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My First Job

DebMartin by DebMartin

First Jobs

I was having a discussion with a few friends the other day and somehow the topic turned to our first jobs. The kind of first jobs we were talking about were not those first jobs you did for money for your parents or neighbors, like babysitting, shoveling walks, mowing the lawn. We wanted to share our experiences about those first jobs that came with a pay check and a W2 form.

Those were the jobs that made us feel grown up. Those where the jobs that gave us independence beyond what we had previously experienced. Those where the jobs that introduced us to new and interesting people outside of our limited school and neighborhood circles. And for a few of us, those where the jobs where we found our first love.

The Job You Love

"Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life." ~Confucius

My First Job

A Job I Loved

Like many of you, my first job was during the summer months. I sold snow cones and paddle boards from a small concession at a local beach. Hardly a job by today's standards as I went to work in my bathing suit, an orange and white polka dot bikini if I remember correctly. But it was a paycheck. It was my first "real" job as I got a check and a check stub and I paid taxes.

This job was very different than my previous earning opportunities that usually involved changing diapers, wiping dirty mouths after fixing a PB&J sandwich, digging up a neighbor's bulbs in the fall, picking sticky, sweet fruit of some sort or monitoring the neighborhood grass in hope that it would grow just a little faster in the yard I was in charge of.

My first job was a job I loved. It set the tone for the rest of my life. I was and am always seeking work with similar elements. I want to work in an arena where:
1. I can wear what I want and be comfortable in my clothing.
2. I am contributing to the happiness of others.
3. There is a playful energy in the air.

While I'm just a little too old to go to work in an orange polka-dot bikini, I guess it's no surprise that I have grown up to be a Life Transition Coach, a Wilderness Adventure Retreat Leader, and a Fishing Guide.

Changing Jobs

"For many people a job is more than an income - it's an important part of who we are. So a career transition of any sort is one of the most unsettling experiences you can face in your life." ~Paul Clitheroe

First Job Help on Amazon

How to help your teenages get that first summer job and succeed in future employment.

I don't know if it was easier now to get that first job than it was when I was younger. Perhaps it's harder. I certainly hear a lot of different opinions. I grew up in a resort community so there were always summer job offerings. You just had to be quick and start applying early. I still live in that community and that rule seems to still hold true. That is, teenagers have no problem finding summer work if they want it. However, I hear from some folks now that adults are competing for what was traditionally teenage jobs. Who knows.

Either way, a little extra help and reading can't hurt.
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It goes amazingly fast. Do you have that summer job yet?

It used to be that you could start looking for summer work as soon as school got out. No longer! It's never too soon to line up your summer work.

Countdown to School's Out!

School's Out!: June 1, 2012

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Have you learned something new or been inspired to revisit your youth and your first job?

Thanks for reading. I appreciate you.

In Adventure
Deb

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Tell Us About Your First Job

What was your first paycheck experience?
How old were you?
How did you find and get the job?
Was it a summer job or a part-time after school job?
How did this first job change your work experience?

  • sbellis May 3, 2012 @ 10:11 pm | delete
    My first job was working as a cashier at a department store - part time after school. I was 17 and I found it could be stressful, customers complaining, the huge line ups at Christmas. I did learn that retail was not the career for me!
  • KimGiancaterino Nov 13, 2011 @ 1:31 pm | delete
    My first real job after high school was working the night shift in the Admissions Office at a small community college. It was pretty fun, and I've stayed in touch with several of the people I worked with.
  • WebaliciousGuides Nov 13, 2011 @ 11:03 am | delete
    My first proper paid job was working as a data entry clerk for a travel insurance broker. I was 17 years old and I was at 6th form college studying for my A Levels. I found the job after picking up a flyer in the college library. I called the number on the flyer and they asked me to come in and take a typing test and a quick interview. I was told a couple of days later that I'd been offered the job. It was part time so it fit around my studies, so I was mainly working evenings and weekends. It was a nice first job, but unfortunately it only lasted 3 or 4 months. The hourly rate was quite good for 2002 though, especially for a student. The experience was useful, as it meant that I could put on my CV that I had office experience.
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This UpMarket page written by

DebMartin

Most of my inspirations come from my wanderings though Northern Michigan and Ontario when I am attached to only the moment I am in during my travels. I... more »

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