For someone my age, I’ve had a lot of jobs and they don’t necessarily correlate or point to a clear trajectory and that is okay. However, my mom is a nurse and my dad is a chef so I guess you could say I always gravitate to jobs that tend to make people feel better. I’ve been an ice cream scooper, a residence assistant, a library programmer and even worked for Big Pharma, among other things. And while they may not seem connected at first glance, something these jobs do all have in common is educating others and raising their spirits. Those things are really filling my cup at my new job where I work for a wellness company. While it still might be considered early days, here are some of my observations and celebrations of working in this industry.
It’s rewarding to help people find natural remedies
Especially after spending a brief stint of time working in the pharmaceutical world, it’s nice to provide people with natural solutions. Now, of course, some medications are necessary and there’s not a natural remedy for everything but if there is why not give it a shot? Learning a community member’s story and coming up with small but effective coping mechanisms for someone dealing with anxiety or illness is one of the most satisfying parts of the experience.
The company ethics and values
It feels good coming to work for a company that you can trust and respect. Working in the wellness industry and specifically at this company, I feel like there is a greater responsibility to the environment and sourcing materials in ethical and sustainable ways. There is a ton of sincerity in everything they do and taking care of their employees is also at the forefront of their company standards.
Learning how to take better care of myself and others
Being a student and working at some other not-so-great places has made me realize that I may have been running on empty for quite some time. Applying some of the habits (and products) that I’ve picked up on the job have made me feel more calm and prepared to head into stressful situations. I’ve also been able to spoil those around me and who doesn’t feel better after pampering themselves?
More than just a part-time job
It’s easy for anything before graduation to feel futile, especially if it does not relate to your field of study. But just because you’re working part-time does not mean that can’t reap full-time benefits. Working for this company has made me rethink my post-grad plans and how I could use my English degree elsewhere. I can also identify how building up customer service skills and becoming an empathetic and self-aware individual can take you far wherever you’re heading professionally!
If you’re in a career rut, don’t give up just yet! That amazing opportunity might be around the corner and come in unsuspecting packaging. For now, hang in there and take care!