Before finding your true career calling, it's likely that you held a job that seemed unrelated to what you hoped to do. Though you probably didn't realize it at the time, the job may have helped you develop skills essential to success in any career.
在找到你真正理想的工作之前，你很有可能会从事一份与你想做的工作完全无关的工作。虽然当时你可能意识不到，但这份工作会让你获得一些技巧，而这些技巧是在其他工作中成功的必要。

Here are three common, character- and skill-building jobs that can lead you to be successful in virtually any career field.
以下是三个既普通又有能培养人技巧的工作，你从中可以学到足以让你在任何工作上成功的技巧。

Babysitter 幼儿看护

Michael McCauslin, a San Francisco teacher, says his babysitting experiences during college helped him learn patience and diplomacy. He recalls taking care of some children who were heavy manipulators: "It took a great deal of patience to deal with them, and diplomacy to let their parents know about the behavior." He continues to practice these skills in his classroom every day.
Michael McCauslin，是一位在旧金山的教师，他声称自己在大学期间的幼儿看护经验使他学会了忍耐以及外交。他回忆起照顾一些多动症的小孩的经验说：“照顾他们需要很大的耐心，并且要有技巧性的让他们的父母知道他们的行为。”如今他每天都在教室里继续练习这些技巧。

Skills learned: Diplomacy, adaptability, patience, performance under pressure, responsibility, self-confidence, strong work ethic.
学习到的技巧：交际能力，适应能力，耐心，在压力环境下工作的能力，负责，自信，强烈的职业道德。

Retail Salesperson 零售员

Long before Heather D'Eliso Gordon became a registered dietician, she worked as a retail salesperson for a custom framing shop. In this role, it was D'Eliso Gordon's responsibility to work with each customer and assess "what 'they brought to the table,' both figurativelyand literally." She needed to be "open-minded and let go of any pre-conceived ideas to help clients create something really special and customized."
在Heather D'Eliso Gordon成为注册营养师之前，她在一家框架定制店当零售员。这份工作要求D'Eliso Gordon负责接待每位客户，不仅要从字面上评估客户的要求，还要深刻理解这些要求的深刻含义。她需要思想开明， 摈弃任何先入为主之见，以达到客户要求的特别的定制。

She uses this same skill today as a nutrition health coach, coming to the table with an open mind to meet people where they are. "This allows clients to make changes to their eating habits and lifestyles as they are able, which leads to lasting change."
如今，她将这些技巧运用在健康营养教练的工作上，以开放的心态满足不同人的要求。“这种开放的心态允许客户更改他们的饮食、生活习惯，以达到永久的改变。

Skills learned: Open-mindedness, problem-solving, communication, good judgment, persistence, positive attitude, self-confidence.
学习到的技巧：思想开明，解决问题的技巧，交流能力，好的判断能力，耐力，积极的态度，自信。

Waiter/Waitress 服务员

According to John Lipp, executive director, PAWS (Pets Are Wonderful Support), the greatest skill he learned in the restaurant business was the importance of listening to people. "No matter who your customers are, we all share one common need -- the need to be heard," he says.
PAWS的经理John Lipp声称，他最大的技能是他在餐饮行业中学到的关于倾听技巧。他说：“不管你的客户是谁，我们都有共同的需求，那就是倾诉的需求。”

Listening is still at the core of what he does. "In order to make decisions and move our organization forward, I need to listen to the public, to my staff, to our donors, to our volunteers, and most important, to our clients. People trust me to lead our organization because they trust me to listen first."
现在，倾听仍然是他的工作重心。“为了做出让我们公司进步的决策，我需要倾听大家的意见，所有职员的意见，赞助商的意见，志愿者的意见，最重要的是倾听我们客户的意见。人们之所以信任我能够领导我们的公司，是因为他们首先相信我的倾听能力。”

Skills learned: Listening, endurance, people skills, teamwork, strong work ethic, performance under pressure, problem-solving, time management.
学到的技巧：倾听，忍耐，交际技巧，团队合作，强烈的工作道德，在压力环境下工作的能力，解决问题的能力，时间管理能力。

If you're still trying to figure out what your true calling is, a free career interest test can help. In the meantime, you can take heart in knowing that whatever job you do, you will have many opportunities to cultivate valuable skills that can take you to the next level in your career.
如果你还没弄明白自己真正的职业兴趣是什么，那就做一个职业兴趣测试吧。同时，你也可以从心底认识到，不管你从事什么样的职业，你都有很多机会学习宝贵的工作技能，而正是这些技能将你的职业生涯带入到一个全新的水平高度。