Working a job should extend beyond the paycheck at the end of the week. I know it is very difficult to get a job that truly gives light to your day, especially one that can keep your lights and water on. Nevertheless, the pursuit for a job that makes you happy is something that is always worth working on. I recently received a position at The Pabst Theater Group and I can finally say that it's a job that I can go into without wanting to bash my head in. My job is to make sure that people going to the concert venues within the group are having the best time they possibly can. In other words, my job is to make sure that concerts run smoothly and everyone can leave with a smile on their face, with amazing bands playing in the background: yes!
I'm not trashing any of the companies that I used to work for, but I'm going to be transparent. I'm not speaking for you by saying that these are the five things present at every job you love. Nor am I bragging about how awesome my life is or something as annoying and meaningless as that. This is simply a list of MY five, among many other, reasons why having a job that works best for me has bright some light into my life.
1. Uniforms don't exist
OK, I know that not every job has a uniform but the ones that I have had required me to disguise myself in button-ups and dress shoes for the waves of irritated customers charging towards me. If you ever see me in person, rarely will you ever find me in khaki pants or dress shirts for the mere fact that they're really uncomfortable. Not in the sense that, despite my non-slim figure, the clothes didn't fit right, but in the sense that I wasn't really myself when I was forced to portray the ideal worker in the company's eyes. Being able to display myself as I am, a slightly out-of-shape, music-obsessed human being allows me to confidently interact with people without feeling fake: jobs are easier when that's possible.
2. I don't have a script
When someone comes up to me at my new job, it's great to know that they don't have to be greeted with "welcome to ____, have you heard about our sale on ____." If someone is coming towards me, I want to talk to them like they're people, not a customer. I tend to be a lot nicer when I can talk in my true voice and it makes meeting people more fun when I'm not trying to sell them something. (Yay for more friends!)
3. There aren't any customers
Branching off from #2, I can treat people like people rather than something that is supposed to give me money. Talking to people and meeting new faces is always something that I loved about working, but a lot of my previous duties got in the way. It should go without saying that you treat all people with respect because we are all humans sharing this planet. Treating them otherwise (like a commission check) will destroy a chance to have a real human interaction. Those tend to get hindered when you're trying to up sell a certain product to someone; don't do that, people will like you better.
4. Everyone on the staff is treated like they matter... because they do
A team is a group of pieces that work together to create a whole. When everyone is trying to outdo the other pieces, things fall apart. It's an old, but appropriate analogy that highlights why everyone should be working together. My job is only one facet of the venue: while I'm grabbing chairs and scanning tickets the bartenders are serving the drinks, security is facilitating a safe environment and many others are doing something that makes sure the crowd doesn't have to do anything other than enjoy the show. Messing up is frightening, but I have to step up to the plate and take responsibility for my role. It's given me a chance to grow up that showing someone new flash drives couldn't, somehow.
5. I Can Sing and Dance!
Well, actually I have absolutely no dancing ability and my voice is a mix between tone deaf and a stuffy nasal cavity, but I can do it anyway. While not really a part of my job description, I can dance and sing to music as if I was at home while I'm doing my job. Really my job is to facilitate a great environment at the venue by being welcoming, energetic and friendly to people. In order for me to do that, I have to be comfortable and my job allows me to be comfortable because I can be myself.
