This is dedicated to the next team I will join full-time.
You don’t know me yet, nor do I know you, but I have to say, I’m so excited for the day when we meet.
At this current moment while writing this, applying for full-time work is a distant goal. Why? Because my present life circumstances require that I take care of my toddler (who is currently asleep on me as I write this: point proven). And, since I’m trying to break into a new industry, there are some more skillsets I must acquire.
My former full-time job was in an industry that I had never aspired to join, but happened to fall into. What was supposed to be a “first job out of college” ended up being much more. I had worked in the wholesale fashion industry for five years, located on Fifth Avenue in New York City. No, it wasn’t like The Devil Wears Prada, but it wasn’t entirely unlike it either. If one thing should be taken from that movie / book, it is that the fashion industry, as a whole, is cut-throat, overdramatic, and one hell of a great teacher.
“…the fashion industry, as a whole, is cut-throat, overdramatic, and one hell of a great teacher.”
Among the lessons I had learned from my previous (and amazing) team members, I learned a lot about myself too. One lesson was on my own resilience and determination to succeed no matter the task or role. It didn’t matter what I had to do, if I was tasked with anything, I gave it my all because I held myself to high standards. A common mistake for entry-leveled workers is for them to become discouraged when asked to perform mandatory (yet perhaps, under-stimulating) tasks. My sister always mentions one quote from her favorite middle school teacher who said:
“If you’re going to put your name on something, it should make you proud.”
I think this is good advice to follow for every task, no matter how big or small.
I also realized that I could learn and master anything if I put enough hours into it. I had entered that job with absolutely zero experience but years later, ended up being the person who trained all new-hires and conducted company-wide trainings on various subjects.
Lastly, I learned that full-time careers are more than just jobs. I ended up investing many late-nights and weekends in the office because it was the right thing to do at the time. After five years and one maternity leave, I left my former company on a good note and relocated from New York City to Florida with my family.
Right now, I’m a stay-at-home mom (SAHM) who freelances and make their own schedule (which is pretty awesome, by the way, but has its setbacks). But I won’t be a SAHM for much longer, nor do I want to be my own boss forever (contrary to popular hype).
My next full-time job won’t be one that I happen to fall into, but one that I’ve purposefully decided on. My next full-time job won’t be just a job, but the start of a new career and chapter of my life as both a person and professional.
So…
Kris Learns Coding 