Bob Durkin
President, Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce
Tell us about your first job. What did you learn and how did it impact you moving forward?
Interestingly enough, my first official, paid job was as a Times carrier. My brother and I had one of the largest paper routes in our town, and we had customers that stretched over a mile and a half through Olyphant and Throop.
I think the most important thing that job taught me was responsibility. No matter what the weather or competing personal interests — we had to deliver those papers. And nothing tested that sense of obligation more than the iconic Thanksgiving edition, which was enormous! I will also add that I/we delivered on foot. I can only recall one time, during a severe winter storm, that my father drove us around on our route.
I believe that experience became the foundation for the way I have approached all the professional positions I have held over more than four decades. When work needs to be done, there are no excuses — do the job!
What advice can you give to anyone entering the workforce?
Individuals starting their first job, be it a part-time role while still in school, or a first career-level position should see each as a part of a lifetime learning experience. Even if you have been focused on a particular career pathway throughout secondary or higher education, you may not really know what a specific job may entail, or if you will be particularly happy doing it over time.
Every job is unique, and the same position in different organizations is likely to provide different experiences. But one thing that is true of a job — good or bad — is that you can take what you learn from the experience and use that to build toward a career that meets your needs and interests. And you can influence the learning process by taking on new or additional responsibilities to hone your skills to benefit you and your employer.
What should a job seeker look for in a potential employer?
First, it is important that you find the type of work to be interesting and potentially rewarding. Whether you ascribe to Maslow’s Hierarchy or simply recognize in yourself a connection to a particular line of work, it should be something you can feel good about doing day to day.
As for the potential employer, I advise that you look for an individual or organization that likewise professes to be connected to the work — that they find it rewarding. That is why a job interview should be a dialog, in which you ask questions of a prospective employer beyond salary and benefits. Ask questions that can tell you about the culture of the organization, including how they see your role in the big picture that defines them.
Happiness in any job is a complicated matter, and certainly a reflection of the needs, talents and wants of every individual. And no one should expect that your job will always be a perfect match. Look for a good fit, not necessarily a perfect one. And as I noted above, use every experience as a chance to learn and grow, better preparing you for the next opportunity, either with that company/organization or your next employer.