What was your first job?

[VEDA]

Not babysitting, a paper route, or something similar. This is about, when you received your first paycheck, with all the taxes taken out.

My first job, was at Dunkin Donuts. I left each shift, with a couple of dozen donuts, as we were allowed, and filled up my mother's, and boyfriends mother's freezers.

It was tough for a teen, to make a six AM shift, on a weekend, but the fringe benefits were great.

 

[jakemoe]

I know what you mean when you say it was tough to make an a.m. shift. For me it was tough to make any shift back as a teenager. I was a waitress as a teenager and went to work hungover so many times and boy things sure change when a person ages. I could never ever do that today.

 

[songsiren]

I worked at Drug Emporium stocking shelves. Way back when you had to price items with a manual price gun.

 

[DB Dicey]

Arbys with big goofy chefs hats. Dont know if they still wear those.

 

[Delta L1011]

Arbys with big goofy chefs hats. Dont know if they still wear those.[/QUOTE
@DB Dicey, (I am male) thus, when I was 12 years old, my 1st paying job, was "washing cars all day long" every Saturday
at my favorite Uncle's Atlantic Richfield, service station, in a otherwise, very small, central North Carolina, un-incorporated
community, "IMO around a bunch of older rednecks in this "out in the sticks" rural community in the 1960's.....................

that job taught me "A LOT" as, many of these 20 something (then) older adults had me wash their Detroit iron "Muscle cars"
(who actually raced these cars nearby in the town seat, if my rural community, at a 1/4 mile paved drag strip...including these
classic (then) brand new muscle & high H.P cars such as these:

1957 Ford Thunderbird 2 door Convertible (312 CID) 300HP with 2 four barrel carbs w/ 3 speed manual trans
1963 Chevrolet Impala SS (409 CID 425 HP) 2 door coupe with 4 speed trans
1963 Pontiac 2 door "Super Duty" 421 CID 405 HP with two four barrel carbs w/ 4 speed trans
1963 Ford Galaxie 2 door "Factback" with a 427 CID engine with 425 HP 4 speed trans
1964 Pontiac "GTO" 2 door Convertible with a 389 CID engine with 348 HP
1965 Pontiac "GTO" 2 door Coupe with a 389 CID engine with 360 HP 4 speed trans
1965 Chevelle Malibu 2 door Coupe Super Sport with a L79 ~ 327 CID engine with 350 HP w/ Holley 4 bbl carb on Alum intake
1964 1/2 Ford Mustang 2 door Coupe with a 289 CID Windsor "HI-PO" engine with 271 HP (K code) solid lifter & 4 speed trans.
1966 Oldsmobile "442" 2 door Coupe with a 400 CID engine with a 360 HP 4 speed trans & 2 four barrel carbs
1963 Chrysler 2 door Convertible "300-J" with a 413 CID engine with 410 HP BUT with 2 four barrel Carter carbs & Torqueflight auto trans.

 

[pia]

I started working at 16 at a local supermarket as a part-time cashier. Some days I would come in early and put the bread on the shelves.
Back then we did not have scanners and bar codes, it was just knowing the price and pressing the right keys on the register... I digress...

 

[Bawston]

I worked at a small pharmacy and reconciled the cash and receipts for phone and electric bill payments. This was when you could pay your bills for THE phone company and THE electric company at designated stores. You could send a check for payment to each company but then you’d be wasting a 3 cent stamp on EACH envelope!

 

[Junepei]

Blockbuster video back in early 2000’s. Was a great job to have in high school. Plus my manager was cool and would let us watch movies while we worked. Good times

 

[CrayonBox]

My first job was at 18 in the 90’s. I worked at a Subway sandwich shop. The owners we’re never really there most of the time and they were only 5 hour shifts so it was a pretty relaxed first job.

 

[Sammi50]

I was sixteen, fast food of course,I really didn’t care much for it, Jack in the box

 

[broker]

18 and MacDonald's off course,where else.
Few sandwiches was my biggest win.

 

[grannyof2boys]

I had a paper route back in the late 1950's... 3rd, 4th & 5th grade.

It was up at 3am to roll papers and rubber band them back then. Mother would get up at 4:30am and carry me on my route. Back home by 7:am. I would get ready for school and she had to get ready for her 8-5 job. My dad sometimes took me around, but mostly Mother did the driving me.

I have worked all my life up until the last 10yrs or so.... due to chronic illness, sadly.

 

[Nmosnf]

The first job to actually take taxes was a grocery store stocker/bagger at 15. I remember the long days of 7am school in the morning. Football practice afterwards and then a 3 hour shift from 6-9pm. I remember mopping the aisles to close the store and would just be a zombie afterwards. Was a fun place to work as a teen though.

 

[trish5959]

I went to boarding school from age 12 so my first job was in a pharmacy aged 18. This was back in the '70's, I'd love to see what was on the shelves in those days!

 

[M77]

I was a busboy at a diner, when I was 14-15. I couldn’t believe how much I made, but for the decade, it was hard work, but high pay, at least at my young age. The only thing that sucked was I had to walk home at 4:00 AM. It was about 3 miles. Not as bad as Abe Lincoln, who walked a lot further, just to go to school.

My first fully “on the books” job was at The Golden Arches a/k/a McDonalds. I think you could get “working papers” at 16 maybe, but it might have been 17. I doubt it was 17, because I know where I worked when I was 17, and that was after McDonalds.

 

[Farley]

The very first paid work I did was when someone saw me and a male friend "copy" a youtube vid of a couple who did a mix mash of "The Lindy Hop & Shuffle Dancing". The Female I "copied" and gave credit to , kicked up a fuss but did not really get anywhere as I even linked the orginal video and ours was slightly different as the Male was not used to that particular style of dancing and as we trying things out we decided to change things a little and did the Lindy Hop dance ( not in shuffle style) but I got noticed and interviewed, and was hired to do a performance. I also apparently got paid when I performed in a Ballet not connected to the school I was at. I don't recall getting paid ( my parents probably put it in my bank account, my pocket money got paid into the account my Debit card was connected to as my Dad was and still does get frustrated with what he deemed as financial ineptitude) So I don't really class it as a "Paid Job" as I had to do performances for free? I think this was because EU regs meant we were restricted. Looking back I think it was a bit explotive as they were hard work, held to a high standard and most importantly ate into a lot of my otherwise free time. I also have an etsy shop, my mum used to run it when I was too young to have one and still helps out but now I don't really spend to much time with it. When I was younger I really appreciated the money I " earnt" by my own little business adventure ( I made jewellery) and other little things. I recall being very proud of it at the time, and it was a nice little earner, to the point as soon as I turned 18 I used the profits to take out Cash and shares ISA's which have grown in value. I also bought an entire Bitcoin when it was affordable to do so. I regret not buying more My dad works in finance and he told me not to buy anymore so I took his advice. In the year 2019 there are a LOT of scams involving bitcoin so be careful out there. I still sell home made Jewellery at a profit. I enjoy making them as well so I was fortunate enough to find "paid work" that was a passion and something I enjoy. My friends that went to Uni's and are in much debt don't earn as much as I do. I think parents should realise that a Uni education is not necessary for a good job especially if it is in Gender Studies or any other degree that does not have a definitive career route . Saying that my siblings went to Good uni's, got degrees in useful subjects and will out earn me. I occasionally help out at a dance studio for little kids whose parents cannot afford to pay much. I do it for free and would probably turn down money as seeing the little kids who realistically will never reach en pointe but love the classes will likely gain more from it than those with Stage Moms who ask dumb questions like "why isn't she walking on her toes yet" umm she is 6 years old!. I read some the above answers and that would not fly today. Kids getting up at 3am to work! I have little knowledge of childs labour laws and I think they vary from state to state in the US. I am torn between thinking kids today have it too easy and WTH were they thinking back then.

 

[Farley]

I was a busboy at a diner, when I was 14-15. I couldn’t believe how much I made, but for the decade, it was hard work, but high pay, at least at my young age. The only thing that sucked was I had to walk home at 4:00 AM. It was about 3 miles. Not as bad as Abe Lincoln, who walked a lot further, just to go to school.

My first fully “on the books” job was at The Golden Arches a/k/a McDonalds. I think you could get “working papers” at 16 maybe, but it might have been 17. I doubt it was 17, because I know where I worked when I was 17, and that was after McDonalds.

What decade was this in? I assume you worked at a fancy place as busboy and got great tips? I once got Turned DOWN for a Job at McDonalds, it was a group interview and I noticed my friend also did not get chosen. The guy who interviewed us, seemed like a bit of a Tw@t. I think there was some reverse snobbery going on, as it seemed too much like a coincidence that my friend ( that had relevent experience ) got turned down. He probably took one look at the School we attended and thought Nah! I also met a guy that was turned down from KFC, he works in finance and earns 6 figures. At the time he NEEDED a job as his family were poor. My dad saw his potential and relevant skills and hired him, in the UK, there is an issue with young people getting discriminated against due to " snowflakes" and millennials can't do anything without asking google mentality. So despite the min wage for younger people being less, it can be difficult for young people to find work at typical places that hire young people such as McD's KFC Admin assistants etc. I would have liked to work at those type of low earning jobs for the experience AND the money. My parents sure as hell did not give me a huge allowance, and for that I am grateful as my etsy shop would not have existed, nor would I have a look back and laugh at my McDonalds interview experience. A lot of wealthy parents still want their children to have that work experience in thier formative years. I have plenty of other examples of " kids today" getting turned down and discriminated for jobs on top of the min wage discrimination they already face, but I think I have enough internet for today.

 

[Enthusiastic85]

I was a waitress in my uncle Breakfast/diner and in modern days you would call it “coffee shop” that long ago closed down. Back then I made a bank on tips since I smiled to everybody, but I was sort of one of those girls that everybody knew that it’s Big Mo’s niece, so no one said any uninvited comments or offered anything stupid. I don’t know back then in small towns people were and actually still are nicer. If someone would flirt with me then it would be my uncle’s friends (and they all were 50+), so if they would say something like look I can drown in these blue eyes. I took it as a compliment and just smiled saying back “I am sure you are a good swimmer since you say that to every waitress” and everyone would laugh. Now I can’t imagine 16 years old girl working in a place like we recently passed where bunch of truck drivers were talking nothing but on which truck stop you get the best you know... Sad, I am not that old but 20 years ago people (men I want to say, since I am a female) had better manners. They opened the door for you, now it can be perceived like something offensive why??? I miss the 90s like someone miss their 60s/70s/80s you know. Ehh Good Times...

 

[LeviDenim]

Being a private ski instructor had me pulling down my first money. Before that all the typical kid stuff like lawn cutting, snow removal and light home repair were part of my earnings.

 

[M77]

What decade was this in? I assume you worked at a fancy place as busboy and got great tips? I once got Turned DOWN for a Job at McDonalds, it was a group interview and I noticed my friend also did not get chosen. The guy who interviewed us, seemed like a bit of a Tw@t. I think there was some reverse snobbery going on, as it seemed too much like a coincidence that my friend ( that had relevent experience ) got turned down. He probably took one look at the School we attended and thought Nah! I also met a guy that was turned down from KFC, he works in finance and earns 6 figures. At the time he NEEDED a job as his family were poor. My dad saw his potential and relevant skills and hired him, in the UK, there is an issue with young people getting discriminated against due to " snowflakes" and millennials can't do anything without asking google mentality. So despite the min wage for younger people being less, it can be difficult for young people to find work at typical places that hire young people such as McD's KFC Admin assistants etc. I would have liked to work at those type of low earning jobs for the experience AND the money. My parents sure as hell did not give me a huge allowance, and for that I am grateful as my etsy shop would not have existed, nor would I have a look back and laugh at my McDonalds interview experience. A lot of wealthy parents still want their children to have that work experience in thier formative years. I have plenty of other examples of " kids today" getting turned down and discriminated for jobs on top of the min wage discrimination they already face, but I think I have enough internet for today.

@Farley
Believe, you actually were lucky that they didn’t take you. As the newest, and youngest employee, I had the pleasure of cleaning the toilets, cleaning the tables, mopping the floor, etc. It was really miserable, especially while the other people had the registers and cooking, which was a lot more of a decent job. I would be lying if I told you how long I lasted there, because I don’t remember, but I doubt it was more than a few months, at most.

This all happened in 39, right before I enlisted in the Airborne Rangers, and was dropped into France, on D-Day. Just kidding, but I revere the bravery of the “Greatest Generation,” that saved the world from the Nazi scum. So that was nothing but a little tribute.