Do you remember your first job, did it lead you on to a career for life…….or were you forever changing employment, seeking work that fulfilled and gave you satisfaction….did you ever find it ?……….or was work just a means to an end, had to be done to bring the pennies in……or bring home the bacon as it were……
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Actually, I don’t remember my very first job. I do remember I had a few odd jobs while still in high school. I also remember not making much money though. 😆 I had to work in secretarial jobs due to a school program I was in and didn’t work that many hours.
Hi Pam, then it’s safe to say your first job wasn’t very memorable……..so you never went on to become a super efficient secretary………no dreaded shorthand, and gawd knows how many words a minute…….pheww….xx
Well, guess what? 😆 I at one time wanted to be a nurse… but many things, i.e. blood, stool smells, etc. changed my mind. I don’t have the stomach for it all… so, instead I worked at the local hospital as the Nursing Administrative Assistant for 18 years when I finally got my second real job. I loved it. I learned a lot while employed there. First actual real job was as a secretary for two attorneys.
So Pam you made it into the hospital in one way……yes I would imagine you did learn a lot, would have been very interesting I would think……and I would say the secretary to the attorneys was too…..
Yes it was at a Childrens Clothing Store in Lemoyne, Pa. and I worked evenings part time. Then I worked at a Craft Store up in Westfield, Ma. Then I worked at the Burlington Airport Gift Shop. Then I worked for the Fashion Post a womans clothing store in Towson, Md. Then when the Fashion Post closed , I worked for Jay’s a woman’s clothing store in Cockeysville, Md. Then in 84 after we had moved to Fremont, Ca. I went to work for Marshalls where I worked for 11 years and then when I moved back to Timonium , Md. I was able to transfere to Marshalls in Towson, Md. where I worked till 2001 and retired when I turned 60.
So you worked in retail…..clothing in particular…….guess you can say that you enjoyed your career in that line…….
I must have been destined to become a mother as my first job was looking after 5 kids out in a country home while waiting for their mother to have her 6th baby. In those days it was called a Domestic Help as I lent my hand to the full housework regime plus a little in the shearing shed. Stayed there for almost a year and got passed to another family member who needed help after a stint in hospital. Great job but was fairly isolated and I was only 16 at the time….:-)
I would think that would have been quite a trying job for a sixteen year, and I guess there wouldn’t have been much of a social life either … ……hard going for a young girl…….stood you in good stead though I would think……xx
I worked in a Chemists shop, Star…. where I got educated lol I loved the job and worked in Chemist shops for a few years… well until my first child was born, and even then I went and took in orders and priced goods up for them for a while. Good Memories.
Well Tania that’s was my first job too….actually worked there on a Saturday before I left school…….left there to go in the army……….then a few retail jobs before going to work in care…….but the chemist job did change my life as in as much that……..I met my late husband there…….he was a joiner doing some of the shop fittings….so there you go….xx
First job as an aprentice hairdresser , loved it , second learned floristry andopened my first shop , third went back to University to become a cou nsellor , 4th job , remarried and hubby and I had a large Restaurant ,, but always at the beginning all through my life,my most important job was that of wife and Mother…. nowa widow and i,m writing books yAY , something I always wanted to do . an interesting ammount of varied female occupations and loved them all.xx
Lani they sound like all jobs I would have loved…….don’t know about slaving in the kitchens though lol…….and writing of course….what better…xx
Pam I was an R.N.. It wasn’t my first job but it certainly was the most interesting and at times the most fun job I ever had.
I worked with many RNs, jkm847; made many friends while an employee at Uvalde Memorial Hospital. I keep in touch with a few RNs still. It is amazing how much one can learn while working in the nursing dept.
When we moved to the Texas valley… I would get part-time (PRN) jobs at hospitals and did something totally different ~ I worked in Medical Staff Credentialing. I learned quickly and enjoyed it immensely. When my husband left that particular hospital… they laid me off. Sore losers. 😯
I designed office forms…taking many paper forms and consolidating them into one. I worked with 1/10″ grid paper. after 8 months I need glasses! all for $2.25hr. It was a fun place to work but didn’t last more than a year. No it didn’t lead me into any similar future job. Then I worked at an employment agency finding people jobs. I guess that would be the job that let me to working with people and I realized how much I loved working with people so I eventually ended up in customer service…28 years.
Hello sweets, glasses after only eight months in the job, and for such little reward, I would think helping people to find work was rewarding, and like you say, it led to the realisation that you enjoyed working with people the most…….28 years is a long time in one job, so you obviously found satisfaction in that one…..hope they paid you well for your commitment and loyalty….xx
My first job was working in the Co-op General Offices. Started in 1979 after leaving college. Was working in the Purchase Ledger department operating big posting machines (pink and blue cards flying everywhere) lol. Was so fast and scarey. Combined with sending invoices out on old imperial 66 typewriters, wow how things have changed lol. I told my Mum on my 1st day at work I wasn’t going back the next day as i hated it that much. No one seemed to have the time to explain things properly to you, but soon told you off if things went wrong. I didn’t do bad, I stuck at it for 16 years until redundancy fortunately happened :). Good times really and good friends. x
Hi Sasha, that’s why your so damned good at techy things and typing…lol…….but yes I know exactly what you mean about quickly being shown how to do something, then left to your own devices……… 16 years then you welcomed redundancy, well friends were made and you did have some good times, so all was not lost………plus you got paid…….stop moaning women….lol xx
😉 i never moans star lol xxxxxxxx
I know, we women never moan do we….cough cough……lol xxx
lol xxxx
Hello Star,
here in Germany we distinguish between a ** job ** and a ** profession **.
1963 I worked in a side -line job ( besides the school ). I would call it today as a butler for English ladies who wanted to do their shopping in the city but they didn’t speak any German.
A sid line-job that offered me three results; first I learned some English, adopted some of the the good English manners and earned some extra money so I could take my arm-candy out in the evening. It was a good time, a very nice time I should say better….xxxM
Hello Michael ,wow that was some profession that you had going there, the rich English ladies…….ermm I wasn’t one of them, shame…lol……well that was a good result all around for you…….lucky bugga…..xxx
No, no Star it weren’t the rich ones only the one who were well off. All members of the BRA witch means belonging to the *** Carry on Sergant family *** which I loved to watch at the British casino film theatre. xxxM
vonMichael surly you did not need to learn good manners from the English, did you not have them already from your own parents, grandparents, school etc. Always thought manners were universal. Ted
Ok Michael, but well enough off to employ you……so you like the carry on films……still showing them over here…….xxx
My first summer job was working for a plumbing contractor. Unfortunately I spent all summer cleaning around his yard and helping crackfilling the joints in his old home. I did paint the shingles on that house also.
I did manage to help him in the plumbing trade a few times. I told him that I was interested to do that work. So I worked again the following summer for him. I eventually obtained my plumber’s certification after high school.
Hello David, should have told him you were not interested in becoming a brickie, painter or a sweeper upper………pleased you eventually became what you wanted to be……always room for decent plumbers…xx
I was in and out of jobs most of my teenage years star. For reasons unknown i just couldn’t settle. I do remember my first job though, i was sweeper upper in a hairdressing shop! It paid for my one bedroom flat which i shared with another girl, we never did get found out! I was the the type of gal that needed something to get her teeth into and shop work just didnt do it. A job opportunity came up that appealed to my restless nature i joined the Police Force. I am very tall and in the job i applied for it was a bonus. I did the usual police work…walking the beat..driving a car..all the usual work a police women did in those day…I was a fast runner due to my height and hardly anyone out ran me! I applied for one special job which involved young people and early twenty age group. To cut a long story short star…they were youngsters who wanted to die..due to abuse and other family problems. It was my job to talk them out of it..whether they were on a high building or on the ground. I had a good success rate…some i couldn’t safe no matter how many hours i spent with them in all kinds of weather. It wasn’t an easy job and some times i still have night mares from the one’s i couldn’t save. dispite the night mares i never , ever regretted my job as a Police Women and the young lives i saved. I like to think that those that lived, are Grand mothers and Grandfathers now living happy lives. I am sorry i have gone on so long…my story isn’t a short story to tell but i have done what i could in the space blogs allow. 🙂
Wow Shads, you are a dark horse, what an interesting and impressive career you had…………must have been so traumatic at times, but how rewarding for you when you managed to change those youngsters minds, here’s hoping that from bad beginnings they went on to have happier lives, but to have to live through the nightmare of seeing someone kill themselves does not bear thinking about, a heavy price to pay in the job you loved……..but as you say no regrets ……..your reply could never be too long for me, i find your story of great interest…..xx
Thank you star for replying to my story…even though it was the short version. I have been called a dark horse many times lol cant think why!!. I know it sounds weird to say i loved my job? But i can honestly say that i did for the reason’s i stated in my story…I have always got on well with young people..ask my G/sons and their friends. my silly broomstick caper’s in the previous shout box all stemmed from my interaction with young people…but that’s another story! 😀 xx
And a story I would love to hear Shads……now don’t hide your light under a bushel girl…….get it out there on the blogs…….xx
If i had the courage Star i would blog more stories of my life. But i am not a good blogger and i make many mistakes in the way i say things. People take what i say the wrong way becouse of my vocabulary, which let’s face it, leaves a lot to be desired!. Thanks anyway for your kind words. 🙂 xx
shadow.Just speak from your heart honestly and don’t worry about your vocabulary and you can edit and you will improve as you go. But you write quite well.
Thank you so much roseinbloom. I was plucking up the courage to blog more dispite my inability to put over what i really mean…after all i might come over quite well 🙂 now i have changed my mind after reading the first blog about blogging which is at the top of this page. I may have been strong in my young days…but things happen in life that knock the stuffing out of you and then its hard to get up, brush yourself down and start all over again. I hope you see this reply to your comment rose? There was no reply button at the end of your post…so, here’s hoping you see it.
shadow, I did see your comment on writing blogs, and I say
you need to be guided by what the web owner says and you will be fine.
you want to know my story lol lol nope ok lol loves you lol xx
Star,
What a great idea for a blog… our first jobs. I have enjoyed reading all of the replies ~ interesting and surprising replies. 🙂
Oh Lordy, bet you have a story to tell John…….one day one day…lol……now it wouldn’t be too “hard” to tell us about your current job would it……hehe……loves you too….xx
Pam I totally agree with you, gives us a little insight into the lives of people we chat with…except of course John, who is as deep as the blue sea, and is keeping his mouth firmly shut..lol………love hearing about peoples trials and tribulations through life…..and of course the positive things that have happened to them too…..xx
Well lets see,,, I was born and raised around a very successful Commercial Plumbing business my Father owned,,, Over 100 employees at the time when I was age 17 which grew to just over 150 or so Employee’s by 1999,,, I worked for him during the summer months up until I was 17 in 1980,,, I took my G.E.D. and went into the Coast Guard at age of 17 and did a 4 year tour,, Coming back home working full time for my Father,, By the time I was 25 years of age I was running my Fathers Plumbing Business,, Plus constructing,, Many Hospitals and Schools,,, Many many Hotels,, Water Treatment Plants,,, 2 Levi jean factory plants,,, lots and lots of work at H.A.F.B. in Alamogordo New Mexico,,, To much to list here,, But also built hangers for the Stealth 117-A fighter,,, Court house’s,,, Jails,,, 1 Prison,,, many Housing Sub Divisions,, Then in the year 1999 I decided I had enough,,, Needed a CHANGE in Life,, Sold my Business and went to work for the Federal Government in the Health Field for the Indian Health Service,,, Became a Bio-Med Tech,,, Medical Gas Tech,, H.V.A.C. Tech,,, Then 2 weeks after 911 in New York,, I spent a little over a month there helping with Search and Rescue and all I was assigned to do for the Federal Government while there,,, Then in 2009 due to a bone disease I have,, I was forced into retirement from the Indian Health Service,,, So yes I have had a life’s experience in the work field
Hello Skyler, wow a good variety of jobs you had, I think you were quite brave to totally change your career from construction to move into the health field….. selling your business would have been a big decision to make I would imagine, sounds like you have had an interesting life up to yet……….hope it continues to be so in one way or another…xx
My first job was catching salamanders, we called them lizards for fishing bait. My brother and I did it together after school and summers. I had a several clerical jobs, business, bank and hospital. I went to college and became a teacher, but also started my own restaurant, got a real estate license, and took a grad program to be a paralegal. Went back to teaching, went back to school and became a guidance counselor and went back to grad school and became certified in school administration. I also did some stints as a waitress. If it sounds made up, none of it is and I forgot that I also was in the Military. My first job taught me that no job would be as hard or as scary as the first one.
Oh, I also forgot an earlier first job, but I got no pay. I also grew up doing farm chores, gathering eggs may have been my first job. If you have grown your own food and made your own butter, you never forget what real food is and means.
Well you have certainly had a varied career Rose, what was your position in the military…and i couldn’t agree more, starting a new job is nerve wracking, so much to learn, don’t know your fellow workmates…all so bewildering….
First job…
I was 16 and a friend persuaded me to work at his place of work. It was a cakes factory in a gloomy part of Bolton, lancs. I was at the time studying and I thought why not, it was only part time and would fund other interests I had.
First day I was put on a conveyer belt with six other staff members and was given a rather large plastic washing up bowl of glaced cherries. The conveyer belt kicked in and from beneath the guard appeared tray after tray of Bakewell tarts without their cherries!!! I think spent my 8 hour shift dressing the warm cakes with a cherry. Now as you can imagine tings got a little tedious but there are many shapes you can create with cut in half cherries, so if you ever got a double cherry, a smiley face or even a p*#is shaped design! that was me 🙂
I do like mischief
Lol lol lol…I love Cherry Bakewells, and will now make a point of looking for any misshapen Cherries……..a kick back to your time spent in the factory SSS…Oh Lordy……..but the cherries I don’t like anyway….just as well methinks….hehe…xx
Shads re your above comment, now that really saddens me, and just proves the point I was making, your confidence has been knocked for six, and we have now lost the pleasure of reading what I am sure would have been an interesting blog……..hope you will reconsider, nobody expects perfect grammar and spelling, gosh I hope not anyway, or I am in deep s..t…lol……..the piece you wrote about your jobs came over clear and precise to me, and was interesting to read, please do not be put off by the critics…..xx
My first job was as a veterinary nurse. It was fabulous to help animals recover but there was a sad side to it. I remember the first dog who didn’t make it. He was a white poodle. I had to go into the toilet and cry. I did become better at hiding my feelings but it always affected me the same way inside.
My first job was peeling wieners. A friend’s father owned a meat packing plant, and after the wieners came out of the oven and cooled in a freezer, the cellophane wrappers had to be peeled off. ( That is automated now) We were paid $.01 per pound, but could peel maybe 100 pounds per hour. It was a good summer job because we worked in a freezer. We didn’t last long. We got fired because, at eleven years old, we were in violation of child labor laws.
Blimey eleven years old……….. can see why you wouldn’t mind working in the freezers in Summer……but i haven’t a clue what wieners are….lol xx