‘Unskilled jobs’

‘Unskilled workforce’

If you follow, or even just occasionally catch any news outlet chances are you’ve heard this phrase numerous times. I have, and it never really registered. I knew the sort of jobs/people they were talking about: those that worked in retail, customer services, call centres, waiters, waitresses’ and bar workers. I knew it meant those kinds of roles and didn’t think much of it.

Then I read an article on The Pool (it seems to have disappeared since) about the classism surrounding the ‘wellness’ and the clean eating movement. It discussed how ‘clean’ food was probably ranked low on the list of priorities if you were a mother struggling to get by with your unskilled job.

And seeing it ‘unskilled worker’ in print, in such a modern article hit me. It hit me and it angered me. I do like a good rant admittedly, and give me a reason I will happily get on my feminist high horse… however things about job types/general life doesn’t usually touch a nerve. I’m still not sure why it did in this instance, but here’s what annoyed me.

Some of the best people I know are, according to the media ‘unskilled’ which is ignorant at best, and insulting at worst. ‘Unskilled work’ gives you a lot of skills that others lack:

• Even if you are having the shittiest day known to man, you can slap on a smile and pretend you are so excited about the current sale. Being able to put your personal shit aside and focus on the task at hand is a skill valued in any line of work.
• Explaining to an inexplicably angry person that they cannot have what they want for free/cheaper/right this very second just because they want it is diplomatic skill at its finest. If all politicians/celebs were required to spend three sale and post-sale periods in retail there would be nowhere near as many gaffs.
• In these sorts of jobs you don’t get a single type of person, you get many from many different places, points of view and motivations. You get the people that are going to get the most sign ups on the mailing list ever¸ and those that are not even sure they are sober when the clock in. Being able not only to deal with different types of people but also learning from (or at least accepting) differing perspectives on things is a skill the world could do with more people having.
• On the practical side, these jobs usually don’t offer the best wages in the world. But hey, you are a highly skilled money manager and resourceful babe if ever there was one. You could probably show the Treasury a tip or two.
• Working on the ground floor with goods coming and going makes you a problem solver. So you don’t have the right equipment for this delivery? You have enough initiative to either find someone who does or make your own device because this lot ain’t going to book itself in. You can think on your feet, and when you know your boss is coming back soon, you can think bloody fast.
• You can forgive and move on. Working with the general public means you are, at some point, going to encounter a few idiots but instead of getting riled up and letting it cloud your day you’ve learnt to forgive and forget. Well maybe not forgive… if you take extra-long serving them next time, I won’t blame you.

So, here’s to the people that keep the world going round. Here’s to the ‘unskilled workers’ who are anything but unskilled.

What is it like to work full time and study, you ask? In one word, hard. In three words, sometimes bloody hard. I could just leave it at that really, but that wouldn’t make much of a blog post would it?

I currently work the ye ol’ 9-5 and study part time for a Master’s Degree. I should be honest, there are not many articles or blog posts out there that tell you working full time and studying will be easy, so I cannot claim I wasn’t totally prepared.

Of course, the amount of work that you have to do will vary from course to course.  Finding the time to squeeze studying in between work and life in general can be hard in itself; this is where a lot of voices will tell you it’s all about finding a routine.

I do agree in part, finding a routine does help. It does give you a greater sense of control than if you are just trying to add in a study session here and there. Though of course, life does not always fit into your neatly scheduled and colour coded routine. Sometimes you stay later at work. Sometimes it’s a friend’s birthday. Sometimes a family member needs a bit more of your time and support… and there goes the routine.

Whilst successfully managing your time is hard, what a lot of others neglect to tell you about is this: working full time and studying is emotionally hard.

On the run up to deadlines, or in my case the weekends you spend in class (big up the Saturday Class) can leave you feeling caught. No matter where you dedicate your time, a small whispery voice starts telling you you should be spending it elsewhere.

The night you spent studying should be spent with your lover. The night with your lover should be spent studying and visa versa.

The stress of working full time and studying doesn’t always come from deadlines, sometimes it comes from within. And the guilt that starts to tinge the edges of your vision can be hard to shake. It can stop you feeling as present as you’d like, with your mind wandering off to the subject that isn’t the centre of attention tonight.

I’m lucky; I have an incredible supportive and understanding boyfriend. Whenever I get upset and start apologising for effectively abandoning him for three days straight he tells me not to worry, that he’s proud and that he’ll be there in there for my night off. How I got this lucky I’m not quite sure, but it does make it easier.

So there you go, that is what it is like to work full time and study can be hard but not in the ways you expect. When it all seems to be getting to much, just stop. Make a brew, send a soppy text and get some perspective. Studying part time gives you the chance to learn some incredible new skills, and meet people who inspire you.

It may be hard, but trust me – it often feels worth it.