Exec at $270 billion Cisco started his career making $4/hour waiting tables—he says the experience ‘wires you differently’ and is a must for Gen Z

Jeetu Patel, Cisco's chief product officer (Credit: Courtesy of Cisco)

Gen Z is facing a tough job market. The unemployment rate for 16- to 24-year olds has climbed to 10.5%, and a growing share of young people are NEET—not in education, employment, or training.

For those looking to get ahead, the best career training might not come from a classroom or a corporate internship, but from a low-wage job in the service industry, says Jeetu Patel, now president and chief product officer at Cisco.