When it comes to employment and referrals, would you hire or refer yourself? This is a question that Christie has found herself pondering over various conversations with fellow business owners and friends.

Christie: As business owners (I speak on behalf of my friends who own businesses), we’re constantly approached by other like-minded individuals regarding the subject of employee recommendations. “I’m looking for someone great. Do you have anyone in mind”? – That is a question that we get asked too often, myself especially because of my HR connections through Style Nine to Five. While our answers should be yes more often than not, as we list off every single intern or employee we’ve had in the past, the reality is, we find ourselves struggling to come up with an answer at all.

I’m sure that many of you have read my past career chats on how to be an excellent employee through going above and beyond, and the importance of proving oneself during an internship. Now more than ever before, it’s becoming apparent to me that many young job seekers lack the motivation to work hard and put their best foot forward after they’ve got the job. An important thing to note is that this isn’t a sentiment unique to me; it is one that is shared by my friends who also run their own businesses. Nowadays, it’s a common topic that comes up during our discussions.

After a recent conversation regarding the topic, I was reminded of an article I once read about how the new generation feel a certain sense of entitlement when it came to the job. I would like to remind every single job seeker that landing the position is only the first step. Who’s to say that you’re deserving of a reference or recommendation if you don’t perform up to par? While it is important to make sure that you are a good fit for the company before you dive right in, you still need to be prepared to pay your dues before landing that dream position. This is especially important to keep in mind when you’re negotiating wages and/or salaries with your potential boss. You may not wind up with your ideal pay right away, but if the position will offer you invaluable experience, then it shouldn’t be passed up just like that. You want to start at $20 an hour? I was an assistant manager making $7 an hour, and did so primarily for the experience. I knew that in order to get my dream job, I’d have to put in the time, working a few jobs that I may not have enjoyed all that much. I knew I wouldn’t land that high paying fashion buyer job right out of Kwantlen because I needed the experience first. I wouldn’t have been nearly as successful at the job if I hadn’t had the past work experience to draw upon.

To leave off, I’d like to share a quote from the same article that really resonated with me: “There is no easy route to great success… A generation has lost touch with that.”

Edited by: Anna Zhao

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