At 14 years old I got a job as a bag boy at Publix Supermarkets making $3.35 an hour. The job sucked but they were the only place hiring at the time. Joined the Air National Guard right after graduating high school.
First Job
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First well paid work was cutting grass for neighbors and a restaurant when I was 13. My Dad did the negotiating with the restaurant and I got $35 for about an hour and half of fast mowing! I did have to tow the mower there a couple miles behind my bmx bike with the trimmer and gas tank bungeed to it, but it was big money for a young punk in the early 90's.
When I was 15 I did hay and straw square bales for a farmer for what seemed like all summer. That was only $5-6/hour but we had lots of 40 hour weeks. I "commuted" there on my dirt bike and I think my back still remembers those days even now.
When I was 15 I did hay and straw square bales for a farmer for what seemed like all summer. That was only $5-6/hour but we had lots of 40 hour weeks. I "commuted" there on my dirt bike and I think my back still remembers those days even now.
I've done a bunch of jobs but the first was a grocery bagger.
My very first job was at Taco Bell from 1989 - 1991. My starting wage was a stupendous $3.85/hr. At that time the uniforms were still the old burnt Orange polyester get ups with bell bottoms and the three stripes across the front, LOL.
It was a great first job because one of my frtiends got me in. Then about 5 or 6 of my other friends came to work there. It made working Friday and Saturday nights much much easier. I wasn't able to go to the party but niether are all my friends. We all hung out at work if we had to and got paid to do it.
man.. good times.
My second job was one I now wish I had never left. My father and uncle are friends with Jack Chisenhall from back in college. I got a job at Vintage Air back in 1991 during the summer after graduation. There were only about 10 people in the company including the owner. I molded parts for the A/C systems and when I was caught up with that work I helped BB the R&D guy with making new setups. I can honestly say that I did about half the work doveloping the A/C kit for the mid 60's Stingray Vettes. Now the company is big, has more people, and is a very big deal in the aftermarket world. I left there in the end of 1991 to go to WTI in Wyoming. I should have just stayed at Vintage Air... god knows where I would be in my career at this point. It makes me ill thinking about how far I could have moved up in the company in the past 20 years.
It was a great first job because one of my frtiends got me in. Then about 5 or 6 of my other friends came to work there. It made working Friday and Saturday nights much much easier. I wasn't able to go to the party but niether are all my friends. We all hung out at work if we had to and got paid to do it.
man.. good times.
My second job was one I now wish I had never left. My father and uncle are friends with Jack Chisenhall from back in college. I got a job at Vintage Air back in 1991 during the summer after graduation. There were only about 10 people in the company including the owner. I molded parts for the A/C systems and when I was caught up with that work I helped BB the R&D guy with making new setups. I can honestly say that I did about half the work doveloping the A/C kit for the mid 60's Stingray Vettes. Now the company is big, has more people, and is a very big deal in the aftermarket world. I left there in the end of 1991 to go to WTI in Wyoming. I should have just stayed at Vintage Air... god knows where I would be in my career at this point. It makes me ill thinking about how far I could have moved up in the company in the past 20 years.
I left school at 16 to start my apprenticeship as a motor mechanic.After I had served my time (about 3 1/2 years)I left to get other experience.I always had time off between jobs,and would often drop into my old work to use the welding plant,or reface some valves.The boss would say ''We are pretty snowed under right now,or someone's going on holiday...can you give us a hand for a couple of weeks?'' And so I'd end up there for another year or so.I started with him in 1970,and the last time I worked for him was 1980.
My first job was with Clark County Automotive Services as temp intern from the Community College in Las Vegas over summer break. Worked 3 months for $13/hour. Doing simple/laborious stuff that would waste the Mechanics time so they can concentrate on big problems during the summer peak. I chose to go late shift 1-11pm, which deals primarily with heavy vehicles. Class 6+ trucks, and heavy equipment. Though 3/4 ton and 1 ton trucks were done occasionally as well. Funny thing is I worked harder (and hotter!) than I do now, but I loved it so much more.
I applied to continue as a part time after school, but never got called back. Tried a couple times to call them, but the guy I was supposed to talk to was on vacation. So I gave up.
I applied to continue as a part time after school, but never got called back. Tried a couple times to call them, but the guy I was supposed to talk to was on vacation. So I gave up.
First paying "job" was on the farm. For a full summer in 1958 I made $150-paid in a lump sum just before school again started in the fall.
First "real" job was working nights during college. I worked during my first 3 years of college as a night stocker (no, not stalker). The grocery stores were only open from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM-the overnight shift was spent restocking the shelves; there were 4 of us on the crew and we worked 10:00PM to about 2:00 AM, and slept from 2:00 AM to 6:00 AM.
During the college summers I worked in a packing plant. Back then the pay was actually pretty decent, especially for a college kid. But I quickly decided that I'd make my real career something that didn't involve any sort of factory work-I couldn't stand the boredom of doing the same thing over and over.
First "real" job was working nights during college. I worked during my first 3 years of college as a night stocker (no, not stalker). The grocery stores were only open from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM-the overnight shift was spent restocking the shelves; there were 4 of us on the crew and we worked 10:00PM to about 2:00 AM, and slept from 2:00 AM to 6:00 AM.
During the college summers I worked in a packing plant. Back then the pay was actually pretty decent, especially for a college kid. But I quickly decided that I'd make my real career something that didn't involve any sort of factory work-I couldn't stand the boredom of doing the same thing over and over.
I was a janitor at a local Gold's Gym.. I was 15. It taught me good work ethic.. and why you don't work with friends.
Paperboy at age 12. My parents tried to talk me out of it. There's a busy road they were concerned I'd be riding my bike on. They begrudgingly let me interview and at least find out the route!
Dishwasher at a grungy summer restaurant/ice cream spot. "Queen Bee" fountain manager was on my case for putting hot (from the dishwasher) glasses in the front of the shelves, not the back. We enjoyed such antics as the grill guy making hamburger patties, throwing them up against the drywall ceiling, they'd stick for about five seconds, then peel themselves off. Could hear every fat molecule breaking loose.
If you ordered a grilled cheese sandwich, it was two slices of bread, a slice of american cheese, then we'd paint the outside of the bread with a margarine substitute called "Veg-a-gold" that came in gallon containers before frying it up.
But my absolute best job was on this resort island with all these rich hosers who weren't allowed cars. We had a couple dumpy pickup trucks that would meet the ferry boat and we'd porter stuff around. First boat got in at 7-something and was full of surly contractors, and occasionally lumber and bags of sakrete. Would have to manually haul all this junk up the gangplank on our shoulders. Then we'd adjourn to a coffee room with those contractors and complain about who wasn't there and of course about all the rich peckerheads.
Since everyone else was walking, if there was an evening cocktail party, we'd see old guys in fancy clothes heading in some general direction as we sped around. Chicks loved us. Everyone waved. We were big men on campus.
Since ferries came in every couple hours, there was time to goof around. My cousin/coworker played nintendo. Sometimes we'd just jump off the boat dock and go swimming right there. I mowed lawns as well between boats. Was pleased to pull off four, at a total of ~$50, in under two hours of otherwise "wasted" time. I was one of two lawnmowing contractors and did "zones" so I'd get one neighborhood one day and just keep going; amazing how efficient it is when you don't have to pack up your stuff and travel.
Was staying in this flophouse dorm place for the princely sum of $45 a week. Only downside was the fire siren on the roof and shared fridge/ bathrooms. There was a rocky point going out into the ocean where we'd light giant bonfires most evenings and get some underage drinking accomplished right in plain view. "The boss", also constable and only law enforcement, tested his walkie talkies before turning in at night just by keying the mic. We stevedores had one as well and took the click as an all-clear, even though a blind eye was turned anyway.
Sometimes we walked home. Next morning at 7 we'd go find our truck and go haul more building materials all hung over.
Ahhh, the 1990s!
Dishwasher at a grungy summer restaurant/ice cream spot. "Queen Bee" fountain manager was on my case for putting hot (from the dishwasher) glasses in the front of the shelves, not the back. We enjoyed such antics as the grill guy making hamburger patties, throwing them up against the drywall ceiling, they'd stick for about five seconds, then peel themselves off. Could hear every fat molecule breaking loose.
If you ordered a grilled cheese sandwich, it was two slices of bread, a slice of american cheese, then we'd paint the outside of the bread with a margarine substitute called "Veg-a-gold" that came in gallon containers before frying it up.
But my absolute best job was on this resort island with all these rich hosers who weren't allowed cars. We had a couple dumpy pickup trucks that would meet the ferry boat and we'd porter stuff around. First boat got in at 7-something and was full of surly contractors, and occasionally lumber and bags of sakrete. Would have to manually haul all this junk up the gangplank on our shoulders. Then we'd adjourn to a coffee room with those contractors and complain about who wasn't there and of course about all the rich peckerheads.
Since everyone else was walking, if there was an evening cocktail party, we'd see old guys in fancy clothes heading in some general direction as we sped around. Chicks loved us. Everyone waved. We were big men on campus.
Since ferries came in every couple hours, there was time to goof around. My cousin/coworker played nintendo. Sometimes we'd just jump off the boat dock and go swimming right there. I mowed lawns as well between boats. Was pleased to pull off four, at a total of ~$50, in under two hours of otherwise "wasted" time. I was one of two lawnmowing contractors and did "zones" so I'd get one neighborhood one day and just keep going; amazing how efficient it is when you don't have to pack up your stuff and travel.
Was staying in this flophouse dorm place for the princely sum of $45 a week. Only downside was the fire siren on the roof and shared fridge/ bathrooms. There was a rocky point going out into the ocean where we'd light giant bonfires most evenings and get some underage drinking accomplished right in plain view. "The boss", also constable and only law enforcement, tested his walkie talkies before turning in at night just by keying the mic. We stevedores had one as well and took the click as an all-clear, even though a blind eye was turned anyway.
Sometimes we walked home. Next morning at 7 we'd go find our truck and go haul more building materials all hung over.
Ahhh, the 1990s!
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My first real job that collected taxes on my income was during high school. I was the gopher/parts counter help at a Kawasaki motorcycle shop. This was the best job you could ask for in high school.
Prior to that I had delivered papers and mowed grass essentially from the age of 10.
Prior to that I had delivered papers and mowed grass essentially from the age of 10.
Mowed lawns starting at age 12, by age 13, bought my first motorcycle...much to my mother's consternation!
But I learned the value of work and saving money.
Worked summers at a snooty Connecticut country club, parking cars, and bussing tables. Needed more $$ for college, so also worked 3rd shift (midnight to 8) at a printing factory: noisy, dirty, dangerous...
Learned the value of a college education.
But I learned the value of work and saving money.
Worked summers at a snooty Connecticut country club, parking cars, and bussing tables. Needed more $$ for college, so also worked 3rd shift (midnight to 8) at a printing factory: noisy, dirty, dangerous...
Learned the value of a college education.
I cut grass as a kid, towed my mower around town behind my bike and made cash. I stuffed and delivered papers, did detasseling and bucking bales of hay.
In college, I was a batch clerk and ran card decks, worked on a local construction project during the summer and had a sports photo business where my best friend and I took pictures of local little league base ball teams and sold packs of pictures to the parents.
I also did an engineering internship, designing circuit boards and wrote an emulator for the 6809 microprocessor so we could test code before we loaded it into the actual machines.
In college, I was a batch clerk and ran card decks, worked on a local construction project during the summer and had a sports photo business where my best friend and I took pictures of local little league base ball teams and sold packs of pictures to the parents.
I also did an engineering internship, designing circuit boards and wrote an emulator for the 6809 microprocessor so we could test code before we loaded it into the actual machines.
As a kid I was an entrepreneur - used to sell postage stamp collections, then ventured into bike parts. As I grew fond of photography, I started shooting portraits and group photos.
My first job working for someone else was in my late teens as a farm helper. Worked for someone who seemed like a nasty guy but now it seems like he was just a regular boss.
My first job working for someone else was in my late teens as a farm helper. Worked for someone who seemed like a nasty guy but now it seems like he was just a regular boss.
Had to lie about my age to get my first real job. It was washing dishes for $3.45 an hour in 1986 and I was thrilled to have it. I filled out the application a few weeks earlier and started on my 16th birthday. Man was I rich when I got that first check, think it was like $40.
Come to think of it I think I had more money then.
Still best friends with some the people I meet there.
Come to think of it I think I had more money then.Still best friends with some the people I meet there.
Started delivering flyers and local papers when I was about 9. 'Worked my way up' to having a Ottawa Citizen (big daily paper) route, which I did right until I was about 16.
At one point, I had 5 different flyer or paper routes at once.
At one point, I had 5 different flyer or paper routes at once.
First real job was Cashier at Arby's.
I know most people who work fast food never eat where they worked ever again, but even to this day I still think Arby's is one of the cleaner restaurants. I can still recall the smell of the cleaning chemicals we'd use at shift end to mop up the fry grease off the floor.
I know most people who work fast food never eat where they worked ever again, but even to this day I still think Arby's is one of the cleaner restaurants. I can still recall the smell of the cleaning chemicals we'd use at shift end to mop up the fry grease off the floor.
very first job with a real paycheck was collecting signatures for a drive to get on the ballot an referendum to block the building of a dam on the Merrimac River, was probably 13. Then as a busboy at 15 at a brand new insane big and busy restaurant. Then as a bagboy at a grocery store, moved up to stocker, server at an ice cream shop, became assistant manager, and on and on.
Paperboy at around age 13. Made $120 a month which was a big deal for me. I saved up and bought a bicycle. I had the best bike in the neighborhood. I also bought roller skates..then roller blades came out shortly after. Then I became the biggest loser in the neighborhood.
Anyway, paperboys are obsolete. Because of America's paranoia about child molesters and children are lazier and don't want to ride their bikes anymore. Instead they want to play computer games and ride on their motorized scooter.
Anyway, paperboys are obsolete. Because of America's paranoia about child molesters and children are lazier and don't want to ride their bikes anymore. Instead they want to play computer games and ride on their motorized scooter.
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I've worked since I was 16...whether it was work or school (or both).
My first job was stocking shelves at a grocery store. I unloaded tractor trailers, broke down pallets of groceries and then stocked shelves. I did that for 3 years while in high school and after. I don't really consider that a job since it was minimum wage and I did it part time.
When I was 18 I started working construction as an apprentice electrician.
My first job was stocking shelves at a grocery store. I unloaded tractor trailers, broke down pallets of groceries and then stocked shelves. I did that for 3 years while in high school and after. I don't really consider that a job since it was minimum wage and I did it part time.
When I was 18 I started working construction as an apprentice electrician.
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