Experience is often valued because of the lessons prior jobs have theoretically provided us with. While hearing about those lessons isn’t a replacement for actually experiencing it, we thought it would be very helpful to create a space where sharp and generous members of the community can come together to share stories and lessons learned at prior jobs for the benefit of others.

Tayja Strickland

The most important lesson I have learned is that “Sometimes dry seasons are necessary to prepare you for the next place.” I was a creative, working in what many would consider a dead-end job. I worked there for 2 and 1/2 years, but within those 2 1/2 years, I grew my knowledge and gained more experience, which allowed me to secure a job closer to my interests. Read more>>

KeithKNOWS

In my previous job as the Volunteer Coordinator for NBAF(National Black Arts), I had to be very organized, recruiting and training volunteers was definitely a value lesson. Yearly, I had to recruit over 100 volunteers and train them for their positions. I also had to follow up, send reminders, and find a space to hold Volunteer Orientations. I learned a value lesson about always a backup plans, you never know what’s happening in someone’s life. Read more>>

Alysia Hare

I have been in the insurance industry most of my adult life. I graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 2008. I majored in business, but double minored in communications and hospitality. I did a few HARD years at a very popular rental car company and then jumped into Insurance. The insurance company that I worked for was INTENSE. I worked 60+ hours per week, had no work life balance, and I bled those company colors. Read more>>

Ashley Mrozek

I spent one year at juvenile hall, 3 years at a residential rehab (non profit govt funded program) and 2 years at corporate medicine. At all 3 locations the emphasis on harmful pharmaceutical interventions was glorified and pushed and it became apparent to me the for profit pharma industry and the havoc they reap on vulnerable and susceptible populations. This pushed me into ‘holistic’ and ‘alternative’ medications and learning how to educate clients on the shortcomings of the traditional medical model. Read more>>

Taquera Bernard

As someone who has worked in retail I saw at a early stage that you can have great products with great quality but what really matters is the experience and/or lifestyle you sell. For The Trends is a mindset brand you have to have that trendsetter mindset to even consider wearing our products. We want to make sure our customers feel confident in themselves when putting on For The Trends brand. Read more>>

Jamal Page

As an individual that works in a creative field I often struggle with the balance of art versus logic. Before I became a filmmaker, I worked in a very different line of work. My background is in criminal justice and I pursued a career in law enforcement. I worked as a public safety officer for a few years, that work experience, combined with the years of school and training led me to embrace a more regimented lifestyle. Read more>>

Abbe Feder

I was a waitress for what feels like an eternity. A good eternity. I think waiting tables is something every single person should do once in their life – even if they’re bad at it! The best things I learned about life I learned from waitressing: how to think on your feet, make quick decisions, pivot if needed, provide excellent customer service, and collaborate with others for a common goal. I was lucky to work in high end restaurants where as a bonus, I learned a ton about fancy food and fine wine, which serves me well and will forever. Read more>>

Tamiqua Whittaker

The most important lesson I’ve learned at my previous jobs would be that above all else, people always remember how you made them feel at the end of your interaction. I’ve done cashier jobs, tech support for major cable companies, and most recently, being a dental assistant so its always been a personal goal of mine to ensure each customer/patient feels like I truly care about what I am doing, Read more>>

Barry Moltz

I started my second company with two guys I found in the classified section of the Chicago Tribune. It seemed like a cool business. When my “partners” kicked me out of the company a year later, I realized who you are doing it with is more important than what you are doing. My next company I started was with the spouse of a college friend. I didn’t find the business fascinating but really liked my new partner. Read more>>

Leah Groover

I have received wonderful exposure, experience, and training from many opportunities from the past. If I am reflecting honestly, I believe on the whole that each and every experience we have shapes us for the future. But my previous employment with a franchise ballroom studio taught me a great deal that inspired me to create my own approaches with my own studio, Get Up And Dance. Read more>>

Candice Gadsden

I moved from Bossier City, Louisiana to the DFW area in June 2014 after accepting a job offer. My husband was transitioning out of the military and with us both being military veterans, we decided that Texas would be the best place for us to settle down and continue to raise our family as Texas has great benefits for prior military members. Read more>>

Michelle Mohammed

So right out of high school I started to work at a construction company. I had just turned 18. Working wasn’t brand new to me, but the responsibilities were. I was responsible for employees time books, NIS, recording advances to employees, materials going to different job sites and so on. It was a lot, I can tell you that much. Sometimes it felt overwhelming. Read more>>

DJ MIXAURINA

In addition to MIXAURINA, I have a full time job as a Technical Sourcing Recruiter. I’ve been in the staffing and recruiting industry for a little over a year now. A huge part of recruiting is being able to properly network and build relationships. I ask open ended questions to gain a better understanding of who the candidate is and what they are looking for in a new opportunity. Read more>>

Heather West

Fairly early in my career, I was recruited to lead the marketing/communications department for a greenfield health and safety association representing over 62,000 businesses in the service sector. I had never led a department, and I hadn’t worked in health and safety. The CEO who recruited me was confident that I was the right fit and invested in networking and learning opportunities to help me bridge the gaps in my experience. She was the first leader who supported me this way and was committed to investing in my professional growth. Read more>>

Marisa S White

Before I became a full time artist I worked several jobs including at a creative advertising agency, a sales rep for a payroll company, even owned my own payroll business to working at a non-profit called the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO). Read more>>

Shane Russell

Straight out of high school, I started working a job that began at 4:30 am, five days a week…and most holidays (to some extent). Needing a car, and the normal bills we all acquire for survival, I talked myself out of college and settled for a part-time band. I usually got my eight hours in by 12:30 so I would have time to travel to gigs etc. so I stayed in that comfort zone….for three weeks shy of 20 years! I would either be bound by failing relationships, bills, or my own bondage, so I wouldn’t change my life to do what I wanted…to pursue music as a career. Read more>>

Patrick Smith

Understanding more of my value and individual magic has been an on-going lesson; however, realization hit pretty hard this past summer as I pursued a path of becoming an independent artist. My journey as a dance instructor/artist has been rather consistent for nearly 20 years. I feel satisfied now with the information, tradition and unique aspects of my teaching and ability to connect with students and artists of all ages. Read more>>

Lydia Greene

Write from the reader’s perspective. I first heard this phrase in a workshop I attended during the gap years between my time as an undergraduate and graduate student. I was working as a research associate in a science lab and was just beginning to try my hand at academic and scientific writing. I was inexperienced and full of self-doubt. Read more>>

Diana Marshall

At one of my prior jobs, I was a business efficiency expert for a government contracting company working on Navy and DoD classified and top-secret projects. I learned that organization and efficiency are essential to any business. The smaller the workspace you have to work in the more highly organized and creative you need to get with your workspace. Read more>>

Davon William

The most important lesson was that communication is the bloodline of any business. In other words , customer service and the way you word a response can make or break what you’re trying to build. I’d have conversations with industry professionals and I’ll treat them as clients/customers to where they feel more comfortable when asked to do certain tasks I may need done. It’s only helped since I started, especially now I’ll make a good first impression and make sure everything is goal oriented while working. Read more>>

James Ruffner

I worked in the field of education for over 6 years. I started out teaching students with autism while I was still in college. Working with those students required a great deal of patience. The patience came from having to attend to different behaviors such as hitting, kicking, biting, spitting, and even running away! Also, it would take weeks, and sometimes months for a student to understand a concept from a lesson. Read more>>

Ambra Motilall

Prior to starting Kazat, I had 15 years of work experience in Corporate America. Although I did not realize it at the time, the experience I gained during these 15 years were directly relevant to running a successful clothing boutique. The first 8 years of my professional work experience was spent in Customer Retention and Customer Service Management , and the last 7 years were dedicated to Sales and Product Management. Read more>>