6 Benefits of a Bottom Rung Job

[Tiger]

6 Benefits of a Bottom-Rung Job
By Paul Facella, Author of "Everything I Know About Business I Learned
at McDonald's"


What do Jay Leno, Sharon Stone, Jeff Bezos, Carl Lewis and Pink have
in common? They're all successes in their fields -- and among the
estimated 10 percent of Americans who have worked at McDonald's.

Most careerists think of McDonald's as a job for kids. Still, some of
those kids stick it out -- and are rewarded with fast-track promotions
and dream-come-true careers. In fact, three out of four mid- to senior-
level corporate managers at McDonald's started out as crew members.
Likewise, the organization has created more millionaires than any
other company in America -- especially among women and minorities. I
myself started out behind the grill -- and 34 years later had risen
through the ranks to be a regional vice president.

With nearly 15 million Americans now out of work, many job seekers are
wondering if the American Dream is fading. Is it possible in today's
economic climate to work hard, move up the corporate ladder and get
ahead?

No doubt about it. Job seekers who are willing to do low-skilled work
initially, want to learn and develop, are ambitious and have a clear
vision of where they'd like to be in three to five years are good
candidates for bottom-rung jobs. But don't waste your time at the
bottom unless you are confident that the company hiring you has your
best career interests at heart.

For example, before you take just any "starter job," you should find
out if this is a goal- and growth-oriented job, as opposed to a dead-
end job. In your interview, it is perfectly fine to ask such questions
as: What percentage of your mid- to senior-level managers are promoted
from within? What programs and policies are set up for helping high-
achieving employees develop new skills? Is mobility at this company
limited, or could one apply for jobs elsewhere in the company for
which one is qualified?

A low-level job can be a great steppingstone to a promising career, as
I know firsthand. Let's look at six key ways a bottom-rung job can
help boost your career:

Teaches you the ropes
Be curious, ask questions and offer suggestions. You'll wind up
learning more about business than in most MBA classes. You will learn
the importance of leading by example, and how powerful that can be in
motivating employees when you are doing the same tasks they are. You
can learn new skills that can have benefit later on as you move up the
management ladder (or return to it). And in this environment, unlike
only a few years ago, taking a position for which you may be
overqualified will not be viewed as a bad move, but more as an
aggressive move to "stay in the game."
Hones your work style
Always work hard -- and never be satisfied. Traits such as these will
serve you down the road as an executive or entrepreneur. It will
reinforce many principles of managing people, such as "expect what you
inspect," and the importance of following up and making sure a job is
done well and the bar is set high enough. In other words, having high
expectations of others obligates you to be involved in making sure
others succeed -- and giving them what they need to do so.The
discipline you develop in lower-rung jobs will help you cultivate key
management traits that will be useful later on.
Refines relationship skills
Now is the time to perfect your people skills. Practice listening more
than talking, resolving conflicts and rolling with the punches.
Collaboration and cooperation among your new group can offer a
surprising and interesting opportunity to gain insights into a team
process. It can give you a subordinate's view of what really works in
leadership execution.

Creates opportunities
Choose wisely and you can move up the ranks quickly. Look for a
company with a track record of aggressive talent management and
exceptional career velocity. Chances are you will be exposed to a
great variety of folks in age, ethnic diversity and gender. All of
this can be a great learning experience that will give you insights
later on. Exposure to different groups outside of your comfort zone
can be challenging and fun.

Forms networks
Take care with your work relationships -- higher-ups, peers and
subordinates -- and you'll have career champions for a lifetime. The
best organizations have employees who develop, in many cases, lifelong
bonds. These can be truly rewarding in many ways. Likewise, they can
expose you to groups, organizations and networks you may have never
considered previously.

Reinforces humility
There is no upside to unemployment. Learn to appreciate the goodness
of work itself and what a job can teach you. You really have nothing
to lose and everything to gain. If you are good, and can prove it, you
should be among the first to move up within the organization, and you
have already proven your commitment and understanding of the basic job
functions. You will have a head start on many of the folks who may be
competing for the same job in the future.

Paul Facella is founder and CEO of Inside Management
(www.insidemanagement.com), a nationally recognized consulting group,
and author of "Everything I Know About Business I Learned at
McDonald's."
Copyright 2009 Paul Facella. All rights reserved. The information
contained in this article may not be published, broadcast or otherwise
distributed without prior written authority.
Story Filed Tuesday, July 28, 2009 - 3:05 PM