First job

[Minten]

Soon enough I will be looking for a job. I really want to start my career but then again. I'm only 14.... So what were some of your guys early jobs and what was oh voice of career? If there is anything you could hanged about your self or work ethics what would they be? If you could change our occupation and go back to school to learn some new studies for the ever changing world?

 

[06 RMK 900]

My first job i was a tit puller. Was hired on at a local dairy that milked 620 cows. I worked there for about 8 months and then was laid off for immigrants. It was kind of a crappy but it was good pay.

From there I have had a couple other part time jobs and I’m currently at Basin Electric Part time and have worked for a local farmer for the past five years as well.

I have not been in the work for long as I’m only 22 but I have had many older people talk to me on how hard I work. Word of advice is show up early and work your hardest. It's hard for companies to find hard workers these day. Prove to them that you are a hard worker and they will make sure they take care of you. When the time comes and you find the job of your dreams you’re going to want to have a good name with your other jobs. Try to never leave a job in a bad name. Like I said I’m young still but these are some of the things I have noticed.

Also It doesn't matter where you work you are always going to run into people that you don't see eye to eye with. You’re not at work to make friends. Try to just ignore them and do your job the best you can.

 

[600xc4me]

My first job was a convenience store. Worked there for Three years, then ran a yard care service for a few summers. And am now working for the local county. You have to start low and work your way up the ladder. It works that way pretty much everywhere where when you get your first job. Prove your self right off the start, be responsible, show up on time or early, work hard and do your best no matter what the job is. It will get you farther. If not at that job, then down the road. If you ever wanna change jobs down the road, you want a good reputation. And if You don't have to work now already, don't. I was working by the time the like 13. Be a kid first. You have your whole life to work yet.

 

[Wheel House Motorsports]

started out working for family helping with lawncare buisness. when i could got a job at a local resturant washin dishes. did that for about 3 years till i was out of highschool then sorta on and off work. constrution with my dad for 2 summers between college. gutter installation this summer and currently during the school year i am a student manager at one of the dining halls on campus. nothing to wild, but had a lot of fun over the years at work. and its pretty nice to have some financial independance.

 

[newmy1]

Washing dishes at the local cafe, 2.85 per hour.

 

[Scott]

My first job was in 1987 at the local trap and skeet club, working in the trap house.
Minumum wage was about $1.75 or something like that.

THAT just sucked. That concrete little room surrounded by boxes of birds and no foot space. It really sucked in the summer and winter during extreme temps when it was either really hot or really cold.

You can't set birdies very well with gloves on. And when that arm goes and you aren't ready...your fingers INSTANTLY go numb. And then you can't properly set birdies for a couple hours after that. LOL

Did that for 2 years.

Also moved pipes for farmers.
THAT is good work when the deerfliles or skeeters aren't bad. Cool...wet and solitary. Good mental house cleaning and I got a workout. You can't get a workout moving pipes unless you jog it out. I could do a 30 pipe spring-line in about 15 mins if I hustled. I could do the hook and latch lines in about 20 mins. Even quicker in alfalfa, but slower in the grain fields....they were always more muddy.

No matter what...SUCK IT UP, DO YOUR JOB WELL and ON TIME, DON'T COMPLAIN AND DO WHAT IT TAKES FOR YOUR BOSS TO LIKE YOU.

It doesn't matter if you like your job or not, just do the job you signed up for.
It doesn't matter if think you are smarter than your boss, or you know you aren't doing this the rest of your life.

Start from the ground up, pay your dues and don't demand to start at a managmennt position if you are only being considered for a floor sweeper.

By your bosses account, be a better employee than the last guy who did your job. Don't be a clock watcher....just work.

 

[PJ-Hunter]

All very sound advice.

 

[snowmobiler]

why work.just ask for a few oil wells for christmas and hang out with bill gates.

 

[Scott]

why work.just ask for a few oil wells for christmas and hang out with bill gates.

LOL. No kidding.

 

[xrated]

Work and work hard.

For me when my kids are old enough I will be pushing them to learn a trade and skill set vs running a till at the gas station or washing dishes. Any moron can do that, try to get going with something that will serve you in life if your chosen path fails.

My first job was construction. My boss before he was my boss came up to me and simply said, "Want to learn a trade", not want a job starting out as jobsite beotch. Over time I learned more and more and he explained how a trade is better then a job.

Now I work in healthcare but I can always fall back on my first trade, even if I am rusty. Plus working for a living is a good motivator to go to school for something you don't have to "work" at. Cause brother my body tells me after a day on a roof or in the woods that healthcare ain't working.

 

[WyoBoy1000]

Work and work hard.

For me when my kids are old enough I will be pushing them to learn a trade and skill set vs running a till at the gas station or washing dishes. Any moron can do that, try to get going with something that will serve you in life if your chosen path fails.

My first job was construction. My boss before he was my boss came up to me and simply said, "Want to learn a trade", not want a job starting out as jobsite beotch. Over time I learned more and more and he explained how a trade is better then a job.

Now I work in healthcare but I can always fall back on my first trade, even if I am rusty. Plus working for a living is a good motivator to go to school for something you don't have to "work" at. Cause brother my body tells me after a day on a roof or in the woods that healthcare ain't working.

I know some morons in that case, and they are worth millions,

You find a job that you are capable of and pays the best, and never stay in one spot, one of my previous jobs I was making good money but on a average I made less money the next year due to market and seasonal work so I quite and now I make more. Hard work pays off, eventually.

 

[xpspenziv]

why work.just ask for a few oil wells for christmas and hang out with bill gates.

Hung out at his house for a couple years, no big deal. Cant really see it anymore its so grown over.

Good advice all of ya.


My first job was being a laundry boy at the local Kat house.

The best part was when they would come down stairs yelling. WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY CORSET? Does this look like it fits right anymore?ummm yes it does.It fits better now than before.

Think of a career that will always be in demand.

 

[sledboy82]

my first job was working at a grocery store and mowing lawns.

 

[treemagnet03]

My first job was building snowmobile lifts. Anyone remember Rec-Lifts? Officially the first useful under-snowmobile lift (too bad he never patented the concept). That was a great job-great boss who was into things that I was into. Plus, all I had were quotas and a key to the shop. As long as it was done on time, I was my own boss for inventory, shipping, everything but customer relations (left that to the almighty boss man).

Then construction (when the bubble hadn't burst), jobs as a college student in big labs at universities, now medical school without an official 'job'....

And all along in school. The one thing they can never take from you is your mind. And once they do, it really doesn't matter anymore anyway

So, as so helpfully noted, work your butt off and hope like mad it pays off.

 

[Goinboardin]

Growing up the burbs of MN, I had a paper route for my first gig. I made $64 a month, but only delivered the papers once a week. I started that when I was 11, kept it until I was 14. Mowed a few lawns in the summer at that age too.

I gave up the paper route because at that age I was now allowed to work in the family metal shop... sweeping the floor or cleaning machinery half the time at first. Stayed with that during the summer until I was 16, when I worked there part time year round until I was 19 and moved to Colorado for college. During school, I worked in the mailroom, tutored, worked a little construction, did an internship one summer (chemistry), and now that I have a degree I work maintenance for a hotel...haha I'm just not ready to move to a city for a 'real' job where I could work in the field of chemistry. I like living in the mountains too much for now.

Anyway, work ethic is a huge selling point when you're applying for jobs. Strong references have always paid off for me.

 

[HawkShot99]

First Car Thread

So how is it, that you have never had a job but have enough money saved up to buy a $30k vehicle on your own? How much does mommy and daddy pay you for allowance?

 

[go high fast]

I have always been the self employed type. As a kid my first jobs were mowing lawns, raking leaves, shoveling driveways, pulling weeds/gardening, painting houses and stuff like that. My Mom worked in the copy center at the local college and so she would run off hundreds of flyers for me and I would cruise the neighborhood on my bike stuffing mail boxes offering my services. So it's no wonder why today I am a self employed insurance agent.


My Dad, a career educator and ex USMC, had about 5 jobs. One of his jobs was that he owned and operated a sporting goods store when we were kids so after school I would walk to the store and work there until dinner time. Here are some things I remember about those days that may be of value to you:

1. If you thought there was nothing to do you found something to do. The motto at the store was "find something to do". If you had 10 minutes that meant you would find a 10 minute job. If you had 5 minutes you found a 5 minute job. You never, and I mean never, sat around and chewed the fat with co-workers or customers. Comisserating was unthinkable. You had a positive attitude....if not you didnt fit in and you were toast.

2. As the son of the owner I was expected to arrive early and leave late. I was expected to volunteer for the jobs noone else wanted.

3. We never had to prioritize jobs because they all had to get done so it never mattered what we did first.

4. As a young employee you were very respectfull of older employees. These were the days when you still used Mr. and Mrs. to address your co-workers. If the words please and thank you were absent from your vocabulary you were toast. If you couldn't greet someone with a firm handshake and a smile you were toast so leave the knife and the attitude at home and arm yourself with positive attitude and a warm personality. If you couldn't maintain eye contact while having a conversation you were toast. If "um", "kinda", "ya know", and "like" dominated your every sentence you were toast. If you couldn't assume responsibility you were toast. If you were dishonest you were toast.


If I had to do it all over again I would go with an engineering degree and then follow that up with an MBA. Life is hard enough so never become your own worst enemy. You must be a team player and must become relentless about exceeding expectations. Dont hesitate to be your own advocate and you must be willing to work outside or your comfort level.

Good luck.

 

[motojunkie101]

My first job was part of a youth summer work program our city put on. I ended up on a construction crew where I learned the basics of carpentry. The next winter I went to work at the local ski resort. That was basically how my summers and winters went through high school. Construction in the summer and ski resort in the winter.

The best advice I can give for a job is to NEVER complain, and work until the work is done.

 

[Scott]

I have always been the self employed type. As a kid my first jobs were mowing lawns, raking leaves, shoveling driveways, pulling weeds/gardening, painting houses and stuff like that. My Mom worked in the copy center at the local college and so she would run off hundreds of flyers for me and I would cruise the neighborhood on my bike stuffing mail boxes offering my services. So it's no wonder why today I am a self employed insurance agent.


My Dad, a career educator and ex USMC, had about 5 jobs. One of his jobs was that he owned and operated a sporting goods store when we were kids so after school I would walk to the store and work there until dinner time. Here are some things I remember about those days that may be of value to you:

1. If you thought there was nothing to do you found something to do. The motto at the store was "find something to do". If you had 10 minutes that meant you would find a 10 minute job. If you had 5 minutes you found a 5 minute job. You never, and I mean never, sat around and chewed the fat with co-workers or customers. Comisserating was unthinkable. You had a positive attitude....if not you didnt fit in and you were toast.

2. As the son of the owner I was expected to arrive early and leave late. I was expected to volunteer for the jobs noone else wanted.

3. We never had to prioritize jobs because they all had to get done so it never mattered what we did first.

4. As a young employee you were very respectfull of older employees. These were the days when you still used Mr. and Mrs. to address your co-workers. If the words please and thank you were absent from your vocabulary you were toast. If you couldn't greet someone with a firm handshake and a smile you were toast so leave the knife and the attitude at home and arm yourself with positive attitude and a warm personality. If you couldn't maintain eye contact while having a conversation you were toast. If "um", "kinda", "ya know", and "like" dominated your every sentence you were toast. If you couldn't assume responsibility you were toast. If you were dishonest you were toast.


If I had to do it all over again I would go with an engineering degree and then follow that up with an MBA. Life is hard enough so never become your own worst enemy. You must be a team player and must become relentless about exceeding expectations. Dont hesitate to be your own advocate and you must be willing to work outside or your comfort level.

Good luck.

Boy that sounds familiar to my college job.

 

[PJ-Hunter]

First Car Thread

So how is it, that you have never had a job but have enough money saved up to buy a $30k vehicle on your own? How much does mommy and daddy pay you for allowance?

Yep. Wondering the same thing.