The Good ‘Ole Minimum Wage Job
Spring means college students are entering or returning to the workforce. A few will be lucky enough to snag prestigious internships, but most will take entry-level, minimum- or near-minimum-wage jobs. So which is better at preparing you for life in the working world? Rose Jacobs, writing on Forbes.com, says that hiring managers look favorably on entry-level experiences. “Many of the traits employers are looking for in potential hires – from responsibility to initiative – will be tested as much, if not more, at lower-level jobs than at internships,” she writes. She lists time management, communications skills, humility, and teamwork as some of the skills that minimum-wage work brings. And while those first jobs can be a drag, there is potentially good news on the horizon for entry-level workers. According to the Indeed.com 2018 Employer Outlook, 41% of employers say entry-level positions are the hardest to fill. That could mean that hiring managers will start sweetening the pot with more money or additional perks in order to fill vacancies.
