Let’s face it, some jobs are just awful. But even the worst ones tend to teach you something.
We asked manufacturers about the worst job they ever had and what they learned from it. Lighting execs had plenty of great stories:
“During high school, I worked a summer job as a busboy and dishwasher at a fried seafood restaurant. It was an eye-opening experience — the overwhelming grease, the constant mess and my lack of appetite made for a tough summer. However, it taught me the value of hard work, resilience and the importance of pursuing a career that aligns with my passions.”
Ryan Ranzino
Vice President of Sales
Crystorama
“That’s a tough one. I’ve been fortunate to have jobs I’ve enjoyed. I’ve found it’s not the work itself that makes a job bad — it’s the environment. Poor management, toxic personalities and a negative workplace culture can make any job challenging.”
Riki Lent
Senior Vice President
Kalco Lighting
“Being a telemarketer — without a doubt! I lasted only three days because constantly getting hung up on was brutal. But it taught me the importance of having engaging and meaningful communication rather than reading a script.”
Kristi Gulino
Communications Director
Crystorama
“The worst job I ever had was once the best job I ever had. New ownership came in and changed everything good about the company. They didn’t respect the employees, the culture, the history. They bought the company because it was so successful and then dismantled what made it successful. I stayed for some time trying to get them to understand and change. What I learned is that you can’t change other people and that it’s better to leave a place than stay with people that don’t have the same goals.”
CEO
“In high school, I worked at a large sports arena that hosted concerts and sporting events. The job was recommended by a friend who claimed that you basically got paid to go to see your favorite teams and bands. The reality is that I spent most of my time “babysitting” unruly, heavily inebriated and/or crazy fans that were not interested in a high schooler managing their section of seating. I learned that it is difficult to work when others are there to PLAY!”
Vice President of Sales & Marketing
Currey & Company
“I would not call this my ‘worst job’ but maybe a ‘challenging job’ is more appropriate. Early in my career I was a customer care representative responsible for dealing with all kinds of issues for both professionals and consumers. I quickly learned how to respond to stressful situations and look for creative solutions on a daily basis. While not easy, I would say it was tremendously satisfying finding solutions to even the most difficult problems.”
Brian Nobbe
Executive Vice President of Marketing
Coleto Brands (parent company of Kichler and Progress Lighting)
“This is very hard question to answer because I honestly have not had a job that was “bad.” I have had jobs that felt disconnected from my true passions, but I found ways to create pockets of creativity to improve my outlook and eventually morph the role into something I felt passionate about. Early in my career, I was working as a drafting designer/3d modeling job for industrial electrical accessories. While I wasn’t excited about the product category, I used that role as a learning opportunity to improve my 3d modeling skills, which, at the time, was my weakest design tool. Over my tenure, I became proficient in 3d modeling and then applied those skills to stretch into the marketing arena, creating how-to videos, 3d animations and brochures. I created my own destiny that the company did not know was an opportunity or something they needed. That experience helped me build a solid design foundation and gave me the tools to succeed with Progress Lighting.”
Dan McGinty
Director of Product Design
Coleto Brands (parent company of Kichler and Progress Lighting)
“While in college, I worked retail at the lay-away desk where we offered payment plans. Customers would make a down payment and pay the balance in installments, while we held the item until it was fully paid off. This experience taught me the importance of staying organized and paying close attention to detail, especially when managing multiple orders. It only took a few simple errors in processing and storing an order to really make a customer experience go badly. That role helped me develop the skills to navigate difficult conversations with empathy and patience lessons that have proven invaluable throughout my career.”
David Patton
Director of Design
Quorum International
