In my other thread lots of people are saying they had retail jobs. It makes me so curious! Where have you worked? Which companies rocked/which sucked?
My first job was at a restaurant, hated it. I was 15
Second--a movie theater. I worked there for 2 years, it sucked but the people I worked with were loads of fun until everyone started sleeping together and things got awkward.
Third job was at a tanning salon, it was awful. Sooo many creepy stories.
My most recent job was at a Children's Museum. It was a lot of fun but they hired me 4 months pregnant and I knew I wasn't staying so I didn't get attached.
I was an office receptionist as a teenager. My first job when I moved to Portland was at a movie theater, then Subway, then I worked in the bakery at a casino in Tahoe, waitress in Portland, a couple bakeries (one closed while I was working there), and finally a bakery on the campus of a liberal arts college.
ETA: Aside from the receptionist gig, which I loved, I kind of disliked all my jobs. I apparently don't like to be told what to do and hated the lack of creative license I got as a baker.
Gloria Jeans coffee- love it. I was 16 and jacked on caffeine all the time Bath and Body Works- eh telemarketing - HATED IT! a mom and pops restaurant- I didn't make much, but it was a fun summer more telemarketing- YUK Musical instrument store- it was dead all the time, but I taught myself guitar, banjo, and piano Blockbuster- HELL....but I met hubby and worked with my BFF Brueggers Bagels- good job...up too early NASCAR Cafe- crappy server job, but I made decent $ Carrabbas- love this job. Waited tables and managed for a while. Made good cash The Melting Pot- loved the job, served and managed. Made more than I do teaching. Couldn't handle the hours anymore though. I did this while I went through school and student taught Then I was a teaching assistant for 3 years before I got my teaching job. I loved my special ed. kids, but didn't make much $
Teen years: mall food court at Arthur Treachers fish & chips. So greasy! Also worked at a grocery store as a cashier, wasn't too bad. Oh and Linen store, it was boring.
Twenties (before graduating from college)
Chase bank credit card customer service, I was that girl you talked to when you called the number on the back of the card. I made really good money there. Strict company and it was taxing dealing with pissed off people but it was better than seeing them in person.
AT&T wireless, another customer service over the pone but it the accounts receivable dept. Your phone got shut off or you needed to pay, that was me too! Good benefits. Worked PT, 4 hours a day and also got paid well.
United Way was my college internship. Pay was crap but good experience and liked the work I was involved in with volunteers.
Timeshare resort first job out of college as a HR Asst. pay sucked, far drive and there was so much turn over that once I was a recruiter I felt like I was spinning my wheels. Really launched me into my HR career though.
Fifth third bank: Recruiter, it was ok. I hated my boss and I recruited for Mortage which was not what I was hired for. I worked downtown which was a cool spot. Money was decent, benefits good. Never allowed to wear jeans even on Friday!
Government contractor for the past 5+ years. Benefits are great, ability to work from home, pay is good but I'm under paid. It is kind of stressful because if we don't win contracts my job can become in jeopardy. Love what I am doing and want to stay hee for a loooong time.
I've had a lot of jobs! DH has been with the same company for 15 years.
Post by lauranicole91 on Jan 8, 2013 22:35:49 GMT -5
I never list my first job on applications because I apparently was hired illegally. But it was at a local pizza place. I only lasted 3 days before cops showed up and I was told to not come back. Haha.
Second job was the on and off work I did as a wedding coordinator's assistant. My dad was a part of the committee that owned the building so I just helped out with bussing tables, serving buffet lines, and bar tending, and set up clean up of weddings. I also did the office work like taking phone calls and setting appintments. I was just paid under the table for that one so I don't list that on applications either.
My third(first official) job was Party City. Horrible company to work for. I was there for 2.5 years.
San Francisco Music Box Company Hudson's in the men's department Assistant for an Insurance Agent Office Manager in my dormitory IT intern for Parker Hannifin pneumatics division Software developer for a major Insurance company - my job for the last 12 years
Lets see: Younger days- Papergirl I had a huge babysitting empire in my town.... Like people would kinda fight over me. Cake decorator at a supermarket Cashier at a supermarket Assistant manager at a gourmet bakery Night clerk in college Worked at our college book store Eta: I forgot, I taught Spanish to elementary school children through an after school program
Internships- Krock radio in NYC MTV animation in NYC
Older days- Sales jobs at various hotels, conference centers, banquet halls
In high school I worked at a stable and was also grocery store cashier. I worked in the library for work study at college. Summers in college I worked for a few different retail stores. Ann Taylor Loft was the store I worked at the longest. I substitute taught, was an 1:1 aide, and have taught elementary, middle, and high school art. Last year I worked for a mortgage company until I found my current part time teaching job. I hated retail.
Softball referee in middle and high school. Quiznos and red lobster in high school. Caterpillar, engineering firm, hospital, chemistry tutor and a university environmental program while in college. Federal government as an engineer after college.
Best job was Caterpillar, they treated their employees awesome and have great vacation and retirement benefits. Quiznos made me realize I HAD to get a college degree, I couldn't work fast food forever like some people there.
I worked at the same restaraunt all through HS and was a hostess, reservationist, busgirl, foodrunner, and waitress. But bussing tables was by far my favorite position, wierd I know, but I freaking loved it. In college I bartended. I worked at a cocktail bar and a gritty irish bar simultaneously. Made ridiculously amazing money and meet amazing people. Post grad I worked in an art gallery, then for a stylist, and prior to SAH worked for a women's wear company as a district manager for the NYC & Hamptons stores.
At 14 I did light accounting (book keeping and stuff) for a friend of my mom.
Late highschool and half of college I works at Burger King which I actually really loved. I loved being on whopper board during lunch rush and just in the kitchen in general, but the manager usually put me on drive through because I was one of the few who could do math in my head and had a good attitude.
One summer in college I worked in the hardware department of my mom's company getting computers ready.
After college I worked in the PR department for a non-profit in Brooklyn. I kind of hated that job and made just enough to pay for rent with three roommates.
I temped for a few months while looking for a job in publishing. A lot of the jobs were as a receptionist and I had nothing to do all day.
Finally I got a job at Penguin and worked there for 6.5 years until I quit to stay at home. It's an AMAZING company. I got 70% off all penguin books and there are "take shelves" all over the office that are just shelves of free books. Every year they have an insane Halloween party where there is a costume parade that the CEO judges. It's just such a close family environment. I really loved it there.
WOW! The board is all over the place. My brother worked at Red Lobster like some of you. He said they told him when he started that if he wanted to gain 500 lbs he should eat the biscuits every time you worked.
I've been working since I was old enough for a work permit (Thanks, dad), and I'm ooooold, so here goes:
- First job at 14: Produce dept at Safeway. Met an 18 y/o cashier I thought was super hot and dad "let" me quit ( :-) ) to babysit instead.
- Summers in high school: car wash, softball coach, nanny
- College: PT retail: VS, Champs Sports, Pier One, all with a double major. For two summers I interned (unpaid) in the press dept of the Secretary of State's office, and then the Governor's office. I technically finished my college credits a year early, so I worked (unpaid) FT for the Governor's office and then retail on evenings and weekends.
- After college: Political consulting firm for 2 years; then moved to SanFrancisco to jump on the dot com bandwagon. Worked in marketing for several startup companies. They all tanked after a year so I (and everyone else there) went to grad school.
- Grad school: In Ireland. Wasn't legally able to work (they don't give foreign students work permits), so worked at a local pub paid under the counter for a year.
- After grad school: got a visa to stay in Ireland with a small technology company. stayed for four additional years until a giant American company bought us and made me move home.
- Now: Am still working for that company (from home) 7 years later.
I loved them all for different reasons, and still have good friends from almost every job. Except Safeway. That one really blew up in my dad's face:) I need a vacation just reading this. I've never NOT worked.
My first job was at this clothing store called Contempo Casuals. I was 16.
Then I worked at this discount designer store. I LOVED it there. The owners went to sample sales in NYC and LA and came back with the coolest stuff. I worked there from my junior year in HS to my freshman year in college.
Then I worked at a department store in the dresses section, eventually I " made it" into the cosmetics dept. at the Prescriptives counter. I worked there for about 5-6 months and then transferred to the NARS counter at a Saks owned dept. store in another mall. I LOVED that job.
When I moved to NYC, I got transferred to a NARS counter here but the hours ended p not being ok with my school schedule. I then got a job as a make-p artist at Sephora and opened up their 34th Street store. I hated working at Sephora. It was the most bizarre company ever. I had to wear red lipstick that matched the carpet. I was yelled at once because I came in with my hair a mess( hello it's January in NYC with 60 mph freezing winds on the avenues!!!). One day I just never went back in. Not like me to do that, but that job was horrible.
My next job was at a tanning salon in the West Village, I met my H because of my job there. I loved that job. I met the coolest people, loved the neighborhood and I worked alone. I didn't like the owner/manager at all , though. He was a misogynistic asshole. So after about 3 years of working there I quit.
Then I bartended. I worked at a few places. My favorite was working down on Wall Street. I made nightclub type tips but was home by 10pm. It rocked. I've never seen so much cash in my life.
Then reality set in that I needed to start my career. I worked as a designer at several companies in the Garment District. I have some funny tales and really need to write a book about my experience. The Fashion world is seriously freekin' weird.
I was laid off in 2008 and started designing bridal accessories about 3 months later. I also did extra work in movies and TV shows.
Wow, these are interesting. Some of you have such a wide variety of jobs, it's fascinating to me! My jobs are all music related, and mostly simultaneous - because musicians make such little money that you have to do all the jobs at once. I've never not had a music job.
In Chicago: played in the Symphony, Opera, & Ballet, played church gigs/weddings/commercial studio gigs, taught kids at a music school.
Back in Australia: teach kids, conduct orchestra at private school
Post by orriskitten on Jan 8, 2013 23:16:02 GMT -5
Theater. Circus freak. Teaching kids to edit film. A few films as an assistant producer/PA/props person/make-up assistant/caterer/actress. Ice Skating Rink. Fundraising for a Food Bank. Fundraising/database manager for a museum. Personal chef.
And an odd job in between that would make many of you cringe and clutch your pearls in fear and disgust and possible fascination
I worked for my grandpa as a receptionist. It was about how you would expect working for one's grandpa to be.
Then I worked for Movie Gallery for a few years. I started as a cashier then ended up being the store manager of a different location. The hours sucked and the commute was terrible.
I liked the job, for the most part, and I loved my employees. But I hated the management of the company. I left in the midst of their bankruptcy proceedings, and they were pretty shitty to work for at the time. I gave my two weeks notice when Holden was about nine months old and never looked back.
In high school I worked at a hockey rink in the pro shop selling hockey equipment, it was the best job ever!! All the local high school and a couple minor league teams played there so it was like hot hockey players around 24/7 and there was myself and a couple other girls that worked there too. We would hang out there every day whether we were working or not, it was so much fun!!
In college I worked at Friday's....Sucked.
Blockbuster-sucked
I was a receptionist at a jaguar dealership during the summers, it was fun and I met my DH working there.
Now I work at a market research company for almost 7 years now, I like it a lot.
ETA forgot I worked at target for awhile after college....it was ok but being a cashier is hard work! I would get so sore from lifting everyone's pop and laundry detergents. And I hated trying to get people to sign up for the credit cards. I also had an internship with an ad agency, was fun lots of freebies
Lola, you have the most interesting jobs ever! I always wondered if it was in the dress code to be super made up and manicured at Sephora, they always look a bit over done. That is interesting!
Orris if you don't spill it I'll come find you! I would never clutch my pearls at you.
And Lola, I hated working at the tanning salon but loved many aspects of it. I loved being alone, I loved the customers, I loved the management (an elderly couple) but we became very close and they ended up relying on me A LOT. I was doing everything (the books, the inventory, ordering/shipping, training, scheduling, going to expos) but still not getting paid more. I sat them down to talk about it and they agreed I should be making more but that they couldn't afford to pay me it. Sooo.. I started job hunting and was hired as a manager of the Children's Museum. I am still super close to the owner though.