The World of Full-Time Work

By Jazz

In the run-up to my post-A-levels summer, I always planned to work full time. I knew I had to do it since I’d put aside no money for university and I’m notoriously bad with spending. I had no idea what I was going to do or where I was going to do it, and when I actually finished my exams I was slightly stumped. This was it. Time to swap out the revision cards for the world of work. There were a few problems at first - I couldn’t go full time at my current job at Primark, I had no way of getting there and perhaps the most prominent issue: I had absolutely no motivation to do it.

Why would I? I’d spent the last two years tirelessly working for my exams, finding a balance between writing, my part-time job and all of the other problems life was pummelling at me. Summer was meant to me my time to relax and finally take a breath. I handed in my notice at Primark with the promise to myself that I would find a full-time job, made a few half-arsed applications on Indeed and kicked my feet up, indulging in Netflix and doing absolutely nothing. However, when I did, I had a nagging voice in the back of my head. You’re not doing enough. You should be doing more. I felt guilty.

I posted a message in a Facebook group for employees of the coffee chain I’d worked to prior to Primark, simply asking if anyone needed a new member. I already had contacts within the company as I’d worked in several stores for them and it wasn’t long before I’d signed a 30-hour contract at a local store. I was excited to be back at first, but after a few shifts that wore off. Rude customers, lunch rushes and running out of stock was not something I had missed.

However, I knew I had to do it. I needed the money and I needed something to do over the summer. I passed my driving test by that point but a car was useless if I couldn’t afford the petrol or insurance. Again, I felt guilty for not working; I knew this was a better chance than any to earn some money and it would benefit me in the long run.

• Only take on hours that you can do. Don’t force yourself to sign a contract for more hours than you know you can handle. Start with something smaller - 10 or 12 hours is always a good starting point, especially if you’re a new employee.

  
  

• Network. As I said, I was already a fully trained barista and had contacts within a company, so I was very lucky. You might not even realise that you know people who can recommend you for a job or help you get an interview. Talk to your parents, their friends and other family friends.

• Remember that all jobs have bad days. I have days at my job where we’re out of syrups, food and understaffed. Don’t let it set the tone for the whole thing. For every one bad day, there are multiple good days when things are smooth sailing and go suspiciously well.

• Remember why you’re doing it. My main motivation is earning money for university. It’s the first adult thing I’m actually doing and even though I do question it sometimes, I know in the future I’ll be glad I did.

• Try and make friends within your team. It’s natural for co-workers to disagree sometimes, especially if you work in a fast-paced or stressful environment such as fast food or retail. However, it’s also important to try and get on with them so don’t be afraid to talk to them, get to know them and even try and make friends. I’ve met some of my closest friends at my jobs in the two years that I’ve been working and it makes things so much better.