Jobs Don’t Want to Teach Anymore

 By Kelly Bridgewater

I’m not that old.

When I started my first job, they trained us how to bag groceries for an entire day.

When I moved to a cashier, we trained how to be a cashier.

When I worked in the bookstore, we were trained in how to order books, imprint on Bibles, and take special orders.

When I worked at Taco Bell, we were trained on how to make each item on the menu.

At my current position, they gave me a handbook and told me to go to websites to learn all the things I need to know for the state and federal regulations. No one trained me on anything.

Yes, you were observed by the supervisor, but they wanted to make sure that you do your position correctly.

Have you looked at job postings lately?

Must have three degrees, 20 years of experience, and know how to do everything the job requires before they will even think to look at your resume. Let alone go to an interview.

That is ridiculous.

No one wants to teach employees.

Must come in with all the head knowledge.

Degrees are not the answer for that.

I have a BS in English and a MA in Writing.

I can write and communicate effectively, have customer service skills, management background, scheduling background, accounting background, organizational skills at the maximum, have a photographic memory where I can remember exactly what the screen looked like when I saw it or where it was found in the handbook, the ability to prove through facts the answer to a question, and understand how to use the internet or handbooks to figure out the answer if I do not know the answer. I will find the answer somehow. I use my resources effectively.

That does not matter anymore.

If you do not have a degree in Nursing, OIT, Teaching, Business, or Truck driving, you are going to barely make enough to pay your bills.

What happened to our hiring process?

Use the computer to look for key words in the resume.

I copy word for word what is written in the qualifications.

Crickets.

It is depressing, to say the least, that I score as a genius, have two degrees, and make barely above Indiana’s minimum wage. As my husband and a number of other people that I have worked with have said, “No one recognizes you for how smart you are.” Then they wonder why sometimes I’m depressed at work.

Every other employee in my office comes to me for suggestions on how to fix a solution or how to talk to a customer about an issue.

But I’m not good enough to be paid more.

They just use my brain for them to look good.

What about you? Do you have a job that actually trains you? Are you recognized for what you brought to the table and learned at the hands of others in your office?