We asked you for advice you would give a younger you before your first job and you didn’t disappoint. We got some great answers and amazing insight, so much so that we will share a few of the best ones below. 

Congratulations to Leanne Ulmer at Richardson Pioneer in Melville and Nick Anderson at Viterra in Raymore who entered and ultimately won our draw. Leanne and Nick each won two tickets to see Garth Brooks in Regina on August 9.

Thanks to everyone who entered. Watch for more contests and draws throughout the year. 

What advice would you give a younger you the day before you started your first job?

• My advice to the “younger me”, would be not to take it too seriously.
• Be your true-self no matter what, and always remember not to bring work home to your family life. When you hear “you need a work/life balance,” take the advice
• To have more confidence and be ready for all challenges.
• I would tell my younger self that hard work and dedication truly pay off, and to never give up on pushing yourself to be something better that what you set yourself out for. I would tell my younger self to never feel like you’re going to fail, keep your thoughts positive and take the high road, there’s less traffic up there.
• Advice to my younger self … accept and use constructive criticism and ignore petty comments that are not constructive
• I would tell myself to be patient and enjoy the opportunities that are given to me. There is plenty of time to figure out what career path to take as an adult so take your time finding what you love.
• My advice to my younger self would be to wear the most conformable shoes possible and dress in layers because the office is always cold!
• Never stop learning and taking advice.
• My advice to new employees just entering the work force is don’t get in a rush to perforce your tasks, take the time to do it safely and ask questions when you have concerns or doubts. Also, don’t get yourself into to thinking you need to do crazy long hours in your career to get ahead, you need to take time for yourself, family and friends!
• The first day of your first job is a very exciting and nerve racking day.  Listening is the most important thing to do during those first few days.  Always be willing to do what is asked of you and never think you are above any task.  This job may be a life-long career or it may open your eyes to something else you might like to do.  Never burn any bridges, always think of your boss, manager or co-workers as future references.  Working hard and being loyal and honest will take you far in life!
• My younger self before starting a new job!  I would say … Have self confidence. No one starts out knowing everything! 
• Work hard and be fair to others.  Don’t make other people’s problems yours.
• I would of said to myself “Try harder in school and go to school for an education.”
• Don’t be afraid to stand up for what you believe in
• Don’t be afraid of challenges, and getting outside of your comfort zone.  Some of the greatest learning opportunities and getting to know yourself better happen by daring to do what you haven’t done before.  You are capable of more than you realize.
• I would definitely tell me to start planning right there and then for retirement!! Start saving from your first paycheck! Invest, budget, be smart! Freedom 55 would have been a lot better option than “maybe, not quite sure, possibly Freedom 67…69…75…work til the day of my funeral retirement” option!
• One thing I would tell my younger self at my first job is to work hard and people will notice and you’ll go far. Save money and go to school.
• I would say be yourself, positive attitude, be grateful, kind and most importantly do what you love to do.
• What I would tell myself , honestly just worry about you and do your best and always keep positive. Everyone takes time to learn and everyone learns at their own pace. Find the job you find passion in and all will go great. I’ve been at my job for 25 years this spring and I love it and its even my birthday week. Hope you have a great day also whoever reads this message.
• I would give myself the advice never give up on your dream, when one door closes there is always another door that opens. Just because you don’t hit your goals when you think it’s right for you doesn’t mean you won’t later on  
• I would tell my younger self to start apprenticeship for electrical, stick with it, ask questions, and work hard. 
• Work hard, be safe, respect your elders
• I would tell myself to calm down, everything will be fine.
• Be active in looking for solutions.  It can go a long way being a problem solver and helps out everyone in the location
• My advice to my younger self on my first job would be to really think about working for family and the effects it could have on relationships.
• Work hard and don’t get involved in the politics 
• Learn how to play guitar and become a country music superstar.
• Be careful who you say things to at work, don’t give too much free information,  show up 10 minutes early, stay late if you are asked to work late, say yes because if you want something one day they will give it to you.
• Work hard, save your money, and – most of all – be honest. Doesn’t matter what you do – be proud of your job, show pride in your work, be proud of what you do. Do the best job that you can do, learn from your job, and learn from the people around you.
• always be cheerful courteous polite and respectful. Even if you are having the worst day of your life, be cheerful, courteous, polite, respectful. And if you can have fun at work, enjoy work, enjoy life, work and life go hand in hand. Now go out there and take the world as your own and have fun doing it
• As I have said to my own kids, my first job was not my career job, but you need to start somewhere. This was a starting point to where I entered the work force (the world outside of my comfort zone of my mom and dad’s house). I would begin to learn leadership, teambuilding, dealing with different people. Only to find out that not everyone has the same moral values, but as long as I kept true to myself everything would work out, as it did.
• My advice to the younger me, would be to work hard and you will be rewarded. And don’t be afraid to try new adventures.  Make sure you love what you are doing.
• Your job is such a huge part of your life, it’s never worth staying at a job that makes you miserable, no matter what!
• Listen more, talk less, and treat people with respect – no matter their walk of life!!
• Everyone learns their job in different ways, so communicate to your trainer how you best learn.  Take notes at first until you understand your responsibilities by instinct.  If your employer is not invested in you as a worker, then why should you be invested in them.  Show respect for those above you, but never put up with abuse.  Never belittle someone else who may be struggling alongside you.  Instead, step in and help if you see someone struggling (it could be you one day).  Not only will you make a friend, but you exhibit qualities that could benefit you later and draw others to look to you for insight, advise and leadership. The hardest thing to communicate to an employer is that leaders will bring you alongside them and carry you with them to incredible success.  Fools push from behind and then jump to the front when it comes time to take credit for the limited successes they will achieve.  Above all, don’t accept the status quo and don’t let your job define you.  Don’t be employed to just collect a paycheck.  If you cannot see a better future for yourself, then move on.  I have many friends who are new Canadians.  I have learned from them that if you always look for a better opportunity, it will come to you.  They understand that the rewards of their life come later but with greater reward.  They invest in themselves up front and avoid the entrapments of credit.  They sacrifice now, but have a much better future because of it.
• I would tell a younger version of me to start saving money when you first start working. Not all jobs have pensions or benefits. When you get older and want to go on a vacation or buy a new fridge, you might not have the money. Save some from every pay check and you will have a little cushion for things you may want or need!!

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Whether you are a country music afficienado or not, this will be a memorable Saskatchewan event to be part of.

Enter our contest by sending us your answer to the following question:

With everything you know now and have learned through your years of life and working, what advice would you give a younger-you the day before you started your first job? 

Email your entry to gsu@gsu.ca by Tuesday, July 30 at 10:00 a.m. to be entered to win. Our draw will be made Tuesday and the winners announced in the Tuesday Members’ Memo.

This contest has also been published in our July 23 Tuesday Members’ Memo. Only one entry per member for this contest will be accepted.