Jobs

Terri's post got me thinking about all the jobs I've had. I took my first W2 job at 13 lying about my age (said I was 15). How about the rest of you, what have you done (legally ) to keep food on the table or clothes on your back? Newspaper girl Babysat Car Hop Hospital Kitchen Aide Nurses Aide Soldier/Officer Legal Assistant Secretary/Admin Asst Clerk in Abortion Clinic Telemarketer Waitress Processed Evictions for mortgage company (what a depressing job) Guard at Inmate Facility Signals Analyst Software Tester PC Help Desk Network Admin Barb

Jeez louise Barb that's quite a list! I've never done any weird job! I drove a truck around the South for my Dad when I was home from college in the summer but I'd go sightseeing and visit college friends. The summer of 1980 I was a census taker. When my parents helped me buy my first new car I had to get a job of any kind so that the bank would put the financing in my name and I could take over the payments. I worked for three weeks at a car hubcap factory with women who talked about how their boyfriends/husbands really loved them even though they beat them. It was extremely depressing. I taught high school English when I was in graduate school. That was not fun. I worked as an editor until 1985 when the Macintosh became a viable print production tool and I jumped on it immediately. I was a digital print production consultant for many years. Now every little vo-tech school cranks out people to do design on the Mac so I got out of it about six years ago. I sold my condo to finance becoming an independent trader and that's what I do now. It allows me time to work on film projects as well. I optioned my first screenplay recently and hope to be able to sell it by next January.

Ok, what does being an independent trader entail? Also what does it mean to option a screenplay? Barb

I trade foreign currencies, options, and futures for myself from home using Internet-based accounts. I have signed a contract with a film production company to give them exclusive rights to purchase and produce my screenplay within a period of time. If they let the option expire I am free to shop it around to other potential buyers. I am currently working with a development executive to make some changes to it so that it can be considered for purchase by January.

Hmmm... Let's see.. I worked for my parents' business from the time I was about 7 until I was probably 18. At 7, I mostly alphabetized and put invoices in order, etc. At 15, I took my first "legal" job at a grocery store. At about 19, I took a job at Wal-mart and then a second job at my best friend's parents' store - it's called Stoner's... Sold gag gifts, costumes, masks, costume make-up, professional magic, etc. Worked there pt, ft and then pt again for a few years. Paper route when I was 13 and again at 20 after my son was born. Worked at a barn mucking stalls around the age of 21. Spent about a year and a babysitting fulltime for a family of 4 kids (plus my son). Took my last job at 23 with my current company - started off on contract as an admin. I'm an HR manager now. Still work pt for my friend's family store at Halloween when they're slammed...

Babysitter Fast food cashier Party store cashier Lane Bryant salesperson Hairdresser Leasing Agent Assistant manager in a group home Direct care in a group home for behavior clients Home health aid Gas station cashier Deli meat cutter biology tutor Office manager for a security company Customer service rep for credit counseling Payroll/HR coordinator Assistant HR manager for Kmart Substitute teacher Payroll specialist I think that is it.

Oh, I missed a couple Pool attendant apartment cleaning

Grocery store cashier Fast Food worker Barista Student Aide at my college Liquor Store cashier College Bookstore cashier Babysitter I think that's all but I might have left out one or two!