Back to Work YOU!! What do you DO?|Pad Chatter 1.2.2019

I love reading all of these!! I did so many odd jobs in my younger years: worked at a toy store, titled cars, worked in a variety of business office roles and management in retail. When I was 22 I decided to start a career and worked as a broker for 11 years before I had a bit of a burn out. I quit that last year to take an administrative assistant position at my kiddos' school. Throughout all of that I'm in school to finish my bachelors degree in psychology. I really want to work with kids with learning disabilities and I'm still trying to figure out what that looks like, career wise for me.

 

My first job was as a recreation program assistant during vacations. I also worked as a stocktake assistant at a big box craft store (similar to Joann’s or Hobby Lobby). My first permanent job was as a waitress at Pizza Hut, then as a customer service representative at their national call centre taking orders. I finished there just over 8 years ago and since then I’ve done odd short term contracts as an election day worker (4 times in 16 years) and as a neighbourhood centre coordinator.

Right now I’m not in paid work but looking constantly. While I haven’t been working i’ve been volunteering. Currently I sit on a board for the only disability related community law centre in New Zealand and on a moderation panel for a fund run by a disability service provider.

 

I didn't finish high school, but did go back and get my GED. I married young (16) and held jobs as a clerk at a 5 and dime store, cotton chopper (yes, working in the cotton fields in the central valley) that last about a week. Since that time I've become allergic to the outdoors. I've worked in a liqueur store, a tent factory and finally got a full time job at a farm implement shop as a clerk that kept track of all maintenance done on the farm equipment and car rentals. I worked there for about 3 years and then got a job doing basically the same thing at a big farming corporation. I did a lot of different jobs through the years for the same company. My last 5 yrs there I took a payroll position, loved it. I stayed with that company for 18 yrs. I met my husband and moved to the San Jose area, found a job in payroll and have been with my current company going on 16 yrs. I tried the payroll supervisor position for a couple of years, but it was killing me, the hours worked and the compute home was getting to me. I stepped down and now I'm happily focusing on my one hospital and conducting kronos (time keeper) training when needed.

This year will be a transitional year for me and I will be getting ready for retirement. Looking forward to doing what I want when I want.

 

This has been really fun to read!

I started working my senior year in high school as a cashier - first at a home improvement store until I left for college and then summers and breaks at a grocery store for a few years. Other summer jobs included waitressing, working in an office at a metal plating facility, and an internship at the engineering department of a water company. While in school, I occasionally worked concessions at sporting events and I worked as a consultant in the campus computer labs.

After I graduated, I worked for a large environmental engineering company for a few years before moving to my current company, which is a small geotechnical and environmental engineering firm. In March, I will have been there for 19 years. I primarily do geotechnical engineering design work but I manage all of the environmental work too. I always tell people that I get to play with dirt for a living, even though I'm mostly in the office these days. Since we're a small company, I am also our office IT person, website manager, health and safety supervisor, and radiation safety officer (we use regulated devices with a small amount of radioactive material for soil testing). So, this means that I am always busy! I like my job for the most part but there are days (and weeks) when work is insanely crazy and I just wish I could retire early!

 

First job was babysitting my cousins over a summer when I was about 11/12 years old.

First "real" job was through our tribal summer youth employment program. I worked at a local preschool in their summer kids program. That pretty much made my decision never to do early childhood education. The next summer, I worked at the school in the front office and in the cafeteria cleaning floors. During high school, I didn't work much because home was too far away for my parents to be waiting for me after school. I only worked one job in an office afterschool for half a semester. My summers were spent at summer programs. One of them involved a job working at an engineering company. It's been so long that I don't remember what I did. Likely more of the mundate work like gathering data or formatting documents.

The first summer of college, I worked for a mining company that provided me with a scholarship. It was advertised as an "internship" but it was not. I spent the summer moving temporary fences for cattle to graze on mine property. No studies. Nothing educational. The next summer, I declined to come back and lost the scholarship. Then I worked for my dad's power plant in the Engineering Dept. First in computer support which made my decision never to work in IT lol. Over winter break, I worked for Environmental and helped with their Toxic Inventory Report. That was fun. The next summer, I stayed near my school and worked for a construction company in the Environmental Dept. I worked on several reports and environmental regulation type stuff.

After graduation, I started off working for the federal government as an Environmental Engineer. I worked on several projects involving environmental remediation and cleanup. I traveled alot and had fun. After a year, my soon-to-be husband graduated college and we moved back to Arizona. I got a job as a Civil Engineer with the the Forest Service. I've been with them for 17-1/2 years now. I've worked as a civil engineer and Fleet manager during those 17 years and also getting involved in Environmental remediation projects, civil rights, green teams, etc.

 

@Cherylndesigns We have more in common than just our names - I also worked for attorneys!

My work life started at 15 doing babysitting for my Biology teacher and then I cleaned house for her as well. She lived around the corner from me. When I turned 16, I got a key to my aunt's custom drapery shop and opened it on Saturday mornings. There was rarely anyone in there, so I basically just read or straightened up. When I was 17 and about to graduate, I got a job in a local dress shop as a sales clerk. I quit when the manager was making me clock out at 9 pm and then continue working for another 30 minutes to an hour, sometimes more. My dad felt like I should just "tough it out," but I was like, really? You think I'm worth getting paid NOTHING? Ugh. Sometimes I wonder . . . LOL.

The same month I turned 18, I got a job at Service Merchandise, a retail store that also included a huge jewelry counter. I was in jewelry sales, and then after training and such, I was qualified to sell diamonds. I believe I was doing that my last 2 years there (out of 5 years). Also during that time, I worked a full time job in the summers at Champion International (now International Paper). The first summers I worked in the storehouse, handling inventory, purchases, etc. and then went to the administration building for my final summer. I still continued to work at Service Merchandise almost full time hours as well. And I took summer classes. Geez. Overachiever.

My last year of college is when I fell and hurt my back at college. I ended up having surgery and that delayed my graduation. While I finished up an incomplete course, I took a job my cousin helped me get at a local law firm doing secretarial work. I quit working at Service Merchandise after working at the law firm for a few months. And I did get my degree and went to look for a job teaching (English), but wasn't successful and by that time I was getting paid way more as a secretary than as a starting teacher. I chose to stay at the law firm. While at the law firm, I worked as a secretary and then got my national certification as a legal assistant. I stayed there for almost ten years, and by that time I was burnt out. Personal injury litigation and mass tort litigation is interesting (I have some great stories LOL), but I'm self-driven and an overachiever (see above) so I basically let myself get worn out.

I stayed home for a little over a year, and then worked at a retina specialist's office doing coding and billing for about a year full time, then went part-time for several months. I was pregnant with my son and ended up just staying home after that.

Since 2005, I've done the homemaker gig, which I do love, but I've also done freelance work as a legal assistant, I've worked for Pearson doing standardized test grading, I've done transcription for an online company, I've sold jewelry for Premiere, and I started working as a template designer about 10 years ago. That's what I've done pretty much exclusively, with the exception of some artwork I was commissioned to create and creating custom scrapbooks for a client who travels and has the most amazing photos!

I have to say, being here and creating templates is my dream job . . . although I couldn't have even dreamed of it way back in high school because, you know, the internet wasn't really a thing. LOL

 

It's fun to read everyone's work history! I started babysitting as a teenager and spent my high school and college summers working in a preschool as a teaching assistant. I also had some part time retail and nanny jobs during those summers, since the preschool gig was mornings only. After college I lead taught at a daycare center for a year. I transitioned into health education and advocacy, working for 3 years at a small nonprofit in a department focused on preventing diet-related chronic diseases. While I was there I went back to school for a master's in public health then worked for the federal government for a year. When we started having our 3 kids I left and was a stay at home mom for 10 years.

I went back to work part time as a preschool teacher when my youngest started kindergarten, and I've been doing that for 5 years. These little guys are the perfect age for me--I could never work with middle or high schoolers, and although I could do the younger elementary grades I wouldn't enjoy it as much. I love my students and the school I work at, but unfortunately low pay is pretty much universal for preschool jobs. My 12 year old has Smith-Magenis Syndrome (autism, ADHD, sleep disorder, dysgraphia, speech disorder, and other special needs), so I need to be home when he is. The trade-off for my salary is that I have all the school vacations and snow days off and am home in time to meet his 3 pm bus every day!

 

We all have such interesting and varied backgrounds.

I went through University doing the standard jobs such as house cleaning, kitchen hand, babysitting etc. After graduation, I worked as a Money Market Dealer before heading off to China for further study. After returning to Australia I worked in export marketing for Australian Sugar then worked with the wool industry setting up and running offices in Hongkong, Beijing and Shanghai for 10 years. After my 2 girls were born, I returned to Australia and furthered my IT qualifications which landed me in various IT Project Management roles. I retired one year ago and just love retirement.

 

Currently I'm a carer/support worker with the aged and disabled. I do mostly social support taking them shopping, run errands and spend time with them, help them shower and get dressed. Basically to help them stay living at home and as independent as possible rather than going into a care facility.

I'm also a qualified personal trainer and boxing/fight/step instructor. Prior to all that I worked as a Sales Rep, Personal Assistant and in Marketing.

 

These were so fun to read!!

I wasn't allowed a job while I was in school, we lived too far out of town, and it was probably a good thing because I only just passed school.
After that I studied "Retail Cosmetic Services" which was essential an entry level beautician or a cosmetics sales person type training. Scored a job through work experience at a Pharmacy. Worked there for a little over a year.
Next was a traineeship at a Childcare Centre. Did that for the year then finished up because it was the end of the training and I was very heavily pregnant with Melody.
When Melody was about two, I did some casual work at some local preschools, but return to stay at home mum because it didn't work for our family.
Stayed home until last year when I did my Early Childhood Certificate again and this year unsure about whether I will work or continue the next level of study, or both!

 

I over simplify my job all the time, and say I'm an admin. What I tend to leave out is that I'm an executive admin to an associate laboratory director at a Department of Energy national laboratory. Our directorate encompasses Earth & Biological Sciences. So, we deal with biological sciences (including cancer and ebola), soils sciences, terrestrial aquatic interfaces, defense health (effects of war on soldiers and civilians) climate change (although we try to call it something different), battery research, atmospheric science (cloud formation, weather patterns, extreme weather events, aerosol effects) and others stuff I can't pull up right now. I manage her calendar and inbox, travel, speaking engagements, meetings, hiring, visitors, advisory meetings. I also have three division admins and 22 group admins that I lead. It's gotten infinitely busier over the last few years, sometimes unbearably so. So if you ask me what I do, I say I'm an admin. If you ask my husband what I do, he says I run a national lab

I was a paralegal for 18 years before this, and a photographer's assistant before that.

 

I started out babysitting and then McDonalds then moved to being a “librian” for computer reels for a junk mail company. I was then promoted to a computer analyst in the same company. I left after my second daughter was born to be a stay at home mom.

When they were in school, I signed up with Stampin’ Up!(as a favor to my sister who needed 1 more person under her to become a manager). I even sent the starter kit back to her because I was too shy to do home parties. The company called and told me someone requested a party and I was the only one in Colorado at the time. I didn’t want to get my sister in trouble, so I said I would do it. 13 years later I was 7th in the company in sales, had 250 people in my downline and at one time made more money than my engineer husband! I burned out quickly after that and stayed home again.

I worked as a financial/principal’s secretary for 7 years to help pay for my girls to go to university.

I now am a “traveling” grandma to watch my grandsons while my daughters travel (or need help while going through treatment). I am blessed to be able to do what I can to help them (Kelsea’s surgery, radiation and Chemo are working wonders...she is responding so well she ran a 5K on Thanksgiving, and signed up for her first half marathon)!

Now I just volunteer for our book mobile program at the library and create things (my favoite being scrapbook pages....my husbands least favorite is anything with glitter).

If anyone else is looking for a CT member let me know (hint,hint)

Thanks for all your stories ladies!

 

During high school and college, I worked the Steak 'n' Shake drivethrough (worst job ever), as a hostess for a friend's mom's super-small restaurant, as a babysitter for a few families from my church, at Putt-Putt (best job ever), in my dorm's mailroom, and as a CSR at Fashion Bug (clothing store).

After I received my B.A. in English and Creative Writing, I got married and mostly stayed home until the end of our marriage where I worked PT as a test evaluator for CTB/McGraw-Hill which grades state-mandated tests for K-12. After the divorce, I worked as a CSR for a high-risk vehicle financing company and as a clerk for the state's Office of Code Revision.

I got pregnant & married (in that order - ha!) at the end of my clerk term (which was seasonal from fall through spring) and couldn't find work that fit with my childcare needs until my daughter was 3 1/2. I worked for about 18 months as a writer/editor for a national transportation-related start-up. When it tanked, I was let go and soon after found out I was 8 weeks pregnant with my son.

I was not able to find work again until last December (3 years later) when I started as an admin/comm person for a small church in town. I like to joke that I do everything but preach around here -- but it's true! I run the office, create all the marcomm materials which includes the weekly bulletin and announcements, projection & slides, weekly newsletter, monthly newsletter, church FB page & group, church blog & other social media platforms, "official" emails from the church, directories, news releases and other PR/advertising, manage the membership database, do some light IT work, manage and run events/weddings, oversee facility-related issues and appointments, serve as a liaison to the church board, supervise the church office volunteers, and help plan all staff-related meetings and functions. It's easy work with some great people but it's not a "forever" job. We'll see what the future holds!

 

This year is my 21nd year as a registred nurse (oh my, I'm getting old...) for the last 17 years I've been working on a neonatal high care unit, it's my dreamjob. When I was 2 years old I told my mom I was goning to be a nurse and I would be working with baby's; so here I am.
No vacation for me, I worked nightshifts with Christmas and I am at work at this moment for a eveningshift, so will I be tomorrow.

I love the break from being a mom to being a appreciated collegue; sometimes it's very busy, but I wouldn't miss it

 

I am a SAHM, and I also homeschool our nearly 16 year old. It is both the most difficult and the most rewarding "job" I have ever done. I am so grateful for my husband, who is on board and supportive of me being at home and not working.

In the past, I have worked as a Weight Loss Consultant for Jenny Craig, a shift leader for Wendy's, receiving furniture for our family business, secretarial work for our family business, selling an antique coin collection on eBay for my husband's boss, helper in a Mac computer lab for work/study program in college, and I worked as a clean up graphic artist and designing websites with my husband in our short lived Graphics Design business back in 2000.

 

I learned so much working for the attorney. It even carried over to my real estate career because I learned how to read and interpret all kinds of contracts. It was probably one of the most helpful jobs I ever had, besides getting to know more about editing because of his books and manuscripts. That was invaluable and I'll never forget the "soap stars" and movie stars that I met during that time.

 

I totally agree with you. I have so many skills today that I learned during that 10 years.

 

Some wise women told me years ago that even jobs you think you hate give you some knowledge and skills that you will use again at some future time. I know, now, that she was indeed a wise woman. It's all part of the learning process.

 

I know this is so true. When I worked at a doctor's office doing coding and billing, it seemed so random how it fell into my lap. I had no education or skills for the job, but they trained me quickly. I didn't hate the job, but it just seemed so strange that I ended up there. That knowledge helped me in later years, especially this past year, when I had to fight to have procedures covered by my insurance company.

I feel that way about most life experiences, especially about my chronic pain. I believe that there's some reason that I'm walking this pathway. I still don't know what the reason is, and I may not ever discover it in my lifetime. It might be for my children or for someone random. I'd rather know, of course. LOL But life doesn't work that way, so I'll just keep plugging along, with the reassurance that there is a plan.

 

You just reminded me of one of the jobs I had that I least liked. It was in Blue Cross Blue Shield and I really disliked it. Years later when our daughter had very major medical bills, I knew how to read and decipher insurance bills and talk to the insurance reps. I’m sorry you have chronic pain!


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