What jobs have you held?

15 years ago

Kind of a slow day today. Here's my contribution:

What jobs have you worked at over the course of your life? Hopefully some will be more interesting than I think mine were, most of them anyway.

1 - paper route

2 - summer job in supply department of an office building during HS summer vacation (Dad got it for me)

3 - worked in a shoe store

4 - Bell of Pa / Verizon (still)

5 - assisted in surgery during Vietnam War passing instruments, threading suture, holding retractors

6 - delivered pizza part time for 10 years

7 - delivered flowers a few (part) times

Yours?

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Comments (37)

evatx
15 years ago
Legal Secretary
Secretary for food distributor
Writer/ad layout for newspaper
Co-owner public relations/advertising agency
Secretary computer company
Office mgr. photographer's studio
Secretary/front desk at country club
monica_pa Grieves
15 years ago
Librarian's assistant
Counter sales in candy department at Strawbridge&Clothier
Keypunch operator
Computer operator
Programmer
Database Administrator
Systems Analyst
Pre-sales technical Support Analyst
Systems Installation and support consultant
Systems Instructor
Technical Education Consultant
Technical Education Developer

Social Security and Pension check spender !
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It's hard to be "vintage" in new construction. "Vintage" implies age, past, tradition. Best you can do is make a new kitchen with vintage references. Otherwise, you'll drive yourself nuts and this project will take forever as you try to source all kinds of things that aren't readily available. If you like checkered floor, why not stencil? or use two stains? There are advice givers to tell you how to do this. Or consider two colors of Marmoleum in a pattern. From your postings, I sense that you and DH are not entirely on same page; that he has idea of more current build style than you have in your head. Am I correct? Be sure to bring him along with you as you do your planning, dreaming, hoping, making. Otherwise, this will be "your" kitchen in a way that is not entirely pleasant. There are many threads about collisions between couples during kitchen construction, including mine. Compromise is going to happen, but you need to decide at what price and under what circumstances. This is more important than you may realize at this point in your journey. Give him plenty of lead time when you change directions--men often can't follow new female thinking without dismissing it as "whim." Try starting a diary of your thinking. And record your decisions and sign off on them so that neither of you will attempt to change the reality afterward when you're operating on memory only. ___ On another topic, can you access already built spaces that use the same houseplan you're considering? Visiting a completed kitchen would be invaluable, a luxury most of us don't have.
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Babysat in my teens Worked Saturdays at a bakery in my teens Worked in a day care home in my teens Worked in a pharmacy in my teens Worked for my father's business in my first year of college Worked at a bookstore during vacations while in college Worked at the campus day care center while in college Worked in retail after college Worked for my FIL when my children were babies and I could take them with me. Worked shortly for Albertsons while their workers were on strike. Finally, FINALLY, I found my calling when youngest child was 3. I applied for a teaching position at her preschool and, almost 10 years later, I'm still there. I love my job! I also work a couple of nights a week in retail. Sheryl
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jel48
15 years ago
Detasselling sweet corn
Hoeing soy beans
Driving tractors to do farm work
working in a gas station
Waitress
Cook
Meat Wrapper in a locker plant
Data entry
Computer programmer
MIS director at a small hospital
Software Support for IBM iSeries

Maybe a few others I've forgotten.

I envy Monica_PA. She has the job I'd like to have..... "Social Security and Pension check spender !"
donnakt_gw
15 years ago
Cashier in my Dad's restaurant for many years KY
Sales clerk in a Department store..KY
QA for General Medical Richmond, VA
Machine operator in Virgina Beach, VA
GE in Columbia, MD
QA in Columbia, MD
Blood Gas Tech HCGH in Columbia, MD
Sleep Tech HCGH in Columbia, MD (Retired)
ronf_gw
15 years ago
Miscellaneous farm chores (milking cows, baling hay, driving tractor, etc.)
Tutoring chemistry and genetics in college
Retail sales in nurseries and garden centers
Landscape maintenance
Collecting soil samples
Occular procurement technician (Harvesting donor eyes for research and transplants)
Classroom assistant

Ron
kathyg_in_mi
15 years ago
Button girl at dry cleaner
Waitress
Cashier
Halloween store manager
Theatrical costumer (volunteer)
Receiving at Joann Fabrics
Mom of 4
Wife of 1
Retired and loving it! and yes, I'm spending his pension!
declansmom
15 years ago
Babysitter
Salesgirl
Bank Teller
Day Care Assistant
Waitress
Office Manager for Printing Company
Secretary for Newspaper
Teacher's Assistant for handicapped children
Floral Designer
Organizer
Child Care Provider
Secretary at large Corporation
Office Manager at my brother's company (Still there)
jannie
15 years ago
grocery store stock clerk
clerk in a dry cleaners
waitress
sitting for an elderly woman
federal employee- lasted 31 years
next???
barbara3
15 years ago
During summers while I was at university, I worked in a drugstore ($26.75 take home a week) or at my father's service station as a cashier ($10 a day).

Then I taught for 30 years.

For about a year and a half after I retired I worked at Chapters.

Now I am a lady of leisure and enjoying every minute.
Jodi_SoCal
15 years ago
Wrangler at a dude ranch.
Read to the blind.
Employee at a fish & chip shop.
Electronics assembler.
Draftsman.
Night club disc jockey.
Fingerprinter at local police department.
Electro-mechanical designer.
Regional marketing communications specialist.
Owner of graphic design business.
Graphic designer.
lydia1959
15 years ago
Babysitter ($1. an hour for watching 4 bratty kids!)
Supervisor for corn detasseling (I was made supervisor the first day cause I was the only girl)
Waitress
Nurse aide
Live-in nurse aide
Supervisor for a housekeeping crew at a big department store
Walmart
Several retail positions at a outlet mall (jewelry store, toy store, card shop)
Home health aide (lasted 2 weeks.. I hated that job!)

I've did craft work too and sold things in local craft malls, also have done a lot of eBay sales IF those can count as jobs.
susan_on
15 years ago
Babysitter
Mother's helper
Convenience store clerk
Cafeteria worker
Counsellor at Community Living
Cake decorator in a specialty store and a bakery
Driver for a mother's support group
Receptionist for a real estate company
Counsellor at a women's shelter
Counsellor at an anti violence shelter
Social services administrator
User
15 years ago
Busgirl, which later turned into waitress at same job
Assistant manager of a Laura Secord Candy Shop
Cashier/supervisor
Administrative assistant
Accounts recievable
manufacturer
babysitter
Foster parent
Merchandiser(stocking shelves)
gazania_gw
15 years ago
Newspaper delivery
Sewed back corners of mens pants at a clothing factory
Switchboard Operator at an telephone answering service
Switchboard operator at a medical clinic
Sales person at Sears
Cooridinator in Custom Decorating Dept at Sears
Custom bra and breast prosthisis fitter
Linda Wayman
15 years ago
baby sitter
door to door cosmetic sales
solderer on a tv assembly line
grocery store cashier
grocery store stock person
grocery store courtesy counter attendant
raisin counter
bottom maker
filler girl
additives blender operator
tail off operator
corn flake cooker
rice krispie cooker
corn flake miller
rice krispie miller
journeyman electrician
boxcar loader/unloader
truck loader/unloader

happily retired for just over 13 months
casey_nfld
15 years ago
Summer jobs/part-time jobs while a student:

-babysitter
-library assistant
-drugstore clerk
-local strawberry festival organizer

Full-time/part-time jobs as an adult:

-elementary/junior high/high school French & English teacher
-substitute teacher
-small business owner (retail store)
-librarian
-government registry clerk

Currently not working (my choice) and happy.
Toni S
15 years ago
as a teenager
LA times and Bakersfield paper tier/stacker
worked in a family gas/market shop
retail store work BORING

First job (lots of schooling in between)
Hairstylist for 10 years. very allergic to perms and finally quit
LPN, great pay, terrible hours in this small town. Worked for a quad for several years. Didn't work so well as I was having children. Front heavy, holding a quad equals a problem! Enjoyed elderly home health very much.
NOW a substitute teacher in elementary schools. Now that's an adventure. Good hours, sorta good pay.
Also work in a greenhouse January to June. There I love the sloppy clothes I can work in, most of all!

Dh taught me lots of stuff. Farming, home building, to much to type.

I've helped do some strange stuff though. One time my vet friend asked me to assist in exploratory surgery on a dog. We found the infection in the dogs intestines. We put all the stuff back in and the dog took some meds to heal. That was fun!

I think being a mom has been the most trying and greatest job I've ever held.
irishdancersgram
15 years ago
Water girl at a fancy restaurant when I was 12
School cafeteria manager
School secretary
And all time favorite:
Optometric Assistant until I retired 15 years ago.....
trinitytx
15 years ago
Babysitter
Mcdonalds
Kentucky Fried
Waitress

Hairdresser
Bowling alley bartender
Electronic Component Sales (23 years & retired)
Nuclear Logistics (current)

Trin
Marcia Thornley
15 years ago
In order:
Picked fruit - strawberries, peaches, apples
Worked in the fabric and sewing dept of Dept. store
Worked at a record store
Managed a shoe store (liked this one 26 years with same company)
Cleaned homes
Administrative Assistant for a Sanitation Supply Company
wanda_va
15 years ago
Assistant Manager, County Youth Center
Credit Assistant, Sears
Customer Service Representative, Sears
Clerk-Stenographer
Pathology Lab Assistant
Tupperware Dealer (part-time)
Secretary
Staff Assistant
Administrative Officer
Management Analyst
Executive Officer
Personnel Director

Happily retired since the age of 46.....
kittiemom
15 years ago
Babysitter
Computer graphics artist
Business owner/manager
Accountant
Medical biller
Accounting manager
Controller
IT manager
donna37
15 years ago
Picked fruit, strawberries, other berries, oranges, olives.
Dishwasher in restaurant, lasted one week, they found out I was underage to work where beer was being served.
Psychiatric Technician at hospital for developmentally disabled for over 15 years
Nurse aide on weekends while going thru RN training. Also, worked at snack bar at skating rink in trade for kid's skating lessons, 2 evenings a week during the time I was going to school
RN in two different hospitals.
Home Health RN
RN administrator of local public health department, helped to get it up and running, no health dept. prior to this in this county.
Retired from above but have a thrift shop that I run 4 days a week.
orie
15 years ago
Worked as a Physical Therapist Asst. (included doing Functional Capacity Assessments, some visits to MD's to "sell" the FCA program, running the Back School). Enjoyed working with well known atheletes (some real big names) but, the part I really enjoyed was working with the older jewish population in South Beach when I did home health visits. The geriatric population was, by far, my favorite. Soo many delightful stories and they're so appreciative of your help (unlike some of the athletes).

After my DD was born, I switched over to Teacher's Asst. so that my hrs. would be more flexible and I could have summers off.

The pay was definitely better as a PTA!!!
Kathsgrdn
15 years ago
babysitter

drink girl (one month)

bus girl

waitress (one month)

food inspector at an onion dehydration plant

maintence scheduler (Air Force)

data entry person

Target (data entry/clerical)

assistant claims manager for worker's comp

Avon rep (not long)

Tupperware rep (not long)

market gardner

certified nursing assistant (six weeks)

registered nurse-currently
chisue
15 years ago
Babysitter

Open House Sitter (Mom was a Broker)

Print and Fashion Show Model

Girl of All Work at Weekly Newspaper: reception, social editor, classified ad taker, copy editor, proof reader, billing. I laid out pages and headlines and covered for the alcoholic display ad manager, and the editor who arrived shortly before breaking for lunch and left at three. (Editor famously huffed into the office one a.m., complaining about the traffic in town, having failed to notice that a huge car dealership was burning down a block off his route.)

Emergency Room Volunteer - 300 bed hospital

15 years volunteer co-leader of Truth Seekers, an adoption search and support group in Chicago. (I'm an adoptive mom and spouse of an adoptee.)

Truth Seekers and some League of Women Voters campaigns were parts of my 'cause lady' life. I also organized and helped lead a successful two-year battle of homeowners against over-development of a 20-acre mall in our suburb.

Overseer of custom build of our present home

Vacation rental manager for Maui condo
Jasdip
15 years ago
Worked in a furniture factory right after high school. Filthy work.Lasted 2 weeks.
Another factory job working midnite shift. 4 years
Girl Friday in farm-related business 3 years
Worked in poultry barns 10 years
Welder in factory 10 years
In sales currently 10 years..
grinch_gut
15 years ago
I have been lucky....I have had 2....one summer I worked 2 months at the OU medical college in Tulsa with my mom. And then I cut hair for 20 years.....worked for one lady and then myself....so lucky....Stacy
firemanswife
15 years ago
When I was in high school I worked at the library and right out of high school I got a job with the government as an HR assistant. I have been here ever since. I am now a wildlife biologist (they put me through school)I have been here for 16 years and I just opened a part time catering business.
nan_nc
15 years ago
Picked beans as a teen

Worked for the local school district in several depts (my old principal was my boss..we were both let go at the same time)

Copy writer and host/personality at the local TV station (14 years)

Small business operator (failed miserably)

Admin Assistant to the Nursing Director at a regional hopital (hated it)

Multi-purpose person for a very small (personnel-wise) nation-wide radon testing lab. Retired from there. 20+ years.
trishaw
15 years ago
Cashier in the lunch line during high school
Receptionist for travel agency
Gift Wrapper at a pharmacy, then a cashier for same
Sales clerk/order taker for a bikini company
Loan Servicing for Mortgage Company
Bank Teller
Last and the best by far- Office Manager for a rose nursery

Trish
nan_nc
15 years ago
Worked as a trainer/re-schooler for a fellow who bought horses cheap at auction and then re-sold them. Many had been abused and became unrideable...in fact, un-saddleable and un-bridleable. It took a LONG time to earn their trust, and teach them to trust humans again.

The hardest job I ever had, and unpaid to boot, with several injuries included..but the most fulfilling.
vannie
15 years ago
1. Speech and hearing therapist.

2. Pre-kindergarten teacher.

3. Wife, mother, grandmother (the best!)
lulie___wayne
15 years ago
Sears clerk at Christmas while in college
Teacher
Teacher
Teacher
Teacher
Retired!!
sharon_fl
15 years ago
God grief..this is taxing my 64 Yr old brain! LOL!

Teen years:
Babysitting
short order cook in mom's restaurant
waitress
Library volunteer
Hospital volunteer

In my 20's & 30's
Sarah Coventry Consultant/home parties
International Decor Consultant/home parties
Raising 3 kids under 8 yrs old & 2 teen stepsons
Cook at area eateries
Nightclub, hotel owner/cook
Restaurant owner/cook
Bridal consultant, hostess, cake decorater
Event planner

40's & 50's
Food & Beverage Mgr at Mimslyn Inn, Luray,VA

Office work, menu planning, hostess @ Victorian hotel in PA

Part time corsage & boutineer maker @ florist shop (prom times)

News Director & Airstaff at radio station
Outsidec Biz sales @ radio station

Ad sales in 4 neighboring towns for newspaper
Front office receptionist, ad design & pasteup for 2 publications @ newspaper company

Caregiver for a blind amputee ex hubby of 13 yrs
Supervisor for RCN Telecom

60 yrs to now
Software sales
Hostess, dining & lounge mgr @ beach restaurant
event planner, cook at social club

WHEW! No wonder I'm tired & on social security!!
alisande
15 years ago
What versatile, multi-talented people we have!

Secretary at Exxon
Secretary at Lever Brothers
Admin. Assistant at Lincoln Center (other than mothering, the best job EVER)
Full-time mother (and unpaid La Leche League Leader)
Telemarketer for symphony orchestra (didn't last long . . . I hate to sell and wasn't good at it)
Part-time office manager at insurance agency (ugh--another short stint)
Copy editor for publishing company
Author for publishing company
Homeschooling consultant (that was very cool, too)
Freelance writing and editing
Full-time newspaper reporter-photographer
Office manager at a domestic violence agency
Freelance newspaper reporter-photographer
Occasional poetry contest judge
University library assistant
gwanny2three
15 years ago
Babysitter
worked in a hair salon washing towels and brushes at 14
fast food clerk for a week..hated it!
Rold gold as a pretzel packer for 3 years...where I met DH
Xerox for 5 years
Housekeeper in a handicapped children's home for 2 years, heartbreaking job, but I loved it. Got prgenant with DS #1 and couldn't handle it anymore, had to quit, it terrified me.
Pharmacy clerk for 6 years, then quit after DS#2 was born.
Started my in home daycare and worked night and weekends at Toys R US for 5 years until DS #3 was born.
Quit Toys R us and have had my daycare for the last 28 years! This has been my most rewarding job!

What jobs have you held?

Comments (37)

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