Among Friends

[Flatbush]

I had my working papers at 15. It was a part time job and I was a stock girl in a women's clothing store. 

I had to change from my high school uniform and wear a black, navy or dark brown dress.

It was a tedious job and if I ever thought of dropping out of school. it changed my mind in a jiffy.

So, what first job did you have and did it influence you at all?

[Desertdi]

Legal secretary at a title company.   I decided that being a "Della Street" wasn't as good as it looked........   I went on into public relations.......and then accounting.

[2Kittys]

I made "boot-leg" 8 track tapes and the mini tapes. It wasn't exactly legal, but it paid my bills until I could get a better paying job, that became my lifelong career in I.T.

[Xivambala]

While in high school, I worked part-time at an independent convenience store close to school. I was always uncomfortable there because the elderly manager was clearly an alcoholic and drank in the back office. I also worked in trade for free admission to my favorite obsession at the roller skating rink. This was at 'The Hub' in Chicago for anyone that lived there in the late 60's/early 70's. No money changed hands for this one. The owner got free labor, and I (along with the others that participated) got to skate free! Fortunately, I had my own car in high school to cart myself around to these places.

None of this influenced my later careers, many that they were.

[Tinkrbl44]

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@Flatbush wrote:

I had my working papers at 15. It was a part time job and I was a stock girl in a women's clothing store. 

I had to change from my high school uniform and wear a black, navy or dark brown dress.

It was a tedious job and if I ever thought of dropping out of school. it changed my mind in a jiffy.

So, what first job did you have and did it influence you at all?

---

@Flatbush 

First "legal" paying job?   

[Desertdi]

@Xivambala

YES..........I used to go skating at THE HUB

[Mary Bailey]

Old Chicago Amusement park at Arby's for a couple of weeks, then the amusement park as a sweeper.   I met my HS bf there.

[on the bay]

@Flatbush -

I was 15 too with a "work permit."

Do we still start that young?

Anyway, I think my first was at a Baskin Robbin's store. I loved that job except in the summer when lines were long, and my arm felt like it would fall off.

The sweet elderly couple eventually let me run the store by myself. The "Mrs." taught me how to decorate the cakes. In the winter, I would do my homework, sing as loud as I could,swing back and forth on the cases, and yes, take a spoon and try all 31 flavors! 😁 ( I was the only one in the store. Back then, I never had fear of that)!

One time a man came in and ordered Pralines and Cream. He said, what happened to all the pralines? Lol, I ate them in a night of shame haha!

My mother always wondered why I wasn't hungry for dinner. 

Who would be after a milkshake and sundae!🤭

I was always so grateful to that couple for teaching me responsibility, and care for a job well done (the cakes) and entrusting me with operating their store.

The other job I had, and I can't remember if this was my first or second, was at Hot Shoppes, my favorite place to eat. It was like the McDonalds (which I also worked at in college-great job too!) of our time.

I rode my bike several miles on the highway-who does that now?!, in my pretty pink uniform.

That was run by Marriott. What a great training program they had. It was a wonderful company and they were so good to their employees, treated them like students of not just restaurant work but life. Responsibility, hard work, attitude, respect, and "the customer is always right!" This last one taught me to hold any anger or frustration in towards rude customers later in my life.

I loved being a waitress, all thru highschool and college, and sometimes even later, but sometimes I really had to remember that attitude.

Later teaching special needs kids for the rest of my working days, that "customer is always right" became important in a different way when extra love, patience and understanding was needed

Thank you @Flatbush  for such a great thread. I will look forward to reading others!

[doolie]

Day after graduation at 17 was a Secretary at a Wall Street Brokerage Firm.

[cbrite]

Quicky filling up all the food in an ALL YOU CAN EAT place. One time running into the kitchen to get more hot gravy I slipped and it and I went all over.