Guest view: You need help to make it on your own
How many of us can say we literally made it on our own? On the surface it looks as if I pulled myself up by my “bootstraps” since I promoted from an office assistant to an associate warden. Nobody in my family worked in law enforcement or for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation so I must have achieved success on my own. Far from it. My family instilled in me the importance of hard work and independence. We didn’t have much in the way of material things so my other important lesson learned was to achieve financial security.
My first job was typical for a young girl. I was paid to babysit but I didn’t hustle these jobs on my own. My older sisters passed jobs along to me when they were unavailable. OK, but what about my first “real” job? I worked for K-Mart while in high school. None of my family worked there but I did receive a recommendation from the mother of a high school friend.
Next stop: Working for the state to gain financial security. Independent of family or friends, I took the civil service examination, scored in the top three ranks and was hired by the State. Really, all by myself? Granted, I may have signed up and took the test alone but I did have help. Almost every woman in my family held a civil service job at one time or another, whether it was with the County, State, or local utility district. My family did not take my hand and teach me how to test and get a civil service job, but, if nothing else, I learned through their example, listening and watching their actions.
While employed with the state, I worked as an office assistant, office technician, staff services analyst, training officer, supervisor of building trades, procurement officer, personnel officer, business manager and finally associate warden. Most people work their entire careers in one profession, for instance, correctional officer to sergeant to lieutenant. I wanted to learn as much as possible, challenge myself and be valuable to the organization. Good for me, but again, I didn't get there by myself. All along the way I had mentors, people willing to take a chance and hire an unknown quantity, lacking experience in a new occupation.
Did you get your first job through a family business or a friend’s recommendation? Did a teacher take a special interest in you and help you apply to college? Did your family send you clear expectations through their words and actions? Do I believe that people should pull themselves up by their “bootstraps”? Yes. But what if you don’t have bootstraps? What if I didn’t have anyone to show me examples of independence or hard work? What if I didn’t know anyone, friend or family, to help me get my first jobs? What if I didn’t meet people along the way that were willing to encourage me, train and hire me? Where ever employed, my goal was to work hard, arrive on time, and take assignments nobody else wanted. In order to pay back, it was important that I hire people who may not have experience but demonstrated a willingness to learn, cooperate and work hard for themselves as well as the organization. An employee grateful for the work and willing to learn is so much more valuable than one with experience but feels entitled and expects the organization to work for them instead of the other way around.
Who in your life helped you, made you feel valuable and worth hiring? Pay them back by hiring workers excited and grateful for the opportunity. Once hired, go the extra mile to train them so that they too can be successful. Encourage employees to promote when they’re ready. If you’re not in a position to hire, help new coworkers, train them, encourage them to become valuable to you and your organization.
That’s a win/win for everyone.
Ellen Grant is a retired associate warden of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. She lives in Lodi.
This article originally appeared on The Record: Guest view: You need help to make it on your own
