There's a big problem today in the work place. It is baffling when you see a 16 year go in for an application for a part time job and there are no openings. Upon receiving this response, the 16 year old observes the workforce and finds herself competing with people in retirement age. There is no reason a 45 year old should be a bag boy. These part time jobs were created for young adults. I truly can't understand how an of age human being can survive receiving payment at a minimum wage rate.
Two things should happen. There needs to be some time of affirmative action plan as far as supporting the youths entry into the workforce. This would get the experience. They'd have the energy to do what is needed to be done in the workplace. It would also be society's part in investing in the leaders of tomorrow. The second measure should be incentive for current over age workers to get a degree and search for a career instead. If a person has put in so much time into a minimum wage job the government should definitely contribute an amount to their education, based on time served.
Generally speaking, these adults with these minimum wage jobs don't even like their jobs. They wish that they had a job that they actually made a difference in. Either that or at least they want a job that pays them comfortably. I find myself greatly motivated to perform at a job that my presence actually makes a difference in. When I worked for Abercrombie and Fitch, I was a Impact Team Member.
Job Description (for those of you unfamiliar with what I did, pretty much all of you):
My job was to pull, prep, and place. We pulled clothes from the stock room based what our scanner requested. We prepared the clothes for the floor by folding, tagging, and such. Lastly, we placed the merchandise on the storefront so customers could purchase. The scanners requests were everything that was being bought that day so its basically a continuous cycle; that is, until they day is over which means no one is buying any more product, which means that we just have to replace all the final material that was bought.
If the impact team didn't do their job efficiently enough them that meant that at the end of the day we would be scanning forever and also it would mean that there was very insufficient amounts and sizes of the merchandise bought. This equates to impatient customers, constant stock checks, long waits, and a need to replace all those clothes bought that day. The cherry on top was that at the end of the day, after the store was closed, they pretty much changed the whole store configuration.
Bare with me. This is all leading up to the climax of my motivation rhetoric.
I had to come up with a technique to fight the force. There were two measures I came up with. The best way to attack a problem is to prepare in such a way until the problem never arises. Considering the floor changed everyday, I used to come sometime up to 30 minutes early just so I could get into the store and see where everything is to be placed, such as the jeans, polos, and certain graphic tees. This cut plenty of time down in placing. Those that didn't prep themselves were left to wonder aimlessly around the store.
The second thing I noticed is that we have a big store with two levels and stairs. I began to run the store when I replenished the supply. It cut down on time. It got me exercise and cardio to be healthier for my job. It also attracted customers attention and made them feel like we were really trying (because we were).
That little extra effort made all the difference. I would love coming back to work after my days off to be greeted by the managers in deep breaths because they said they really could have used my help the previous shift. Impact breeds motivation. This is why these adult could do better than a bag boy position because they don't feel inspired. In getting a better job you free up positions that our youth can fill.
I'm taking a stand that plenty of college students and graduates are taking as well without even knowing it. When we go out and search for an internship, co-op, and/or career, what we are doing is actually taking ourselves out of competition with those high school juniors and seniors who are looking for work just so they can help their parents out a little, those who want to get some work experience, those who want to meet investors half way so they can get their first cars. I care about today's youth and my future. I can maintain both campaigns without conflicting each other if I attempt to live by my mothers motto: Mediocrity is a sin. I charge you all to do the same.
Two things should happen. There needs to be some time of affirmative action plan as far as supporting the youths entry into the workforce. This would get the experience. They'd have the energy to do what is needed to be done in the workplace. It would also be society's part in investing in the leaders of tomorrow. The second measure should be incentive for current over age workers to get a degree and search for a career instead. If a person has put in so much time into a minimum wage job the government should definitely contribute an amount to their education, based on time served.
Generally speaking, these adults with these minimum wage jobs don't even like their jobs. They wish that they had a job that they actually made a difference in. Either that or at least they want a job that pays them comfortably. I find myself greatly motivated to perform at a job that my presence actually makes a difference in. When I worked for Abercrombie and Fitch, I was a Impact Team Member.
Job Description (for those of you unfamiliar with what I did, pretty much all of you):
My job was to pull, prep, and place. We pulled clothes from the stock room based what our scanner requested. We prepared the clothes for the floor by folding, tagging, and such. Lastly, we placed the merchandise on the storefront so customers could purchase. The scanners requests were everything that was being bought that day so its basically a continuous cycle; that is, until they day is over which means no one is buying any more product, which means that we just have to replace all the final material that was bought.
If the impact team didn't do their job efficiently enough them that meant that at the end of the day we would be scanning forever and also it would mean that there was very insufficient amounts and sizes of the merchandise bought. This equates to impatient customers, constant stock checks, long waits, and a need to replace all those clothes bought that day. The cherry on top was that at the end of the day, after the store was closed, they pretty much changed the whole store configuration.
Bare with me. This is all leading up to the climax of my motivation rhetoric.
I had to come up with a technique to fight the force. There were two measures I came up with. The best way to attack a problem is to prepare in such a way until the problem never arises. Considering the floor changed everyday, I used to come sometime up to 30 minutes early just so I could get into the store and see where everything is to be placed, such as the jeans, polos, and certain graphic tees. This cut plenty of time down in placing. Those that didn't prep themselves were left to wonder aimlessly around the store.
The second thing I noticed is that we have a big store with two levels and stairs. I began to run the store when I replenished the supply. It cut down on time. It got me exercise and cardio to be healthier for my job. It also attracted customers attention and made them feel like we were really trying (because we were).
That little extra effort made all the difference. I would love coming back to work after my days off to be greeted by the managers in deep breaths because they said they really could have used my help the previous shift. Impact breeds motivation. This is why these adult could do better than a bag boy position because they don't feel inspired. In getting a better job you free up positions that our youth can fill.
I'm taking a stand that plenty of college students and graduates are taking as well without even knowing it. When we go out and search for an internship, co-op, and/or career, what we are doing is actually taking ourselves out of competition with those high school juniors and seniors who are looking for work just so they can help their parents out a little, those who want to get some work experience, those who want to meet investors half way so they can get their first cars. I care about today's youth and my future. I can maintain both campaigns without conflicting each other if I attempt to live by my mothers motto: Mediocrity is a sin. I charge you all to do the same.
