Jobs these days are hard to come by. Especially if you are new to the work force and have little or no experience to recommend you. That's why, if you are lucky enough to be working, you need to treat that job as one of your greatest and most precious assets, because it really is.

1. Appreciate your job.

To hear some people talk about their jobs, you would think that they have been forced into a lifetime sentence of hard labor governed by cruel taskmasters who only live to make life miserable for them. These people are usually not much use to their employers and may, in this rough economy, soon find themselves replaced by someone with a better attitude about work.

If you are one of those who hate the thought of going to work each day, stop and think about what your job provides for you and see if you can't bring yourself to see it in a different light. Let your employer know that you appreciate his confidence in you by making yourself into one of his or her most valuable assets.

2. Pay Close Attention to Your Appearance.

Yes, I know you think your nose ring is cool and waxed hair sticking 5 inches in the air is even cooler, but customers may not agree. Most jobs have some rules employees must follow. Punching a time-clock, wearing a uniform, and attending employee meetings are just a few examples. How about adding another one for yourself? Try to dress and behave in a manner that is acceptable to the average person, because average people usually make up the largest percentage of your customer list. If you are the type of person who absolutely MUST stand out, try to find a job in a shop that caters to customers who also sport the look you are trying to achieve.

In addition to paying attention to your appearance, watch your language. Most TV sit-coms and movies these days are loaded with off-color language and words that were once considered taboo for use in public. No matter how you feel about these words, avoid using them while you are at work. Some customers, even if they are pleased with the service you offer, will refuse to return to an establishment where offensive language is used.

3. Be Sure You Understand What the Customer Wants

If you aren't clear about a request a customer makes, take time to go over their instructions again. Lots of mistakes can be avoided this way, and you will be more likely to end up with a satisfied customer---one who will return again and again. Speak slowly and clearly, especially when dealing with older people who may have hearing problems.

4. Strive for Excellence in Every Transaction

Take time to be friendly to each customer. This doesn't mean you should spend 5 minutes chatting or listening to all the details of their latest operation while the next customer fumes and frets, but do comment on the nice day, or a pin they are wearing, or an unusual first name as they hand you their signed check. Just a sentence or so, can mean all the difference in the world to a lonely person for whom you may be the only human contact they have experienced all week.

Remember that it only takes a second to add a smile when you wait on a customer, and that smile may turn them into customers who will return time and time again.

5. Look for Opportunities to "Go the 2nd Mile."

I recently purchased an item and the clerk asked if I had the coupon that had appeared in the paper that day. I regretfully told her I did not. She said, "That's okay," and dug one out of a basket she had behind her, scanned the coupon and saved me $1.50. You can bet, I will be shopping at that store as often as possible.

If you know a sale is coming up soon, mention it to the customer. If you can offer carry-out service, do it. If you don't have a particular item in stock, let the customer know where they can find it. Offer a rain-check on items that are sold-out. If the customer is short a few pennies or a dime, dig it out of your own pocket. It won't break you and it will make a customer of them for life.

The 5 suggestions above are just a few of the ways you can show your "boss" that you appreciate your job and are looking out for his interests as well as your own. When the time comes for promotions, you can bet that you will rank far above those that constantly complain about their job, try to "show-off" by their dress or language, think customer service is too much bother, and keep watch the clock to see how much longer they have to endure before quitting time.

Best of all, you will wake up some morning to realize that you actually do enjoy your job, and are looking forward to see what this particular day has to offer.

Jeanne Gibson is a math and English teacher who lives in Springfield, Oregon with her husband and an 8-year-old cat named Snoopy. If you are still searching for a job, check out her latest ebook, Create Your Own Job, at http://Jeannegibson.com.