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* This has been going around on Twitter so I decided to participate…
Lawn guy
Laborer
Office assistant
Grounds keeper
Office worker
Dishwasher
Butcher shop cleaner— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) August 7, 2016
* The Question: What were your first seven jobs?
…Adding… I left out all my farm work because it was for my Granddad and I didn’t consider it work.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:25 pm
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
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butcher shop flunky
gas pump jockey
warehouse flunky
US Army (8+ years)
Drivers Ed instructor
Asbestos Abatement
UPS Driver
Comment by MSIX Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:30 pm
Summer school assistant.
Grocery store bagger.
Payroller.
Government summer employee.
Congressional intern.
Paralegal.
Summer law clerk.
Comment by Keyrock Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:32 pm
Dragger of Trash Can from Curb to Garage
Lawn Mowing
Grocery Store Bagger
Grovery Store Checker
Grocery Store Manager
Grocery Store Checker
General Manager Small Business
Comment by Saluki Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:33 pm
Cafeteria Assistant (6th grade - paid in donuts lol)
Gap Store Associate
Lifeguard
Assistant Store Manager
Store Manager
GOMB Analyst
Director in Medical Field
Comment by How Ironic Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:37 pm
Lawn Mowing
Grocery store bagger/stockboy
Gas station attendant
Tow truck driver
US Army MP
Pinkerton Investigator
Illinois State Police
Comment by proudstatetrooper Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:40 pm
Corn detassler
Grocery store clerk
Cannery factory worker
Pea combine driver for a cannery
Delivery truck driver delivering hot dogs
Ham grader - packing house
Blood room operator - packing house
Comment by Joe M Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:42 pm
Detasseling
Fast food 1
Fast food 2
Waitress
Server behind a counter
Librarian assistant
Office clerk ( first adult full time spot).
Comment by Thoughts Matter Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:43 pm
Church groundskeeper
McDonald’s
Data Processing clerk
Plastic Injection Mold warehouse
Runner for CBOT
Lawyer
Comment by Team American Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:45 pm
babysitter
Live-in-nanny
denture impression technician
waitress
bookkeeper
process server
CPA
Comment by Iron Lady Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:46 pm
Worked on the family farm
Flipped burgers -
Midnight shift at a metal fabricating shop
Worked in the mail room at the UofI
Cafeteria worker at the UofI
Worked for the Extension Service
Substitute teacher
and then I got into the real world!
Comment by illini Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:47 pm
Lawn work
Shoe store clerk
Lunch counter clerk
Waitress
Pizza maker
Fry Cook
Camp Counselor
Comment by CCP Hostage Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:48 pm
Heath candy packer
Retail clerk
Retail advertising
Store secretary
Insurance billing
Bartender
State fiscal employee
Comment by cardsmama Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:48 pm
Burger flipper
Cashier at a pizza joint
Camp counselor
Library Aide
English tutor
Server/bartender
English teaching aide
Comment by Mr.Black Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:50 pm
hoe corn out of beans
paper boy
bale hay
grocery worker
pizza delivery
house painter
Comment by illinoised Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:52 pm
Cotton candy maker
Deed recorder
Camp counselor
Insurance Policy typist
Chicago Motor Club trip router
Customs clearance agent
Inner city social worker
Comment by Happily Retired Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:52 pm
store cleaner-upper (Dad’s store)
lawn mower
store stocker
shoe store stocker
dirt/clay tester
Comment by Old Dinah Sour Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:53 pm
My seventh job obviously wasn’t math teacher. It was Culligan man.
Comment by illinoised Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:54 pm
Mailing Label affixer
Musician (Christmas gigs)
Wooden Furniture Manufacturer
Classical music CD sales
Food Service
Professional Musician
Private music teacher
Comment by Honeybear Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:55 pm
Warehouse order picker
Masonry laborer
Janitor/maintenance suburban school district
Suburban police officer
Illinois State Police
Retired (best job I ever had)
Comment by Tsavo Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:55 pm
Newspaper Delivery
Tray Carrier/Bus Boy
Electronic Salesman/also sold sporting goods & worked in warehouse & maintenance
Resident Assistant, Head Resident Assistant
3 more jobs Electronics Salesman
Teaching/Research Assistant
Office Temp
College Instructor
Computer Lab Guy/Asst Manager
Stats/Program Consultant
Longer than seven because several of the last 5 were at the same time
Comment by ArchPundit Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:56 pm
Paper boy
Dishwasher
Factory siren tester
Produce picker
Lifeguard
Semi and rail car loader
Union baker
Army
Comment by walker Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:56 pm
Where did all the jobs for kids go? Just sayin.
Comment by walker Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:58 pm
Paperboy (when those existed)
Babysitter (when boys could still do it)
Stockboy at giant retail store
Fry Cook/Bartender
Parked Cars at Alpine Valley
(that summer when the Stones, Who and Dead all did two week stints)
Caterer
Engineer (for the last 27 years)
Comment by Lifer Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:58 pm
Babysitter
Iron uniforms for local Sheriff
Bean Walker
Painter & Wallpaper Hanger
Bartender
Transportation provider for chemo patients
Waitress (quit 1st nite)
Comment by RSW Girl Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:59 pm
Security guard
Mover
Salesperson
Rental Car Employee
Lawyer (x3)
Comment by AlfondoGonz Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:00 pm
Farm labor
Implement dealer parts sales
Grain elevator manager
Accountant
Marketing co-op manager
State agency budget analyst
State agency external audit unit manager
Comment by Nilwood Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:00 pm
Family farm
Babysitter
Horse trainer
Stall cleaner
Lab rat
Horse trainer part deux
Telephone book delivery
Comment by Anon221 Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:00 pm
groundskeeping artist (mowed yards)
dishwasher
retail clerk
retail cashier
substance abuse counselor
State employee
n/a
Comment by Cubs in '16 Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:01 pm
Babysitter
Newspaper route
Gift wrapper
Dry cleaning clerk/cashier
Youth Conservation Corps
Camp Counselor
Jr. High Science Teacher
Comment by Seymourkid Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:02 pm
Farmer
Janitor
Student
Laborer
Factory worker
Landscaper
Dishwasher
Comment by Dr X Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:03 pm
Game show question writer
Campus tour guide
Movie extra
Waiter
Homework grader
Teaching assistant
Professor
Comment by The Old Professor Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:05 pm
Paper boy
Dishwasher
Burger cook (at a country club pool snack bar)
Dishwasher
Drugstore delivery driver
Hotel/bellman operator
Adlai Stevenson’s Senate Campaign Home Headquarters- Coordinator at his HQ downtown in the Monadnock Building
Comment by Springfieldish Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:05 pm
As I’m thinking about it–those are all of the substantial jobs, but I keep remembering little jobs I picked up here and there like cleaning offices, random temp work, painting apartments etc.
Comment by ArchPundit Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:06 pm
Lawn work
babysitter
midway barker at an amusement park
janitor
stock boy at department store
Fitters helper (building steel making equipment) 1st union job!
Reatal clothing sales clerk
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:08 pm
grocery store stocker/bagger
detasselling
road-const flagger
RA
assembly-line worker
summer camp counselor
TA
Comment by Pot calling kettle Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:11 pm
PaperBoy
Lawn Mower
Detassler
Farm Hand
Grocery Store Bagger/Stockboy
Clothing/Shoe Store Salesman
US Navy Signalman
Comment by Jolly1 Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:11 pm
Law office/title company file clerk/gopher
house painter
secret shopper/phone surveyor
bookkeeper
graduate teaching assistant in French
law clerk
attorney
Comment by 32nd Ward Roscoe Village Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:12 pm
Lawn Mower
Drug pusher
Delivery guy
Retail clerk
Different retail clerk
Different retail clerk
Bank teller
Comment by Chicago Cynic Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:13 pm
Dog & Suds
Groundskeeper
Factory worker
Factory worker (same company, different job)
Varsity Pizza
Lifeguard
Tree crew grunt
Comment by Sir Reel Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:13 pm
Paper Boy
Dishwasher
Farmhand
Custodian
Waiter
Wastewater Operator
Customer Service Manager
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:13 pm
Paper boy
Lawn mower
Stock boy
Farm hand
House painter
Factory worker
Construction worker
Comment by pool boy Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:16 pm
Paperboy
Corn detassler
Fast food worker
Radio DJ
College resource center staff
Actor
Communications support
Comment by Name Withheld Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:16 pm
Lawn work
Snow shovel
Dishwasher
US Army (retired )
Radio Frequency Enclosure Service Technician
N/A
N/A
Only 5 jobs, I feel like a slacker
Comment by FormerParatrooper Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:18 pm
1) babysitter
2) Head Start program teacher’s aide
3) Student worker at college library
4) ticket taker at Mississippi River Festival
5) Kelly Girl
6) CETA (Comprehensive Employment and Training Act) worker
7) advertising department assistant
Comment by Democrat Grrrl Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:19 pm
File Clerk, Accounting Office
Janitor, Donut Shop
Bank Teller
Office Worker, Sears & Roebuck
Collections Specialist (Repo Man)
Men’s Clothing Salesman
Intern, State Government
Comment by Arthur Andersen Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:21 pm
Lawn mowing
field nursery worker - hoeing for seven years
landscape laborer
landscape foreman
third shift radio personality
bartender
private practice consultant
Comment by Captain Illini Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:21 pm
Paperboy
Hot dog vendor
Street department laborer
Coors Beer printing plant helper
Tropicana orange juice plant sweeper-upper
McGovern campaign hand
Mixer at chemical plant that later blew up
Comment by Mugs Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:22 pm
Babysit
Lawn mower
VA canteen dishwasher
lumber yard
construction
house painter
floor polisher
Comment by zatoichi Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:23 pm
Paper boy
Lawn mower
Funeral Home sitter (yes, I got paid to sit in a funeral home when the owners were out to answer the phone! Considering it was the first place in town with cable tv and I had access to a fully stocked fridge, it was about the best job a teenager could want!)
Library student worker
Central Shop Maintenance in a steel mill
Graduate Assistant
College teacher (still doing it today)
Comment by G'Kar Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:26 pm
paperboy
Library clerk
teen club help
dog n suds
radio announcer
tv production
intermediate speed code operator (Army)
Comment by Bigtwich Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:29 pm
Grocery clerk
Football player (paid for college)
Supervisor corn detasseling team
Management intern transportation company
Marketing intern equipment manufacturer
Army Officer (Active Duty for Training)
Auditor
Comment by Last Bull Moose Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:30 pm
Walking beans
Youth Conservation Corp
Construction
Kitchen help at Bauer’s Restaurant
Mc Donald’s
Comment by A Jack Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:30 pm
Clown (I did kid’s birthday parties.)
Fast food worker
Dorm guard
Campus radio announcer
Commercial deejay
Library assistant (during grad school)
Consultant at the CBoE (immediately after grad school, while looking for a real job)
Comment by Cheryl44 Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:32 pm
Grocery store stock clerk
Convenience store stock clerk/Lottery machine operator
Undergraduate assistant to professor
Cashier at big box retail store
State intern
Full-fledged state bureaucrat
Associate attorney
Comment by Ron Burgundy Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:32 pm
Restaurant cleaning
Lawn Mowing
Babysitting
Park District Monitor
Busboy
Private Music Instructor
Door-to-door construction lead soliciting (worst.job.ever.)
Comment by LessAnon? Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:33 pm
Detasseler
Gravedigger
Grocery store bagger
Soda jerk
Waiter
DJ at ice rink
TV control room operator
Comment by Left of Central IL Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:33 pm
pulling weeds
paper route afternoon
paper route morning
paper route Sunday
Lawn mowing
leaflets for a roofing company
snow shoveling
Then I turned 14 and started scooping ice cream and paying Social Security.
Comment by A guy Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:38 pm
Farming
Soda jerk
Heavy equipment escort
Fast food 1
Survey crew flunky
Gas station attendant
Fast food management
All those jobs were over 30 years ago
Comment by Knight of Ni Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:40 pm
farm hand for my father
bail hay/shell corn crew
line boy at local airport
flight instructor/charter pilot
commuter pilot
charter & flight school chief pilot/instructor
Airline Transport Pilot State of Illinois IDOT
Comment by facts are stubborn things Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:42 pm
I forgot yard mowing and being a paper boy.
Comment by Knight of Ni Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:42 pm
1. Lawn Mower
2. Babysitter
3. Detasseler
4. Dishwasher & Delivery Driver for mom and pop diner
5. Drive-thru Attendant & Cook for chain restaurant
6. Hotel Banquet Server for chain hotel
7. College newspaper journalist
Comment by hisgirlfriday Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:43 pm
1.Paper boy.
2.Bus boy.
3 Grocery clerk.
4. Law clerk
5. Law firm Associate
6. Insurance company exec.
7. Law firm partner (principal)
Comment by Gooner Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:48 pm
Kitchen worker at a pizza place (mostly making them, but occasional delivery and neighborhood flyers).
McDonald’s
Lifeguard
Bookstore clerk
Union laborer
server/bartender
U.S. Senate elevator operator
Comment by Tom B. Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:49 pm
Busboy
Waiter
Lifeguard
Government Staffer
Investment Banker
Private Equity
Comment by prairie dogg Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:51 pm
Small business owner (sold crafts to the neighbors)
Corn detasseler
Server at Tastee Freez
Dorm cafeteria worker
Salad bar prep at Brown Derby
Writing tutor
Teaching assistant (taught basic composition)
Comment by RIJ Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:53 pm
1. Dishwasher.
2. Delivery driver for a drug store.
3. Snack bar operator for skate board park.
4. Pizza maker for a local place.
5. Cleaning stalls at a horse farm.
6. Working in a lumber yard.
7. Loading bags for TWE at our local airport.
Comment by Give Me A Break Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:56 pm
Laundry
Cleaning Houses
Mowing Lawns
Babysitting
Tutoring college students
Data Key Punch Operator
Program Specialist
Etc.
Retired…
Comment by Mama Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:56 pm
Lawn mowing
Laborer in family business
car wash attendant
auto detailer (my own business during college
summer grounds keeper for Park District
Tin knocker
sales trainee
Salesman (dictation equipment)
Comment by JS Mill Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:57 pm
I started out as a paperboy, but my next job was moving lawns, as was for many here (and then a busboy). When was the last time you saw a teenager mowing a lawn (or shoveling snow)? (Forget delivering papers, that is now a job that some adults have to stoop to.) In my neighborhood, it’s either a lawn service, or the wife!
Comment by molly maguire Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:57 pm
only 5
1. Lawn Care
2. Fire Controlman
3. LAN Administrator
4. Self Employed Computer Sales and Service
5. Office Mgr.
Comment by Allen D Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:58 pm
hot dog maker
electronics factory worker
pickle packer
HVAC company office worker
hot dog maker
bank customer service
transportation analyst
Comment by NoGifts Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:58 pm
1. shined my dad’s police uniform brass & shoes; updated his reciprocity manual
2. cut corn out of beans
3. babysitter
4. ran a home day care
5. took in sewing
6. took in a lot of sewing
7. mainframe programmer
Comment by nephret Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 3:01 pm
City maintenance crew laborer
Railroad track laborer
Sorority house kitchen busboy
Railroad train order clerk
Junior high math teacher
Elementary school principal
Middle school principal
Comment by Diogenes in DuPage Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 3:04 pm
Kind of generalizing on the last couple items …
1) Lawn mower
2) Busboy (do they even still have those?) and substitute dishwasher / waiter as needed
3) Tape ape / printer feeder / console operator aka computer operator
4) Operations supervisor
5) Operating systems programmer / analyst
6) Author various technical books
7) Bureaucrat aka SPSA doing primarily project management and customer relations
And somewhere in there I used to also do automotive and motorcycle work on the side in my garage. Still do this, but as a hobby on just my own and for a couple of friends.
Comment by RNUG Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 3:09 pm
Paper boy
Lawn mowing
Bus boy/dishwasher
Camp counselor
Gas pump jockey
Navy
College library
Comment by Whatever Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 3:13 pm
1. Babysitter
2. Stable hand
3. Curb painter
4. Waitress
5. Retail assitant
6. Nursing home assistant
7. Bartender
Comment by Wensicia Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 3:14 pm
Warehouse/truck loader
Grocery cart/bottleboy/stockboy
Grocery store cashier
Hospital orderly
Campaign worker
Dorm desk clerk
Summer associate-law firm
Comment by Mike Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 3:18 pm
Odd jobs and yard work for a small transportation business
Detasseling
Dairy Queen
Summer help for sewer plant
Pork processing plant worker
Engineering research assistant
Engineering intern
Comment by Daniel Plainview Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 3:18 pm
1. Lawn Mowing
2. Berry picker
3.
I actually have had at least 15 jobs which was surprising to me since I have had the same job for the last two decades.
Comment by Jake From Elwood Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 3:19 pm
It’s cool to see the diversity in our backgrounds here. Great idea Rich!
1. Model/Actor (I know - so fancy)
2. Medical Reception/billing
3. Restaurant Host/Expeditor
4. Gym Front Desk
5. Concierge
Comment by sleepdeprived Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 3:31 pm
1) Fry cook
2) Steak griller
3) Car dealership porter
4) Manual boxcar loader
5) Draftsman
6) Engineer
7) College instructor
Comment by Illinois Bob Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 3:31 pm
Lawn mowing and cleaned office for dentist (IL)
Mechanical engineering drawing and copy machine operator for farm equipment company (IL)
Technician in ceramics research lab (IL)
Camp counselor (IL)
Junior design engineer for aerospace company (summer) (OH)
Graduate research assistant in propulsion lab (NJ)
Assistant professor (CA)
Comment by OldIllini Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 3:37 pm
lawn mower
curb painter
farmhand
musician
golf club cleaner
data entry
security guard
Comment by vibes Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 3:39 pm
Grass Cutting
Cutting weeds out of Beans
Bucking bales (straw and hay)
Car wash guy.
Stage hand
Survey crew (rod guy)
Electrician (apprentice)
Comment by NorthsideNoMore Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 3:42 pm
Paper boy
Soda jerk
Drugstore clerk
College cafeteria worker (beverage boy, runner, slopper, feeder, etc)
Warehouse worker
Bar tender
Office/library (compiling a bibliography)
Comment by Mugwump Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 3:47 pm
Lawn Mower
Bean walker
Bus boy
Stable hand
Long distance telephone operator
Cement crew
Computer operator
Comment by PlayK8 Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 3:52 pm
RNUG if your from Springfield did you work at FLIC?
Comment by PlayK8 Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 3:54 pm
Reading some of these others, realized I missed listing the “married to the farmer’s daughter” tasks, like bucking bales and mending fence, while I was married the first time.
Comment by RNUG Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 3:54 pm
I also forgot babysitter as the first job:
“RNUG: …Busboy (do they even still have those?)”
Actually yes, my 17-year-old son just spent three weekends being a bus boy at a pop-up restaurant. He also has done some babysitting for neighbors…
Comment by 32nd Ward Roscoe Village Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 3:59 pm
== RNUG if your from Springfield did you work at FLIC? ==
Yes, I’m a native … some family been in Springfield since 1850 or so.
No to FLIC. Spent a large part of my career working for the State in various agencies.
Comment by RNUG Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 4:00 pm
Grocery Clerk
Paper Mill laborer
Steel Fabrication laborer
Mobile Home Cabinet maker
Oil Field RuffNeck - OK and WY
Brick Layer
Computer Programmer
Comment by WhoKnew Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 4:10 pm
Bean Walker
Lawn Mower
Apartment Cleaner
Teaching Assistant
Govt’ Intern
Comment by Demoralized Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 4:12 pm
Family farm
Detasseler
Fast Food
Retail
Gas Station
Horse Farm
More retail
Last 3 were at the same time, was young but had time and liked having money.
Comment by m Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 4:15 pm
1) Lawn Mower
2) Dog Walker
3) Babysitter
4) Sales Clerk - Boys Dept. JC Penney
5) Paid Intern - DoD subcontractor Machine Shop
6) Small, Family-owned Mexican fast-food chain (sling tacos; wash dishes, tables, bathrooms; cashier; repair equipment; manage warehouse and reconcile inventory, truck driver; manager)
7) Information Technology - Systems Analyst last 28 years.
I don’t know whether to count college & university student as a job.
Comment by Hieronymus Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 4:33 pm
Oops. Take two:
1. Lawn Mowing
2. Berry picker
3. Paper routes
4. Fast Food
5. Sandblasting Crew
6. Electronics Factory
7. Newspaper Circulation Manager
Comment by Jake From Elwood Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 4:34 pm
4am newspaper
Migrant field worker
Sold paper and cardboard self employed
Caddied at private golf coarse
Camp counselor at oak park YMCA Michigan
Lifeguard
Bag groceries and carry out
(then I graduated from high school)
Comment by Rabid Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 4:38 pm
Babysitter
Safety Town monitor
Nurses Aid
Bookstore clerk
AV Tech
Resident Adviser
Labor News Reporter
Comment by Duster426 Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 4:49 pm
Stock boy in department store
Bus boy/fry cook/dishwasher
Office gopher
Cab driver
Night admitting clerk at hospital
Church custodian
AV department student assistant
Comment by Huh? Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 4:53 pm
Paper boy
Dish washer
Stock boy
Caddy
Bartender
Learned the most about life being a caddy. I was exposed to successful , and a few very famous people like Dan Rostenkowski, Bill Daley, Michael Jordan, Mike Ditka and various captains of industry at a very young age and I still remember many of them today
Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 4:53 pm
Babysitter
Clerk at Dry Cleaners
Dept Store Sales
Customer Service
Headhunter
Admin Asst
Acupuncturist
Comment by Belle Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 4:55 pm
Homemade Bread Stand Owner
Camp Counselor
Babysitter
Factory Worker
Waitress
Janitor
Cook
Comment by Interested Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 4:55 pm
Swim Instructor
Janitor at an Indoor Soccer Facility
Stagehand
Lifeguard
screw machine operator
door guard
computer lab worker
Comment by OneMan Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 5:05 pm
babysitter (started at age 9 for non-sibs)
Detasseler
clerk at small hardware store
McDonalds
nurses aide at a nursing home
home health aide
intern
Comment by Groundhog Day Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 5:15 pm
selling “Grit” newspaper
baling hay
lifeguard
concrete block stacker
busboy/waiter (during college)
department store credit service desk (during college)
road construction
Comment by Res Melius Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 5:32 pm
Paper boy
Dishwasher
Grocery store bagger (Jewel-carried to the car)
Produce clerk
Dishwasher (college)
Convenience store clerk
Farrowing lead
Comment by Theodore Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 5:33 pm
Landscaper
Car parker
Umpire
Public information officer
Radio disc jockey/announcer
Sportswriter
Legal affairs reporter
Comment by Independent Retired Lawyer Journalist Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 5:34 pm
Reading through the comments, it is amazing how many in this group got paid for agricultural work.
I didn’t list it since it was work for the family.
“Barbed wire tightener.”
“Tack room cleaner”
“Quarterhorse groomer”
“Cactus remover”
When I think about those days, I realize how easy I have it now. Days may be challenging, but rarely do I have to spend days in 105 degree heat concerned that my next step will be on a rattlesnake.
Comment by Gooner Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 5:36 pm
babysitting
waitress
retail hardware
retail dept. store
retail corp. office
retail shoe store
fork lift driver
Comment by burbanite Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 5:43 pm
1. Stock boy, Grocery Store
2. Warehouse, Service Merchandise
3. Arby’s
4. Sales, phone store
5. Sales, clothing store
6. Sales, music store
7. Sales, waterbed store
I could go on and on
Comment by Rizzo Ratso Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 5:52 pm
Gas station attendant
Dog-N-Suds fry cook
Laborer (Union)
Auto Mechanic
Police Officer
State of Illinois employee
Comment by Paceman Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 6:00 pm
Kennel Help-Animal Hospital
Burger King
Custodial-HS
Caddy
Life Guard
Intramural Football Manager
Bartender/Short Order Cook
#firstsevenjobs
(I left out farm work as that was just required if you wanted to eat.)
Comment by Rep. Ed Sullivan Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 6:13 pm
Neighborhood snow-shoveler
Door-to-door delivery Montgomery Wards flyers
Janitor & stock-boy
Navy storekeeper (same, later in Reserves)
tabulated stock value in retail stores
Foundry clerk
Volunteer, college veterans assistance office
Comment by Curmudgeon Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 6:17 pm
The family farm (not for actual money, but I was told this would allow me to continue to eat at our table.) Always loved the work.
Tractor driver for the neighbor (he paid me.)
Cashier on the midnight shift at a truck stop.
General go-fer for the ag college during the school year.
Pest management crop scout for the Extension Service.
Company rep, and took soil and crop tissue samples for an ag testing and consulting company.
Grad school research assistant.
I’ve enjoyed reading all the responses. There are some great conversation starters in these lists.
Comment by South Central Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 6:37 pm
paperboy, mowed lawns, walked beans (same time)
carry out boy at grocery store
concrete laborer
US Army
factory
laborer (while in college)
last guy to let you down (for vault company)
Comment by golfman-r Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 7:00 pm
Rich, a long time reader. Always happy to mumble my comments to myself and raise only my blood pressure. But this question hits a heart string for me.
Babysitter
Waitress
Waitress
Waitress
Bartender
Many clerical and secretary and data entry jobs as well til college done. School full time while working full time.
Everyone…and I mean everyone…should have to work for tips first. Learn customer service. Husband worked on a loading dock in summer. Impressive..yes. But he made the same amount every hour no matter what. Different..way different..than working for tips.
No one should graduate high school til they can live on tips. The other conversations on your blogs would change if EVERYONE had to earn their living by the care they give to others and not by the contract they negotiated.
Comment by Mr. Porter Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 7:01 pm
Now imagine the guy or gal who can’t get that first job because the government forces businesses to discriminate against low-skill workers with a too-high minimum wage.
Comment by Imagine Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 7:35 pm
Came to this late, but here are mine –
house painter
assembly line worker
US Army
bartender
wilderness canoe/mountaineering guide
Lately that wilderness stuff has been looking more attractive, but something seems to have changed in the intervening thirty or so years
Comment by Just Chilling Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 8:34 pm
Selling newspaper subscriptions
Delivering newspapers
Caddying
Department store clerk
Janitor
CBOT clerk
Security guard
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 8:40 pm
Locker room attendant
Waitress
Retail clothes sales
Post Office mail sorter
Lubes and oil mechanic
Waitress
Formulation chemist
Comment by Monarch Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 10:05 pm
lawn mower
busboy
corn de-tassler (how does one spell that?)
flower delivery boy
janitor
pump jockey
cashier
Comment by Late to the Party Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 4:05 am
Oreo taste tester.
Comment by Blue dog dem Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 5:37 am
Baling Hay
Produce picker/hog manure removal/tractor driver
Farmer
Farm Hand
Marine
IDOC
Engineer
Comment by Mason born Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 5:40 am
Babysitter
Farm hand
Chicken fry restaurant waitress
Kmart shoe dept.
Horse Stablehand
College Recreation Dept Seamtress and bookkeeper
College Newspaper Business Manager
Comment by Team Warwick Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 8:00 am
Janitor assistant
Paperboy
Babysitter
Math Tutor
Tennis practice partner
Factory (summers)
College paper typist
Comment by Earnest Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 8:18 am
Paper Boy
Detassler
Factory worker
Hospital orderly
Painter
Bicycle mechanic
Disk Jockey
Comment by Southern Dawg Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 8:19 am
I forgot about golf caddy. $1 for 9 holes. Haven’t seen a caddy in quite a while, except the PGA. I would be summoned to caddy out of the swimming pool, and couldn’t see for the first few holes because of the chlorine.
Comment by OldIllini Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 8:56 am