Early Jobs

[eremite06]

Got this idea from another thread. What were your very first jobs prior to age ........lets say 21?

I'll start....Babysitter, lawnboy, paperboy, lifeguard, snack bar worker, dishwasher, parking lot attendant, shipping/rec. clerk, warehouse worker, sailor.

[quirky3]

Babysitter, swimming instructor, summer camp counselor, cafeteria worker, engineering aide

[cathyw]

babysitter, candy striper at the local hospital, bank teller

[bluedog103]

Worked on a garbage truck, farm work picking cotton, peas, beans, hoed peanuts etc, took care of hogs. Mowed lawns, shoveled snow and did general lawn and garden work. Washed dishes in a restaurant, bussed tables, served food, worked in a service station pumping gas, worked as a janitor and as a mailman. Managed a shoe store and a variety store. As a senior in high school I worked three jobs. When I got drafted at 19 it seemed like I was on vacation.

[Indydealmaker]

Jack of all trades; Master of none. Paperboy, Printer's Devil, Darkroom technician, typesetter, newspaper layout, advertising runner, weekly paper circulation manager, advertising manager, ran micro advertising agency (8 clients), real estate sales.

[jnieman]

I worked at the high school at age 17 for the Principal and Superintendant as their secretary for the summer. After high school I got a job at Meijer Thrifty Acres mixing paint and then at WT Grant at the credit counter. After that at age 20 I was the Secretary to the Veneral Disease Coordinator at the health department. My job was keeping track of those in the county with different types of venereal disease! My girlfriend had me look up her boyfriends in the file to see if they were on the list. We found her ex husband on there! At the time that was hilarious, but now that I think about it I could have lost my job for that! Oh well, to be 21 again....

[Taltarzac725]

Dog sitter. Dishwasher. Lawn cutter of someone who retired as a General from the Pentagon and several other yards. House cleaner. Dog bather. Assistant Manager of a concession stand partnership which had stands at Idlewild Park in Reno, NV; Bower's Mansion in Washoe Valley, NV; and a skiing training program for Washoe county teens.

Also volunteered at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Hospital in Reno, NV for a year of Saturday afternoons. This was in the critical care area where they had veterans from the Spanish American War through the Vietnam War. The Vietnam vet had fallen out of a helicopter as well as stuck a pool cue up his nostril at a pool hall. Someone bumped him and the pool stick went into his brain.

I did portraits of all the Veterans on that critical care area over that year.

[buggyone]

My first job was selling soda at Metropolitan Stadium for the Minnesota Twins. I also had a job working the front counter at a dry cleaner. Next job was medic in the US Army!

[2BNTV]

I worked in my mothers and fathers lucheonette business until I graduated Technical School.

Then I went into the real world.

[Ragman]

Delivered furniture and mattresses for my Grandfather in the upholstery business for $ 5 a day plus lunch.

I ate a lot of lunch!:mmmm::mmmm::mmmm:

[mac9]

Babysitter, auto mechanic's helper, newspaper delivery, house cleaning, and, my least favorite, worked full time nights in an ice cream factory all through college. Have not eaten ice cream since then!

[Happinow]

Babysitter, chambermaid, car hop prep person, registrar for hospital ER.

[Dayzee]

While still in high school I was our village gossip reporter for the local newspaper. Paid on a 'by the word' basis. I remember one town resident who knew everyone elses business - she would call me every week with updates on who traveled where, visiting relatives, special events etc. When I look back on it now I can't believe I actually did that :oops:

[billethkid]

worked through senior year with a humongous paper route....then became a journeyman meat cutter (paid more than going to college)....soon followed by working for Uncle Sam for 2 years in the US Army in Germany (drafted!!!!).....upon discharge (age 21) I entered college (now that we were used to no money and starving!!).


btk

[John_W]

Between the ages 15 to 20; Softball league scorekeeper, elevator operator, boardwalk sub shop sandwich maker, fast food worker roast beef sandwiches, grocery store bagboy, restaurant bus boy, warehouse worker department store, two years Jr. College; age 20 enlisted U.S. Army.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

Sold Grit newspapers (anybody remember them?), counter guy at McDonald's, cashier at Gray Drug (anybody from Ahia?), substitute mail carrier for a summer, home improvement staff at Rink's (another OH deal) - my last summer job while still in college...........I think that's it!!! Rink's was the best one of all - that's where I met Sandy - - - - :pepper2:

Hopefully I wasn't the guy responsible for the demise of a number of those organizations!! :D

Bill :)

[USSGompers]

Age 15- Burger King
16- Motel maid
17- Still cleaning rooms
17- Rainbow vacuum cleaner telephone salesperson (lasted 2 days)
17- Fry cook
18- Howard Johnson's restaurant cashier
18- Motel maid
19- Burger King
19- Spray painted indoor shutters @ Shutterworld in Clearwater, FL
19- Electrician's helper (wired up outlets, plugs and range hoods)
19- Waitress at Big Boys
19- Joined US Navy to get some stability in my life!!!

Best decision I ever made! :clap2::MOJE_whot:

[chuckinca]

Lemonade stand, paperboy, busboy in bowling alley coffee shop, bicycle cart popsicle sales, lawn mowing, Grocery store (Jewel and later Publix) clerk, Race Track concessions payroll clerk (Washington and Arlington), laborer in Argo Corn Starch plant, Pool Room hustler, bartender, inventory clerk in Steel Mill, accounting clerk in Chgo Merchandise Mart for Automatic Canteen Corp, main cashier's dept in women's department store in downtown Chgo (Charles A Stevens), accounting clerk at Hammond Organ Co.

.

[ronat1]

Lawn mowing
Paperboy
Arby's
Grocery store cashier
Textile mill
Bartender
Electric utility power plant operator
Bartender

[CFrance]

I worked at Danny's Donuts in Pittsburgh my senior year in high school, then in college at UGA as a secretary for Cotton Producers of America (although we called it Chicken Pluckers of America behind the owner's back) keeping track of chickens and chicken feed orders.

And no, I've never eaten another doughnut. Can't stand the smell of them. Haven't touched a piece of chicken feed, either.

[eweissenbach]

Hauled Hay for several years in HS and College. Two cents a bale - if you got a great gig you could put up 1000 bales in a day which paid $20 and you were livin' large! Usually 500 to 600 a day was more typical. NOTHING EVER has felt better than a shower after bucking bales all day in 100 degree heat and getting hay dust down your back and all over, sticking to the sweat. Finally got a better gig as a lifeguard before my senior year in college.

[applesoffh]

Babysitter, dog walker and counter clerk at Woolworth's one Christmas season. Once in college, had a great summer job as a "P & S" clerk at John J. Meyers & Co., 39 Broadway in lower Manhattan. LOVED that job! Wall Street long before computers!

[Bonnevie]

I worked for a department store in the gift wrapping department while in high school That was back when our city had the department stores downtown and there were only two and everyone went downtown to shop.

[asianthree]

have worked in a hospital since i was 16 years old

[CaptJohn]

Worked summers in my father's office machines business cleaning and repairing typewriters and duplicating machines for all the schools in town. Also worked in his print shop running letterpress and Linotype machines. Then in Tastee Freeze (like DQ) on the way to the beach selling ice cream and making hamburgers or banana splits for 67 cents an hour (plus all I could eat........big mistake on owner's part!) (bought a ski boat, motor and trailer with that money). Concession stand at high school football games selling hotdogs (and yes, I still eat all those foods, especially the ice cream!). Rock and roll band (bought Corvette Stingray with that money!).

[DandyGirl]

Worked at a Dairy Queen at age 15. Still remember the horror of a weekend Banana Split sale! We were so busy I came home splattered in chocolate, pineapple and strawberry syrup. Ugh!

[Barefoot]

Hauled Hay for several years in HS and College. Two cents a bale - if you got a great gig you could put up 1000 bales in a day which paid $20 and you were livin' large! Usually 500 to 600 a day was more typical. NOTHING EVER has felt better than a shower after bucking bales all day in 100 degree heat and getting hay dust down your back and all over, sticking to the sweat. Finally got a better gig as a lifeguard before my senior year in college.

I laughed when I read your post. It really took me back in time. For years we had horses. I hated unloading hay bales in the barn, usually about 600.

[hotrodgirl]

I babysat, weeded lawns, volunteered teaching reading,and was an answering service operator. OMG! Those poor people on the other end. Reminds me of the Lily Tomlin sketch with her as the operator! Then in my first year of college at Univ of Tampa, I waitressed and picked strawberries. There was a truck that would come by our dorms and pick us up on the weekends. Anybody could go, and we got paid 10 bucks for the whole day... it was the first year Disneyworld opened, and we went at least twice a month for a 13 dollar entry fee! When I went home at Christmas that first year and told my mother I picked berries for extra cash she made me promise not to tell any of her friends!!

[rmcpklinefelter]

...washed dishes at a drive-in (my parents wouldn't let me wait cars), worked as an aid in the local hospital x-ray dept, worked call at hospital while in college.