Paxton Mittleman

Hey all!

Since I’m on vacation and taking some time to reflect on my summer, I thought I’d take this time to reflect from a professional standpoint on my first seven jobs. That seemed to be a passing fad on social for a bit, but it’s important to remember that those first jobs are the stepping stones for your professional development. So here’s a look at what I learned from my own first seven jobs!

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The hashtag #myfirstsevenjobs is popping up all over my newsfeed.While at first I thought this seemed a lackluster fad, reflecting on your first seven jobs is a great way to reflect and remember what you learned from those earliest days in the workforce.

Here is my contribution to #myfirstsevenjobs and what I learned from each experience:

1. Counselor in Training: Kids Take Work. I loved being a Counselor in Training (CIT) at Camp Hilltop, my old summer camp. But as much as I loved helping with activities and working with the other CITs, I realized kids were a job in themselves. It takes a special kind of person to work with kids 24 hours a day seven days a week; I commend every single teacher and camp counselor I know, because working with kids is not always an easy task.
2. Cashier: Ask Every Question You Have. When I was working at a bagel store close to my college campus, I was convinced I didn’t have to ask any questions because I would figure out the answers on my own. Long story short, my boss became extremely angry every time something went wrong because I did not take time to ask him for help. Never, ever, ever be afraid to voice your concerns and address every question to make sure you can execute tasks to the best level possible.
3. Content Creator Intern: Welcome Feedback. I became supremely offended one day when my boss from AmazingAlumni.com sent back my first draft of a blog post and said it was not close to what he wanted. In reality, this would have been a perfect opportunity to learn from him and grow as a writer and content marketer. Welcome constructive criticism in all jobs, because criticism only leaves room for improvement.
4. Gate Staff: Sweat the Small Stuff. When I greeted club members at the Crest Hollow Country Club, I would see faces light up when I used their names and asked how their days were going. This personal touch immediately set them up for a wonderful day at the club. Sweating the small stuff is not always the way to go, but remember that sometimes the small things make a big difference
5. Office Intern: Every Experience is an Opportunity. I was so excited for my internship with O Positive Films; I saw it as my gateway into broadcast journalism. But I learned during this internship that my interests lay in social media marketing. Learning what you like and dislike is part of every job, and turns into an opportunity to grow as a professional in the future.
6. Social Media Marketing Advisor: First is the Worst. As a social media intern for the SuperNutritionist, I became hung up on the idea that a contest was the business’ key to success. My boss strongly disagreed. After going back to the drawing board, I came up with bigger and better ideas she loved. While the first idea is always a good start, I learned the second and third ideas building upon this end up being much more creative.
7. Social Media Marketing Intern: Know Your Brand! The first question I had when I started my internship at the University of Delaware Career Services Center (CSC) was what our brand voice was as a center. By defining our brand and knowing what makes the CSC different, we can create content that reflects this brand and resonates with target audiences who understand the center’s value. This internship reminded me branding is key in digital because it shapes the development of an entire social strategy.

Some of these first seven jobs were great, some served as stepping stones towards my ultimate career in social media marketing. But I am grateful for each of my first seven jobs, because without them I would not have learned those first seven valuable lessons of life in the workforce.