For someone as young as I am, I have worked a lot of jobs. To be specific, at the age of 19 I have had six different jobs, some of which have overlapped but for no longer than six months at a time. Before I get any further I would like to explain. I don't believe that you should stay anywhere or work anywhere just because the money is good if you are unhappy. There are other jobs out there and you will be able to find good money elsewhere. What I did not realize is how important it can be to like the boss you are working with. In fact, your superior can make or break a job for you. What I've learned is there are some stereotypical bosses you can expect to meet in your place of work. I've nicknamed each type of boss for your convenience to help you remember the different types.
The first kind of boss I'll refer to as Abduwali Muse. For those of you who do not recognize the name immediately (I didn't, I had to Google it) the reference comes from the 2013 drama, "Captain Phillips". This kind of boss is named after Muse specifically for the famous quote in the movie said by Muse, "Look at me, I am the Captain now." For those of you who know who Muse is, this might seem like a harsh comparison, comparing people to a pirate. However, some of you are already thinking "Oh yes, I definitely know this kind of boss." To put it simply, this boss is a di*k. They go out of their way to make it known just how small and unimportant you are. You are their employee and you are dispensable. You mean nothing and your sole purpose is to do their bidding. They are the worst. Hands down I have never experienced a worse kind of boss than these egotistical, power hungry jerks.
The second kind of boss is the Helicopter Parent. This name sort of explains itself because I think everyone either knows a helicopter parent or knows someone who has one. No matter how long you might have worked for them or how many times you proved to them that you know what you're doing, they will always treat you like it's your first day. They will micromanage and coddle you until the day that you quit. In fact, it will be their constant undermining of you that will make you leave in the first place.
Ironically a lot of these bosses are comparable to different kinds of parents. Personally, I think it is because of the similarities in the authoritative position that they both hold. That being said, the next boss is, in my personal opinion, the worst for whatever company you might be working for. This is exactly what makes the job miserable. Have you ever met a parent, whether it's yours, a friend's, an aunt or an uncle, that tries way too hard to be the kid's best friend? So much so that the parent is not even looking out for what is best for the kid. In this case, the Pushover Boss wants so badly to be liked by their coworkers that the company suffers, and kind of goes to hell in a hand basket. He/She is not focusing on things that need to be done on a day to day basis to keep the company running smoothly. Because of this, the coworkers who work under her have to pick up her work just to make working at the company tolerable. Some will even take advantage of this and try to slack more because they know they can get away with it, making life harder for those already trying to give a little more to make work enjoyable.
The last and best kind of boss you could hope for is Mr. Perfect. They are the best kind of boss. They genuinely care about your well-being, and want what is best for the company. Somehow they have mastered balancing taking the job seriously and making work a fun and enjoyable place to be. I have only been lucky enough to have two of these kinds of bosses, and for that reason, they have been the longest jobs I've stayed at.
I also think it is important to say, know your worth. Never settle and stay at some high school part time job just because you need the money. There are millions of those kinds of jobs, all you have to do is work up the courage to look for something better. I promise if you look, you'll find it.
