EP. 186: [Tough Twenties] Being an Excellent Employee

Sunshine Parenting

In the Tough Twenties series, I'm interviewing young adults, answering questions submitted by listeners, and sharing resources and tips related to thriving in young adulthood and beyond. Whether you're an adolescent or a young adult in your twenties, or you're parenting a young adult, I know you'll be encouraged by this series.

In this episode, I chat with summer camp directors Andy and Alison Moeshberger. Each year they interview, hire, and train two hundred young adult counselors, so they have a lot of great insights on the skills and traits that lead to success at work for young adults.

We discuss:

The benefits of working at a summer camp, such as gaining responsibility, decision-making skills, and leadership opportunities. They also discuss the accelerated learning opportunities, the rapid feedback system, and the development of relationship skills due to the face-to-face communication and round-the-clock community and communication.

The importance of being coachable, be receptive to feedback and view feedback as an opportunity for improvement rather than a personal attack.

How the best employees are flexible, open minded, and willing to work through the discomfort of challenges and learning new skills.

The mindset shift that young adults need to make when transitioning from a school environment to a professional setting. They note that in school, competition and high grades are often emphasized, whereas in the working world, soft skills and relational skills are most valued.

Overall, they emphasize the benefits of working at a summer camp, such as the accelerated learning opportunities, rapid feedback system, and development of soft skills.

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Resources

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Mentioned on the Podcast

The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter -- And How to Make the Most of Them Now

3 Reasons to Choose a Job at Camp Instead of a Summer Internship

Why Being a Camp Counselor is the Best Summer Job

The Greatest Internship: 6 Critical Skills Counselors Develop at Camp