. They are eager to apply all of the knowledge they gained in school and motivated to learn new things on the job. That first paycheck is a gratifying reward after years spent eating ramen noodles and drinking cheap beer.

First jobs provide an opportunity to learn and grow. However, the lessons you learn and skills you attain may be surprisingly different from what you imagined.

I graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Madison with a Marketing degree in 2002. The economy had slid into a recession after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and dotcom bubble and like many of my college peers, I graduated without a job. Desperately wanting to start my career in Marketing and save some money, I moved home to Minneapolis and began my job search in earnest.

One of my friend’s from high school secured a great financial analyst job at General Mills and referred me to an accounts payable position at the company. I wasn’t too excited about working in accounts payable, but I figured General Mills was a large, well-respected company and I would move to a better position in a year.

I was filled with nervous energy and excitement for all that I was about to learn when I started my job in the summer of 2002. However, my first job initially fell short of my expectations. I remember spending the first 2 weeks opening mail and placing bar codes on invoices, wondering if all the hard work I put in to school to graduate with honors was worth it. I was frustrated and craved more responsibility. I wanted a chance to show the company that I was bright, talented and full of ideas on how to sell more Yoplait yogurt and Cheerios cereal.

Despite my initial frustration, the accounts payable job taught me some very important lessons. First, I learned that no job or task is unimportant. Secondly, good customer service will take you far in building relationships with others who may help you in the future. Third, a company cannot survive unless they pay their debts. And perhaps the most important lesson I learned was that everyone, no matter what level or title, should be treated with respect – each person plays an important role in supporting the business operations.

After completing my year in accounts payable, I moved into a marketing budget management role in Yoplait. In this position, I was given the opportunity to apply all of my creative and intuitive skills to revitalize the Yoplait Yumsters toddler yogurt brand. This job satisfied my curiosity to answer the question “what do toddlers and their moms want”? The answer was simple – fun characters and good nutrition. My desire to learn and show my potential was finally realized . . . all it took was a little patience.

When I start my next job, I want to start over and find that youthful sense of optimism again. So as I search for my new beginning, I will remember these simple lessons:

· No job or task is unimportant – each person has a role to play

· Respect will take you far and help you build important relationships that may serve you well in the future

· No matter what your level of education, you can always learn something new

· Motivation and a willingness to learn can result in amazing opportunities

· Patience and persistence will lead you to the position and responsibilities that you crave