Whether it was babysitting for a friend or walking a dog, we all had one of those first-time jobs that earned us a little money in our early years.
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A part-time job from a mayor-sponsored summer program where students were sent to participating companies/agencies/etc. to provide the kids a real-job experience. I was part of a group that worked for the philanthropic foundation of a popular company that made foot pads. Our job was to stuff appeal envelopes and we took turns taking the finished envelopes to the basement of the high-rise building where the mailroom was. When it was my turn, some of the other kids whose turn had already happened were giggling as I took the box of sealed envelopes into the service elevator, and I had no idea what was happening. Also, nobody really said exactly where in the basement the mailroom was - they said "it's not hard to find, there's a sign on the door". Well, off I go and first of all, it was sort of dark and dreary down there and nothing was clearly marked. I went and opened a couple of those swinging doors thinking it must be a big room and therefore probably the mailroom. Boy was I wrong! It was a MORGUE where legally donated human LEGS and FEET were kept for the company's research purposes!! Needless to say I ran back out of the room as fast as I could, and I don't remember what I did with the box of envelopes but I never, ever volunteered to do that task again! The other kids who already knew what was down there somehow seemed to think this would be a "cool" ritual to put the other kids through!
Live in babysitter for 5 kids aged 6 months to 12 years for almost a year when I was 13 years old. My first “real” job was as a waitress in a sleazy cafe when I was 14 years old and I lasted until just after my 15th birthday. My mom worked there and got me the job. Had to ride my bike 7 miles one way to get there only for old men to harass me for 4-9 hours and then ride my bike the 7 miles home in the dark in the country. Fun times. That’s why I’ll never wear my hair in 2 braids ever again and I never waited tables after that.
Ugh, it was working at a family owned yogurt shop at our local mall. They had all the toppings in a case that customers could view. They had toddlers too. At the job. And they let them grab fistfuls of these toppings with their dirty toddler hands. That is why I quit, too.
Very first official was the summer vacation between high school and uni. Worked at a safety supplies store as an assistant. My dad knew the people so they agreed to let me work for the break. It was kinda fun.
I was doing yard work. I was to young for a "real" job so I took up mowing lawns and pulling weeds. I made good money and was complemented by these two little girls who said they had never seen a girl mow a lawn before. (There dad had always mowed i guess)
Office Depot 2007....back to school in August was fun times haha not that's why I quit.
Currently on my first “shift”- I’m spending this summer babysitting for my sister.
7 am to 3 pm Tuesday and Wednesday, $100 a week. Not bad for a first job.
My first job at the end of the 1980s was membership administration for a gym and a karate dojo on an even-then-ancient Commodore 8032 computer. This was done with some obscure handwritten software which I had to maintain, too. Of course that software came with zero documentation so I had to become acquainted with it by myself.
A paper route. My sister and I shared this huge local paper route and absolutely hated it! Our dad made us keep it for a year to teach us about commitment. Thanks, dad❤️
I was a farm hand for the summer at 10yrs old. This was 1987. It was hard work, grueling, at times, very rewarding though.
My aunt had a small farm, sold goods to local businesses, back when you had a local butcher shop and farmers market.
I was not "paid", in the traditional sense. I was given room and board, at the end of the summer, the day I went back home to the folks, my aunt gave me $100 dollars. Again 1987, that was a lot for a 10yr old, and for that time.
I had a great time, I helped build my first barn, learned a bunch of useful skills, and felt really needed. My aunt asked my dad, her brother, if it was cool I come back next year. I didn't let him say yes or no, I told her I would.
Had to skip it the year I did my paper route, that sucked. Went back the next year at 13. They sold the farm when I was 15. Local businesses were closing down, no more farmers markets. I miss that farm. Best job I ever had.
Worked for a company that I encoded customer files in a custom database. Learned so much about computers. My boss allowed me to do WHATEVER I wanted with them, as long as I didn't physically break it. Cannot tell you how many times I crashed the system, but he was kind and patient with me and had shown me how to reload and reconfigure everything time and time again. (I was 10, and mowed his lawn also --- old school GoFundMe)
I worked in a daycare center starting when I was 18 years old. Worked with every age- infants as young as 6 weeks old to as old as after school kids around 11 years old. I realized after that stint, I was never meant to be anyone’s mother!
A youth program that the neighboring county offered. It was in the city and open to younger kids. I was 11 and signed up with my best friend. It was every Saturday through the summer and we got to do various things. Running a concession stand at a racetrack, waving the warning flag at a motocross race, and simply picking up trash alongside the bigger roads. They also taught us how to write a resume, and have a good job interview.
Went to interview in a laundry company as a driver, they were very impress by my interview they decided to offer me managment of the laundry, i said ok, lets try it.
The person who mentor me had such an awful breath smell, felt like something died in his mouth.
I couldnt handle it so after one week i gave my resignation letter.
20 years later, they are the biggest laundry company in the country.
When I was just 8 there was a newspaper called Grit. I don't know if it's still around or not. I'm 56 now so times were different then. Most of my customers were elderly and would buy the paper just so I would spend a few moments talking to them. If wasn't a lot of money but when you're 8 and making some spending money if made me feel special. My faithful German Sheppard Missy always went with me.
10 years old shoveling chicken c**p out of coupe. Thought I was king with my 5 bucks for the whole weekend. Taught me some life lessons.
