What Was Your Least Favorite Job?
From working in the aluminum foil industry to waiting tables, here are nine answers to the questions, “What was your least favorite job, and why? Can you share any lessons you got from the experience?
- Purchaser in the Aluminum Foil Industry
- Bank Employee
- Insurance Sales
- Hotel Receptionist
- Debt Collector
- Grocery Staff
- Call Center Worker
- Medical Billing Data Entry
- Waiting Tables at a Small Restaurant
Purchaser in the Aluminum Foil Industry
My least favorite job was working as a purchaser in the aluminum foil industry. My boss was great, and I found my work family, but the reason this job didn’t resonate with me is that I struggled to find the deeper purpose behind what I was doing each day.
As I sent out requests for proposals and made sure our inventory arrived on time, I realized I wasn’t connecting with what I was doing on a deeper level. This left me discouraged and unmotivated to show up fully each day, and ultimately led me to the nonprofit space, which felt like “home.”
Audrey Hutnick, Founder & CEO, SmallwaveMarketing
Bank Employee
I worked at a bank for a few months, and the most excruciating part of it was the morning meetings. They held these meetings every day at 10 a.m. and included the branch manager, all regional managers, and the supervisor of the tellers.
It was a very long, boring meeting where we were told about the bank’s policies and procedures, but the worst part was that we had to stay quiet and listen. There was no room for questions and no solution for how we could make the meetings go by faster.
It was mind-numbing for me, and I knew I had to get out of there. After I left, I realized how important it is to find a job that you enjoy and that allows you to do what you love. I’ve learned to always follow my passion.
Matthew Ramirez, CEO, Rephrasely
Insurance Sales
I started my career in insurance sales for a startup brokerage. It was a horrible culture with moving targets and leadership that was only focused on revenue. I spent three long years there.
Fortunately, I came away with some powerful examples of how not to lead a team. I’m a better leader because I experienced bad senior leadership. I care about my team members, and their struggles at work and home—something I didn’t always experience from the executive leadership at that least favorite job of mine.
Logan Mallory, Vice President of Marketing, Motivosity
Hotel Receptionist
I once worked as a hotel receptionist for a couple of years, and I would have to say it was my least favorite job I ever had. I found it incredibly tedious, as I didn’t feel like I was doing anything meaningful from day to day.
I was constantly answering the same kinds of questions over and over or dealing with customer complaints. On top of that, the pay was middling . While I may not have enjoyed that experience, I learned how to remain patient when faced with hard tasks, as well as to appreciate hospitality workers who do that every day. It’s definitely something I never take for granted now when I enter a hotel or other similar establishment.
Natalia Brzezinska, Marketing & Outreach Manager, UK Passport Photo
Debt Collector
My least-favorite job was working in the debt collection department of a bank. I didn’t enjoy having to call customers and pursue them for payment, as most people were furious with me by the end of the conversation.
Working with debt collection was an extremely unpleasant experience. Even though it was a challenging task and I learned how to be patient and effective when confronting difficult customers, I would have preferred a less-demanding role that didn’t require so much empathy from me. Although this job taught me how to handle difficult situations professionally, I’m glad to be doing something else now!
Lorien Strydom, Executive Country Manager, Financer.Com
Grocery Staff
Working as a grocery store staff was my least favorite job. Despite the fast-paced environment, I found it incredibly mundane and mindless. Stocking shelves with pre-packaged goods and interacting with customers limited my potential to innovate and create.
Unfortunately, there were no learning lessons to be taken away from this experience; while it was an important lesson in character building, I felt like I didn’t gain any transferable skills or additional knowledge—other than how to make small talk while working with the auto pack machine.
Jim Campbell, CEO, Campbell Online Media
Call Center Worker
I worked at a call center for three months. My duties involved prolonging phone service subscriptions. I hated that job, to be honest. The people I talked to were disrespectful and rude. I felt they didn’t even treat me as a human being. As I’m not pushy by nature, I just couldn’t stand the pressure to keep talking to the clients when they didn’t want to.
My lesson learned from that experience is that kindness costs nothing, and it can actually help other people do their job. I am always polite, understanding, and patient when call center workers contact me. I’ve been there, done that, so I couldn’t act differently now.
Agata Szczepanek, Community Manager, LiveCareer
Medical Billing Data Entry
Many years ago, in my twenties, I briefly temped for a medical billing company. I thought I would enjoy the job because I enjoy typing, and it sounded easy.
Instead, I had the hardest time not falling asleep. It’s important to like what you do, but the next step is to dig deeper into why you like certain tasks, and what it is about them that helps you stay engaged.
This job taught me that typing wasn’t enough for me. I actually like talking to people, and that keeps me engaged a lot longer. I eventually found my way to receptionist work and could easily stay awake all day long!
Kim O’Neill, Authentic Confidence & Interview Coach, Kim O’Neill Coaching
Waiting Tables at a Small Restaurant
I worked as a server for a small, locally owned diner when I was 18. It was the only job I was ever fired from.
I’ve always worked quickly. As a server, this led to a lot of standing around. The owner wasn’t a fan of that. I would burn through my tasks and then stand around, waiting for something to do.
Eventually, he got tired of it and told me to leave. I learned people build a perception of you based on what they see, not what you do. You can be the most efficient team member, but if they only see you standing around, they’ll think you’re lazy. It won’t matter that you’re more efficient.
If you want to succeed, you have to regularly communicate the work you do and the wins you help your team achieve. Whether you work with clients or on a team, go out of your way to clearly communicate your value and your wins. Each one is a drop in the bucket that helps people view you as an essential asset.
James De Roche, Managing Partner, Lead Comet
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