Before The C-suite: What I Learned From My Job At A Movie Theater

My kids aren’t old enough to have jobs of their own just yet, but when they are I’ll surely encourage them to find some. My first few jobs taught me about work ethic, a keystone that I doubt I would have learned without my high school job at the local movie theater. The theater was only one screen, but it seemed huge to me. Despite what I thought at the time, I now see that first jobs aren’t necessarily there to challenge you. They’re there to teach you about yourself along with what skills will be required in the real world. Here’s what I learned between brushing leftover candy off of theater seats and dishing out bags of buttery popcorn.

I realized “relationships matter”

I got the gig through my sister’s sorority sister. This was the first time I witnessed the power of “knowing someone” or “having an in.” Eileen had me come in for an interview, and since I knew her, I wasn’t very nervous. I had the job within a week. (Beats the recruiting process of the real world, doesn’t it?) Plus, what would I have even put on an application? Remember how odd it was to fill out your very first one? Experience: zilch.

I discovered what I like

Aside from getting to watch countless movies and eating free popcorn (looking back, I’m not so sure the popcorn was actually free…), I discovered an interest I didn’t know I had. Every once and awhile, the lead film projectionist would call in sick or have a day off and I’d get to man the projector. If something went wrong during a movie, film would spew like wildfire out of the back of the projector and I’d teach myself how to splice, fixing and tinkering my way until I learned the ropes.

Between movie times, I’d take the projector apart and put it back together again with the enthusiasm of a mad scientist brewing up a potion. I’m 99% sure this is when my fascination for understanding how things work (and hence engineering) kicked in. Once I realized that I could tinker my way out of a problem, I found it incredibly empowering, especially once I figured out that there were ways to make money in the real world this way.

I learned how much my time was worth

Learning how long it takes to earn money was another crucial lesson I learned from that job. I figured out how many hours of work I would need to get under my belt to afford that new pair of jeans I’d coveted so much. It made the “luxuries” I thought I needed seem that much more valuable (and/or expensive). But I also learned a bit about how unfair the world could be. The lead projectionist made the same minimum wage as I did but had to support his family with it. This struck me as both unfair and unfortunate. I realized that if I wanted to make more money per hour, I needed an education.

I learned about time management

My job at the theater taught me that even if the bus was late, I’d be held responsible if I didn’t make it to my shift on time. Excuses wouldn’t cut it regardless of how logical they seemed to me. Time management was a must.

I learned the power of compassion

There was a home for adults with down syndrome not too far from the movie theater. Every week, a group would come in and I ended up making friends with a woman who greeted me with a big smile and hug every time she saw me. She would tell me, “Hello, friend!” She was such a warm, compassionate human being that I ended up writing a college essay about her. I think that random friendship instilled in me an air of acceptance and compassion that I hope my kids learn in their own ways, may it be through school, a sport, a job, or an unexpected friendship.

And if I could say something to my 16-year-old self working at that movie theater tinkering with the projector, I’d tell her to keep doing what she’s doing and to persevere through those first few jobs even if it doesn’t seem like they’re leading to something else. (I promise they will.)

Originally posted on LinkedIn