126 Comments - MSIX - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:30 pm: butcher shop flunky gas pump jockey warehouse flunky US Army (8+ years) Drivers Ed instructor Asbestos Abatement UPS Driver - Keyrock - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:32 pm: Summer school assistant. Grocery store bagger. Payroller. Government summer employee. Congressional intern. Paralegal. Summer law clerk. - Saluki - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:33 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 - How Ironic - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:37 pm: Cafeteria Assistant (6th grade - paid in donuts lol) Gap Store Associate Lifeguard Assistant Store Manager Store Manager GOMB Analyst Director in Medical Field - proudstatetrooper - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:40 pm: Lawn Mowing Grocery store bagger/stockboy Gas station attendant Tow truck driver US Army MP Pinkerton Investigator Illinois State Police - Joe M - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:42 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 - Thoughts Matter - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:43 pm: Detasseling Fast food 1 Fast food 2 Waitress Server behind a counter Librarian assistant Office clerk ( first adult full time spot). - Team American - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:45 pm: Church groundskeeper McDonald’s Data Processing clerk Plastic Injection Mold warehouse Runner for CBOT Lawyer - Iron Lady - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:46 pm: babysitter Live-in-nanny denture impression technician waitress bookkeeper process server CPA - illini - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:47 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! - CCP Hostage - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:48 pm: Lawn work Shoe store clerk Lunch counter clerk Waitress Pizza maker Fry Cook Camp Counselor - cardsmama - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:48 pm: Heath candy packer Retail clerk Retail advertising Store secretary Insurance billing Bartender State fiscal employee - Mr.Black - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:50 pm: Burger flipper Cashier at a pizza joint Camp counselor Library Aide English tutor Server/bartender English teaching aide - illinoised - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:52 pm: hoe corn out of beans paper boy bale hay grocery worker pizza delivery house painter - Happily Retired - 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 - Old Dinah Sour - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:53 pm: store cleaner-upper (Dad’s store) lawn mower store stocker shoe store stocker dirt/clay tester - illinoised - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:54 pm: My seventh job obviously wasn’t math teacher. It was Culligan man. - Honeybear - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:55 pm: Mailing Label affixer Musician (Christmas gigs) Wooden Furniture Manufacturer Classical music CD sales Food Service Professional Musician Private music teacher - Tsavo - 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) - ArchPundit - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:56 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 - walker - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:56 pm: Paper boy Dishwasher Factory siren tester Produce picker Lifeguard Semi and rail car loader Union baker Army - walker - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:58 pm: Where did all the jobs for kids go? Just sayin. - Lifer - 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) - RSW Girl - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 1:59 pm: Babysitter Iron uniforms for local Sheriff Bean Walker Painter & Wallpaper Hanger Bartender Transportation provider for chemo patients Waitress (quit 1st nite) - AlfondoGonz - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:00 pm: Security guard Mover Salesperson Rental Car Employee Lawyer (x3) - Nilwood - 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 - Anon221 - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:00 pm: Family farm Babysitter Horse trainer Stall cleaner Lab rat Horse trainer part deux Telephone book delivery - Cubs in '16 - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:01 pm: groundskeeping artist (mowed yards) dishwasher retail clerk retail cashier substance abuse counselor State employee n/a - Seymourkid - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:02 pm: Babysitter Newspaper route Gift wrapper Dry cleaning clerk/cashier Youth Conservation Corps Camp Counselor Jr. High Science Teacher - Dr X - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:03 pm: Farmer Janitor Student Laborer Factory worker Landscaper Dishwasher - The Old Professor - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:05 pm: Game show question writer Campus tour guide Movie extra Waiter Homework grader Teaching assistant Professor - Springfieldish - 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 - ArchPundit - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:06 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. - Anonymous - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:08 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 - Pot calling kettle - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:11 pm: grocery store stocker/bagger detasselling road-const flagger RA assembly-line worker summer camp counselor TA - Jolly1 - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:11 pm: PaperBoy Lawn Mower Detassler Farm Hand Grocery Store Bagger/Stockboy Clothing/Shoe Store Salesman US Navy Signalman - 32nd Ward Roscoe Village - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:12 pm: Law office/title company file clerk/gopher house painter secret shopper/phone surveyor bookkeeper graduate teaching assistant in French law clerk attorney - Chicago Cynic - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:13 pm: Lawn Mower Drug pusher Delivery guy Retail clerk Different retail clerk Different retail clerk Bank teller - Sir Reel - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:13 pm: Dog & Suds Groundskeeper Factory worker Factory worker (same company, different job) Varsity Pizza Lifeguard Tree crew grunt - Ducky LaMoore - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:13 pm: Paper Boy Dishwasher Farmhand Custodian Waiter Wastewater Operator Customer Service Manager - pool boy - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:16 pm: Paper boy Lawn mower Stock boy Farm hand House painter Factory worker Construction worker - Name Withheld - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:16 pm: Paperboy Corn detassler Fast food worker Radio DJ College resource center staff Actor Communications support - FormerParatrooper - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:18 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 - Democrat Grrrl - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:19 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 - Arthur Andersen - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:21 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 - Captain Illini - 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 - Mugs - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:22 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 - zatoichi - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:23 pm: Babysit Lawn mower VA canteen dishwasher lumber yard construction house painter floor polisher - G'Kar - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:26 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) - Bigtwich - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:29 pm: paperboy Library clerk teen club help dog n suds radio announcer tv production intermediate speed code operator (Army) - Last Bull Moose - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:30 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 - A Jack - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:30 pm: Walking beans Youth Conservation Corp Construction Kitchen help at Bauer’s Restaurant Mc Donald’s - Cheryl44 - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:32 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) - Ron Burgundy - 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 - LessAnon? - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:33 pm: Restaurant cleaning Lawn Mowing Babysitting Park District Monitor Busboy Private Music Instructor Door-to-door construction lead soliciting (worst.job.ever.) - Left of Central IL - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:33 pm: Detasseler Gravedigger Grocery store bagger Soda jerk Waiter DJ at ice rink TV control room operator - A guy - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:38 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. - Knight of Ni - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:40 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 - facts are stubborn things - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:42 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 - Knight of Ni - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:42 pm: I forgot yard mowing and being a paper boy. - hisgirlfriday - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:43 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 - Gooner - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:48 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) - Tom B. - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:49 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 - prairie dogg - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:51 pm: Busboy Waiter Lifeguard Government Staffer Investment Banker Private Equity - RIJ - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:53 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) - Give Me A Break - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:56 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. - Mama - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:56 pm: Laundry Cleaning Houses Mowing Lawns Babysitting Tutoring college students Data Key Punch Operator Program Specialist Etc. Retired… - JS Mill - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:57 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) - molly maguire - 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! - Allen D - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 2:58 pm: only 5 1. Lawn Care 2. Fire Controlman 3. LAN Administrator 4. Self Employed Computer Sales and Service 5. Office Mgr. - NoGifts - 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 - nephret - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 3:01 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 - Diogenes in DuPage - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 3:04 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 - RNUG - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 3:09 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. - Whatever - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 3:13 pm: Paper boy Lawn mowing Bus boy/dishwasher Camp counselor Gas pump jockey Navy College library - Wensicia - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 3:14 pm: 1. Babysitter 2. Stable hand 3. Curb painter 4. Waitress 5. Retail assitant 6. Nursing home assistant 7. Bartender - Mike - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 3:18 pm: Warehouse/truck loader Grocery cart/bottleboy/stockboy Grocery store cashier Hospital orderly Campaign worker Dorm desk clerk Summer associate-law firm - Daniel Plainview - 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 - Jake From Elwood - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 3:19 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. - sleepdeprived - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 3:31 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 - Illinois Bob - 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 - OldIllini - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 3:37 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) - vibes - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 3:39 pm: lawn mower curb painter farmhand musician golf club cleaner data entry security guard - NorthsideNoMore - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 3:42 pm: Grass Cutting Cutting weeds out of Beans Bucking bales (straw and hay) Car wash guy. Stage hand Survey crew (rod guy) Electrician (apprentice) - Mugwump - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 3:47 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) - PlayK8 - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 3:52 pm: Lawn Mower Bean walker Bus boy Stable hand Long distance telephone operator Cement crew Computer operator - PlayK8 - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 3:54 pm: RNUG if your from Springfield did you work at FLIC? - RNUG - 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. - 32nd Ward Roscoe Village - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 3:59 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… - RNUG - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 4:00 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. - WhoKnew - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 4:10 pm: Grocery Clerk Paper Mill laborer Steel Fabrication laborer Mobile Home Cabinet maker Oil Field RuffNeck - OK and WY Brick Layer Computer Programmer - Demoralized - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 4:12 pm: Bean Walker Lawn Mower Apartment Cleaner Teaching Assistant Govt’ Intern - m - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 4:15 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. - Hieronymus - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 4:33 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. - Jake From Elwood - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 4:34 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 - Rabid - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 4:38 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) - Duster426 - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 4:49 pm: Babysitter Safety Town monitor Nurses Aid Bookstore clerk AV Tech Resident Adviser Labor News Reporter - Huh? - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 4:53 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 - Lucky Pierre - 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 - Belle - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 4:55 pm: Babysitter Clerk at Dry Cleaners Dept Store Sales Customer Service Headhunter Admin Asst Acupuncturist - Interested - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 4:55 pm: Homemade Bread Stand Owner Camp Counselor Babysitter Factory Worker Waitress Janitor Cook - OneMan - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 5:05 pm: Swim Instructor Janitor at an Indoor Soccer Facility Stagehand Lifeguard screw machine operator door guard computer lab worker - Groundhog Day - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 5:15 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 - Res Melius - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 5:32 pm: selling “Grit” newspaper baling hay lifeguard concrete block stacker busboy/waiter (during college) department store credit service desk (during college) road construction - Theodore - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 5:33 pm: Paper boy Dishwasher Grocery store bagger (Jewel-carried to the car) Produce clerk Dishwasher (college) Convenience store clerk Farrowing lead - Independent Retired Lawyer Journalist - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 5:34 pm: Landscaper Car parker Umpire Public information officer Radio disc jockey/announcer Sportswriter Legal affairs reporter - Gooner - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 5:36 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. - burbanite - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 5:43 pm: babysitting waitress retail hardware retail dept. store retail corp. office retail shoe store fork lift driver - Rizzo Ratso - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 5:52 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 - Paceman - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 6:00 pm: Gas station attendant Dog-N-Suds fry cook Laborer (Union) Auto Mechanic Police Officer State of Illinois employee - Rep. Ed Sullivan - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 6:13 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.) - Curmudgeon - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 6:17 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 - South Central - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 6:37 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. - golfman-r - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 7:00 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) - Mr. Porter - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 7:01 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. - Imagine - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 7:35 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. - Just Chilling - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 8:34 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 - Anonymous - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 8:40 pm: Selling newspaper subscriptions Delivering newspapers Caddying Department store clerk Janitor CBOT clerk Security guard - Monarch - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 10:05 pm: Locker room attendant Waitress Retail clothes sales Post Office mail sorter Lubes and oil mechanic Waitress Formulation chemist - Late to the Party - Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 4:05 am: lawn mower busboy corn de-tassler (how does one spell that?) flower delivery boy janitor pump jockey cashier - Blue dog dem - Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 5:37 am: Oreo taste tester. - Mason born - Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 5:40 am: Baling Hay Produce picker/hog manure removal/tractor driver Farmer Farm Hand Marine IDOC Engineer - Team Warwick - Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 8:00 am: Babysitter Farm hand Chicken fry restaurant waitress Kmart shoe dept. Horse Stablehand College Recreation Dept Seamtress and bookkeeper College Newspaper Business Manager - Earnest - Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 8:18 am: Janitor assistant Paperboy Babysitter Math Tutor Tennis practice partner Factory (summers) College paper typist - Southern Dawg - Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 8:19 am: Paper Boy Detassler Factory worker Hospital orderly Painter Bicycle mechanic Disk Jockey - OldIllini - Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 8:56 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. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.