Like most people in the developed world, you were probably brought up to have big dreams, aspire to do great things, and generally do better than your parents had. However, for whatever reason, things may not have gone according to plan. It’s a tough job market out there, and out of necessity you may be looking for what some would call a “dead-end job”.
This may not be ideal, but there are many ways you can make the most of a so-called dead-end job…
Interacting with Customers
Image from Flickr
There are many entry-level jobs that have some kind of customer-facing aspect to it. They may not be the kind of thing you’d boast about at a party, but a role that requires you to interact with the public regularly can be exceedingly valuable. Take a retail job for example. Some would consider this a dead-end job for people who were too lazy to climb higher. However, it puts you in a position where you’re the first point of contact for a business’s target market, and the first person in the business to see consumer trends emerge and develop over time. If you know what to look for, and how to convert that experience into hard knowledge, it can open up all kinds of doors.
Additional Training
In the job market, skills are absolutely everything. You’d be surprised at the people who are now working prestigious, highly-paid jobs who never spent a single day in higher education, and simply made a point to develop their marketable skills. If you’ve come across a less-than-glamorous job posting, but it offers some view to corporate training, don’t be so quick to wave it away!
This single opportunity could be the start of a long and valuable period of development, which will bring you closer to the career of your dreams. Merely being able to show a future employer that you have the drive to develop your skills and knowledge can open up countless opportunities further down the line. The job itself may not be your idea of a calling in life, but free training should always get a second thought.
Other Opportunities for Growth
Opportunities for growth is one of the most important factors you need to consider when you’re looking for your next career move. If this is one of the things you’re looking for as it is, just be aware that not a lot of listings actually mention these. Before you pass on an opening, go out of your way and find out if there are any opportunities for growth. Even jobs that seem incredibly menial and “dead-end” on the surface can be the first stepping stone to great things.
I remember reading a press release on one company where even the employees who started as warehouse workers were given a clear career trajectory and advancement plan.
If the company will give you any kind of opportunity to learn about the inner workings of the business and take a step up, then it may be worth your application.
