Melo BOH4M: Reading Response (Assessment For Learning Name: ____________________

No job is too small to develop leadership skills

The Globe and Mail
Published March 1, 2018
Updated March 1, 2018
Director, Youth and Young Adult Segments at RBC.
Instructions: Read the following article, highlight and review unfamiliar words, and lastly answer the questions on
the last page.

The path to a rewarding and challenging career is a long, winding road. Developing the skills you need to get there starts
well before you land your first full-time job, and continues throughout your career journey.

It sounds cliché1, but it's never too early to get started. There are plenty of ways you can start building valuable skills,
even when in school. Whether planning to start your own business full time or on the side, or seeking to move up the
ranks of a large corporation, your skill-building journey can start much earlier than you might think and doesn't always
have to involve formal training.

Summer jobs, or part-time jobs throughout the school year, can be great foundational learning experiences for
developing specific skills needed in the corporate world, such as collaboration 2, diplomacy3, customer service and
multitasking4.

So, whether leadership ambitions start right out of the gate 5or are developed over time, how can students prepare
themselves as future leaders – whatever their career aspirations are?

The power of a part-time/summer job

Anyone who has regularly pursued part-time and/or summer jobs is already getting a solid grounding in leadership skills.
Whether serving customers in a high-pressure fast-food joint 6, being a counsellor at a summer camp or working in a
health-care facility, these experiences can get your foot in the door when facing your first career interviews.

I spent a lot of my summers working as a camp counsellor in Algonquin Park. During my last summer there as a senior
staff member, I was managing a team, was in charge of program planning, and was responsible for keeping hundreds of
young girls happy, healthy and having fun during their stays at overnight camp. While the income was nothing in
comparison to that of some of my friends working elsewhere, the confidence I built in myself, the leadership skills I
gained and the fulfilling experience of helping other young women was foundational in helping me develop my abilities.

Savvy7 employers know that anyone working in food service, for example, is likely strong at multitasking and diplomacy.
A summer camp job can help develop your project-management and collaboration skills. Working in health care or social
services will highlight your empathy and compassion. Remember that these are all seen as essential leadership skills.

So when working on your résumé, be sure to include the leadership lessons learned in those roles. School activities can
also boost your leadership skills, as they demonstrate your ability to work in groups and stay on task to achieve results.
Don't underestimate the value of these experiences and how they have helped shape you.

1
a phrase or opinion that is overused
2
 working with someone to produce or create something
3
the art of dealing with people in a sensitive and effective way
4
the performance of more than one task at the same time
5
Metaphor for the start or beginning
6
Establishment/restaurant
7
well informed about or experienced in a particular domain
Melo BOH4M: Reading Response (Assessment For Learning Name: ____________________

We've all been told at some point just how valuable networking is. Networking 8 can be awkward and uncomfortable if
you don't have much experience at it or if you are an introvert 9. I was "that" person as a student – I knew how important
networking was, but I found it hard to do. But when I put in the effort, I always found it worthwhile. It gives you the
chance to introduce yourself to people in industries you might be interested in pursuing. Youth associations, trade
shows and job fairs are often perfect places to explore opportunities and talk to industry experts.

Taking the entrepreneurship path

Another increasingly popular route is entrepreneurship. Many people are choosing to be their own boss, before or after
graduation. Studies show that upward of 50 per cent of students plan to start their own businesses, for reasons varying
from wanting to be their own boss to a lack of suitable employment opportunities.

Consider what skills you can develop that will help you be your own boss. That means understanding the field in which
you want to work, but also the other side of entrepreneurship – managing the business.

From legal and financial aspects, to seeking funding – these are important things for successful entrepreneurs to grasp.
Will you need to incorporate? Will you need outside help or a business partner who can supplement your skills? Find the
right balance of skills you can develop, and outside help or partnerships. For example, you may have a great idea for an
online business and be an awesome manager, but do you have the technical skills to get it up and running properly? Or
you may be great at developing technology, but weak on the sales part. Just remember that starting a business takes
many skills, and you may not necessarily have all of them. The great news is that you do not have to go it alone – there
are endless (free) resources available, and the influencers you have in your life may be more important than you realize.

The best advice I can give you – regardless of career path – is to network. Connecting with other entrepreneurs is vital
when starting a business. Whether it's open-house events, LinkedIn, friends or family, seek out advice and mentorship to
help you on the journey.

Futurpreneur Canada is one of several great resources for getting seed funding and essential support. Find out what's
available at your school, other universities and organizations nearby. Also seek out young entrepreneur competitions
that allow individuals and teams to present their business ideas to panels of experts. Winners often receive funding,
mentorship and services to help them jump-start their businesses. And even if you don't win, the experience is great.

Of course, when starting a business, it's important to keep your costs down. If you can't kick-start your operation from
home, sharing office spaces for low monthly fees is often a good place to start.

Keep in mind that funding may take time. If you haven't saved enough from your part-time and summer jobs, you might
start with small investments from family and friends. Take your business plan to a financial services provider who can
offer some guidance on your financial options.

Last but not least, mentorship10 is critical. Don't be afraid to approach someone who might be able to help you navigate
your new business venture. It could be a family friend who owns a business, a professor or someone you connected with
at an industry event. Many people who have been successful in their careers are more than happy to share their
experiences.

8
Interact with others to exchange information and develop professional or social contacts.
9
A person predominantly concerned with their own thoughts and feelings rather than with external things.(shy)
10
A period of time, during which a person receives guidance from a mentor.
Melo BOH4M: Reading Response (Assessment For Learning Name: ____________________

Whether building your skills for a future career path, or starting a business – or both – it's important to establish the
right foundation, from skills development to financial management. Getting started is as easy as doing some online
research, where you will find plenty of helpful advice, educational materials and perhaps some inspiration as well.

Reader’s response:

1. In your own words, summarize the main idea of the article.

2. What skills can be developed from working at a fast-food restaurant? Identify the skills and provide examples.

3. According to the author, list valuable skills that young people can acquire. Explain how they can be valuable to
your future career path.

4. Make a list of your current skills and how they may be valuable for your future. Make a list of skills you would
like to develop.

Current Skills:

Skills I would like to develop: