What Was Your First Job?

@gtargirl (5376)
United States
November 13, 2011 1:22pm CST
My 19-year-old son went to work for the first time in 8 months. There's not a lot of jobs out there and then those kids have a hard time getting the hours they need for a worth-while paycheck. But he came home (I'm visiting cause he has his own house) today with a smile on his face. He's working at Vans and they gave him a pair of new shoes. He'll receive two new shirts when he comes in for work on Monday. NICE!!!! What was your first job? Did you get any perks?
1 person likes this
23 responses
@GardenGerty (157050)
• United States
18 Nov 11
Until I got out of high school I only did summer child care. I finished school mid year and because of connections (my dad) I went to work in the offices of the Last Frontier Council, Boy Scouts of America. Slick trick as I had no office experience. It had no perks and was a not for profit salaried position. I learned to work with office machines that were so old that other agencies had gotten rid of them by giving them to the Scouts. I think the perks were just the exposure to various office machines and a lot of things I learned.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157050)
• United States
3 Jan 12
I got paid, and I got to broaden my experience.
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@gtargirl (5376)
• United States
3 Jan 12
And you still remember so it must have been a little bit of fun for ya. Bottom line, you got paid.
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@besweet (9431)
• Greece
13 Nov 11
My first job was as a sales consultant in a telecommunication company, during my undergraduate studies. I was promoting the company products by phone and I had a fixed salary with extra bonus for the sales. It was a good job where I met interesting people that I meet until now, and it paid my expenses and my summer vacations at that time. I was working part-time and promoting products by phone is difficult, but I enjoyed my time there and the environment was really pleasant. Luckily, I had a good experience from my first job!
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@gtargirl (5376)
• United States
20 Nov 11
Ah, so you're the people I hang up on. Just kidding. It's good to have that fixed salary. I always thought telemarketers were only paid if they made a sale. Good to know.
@besweet (9431)
• Greece
20 Nov 11
Haha! Yes a lot of people used to hang up or complain! They used to have fixed salaries, I am not sure if they pay like that now, It's been a few years ago!
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
2 Jan 12
Hi, gtargirl. I was 16 when my first job opportunity came along. I was paid by my church to be available in the nursery for Wednesday night choir practice. The perks were getting to spend time with sweet kids and be paid for it! Loved my first job.
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@gtargirl (5376)
• United States
3 Jan 12
Ah yes, many a time had my church relied on teens like you.
@dodo19 (47034)
• Beaconsfield, Quebec
28 Nov 11
My first job was as a babysitter. It was when I was in my early to mid teens. Then I worked in a summer camp as a counselor, when I was 17. Those were my two first jobs that I've had.
1 person likes this
@gtargirl (5376)
• United States
3 Jan 12
Ah, you're were one of those responsible teens. Pretty awesome!
@deodavid (4150)
• Philippines
14 Nov 11
My first job was a customer service representative at sprint a lot of problems to solve back there a lot of conflicts but the pay was good for it and you meet a lot of different people, the perks where good salary, jackets and tons of exciting parties with free food and cute gals soooo the perks there... awesome... congrats to your kids work...
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@gtargirl (5376)
• United States
3 Jan 12
I bet you needed a lot of patience. Conflict is not my strong point. But then again, those were good perks.
@sam8911 (35)
• United States
17 Nov 11
My first job was life guarding and it paid really well for a first job and it was a lot of fun i think. Except the fact that I had to take a class to get certified but that certification has done me a lot of good in its days, and it has looked great on many resumes.
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@gtargirl (5376)
• United States
3 Jan 12
That was one of my first jobs too. Well, actually I got certified but never got to use it. I did work in the dressing rooms though.
• Philippines
14 Nov 11
My first job was babysitting when I was 9 years old. It was only a few hours of looking after of a year old toddler during my summer vacation. My perks during that time will be having lots of treats for myself and being able to watch cartoons...I wasn't forced to do it because I wanted to experience getting my own allowance and the fact that it was only a couple of hours work, I can say now that I used to do that! (^_^)
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@gtargirl (5376)
• United States
30 Nov 11
Wow! That's pretty young. Someone must have really trusted you.
@marketing07 (6266)
• South Korea
14 Nov 11
my first job when i was 15 yrs.old i help the convience store in our place..
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@gtargirl (5376)
• United States
30 Nov 11
Lots of goodies for free?
@thaMARKER (2503)
• Philippines
14 Nov 11
im still on my first job.. i'm part of a BPO company. at first the thought of working in this industry is goin to be fun.. great people, nice office, fun environment, better salary.. its been more than 3years now and i'm tired. there were times that i wanted to quit but i promised that im gonna make this first job worthy on my resume. now, im planning to get another job. the same industry but different task. i feel that it's about time to move out.
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@gtargirl (5376)
• United States
3 Jan 12
You stayed for quite a well. Should be a positive on that resume. Good luck, my friend.
@julianmac (396)
• Malaysia
14 Nov 11
Hi gtargirl, After finishing my high school at the age of 17 - here we call it Form 5, waiting for my SPM results ( Malaysian Certificate of Education), I thought of saving up some money so that I can ease my parents financial burden when I enter college. I found myself a job in a fast food outlet.(KFC). I can't say it's the best paying job compared to long working hours, they did offer a nice remuneration package as far as I can remember. As a teenager that was more than enough for me to start with. I am thankful for that valuable experience.
1 person likes this
@gtargirl (5376)
• United States
30 Nov 11
I'm just very impressed that you tried to help your parents out. Good for you, you will go far in this world with that attitude.
@ebuscat (5935)
• Philippines
14 Nov 11
For me sale's girl like sealing a vitamins and introducing the herbal medicine.
@gtargirl (5376)
• United States
3 Jan 12
Sounds like quite an education. Did you have to know the medicinal benefits just in case people asked?
@momof3kids (1894)
• Singapore
14 Nov 11
My first job was at McDonalds. It was fun that time. I was 16 going on 17. The only perk was that I get to eat some of the items for free and I work with some people my own age. The uniform was so ugly though. That time they dressed us like Ronald, the clown..
1 person likes this
@gtargirl (5376)
• United States
3 Jan 12
Really, you had to dress like Ronald McDonald? Uwww, I don't remember that. But you made it through.
• Indonesia
14 Nov 11
My first job was a door to door salesman. I did not know if I could say that it was job because I worked only two to three days. I quit easily because I could not and up working and walking all along the way and asked house by house in a sunny condition. It was a tough job. I quit shortly.
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@gtargirl (5376)
• United States
30 Nov 11
Yeah, I would say that is the toughest job. No one appreciates the door to door salesman. Hope you got a better job.
@sunli123 (538)
• China
14 Nov 11
The first job, do you mean the internship or official job? My first internship is working in a fast-food restaurant as a waitress, in the summer holiday of my first-year college. It was short, hard but happy. My first real job was similar as my current job, in a small import&export company, worked as a sales person, did business online or through the phone. I am considering my next job now. Actually I am a bit confused and stressed.
@gtargirl (5376)
• United States
3 Jan 12
I didn't know that had internhips for a fast-food restaurant. I guess I'm thinking McDonald's or Jack-in-the-Box as fast-food restaurants. Good luck with your next job. Take your time and find the right fit for you.
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
14 Nov 11
my first job was stuff the packages of nylons for Pretty Polly Panty hose that was back in 1976. I was 16 years old at the time. I stayed there the summer and that was it.
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@gtargirl (5376)
• United States
30 Nov 11
I love stuffing things. LOL. Well, it was a job and at 16 we don't plan to stay very long at one job.
@greenline (14838)
• Canada
13 Nov 11
That's wonderful ! Please give my congratulations to your son. My first job ? It was a research assistant job in the lab of a company. Didn't get paid much, but it was quite enjoyable to start the career any way. The best part was working together as a team.
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@gtargirl (5376)
• United States
17 Nov 11
Thanks greenline. He's hoping to get a lot of hours. I can't imagine that you didn't make a lot of money working in a lab. That sounds so important.
@blue65packer (11826)
• United States
13 Nov 11
My frist job was helping do chores on my dad's farm. I would take care of the calves,help feed the cows and help with the milking. My first real job was in a cheese factory out of high school. I glued boxes after 40 lbs. of cheese was put in. The cheese was in in 40 lb blocks! It lasted only 3 months it was better then nothing!
@gtargirl (5376)
• United States
20 Nov 11
Oh, I worked on a farm for one day. It was tough! I only went there to help my friend out but I sure learned what hard work was all about. At the end of the day I was too tired to even take a shower, which would not have mattered since everyone bathed in the same bath water. Yuck. So what does a 40lb block of cheese look like? I would be tempted to take a bite.
• Philippines
13 Nov 11
My first job was playing in an acoustic bar near my previous apartment. All I got was booze every night. It was okay, the experience taught me a lot of things, like, people will have a good time when they're drunk no matter how badly you messed up.
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@gtargirl (5376)
• United States
17 Nov 11
Ah those were the days!!! We got free drinks, food half price and $400 which didn't go far when there's four guys in the band. Still doing the music thing?
@asyria51 (2861)
• United States
14 Nov 11
I babysat for people in my neighborhood starting when I was 14. My first real job was when I was 16 and I started lifeguarding. The two perks were a good racing swimsuit that was mine, and free pool time when I was not working. I got to stay in shape, and sometimes get paid for it.
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@gtargirl (5376)
• United States
20 Nov 11
Looks like a lot of people list their first job as babysitter. It's a very honorable job. I was a stay-at-home mom after I had my babies and still needed a babysitter. Lucky for me the grandparents were always willing. And being a lifeguard is always impressive and probably the best summer job ever.
• United States
14 Nov 11
Well, I've never been actually employed but I do small jobs that keep me alive like dog-sitting lol, and washing cars, and doing chores around the house! I'm trying to get a job real soon but to be honest I working my best to increase my online earnings to something similar to minimum wage! I want to make enough profit to not have to work during school so I'm advancing my earnings big time!
@gtargirl (5376)
• United States
20 Nov 11
Are you in High School or college. Either way, hope you have lots of luck getting that online paycheck. It's very do-able.