Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Working for a living meme
Since I'm facing the prospect of a new job, I've been thinking about the ones I've had in the past. What an odd mix of things I've done! What's your job history?
Below are the jobs I've had and approximate age:
Age 12-13 -- burger flipper and cashier.
Age 14-15 -- convenience store stock boy-janitor
Age 16 -- cafeteria dishwasher-pot scrubber.
Age 16 -- watermelon hoer and hauler.
Age 17-21 -- truck stop attendant.
Age 18-22 -- radio announcer (Gospel, Top 40-AOR, country, adult contemporary).
Age 18-23 -- student newspaper reporter, news editor, opinion editor, editor-in-chief.
Age 21-24 -- student assistant, residence hall (called resident assistant now).
Age 24 -- student assistant instructor of American government.
Age 25 -- book store cashier.
Age 25-26 -- crime reporter.
Age 26-27 -- regional general assignment reporter.
Age 27-31 -- farm-ranch editor.
Age 29 -- dancehall bouncer.
Age 31-34 -- regional editor.
Age 34-35 -- city editor.
Age 35-present -- section editor/reporter.
I shoulda been writin' country songs at the time -- and I did, for awhile. Ronholio knows; he was there.
--ER
Below are the jobs I've had and approximate age:
Age 12-13 -- burger flipper and cashier.
Age 14-15 -- convenience store stock boy-janitor
Age 16 -- cafeteria dishwasher-pot scrubber.
Age 16 -- watermelon hoer and hauler.
Age 17-21 -- truck stop attendant.
Age 18-22 -- radio announcer (Gospel, Top 40-AOR, country, adult contemporary).
Age 18-23 -- student newspaper reporter, news editor, opinion editor, editor-in-chief.
Age 21-24 -- student assistant, residence hall (called resident assistant now).
Age 24 -- student assistant instructor of American government.
Age 25 -- book store cashier.
Age 25-26 -- crime reporter.
Age 26-27 -- regional general assignment reporter.
Age 27-31 -- farm-ranch editor.
Age 29 -- dancehall bouncer.
Age 31-34 -- regional editor.
Age 34-35 -- city editor.
Age 35-present -- section editor/reporter.
I shoulda been writin' country songs at the time -- and I did, for awhile. Ronholio knows; he was there.
--ER
Comments:
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Oops. Forgot one.
Age 22 -- factory laborer (specifically, I gouged out the permagum from where the coolant tubing goes between the bottom panel of a refrigerator and the back panel, then wiped said refrigerator down with an alcohol-soaked rag. At a work station that stayed steady at 100-plus degrees. I gouged and wiped some 80,000 refrigerators that summer.
Age 22 -- factory laborer (specifically, I gouged out the permagum from where the coolant tubing goes between the bottom panel of a refrigerator and the back panel, then wiped said refrigerator down with an alcohol-soaked rag. At a work station that stayed steady at 100-plus degrees. I gouged and wiped some 80,000 refrigerators that summer.
OK, I'll play.
My memory is not good enough at my advanced age to remember how old I was when I held each job. Plus that's too much work. But here tis....
TEENS
--Painted my parents' house one summer
--grocerty store stocker/sacker
--summer hay hauler for my Dad
--helped my Dad, a contractor, build storm cellars (this experience cemented my decision to attend college and try out the white-collar work world)
--Stocker/sacker/warehouseman at the Gibson's Discount Center (retailer), where I was also on-call to mow the store owner's yard, put up his Christmas lights, clean his swimming pool, etc.
--Furniture deliverer for White's Auto. (Short-lived after mysterious scuffing incident)
ADULT
--Newspaper reporter
--legislative aide, Texas State Capitol
--Door to door encyclopedia salesman. Believe it took less than a week, if I recall correctly, to determine that sales was not for me.
--Media spokesman for major beer company-sponsored rodeo event
--Free-lance writer
--Newspaper city editor, assistant city editor, assistant regional editor
--Currently reporter/editor for major newsgathering organization
My memory is not good enough at my advanced age to remember how old I was when I held each job. Plus that's too much work. But here tis....
TEENS
--Painted my parents' house one summer
--grocerty store stocker/sacker
--summer hay hauler for my Dad
--helped my Dad, a contractor, build storm cellars (this experience cemented my decision to attend college and try out the white-collar work world)
--Stocker/sacker/warehouseman at the Gibson's Discount Center (retailer), where I was also on-call to mow the store owner's yard, put up his Christmas lights, clean his swimming pool, etc.
--Furniture deliverer for White's Auto. (Short-lived after mysterious scuffing incident)
ADULT
--Newspaper reporter
--legislative aide, Texas State Capitol
--Door to door encyclopedia salesman. Believe it took less than a week, if I recall correctly, to determine that sales was not for me.
--Media spokesman for major beer company-sponsored rodeo event
--Free-lance writer
--Newspaper city editor, assistant city editor, assistant regional editor
--Currently reporter/editor for major newsgathering organization
# posted by 
: 2:08 PM
: 2:08 PM
Well, put down hay haulin' a time or six for me, too.
And when I was a little bitty ER, Daddy ER cut me a hoe down to size for use in gettin' in the way hoein' soybeans. And I "helped" feed when I was little bitty.
And I picked up and disposed of feed sacks on command.
And, I freely admit, I helped Mama ER clean house by sweeping and oil-mopping and dusting the house. And I helped her fold towels and wash cloths. :-)
And when I was a little bitty ER, Daddy ER cut me a hoe down to size for use in gettin' in the way hoein' soybeans. And I "helped" feed when I was little bitty.
And I picked up and disposed of feed sacks on command.
And, I freely admit, I helped Mama ER clean house by sweeping and oil-mopping and dusting the house. And I helped her fold towels and wash cloths. :-)
Only being 33, I don't have gp's perfectly good reason for not knowing when I did what. I'm just too lazy to stop and figure it out.
Anywho.
As a kid I did the usual round-the-house chores: dinner dishes, dusting and vaccuming, helping mom with the gardens, feeding and brushing the pets.
As a teen I did these plus a few regular babysitting gigs, some housesitting once I could drive, some janitorial work, and worked one summer as a waitress/dish washer.
In college I was a residential hall adviser, library assistant, and secretary. Then in grad school I was an RA again on top of teaching one class per quarter.
Worked for a voters' rights group for a year, then another year as a copy editor for a state legislature before a brief stint as a textbook sales rep. After that I spent 5 1/2 years in bookstores, doing everything from cashier to purchasing to manager.
Moved rather suddenly and spent some time doing part-time: public library, bookstore go-to gal, and teaching at day camps. Then decided to go back to grad school and got a full-time library job in acquisitions.
And through all of this have done volunteer work: Habitat for Humanity, church band, several beautification projects, and the like.
Anywho.
As a kid I did the usual round-the-house chores: dinner dishes, dusting and vaccuming, helping mom with the gardens, feeding and brushing the pets.
As a teen I did these plus a few regular babysitting gigs, some housesitting once I could drive, some janitorial work, and worked one summer as a waitress/dish washer.
In college I was a residential hall adviser, library assistant, and secretary. Then in grad school I was an RA again on top of teaching one class per quarter.
Worked for a voters' rights group for a year, then another year as a copy editor for a state legislature before a brief stint as a textbook sales rep. After that I spent 5 1/2 years in bookstores, doing everything from cashier to purchasing to manager.
Moved rather suddenly and spent some time doing part-time: public library, bookstore go-to gal, and teaching at day camps. Then decided to go back to grad school and got a full-time library job in acquisitions.
And through all of this have done volunteer work: Habitat for Humanity, church band, several beautification projects, and the like.
Thanks for playin' Kiki! My hunch is that regulars 'round here are similarly eclectic in work experience. :-)
Hey, 33 is a great age! Yer as old as Jesus!. ;-) (My brother's theory is that, in heaven, *everybody* is 33, which he reckons is the best year of all.)
Hey again, Kiki, I lollygagged and never updated my blogroll link to your old blog, and now blooger has dumped your reefer page, and I don't know how to get to yer place now! Whatcher blog address?
Hey, 33 is a great age! Yer as old as Jesus!. ;-) (My brother's theory is that, in heaven, *everybody* is 33, which he reckons is the best year of all.)
Hey again, Kiki, I lollygagged and never updated my blogroll link to your old blog, and now blooger has dumped your reefer page, and I don't know how to get to yer place now! Whatcher blog address?
GP, I remember the FUN you had with this one!
"Media spokesman for major beer company-sponsored rodeo event"
"Media spokesman for major beer company-sponsored rodeo event"
Ugh.
Yes, I thought you would recognize that one. Certainly not as "glamorous" a job as it perhaps sounds.
Yes, I thought you would recognize that one. Certainly not as "glamorous" a job as it perhaps sounds.
# posted by : 3:27 PM
: 3:27 PM
14-15 Spotlight Operator at local theatre
15-16 Lighting Manager/ASM at local theatre
19 Sales assistant at photography shop (Summer job at University)
20-21 Student Union VP (Elected Paid Sabbatical from Uni)
21-23 Barman/Bar Manager at Student Union (while paying for my second degree course)
24-25 Holiday Rep in Scotland (one of the best years of my life)
25-28 Tour Manager for a holiday firm (sounds more glamourous than it is but I can’t knock the travel experience – it certainly broadened the mind of a provincial boy.)
28-29 Sales Executive for Rail-Freight Company (Leap in the dark – bad idea!)
29-30 IT Support Technician (Time to get serious and get a job that actually pays a decent wage.)
30-33 More senior IT Support Tech (And it turns out I’m quite good at it!)
34- Tech Systems Manager (Bit of the doldrums for a year or two but now looking more interesting.)
15-16 Lighting Manager/ASM at local theatre
19 Sales assistant at photography shop (Summer job at University)
20-21 Student Union VP (Elected Paid Sabbatical from Uni)
21-23 Barman/Bar Manager at Student Union (while paying for my second degree course)
24-25 Holiday Rep in Scotland (one of the best years of my life)
25-28 Tour Manager for a holiday firm (sounds more glamourous than it is but I can’t knock the travel experience – it certainly broadened the mind of a provincial boy.)
28-29 Sales Executive for Rail-Freight Company (Leap in the dark – bad idea!)
29-30 IT Support Technician (Time to get serious and get a job that actually pays a decent wage.)
30-33 More senior IT Support Tech (And it turns out I’m quite good at it!)
34- Tech Systems Manager (Bit of the doldrums for a year or two but now looking more interesting.)
Cool seeing what all others have done for remuneration. Something in Liam's reminded me that, although technically it was an internship, for four moths I was a paid assistant press spokesman for a U.S. Congressman, in 1987, which means I was .. 23.
A right-wing Republican. From Georgia.
A right-wing Republican. From Georgia.
Oops. Rememberd another one.
One summer in my early 20s, I was a prefab furniture assembler, through Manpower Temporary Services. I remember my boss, in his 30s, telling me I was out of mind when I told him I was between jobs in radio, going to college, and planned to work in the media. Why go to all that trouble when I had a job, he wondered.
One summer in my early 20s, I was a prefab furniture assembler, through Manpower Temporary Services. I remember my boss, in his 30s, telling me I was out of mind when I told him I was between jobs in radio, going to college, and planned to work in the media. Why go to all that trouble when I had a job, he wondered.
One job I never had, but me and Ronholio used to joke about it: We figured we could play Gospel tune on our guitars, and sing, for love offerings, at small-town Baptist churches. :-)
Dang, I'll try. I'm only 20, so this should be easy.
OK, I was only 20 ... 20 years ago.
13: Babysitter for my niece. When my sister worked, I did it for free. When she partied, I got the bucks.
14: Over the summer, I stocked shelves and cleaned and carried out at a small grocery store.
15: More babysitting, but for other families.
16: Worked as a go-fer for a construction contractor one summer.
17: Mover -- I moved my folks from Texas to Louisiana, then moved myself to one town in Kansas, then moved my brother and I to another town. No pay.
18: Sold ads on a commission-only basis for a computer-based classified organization ... before the Internet. In school, I began working for the college paper.
19: Spent spring working part-time at McDonald's, doing anything and everything. Continued on college paper
20-21: Spent summers working 100-hour-a-week job for an agriculture-irrigation company, which paid for college. Spent school working at a convenience store and on the school paper.
22: Staff member of a weekly newspaper, where 100-hour weeks were the norm.
22: Editor of another weekly newspaper, where I didn't have to work 100-hour weeks. Convenience store clerk, graveyard shift. Grain truck driver/combine driver during two weeks of harvest.
23: Beer-truck driver, until the first Desert Storm, when Fort Riley left for the Middle East, then I drove truck for a meat company. Then I wrecked said truck, so I worked for my uncle roofing houses until I got a job as a general-assignment reporter in Stillwater, Okla.
24-26: OK, I was actually 24 when I started in Stillwater, but it ruined the story. I also worked part time at Sirloin Stockade for a while, then worked for a convenience store.
27: Assistant news editor in Hays, Kan., home of my alma mater. Also worked part time at the same convenience store I did in college.
28: Lost my job at newspaper in May, continued working at store, then helped a farmer over wheat harvest. During harvest, I took a job as assistant managing editor in Dodge City, Kan. I also drove two hours west every weekend to work for my cousin, a contractor, and a farmer friend of his, to make ends meet.
29-30: Continued as assistant ME, also worked for a distributor to a major grocery chain in Kansas, where I would sell displays for various products. Also worked for a year as a bartender at a sports bar/steakhouse. Also worked at another freakin' convenience store.
31-32: Worked at the third-largest newspaper in Kansas, first as a news copy desk editor/designer, then in the sports department, where I designed and edited the section and also wrote, mostly covering rodeo and a few other sports nobody else wanted to tackle. Oh, and I tended bar.
32-38: I worked in Oklahoma City, where I worked in sports, business, outdoors, sports again, etc.
38: Began selling advertising for a small magazine, commission-only, while trying to develop Rodeo Media Relations. When that didn't work, I began working as a staff writer in Guymon, Okla. Three months later, I was named managing editor in Maryville, Mo.
39: Still editing. Still looking. :-)
All the while, I've written millions of words for freelance jobs.
Whew.
OK, I was only 20 ... 20 years ago.
13: Babysitter for my niece. When my sister worked, I did it for free. When she partied, I got the bucks.
14: Over the summer, I stocked shelves and cleaned and carried out at a small grocery store.
15: More babysitting, but for other families.
16: Worked as a go-fer for a construction contractor one summer.
17: Mover -- I moved my folks from Texas to Louisiana, then moved myself to one town in Kansas, then moved my brother and I to another town. No pay.
18: Sold ads on a commission-only basis for a computer-based classified organization ... before the Internet. In school, I began working for the college paper.
19: Spent spring working part-time at McDonald's, doing anything and everything. Continued on college paper
20-21: Spent summers working 100-hour-a-week job for an agriculture-irrigation company, which paid for college. Spent school working at a convenience store and on the school paper.
22: Staff member of a weekly newspaper, where 100-hour weeks were the norm.
22: Editor of another weekly newspaper, where I didn't have to work 100-hour weeks. Convenience store clerk, graveyard shift. Grain truck driver/combine driver during two weeks of harvest.
23: Beer-truck driver, until the first Desert Storm, when Fort Riley left for the Middle East, then I drove truck for a meat company. Then I wrecked said truck, so I worked for my uncle roofing houses until I got a job as a general-assignment reporter in Stillwater, Okla.
24-26: OK, I was actually 24 when I started in Stillwater, but it ruined the story. I also worked part time at Sirloin Stockade for a while, then worked for a convenience store.
27: Assistant news editor in Hays, Kan., home of my alma mater. Also worked part time at the same convenience store I did in college.
28: Lost my job at newspaper in May, continued working at store, then helped a farmer over wheat harvest. During harvest, I took a job as assistant managing editor in Dodge City, Kan. I also drove two hours west every weekend to work for my cousin, a contractor, and a farmer friend of his, to make ends meet.
29-30: Continued as assistant ME, also worked for a distributor to a major grocery chain in Kansas, where I would sell displays for various products. Also worked for a year as a bartender at a sports bar/steakhouse. Also worked at another freakin' convenience store.
31-32: Worked at the third-largest newspaper in Kansas, first as a news copy desk editor/designer, then in the sports department, where I designed and edited the section and also wrote, mostly covering rodeo and a few other sports nobody else wanted to tackle. Oh, and I tended bar.
32-38: I worked in Oklahoma City, where I worked in sports, business, outdoors, sports again, etc.
38: Began selling advertising for a small magazine, commission-only, while trying to develop Rodeo Media Relations. When that didn't work, I began working as a staff writer in Guymon, Okla. Three months later, I was named managing editor in Maryville, Mo.
39: Still editing. Still looking. :-)
All the while, I've written millions of words for freelance jobs.
Whew.
I think we have played this jobs game once before.
The nastiest one was bucking hay bales into a loft (snakes and all).
The one that aged me the most, was helping prepare the daily SIGINT briefings for the CG of the 1st Infantry for 12 weeks. Aged 10 years in three months.
Most gonad tingling was being a by-safe-hand-only courier flying on the Hueys in Nam between the highlands and Bein Hoa (sp?).
Pulling bolls. Crawing on your knees with you face in a cotton plant, pulling off the whole cotton boll and shoving it into a bag with a 100+lbs of cotton attached to your shoulder as you drag it down the row.
Makes a man want to work in an airconditioned office wearing clean shirts with pokadot ties and listening to the hollow men wispering together, quite and meaningless,like wind in dry grass or rats' feet over broken glass..... while getting COLAs and retirement compensation until you don't care no more.
Sorry about that. got carried away.
The nastiest one was bucking hay bales into a loft (snakes and all).
The one that aged me the most, was helping prepare the daily SIGINT briefings for the CG of the 1st Infantry for 12 weeks. Aged 10 years in three months.
Most gonad tingling was being a by-safe-hand-only courier flying on the Hueys in Nam between the highlands and Bein Hoa (sp?).
Pulling bolls. Crawing on your knees with you face in a cotton plant, pulling off the whole cotton boll and shoving it into a bag with a 100+lbs of cotton attached to your shoulder as you drag it down the row.
Makes a man want to work in an airconditioned office wearing clean shirts with pokadot ties and listening to the hollow men wispering together, quite and meaningless,like wind in dry grass or rats' feet over broken glass..... while getting COLAs and retirement compensation until you don't care no more.
Sorry about that. got carried away.
# posted by : 10:21 PM
: 10:21 PM
I'm wondering how many jobs I forgot. I mean, I know I spent one summer workin' at Pizza Hut, and another job in college was as a short-order cook. That one was interesting, because upstairs was beer and mountain oysters and burgers and bierock and french fries, and downstairs was steaks and crab legs and baked potatoes. We had just one kitchen, though, so on the grill would be a chili burger, chicken cordon bleu and filet mignon, all at the same time.
Dang, I'm gettin' old.
Dang, I'm gettin' old.
Well, I won't be quite as detailed.
In grade school I was an entrepreneur and made money off the other kids in the neighborhood by making Barbie doll clothes. I also worked in the church nursery taking care of the babies when I was in high school. Also did some baby sitting. In college I worked constantly at the student newspaper; summers I worked as a nanny.
Did my internship at a big paper as a copy editor. Continued doing some work after the summer ended; combined obit writing with desk work, which rolled into a full-time job. Did a stint as a social worker until I was held hostage, then worked in the public info office of the state health dept. for 6 years. Went to work for a year at a small paper in NW Okla. before coming back to the big paper. Worked in the office 15+ years all over the place -- copy desk, features, day news desk, assistant features editor, assistant business editor. Freelancing since 2003. Now considering several options for the next phase of my life and career; trusting God will open the right door and put me in the right place. For the first time in a long time I feel a peace about a possible move.
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In grade school I was an entrepreneur and made money off the other kids in the neighborhood by making Barbie doll clothes. I also worked in the church nursery taking care of the babies when I was in high school. Also did some baby sitting. In college I worked constantly at the student newspaper; summers I worked as a nanny.
Did my internship at a big paper as a copy editor. Continued doing some work after the summer ended; combined obit writing with desk work, which rolled into a full-time job. Did a stint as a social worker until I was held hostage, then worked in the public info office of the state health dept. for 6 years. Went to work for a year at a small paper in NW Okla. before coming back to the big paper. Worked in the office 15+ years all over the place -- copy desk, features, day news desk, assistant features editor, assistant business editor. Freelancing since 2003. Now considering several options for the next phase of my life and career; trusting God will open the right door and put me in the right place. For the first time in a long time I feel a peace about a possible move.
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