Sundae School: Career Lessons from Selling Ice Cream

Whether at an amusement park, a mom 'n' pop scoop shop or chain creamery, selling ice cream is a quintessential summer job. Take it from former president Barack Obama.

He looks back fondly at his first job working at Baskin-Robbins, and credits his ice cream scooping days to helping him build great habits.

"My first summer job wasn’t exactly glamorous, but it taught me some valuable lessons," Obama said. "Responsibility. Hard work. Balancing a job with friends, family, and school." - Barack Obama

In addition to responsibility and hard work, selling cones can also teach you other lessons that will last well beyond the job. Here the scoop on five more career lessons you can learn while serving ice cream:

1. Keeping your cool. Long lines. Hot days. Impatient customers. These things are all par for the course while serving up cones on a summer day, but staying calm in the midst of pressure to manage lines and customer expectations is great experience on how to handle some of the challenges that can come your way in your career.

2. Influencing others. This job can be a sweet spot for helping you understand the impact you can have on others' days. Great customer service, a positive attitude and a bright smile are the recipe for a great experience for both the customer AND you. It's amazing how good it can feel to make someone else's day a little brighter.

3. Looks sell! A beautifully swirled soft serve cone or a perfectly placed cherry on top of a sundae are good reminders that first impressions and presentation truly do matter.

4. Perspective. A lot of perspective is gained while working behind a sticky ice cream counter. The customers can see things that you don't, giving you the opportunity to see things through the eyes of someone else.

5. Work can be fun. After all, how can you not have fun making money whiling selling ice cream?!

Whether you goal is to bring your career to the White House, or you have other aspirations, know that working at an ice cream stand can be a lot more than means to a quick paycheck.

You cone do it!