Odd Jobs
It’s time like these…when I’m buried deep in revisions, managing to red-line less than 50 pages in 7 frickin’ hours of work with nothing but Diet A&W Rootbeer to keep me company that I start thinking about other jobs. Not that I don’t love my job. On ordinary days, I love it beyond measure. But today? Not so much.
I started my work-for-hire life in retail, like so many other people. I was just 16, I believe and let’s just say that the highlight of my day was grabbing the intercom at the store and saying, “Attention Kmart shoppers, if you look up and around, you’ll see that blue light flashing in our men’s wear department…”
Yup. I worked at Kmart.
Actually, this was not my first job. My first job was working for my grandfather at the manufacturing company that my father and now my brothers run. I was the “official pencil sharpener.” I think I was 8. I went from office to office, taking everyone’s pencils, sharpening them, then putting them back. I also opened the mail. I didn’t actually take the mail out of the envelopes, but I used the opener to slit them open.
As I got older, my job responsibilities grew. I counted hours on the time cards. I did punch cards for the computer–a computer that took up an entire room, by the way, and had a name that was very long…I know it ended with Magillicuddy…my mother’s idea of a joke. I typed address labels with all the wrong fingers.
When I was a teenager, I drove the forklift. I also worked in the mold department, which has nothing whatsoever to do with that creepy stuff that grows on cheese or in the walls of humid houses in Florida. We make sand castings and they’re filled with sands that are baked into molds…you know what? It’s not that interesting, so I’ll leave it at that…but it was hot.
Then when I turned 16, you can understand why I decided that working at Kmart was a whole heck of a lot more appealing than working in the back of a manufacturing plant where layers of black dirt coated EVERYTHING. (The sand turns black when it is mixed with hot, molten aluminum and brass…in case you’re wondering–the photo to the right if from our plant.)
My next job was at an upscale boutique called Just Juniors. Talk about a step up! I had the best grades of my high school career during that job because I worked nights…alone (ahem…so not happening for my daughter!) and all I did was homework when we didn’t have customers.
Before college, I worked at a department store then called Burdines, but now swallowed by Macy’s. I loved that job. I was barely eighteen and was so good in training that I was bumped up to a higher position that meant I could handle returns. I had no idea then that this was NOT a good thing. I worked the whole summer, but when I pledged a sorority, I realized that an off-campus job was going to be more trouble than it was worth.
In college, I worked at the university’s television and radio station. I was in the fundraising department. After college, I was actually promoted to a full-time position, which I kept while I was in graduate school. Then came teaching. One half year internship and then a year at a public high school. In between, I took a job at a print shop…a job I kept during a good portion of the four years I taught in the private Catholic school that was my alma mater. Then two years at a private Catholic school in Georgia.
Then…
Secretary. Guess where? Yup…at the manufacturing business that started it all. I was there that day on March 14, 1997 at 11:14am when the call came in that I’d sold my first book.
Oh, and a month later, I found out I was having my baby.
So shortly after the birth of my daughter, I became a full-time mom and writer.
Long road. Fun jobs. Some not so fun…but nothing I quit quickly. No fast food joints. No restaurants (though I always wanted to be a bartender…he, he, he.) But I had lots of interactive jobs before I found myself buried in my hidey-hole, staring at white paper and black print and red pen for seven-hours straight and chatting up my 10-year-old neighbor because my daughter was at a playdate and I had to talk to SOMEONE.
So…revision craziness aside…what kind of jobs have you had? Which was your favorite? Which was the worst?
Boring jobs for me. I delivered newspapers. Babysat. Worked for McD’s. Then when I was 19 I got a job at an airline - data entry. Worked in their Benefits Dept. Then worked for their credit union, where I’m now a loan officer.
Best job? Well, I was only 23 when I got the job, but I would say life insurance claims, because I was helping people during an extremely difficult and emotional time, and I really felt like I was helping them somewhat, you know? I talked to some really amazing people. It was not an easy job, but it was rewarding. It was very sad when the job was outsourced, but that’s what happens in big companies.
Comment by Stacy ~ — August 15, 2007 @ 6:27 am
Interesting background. Sounds a lot like mine. My first job was working in my father’s print shop. All my siblings took turns working for Dad over the years. But my all-time favorite job was working in my godfather’s record store (back when music came on vinyl). All I did was play records and talk to the boys all day! My two favorite things…
Comment by Chicki Brown — August 15, 2007 @ 7:02 am
My favorite job was as a “fix-it” person at the local Middle School. I suppose the real term was maintainence person. My least favorite job was as a supervisor at a bulb farm. I had to make sure the flower pickers cleaned their rows and picked the flowers at the right stage of readiness.
Comment by Estella — August 15, 2007 @ 7:32 am
Hmmm, I would have to say my best job is being a writer, though I did enjoy a retail job while I was in college. Worst job would have to be Capt’n D’s in my teens. I had a lady hurl hush puppies at me through the drive through window because “THREE hush puppies are supposed to come with the Seafood feast, not TWO!” and I would not get away with cheating her. (Like I’d put the damned hush puppies in there to start with–I was working the drive-thru, not the kitchen.) Needless to say, no more fast food after that.
Comment by Rhonda Nelson — August 15, 2007 @ 7:36 am
I copied blueprints in a trailer in the middle of the summer with no AC. Between the heat and the smell of the ammonia in the ink…let’s just say it wasn’t fun. When I wasn’t doing that, I was a gofer in the office.
In high school I worked at a dress shop in the teeny town where I grew up in Georgia called The Glamour Box. I wrapped gifts and helped put out stock.
I worked as a clerk at Kimberly Clark and also at Georgia Pacific–The GP job was the worst because I was sexually harrassed beyond belief!
I worked as a clerk at a company that made restaurant equipment–like roast beef wagons etc.
I worked at a credit union, in admissions at the teaching hospital of a big Medical College. I actually worked there for 5 years. Ugh.
I worked at a Ear, Nose and Throat Practice in the front office checking patients in, making appointments etc. Not a bad job, just dead end. The office manager was a…well never mind.
Then I moved to where I should have lived all along–Colorado–in 1987 worked briefly for a construction company then I went to work for a computer company. Here I met my husband. :-) We got married in 1989 and we have a daughter–16. I started writing in 1987 and I’ve been writing ever since. :-) But thankfully, working outside the home ended when I got married. :-) And of course writing is the best job I’ve ever had besides being a wife and mother. Needless to say, Colorado has brought me more happiness than I ever thought I would have in this life.
Cher
Comment by Cher — August 15, 2007 @ 8:40 am
I started babysiting, moved to washing dishes while sitting on a bucket at a restaurant (that’s how low the sink was) and waited tables. My least favorite job was washing dishes (asides from pruned-like hands the owner was crazy) and working for the crazy lady in DC who made me carry a chair mat 6 blocks because she couldn’t wait for same day delivery.
Now, I market construction equipment but there are no construction workers to look at … 
Waiting tables wasn’t my favorite job but it at least introduced me to some interesting characters
Comment by Yolanda — August 15, 2007 @ 8:56 am
I started babysitting at 12 and really loved it. In my senior year of high school I did work at the local fast food restaurant, which is why I always order food different than how it comes on the menu(short of having no money, I hope to never work in fast food again). I worked for Federal Pre-trial services for 2 years in college and for 2 summers in college worked at the factory where my dad was working. 120 degrees in TN in the summer made me really want to finish up college. I’ve worked in offices every since. First in credit/collections and for the past 8 years as a bookkeeper for a property management company(BEST JOB I’VE EVER HAD).
Comment by Liza — August 15, 2007 @ 8:59 am
Oh boy, where do I start? I’m the queen of crazy jobs, lol! I did my stint at retail, childcare, and fast food. My longest was also working for my dad. We made the lead weights for fishing. Probably waaay too much lead (so that’s what happened to me…
) but it was good work, and I made my own hours so it was nice.
My fav was Santa’s elf. Yes, I had a white satin costume and big red and green collar. Haha! And, my Santa had a real beard, and his real name was actually Chris!! But he was from GA. I still have a picture of me sitting on his lap, white satin elf costume and all.
Comment by Becca — August 15, 2007 @ 9:15 am
When I finally got a job in college for the summer (I was too busy with activities in high school), I worked at T.J. Maxx (”get the MAXX for the minimum!”
LOL, I still remember that. My big splurge every week was getting a 31 flavors frozen yogurt every Friday. Then after my first B.A (I have two), I worked at JCP in sleepwear and handbags, selling(I love Christmas and you can’t love Christmas and work retail). Then, I went back to school and got a degree to be an elementary school teacher. That was all B.C. (before children). Now, I have the BEST, most frustrating, worthwhile, amazing, tiring job of Mom extrodinaire. I have such props for Moms/Dads who work full time AND have kids. I don’t know how they do it!
Leslie: I don’t know if you saw it, but I would LOVE to be a Smith sibling. I don’t have any sisters, just three stupid older brothers (they are kinda stupid, love them, but they are kinda stupid).
Janelle: I missed my birthday hunk yesterday….LOL. I don’t think you saw my last post.
Comment by katie — August 15, 2007 @ 9:33 am
My dad owned a construction company…I was about 9 when my mom showed up at a job site and totally freaked out - with good reason - I was working with my shirt off because it was hot, and they guys took their shirts off when they were hot!
By the time I was 13 I was driving dumptrucks, but just around job sites and not on real busy roads (”real busy roads” being the key phrase there).
I have no doubt I would have taken over that company and still be working it if Dad hadn’t sold out. After that it was restaurants, construction company that installed fire sprinklers, advertising agency, entertainment company (that was cool and way fun!) and then maid/cook/taxi driver. Someday, writer!!
Happy late birthay, Katie. Sure hope Janelle posts that hunk for you today!!! Oohhhh, Janeeeelle……
Comment by Jodie — August 15, 2007 @ 9:48 am
‘I’m sure JANELLE will find you a HUNK on the day she posts!
Carly,
You do not owe me a book I am just trying really hard to win one.
Hugs hope your vacation is going well.
Julie.
I loved “”Strippd” so I am sure being in the final stages of another
is all good for us.
Sorry it’s not fun but
keep red lining cause we’re waiting.
My word I have had so many jobs it would take a book.
I even did molds at two different jobs. One making graduation rings,
the other my hubby and I owned a huge ceramic store.
My favorite job was teaching my least favorite putting filaments in light
bulbs. That lasted a week. I did the supermarket and the restaurant.
I did a store like K mart too. My dh and I owned a gas station /repair shop
where I kept the books, pumped gas (no selfserve then) and changed
mufflers. I have enjoyed my life and currently work for a cellphone
company; soon to retire, I hope. And that is the abreviated version
Hugs to all have a wonderful day.
Comment by Jeannie — August 15, 2007 @ 10:28 am
PS> Julie I did the Bartender at 30 and it was fun.
Comment by Jeannie — August 15, 2007 @ 10:30 am
Wow, I’ve had a pretty boring work history… a string of office-grunt jobs where I eventually learned to handle most basic office tasks.
In college, I helped do weekly back ups of the computer system (the process started at 2 am on Saturday mornings, and took anywhere from 2 to 8 hours, and the hours always did a number on my sleep the rest of the week).
I also worked at the campus bookstore–loved the books and the discount; couldn’t stand the customer service desk, where we fielded calls like, “Um…I’m looking for this book about cats–it was purple and I know I just saw it in your store! No, I don’t remember the title or author…”
After I graduated, I worked as an editor for an educational software company. Now I mostly take care of our kids, and on the side, a couple friends and I have a custom card and announcement business.
Fun, but it’s tricky finding time when the kids are awake to get anything done! Such is the life!
Comment by Fedora — August 15, 2007 @ 11:00 am
OHMYGOSH, Katie! I’m soooo sorry! I did miss your post.
First off, Happy Belated birthday! 
Secondly, I asked all my hunks who wanted to be yours for the day, and while there was a big tussle over who was going to be bestowed with that privilege, this BAD BOY won. He’ll take care of you. I promise! And he’ll make up for the fact that he’s late by one day. 
ENJOY!
Comment by Janelle — August 15, 2007 @ 11:34 am
Thank you, Katie, for having a birthday!!!!
Comment by Jodie — August 15, 2007 @ 12:58 pm
Happy late birthday Katie!!! Love the hunk Janelle.
Jodie, so glad everything went well yesterday. Will continue to keep you and your family in my prayers.
Comment by Liza — August 15, 2007 @ 1:55 pm
Yummy hunk! Katie, can you send him my way when you are done, my birthday was Monday!
Jobs, I’ll start with after high school when I actually did something beside baby sitting! My first “real” job was at a bank in the bookkeeping department (it was BC, before computers) I liked the job, learned a lot. Next was a job at a Singer store as kind of a Jill of all trades, selling, doing clerical work, etc., after that I spent several years as a stay at home Mom & had a second child, then my husband (now ex) got into photography and eventually started taking portraits and I helped him keep the books & did everything he didn’t, after our divorce I worked in a pharmacy, a winery, a mini-market, on a site building a dam for a company that did the soil testing for the Corps of Engineers, cleaned motel rooms (not a lot of fun!), then started doing just office work mostly as a receptionist. The place I liked best was Lasercraft, I was there for over 7 years, loved working there, made some good friends and would have stayed but they started having financial problems & eventually had to file bankruptcy & went out of business, it was sad as the company had been in business 30 years. Since that job I have worked at an insurance agency, a mortgage company and a marketing company. Now I am mostly retired but looking for something to boost the income as I am not enjoying lack of income!! So that is the short version of my job history!! I did work retail for about 3 years in a specialty shop, it was mostly part time to supplement my full time job. After 3 Christmas’s working retail I had had enough! Takes all the fun out of it. What was fun was helping the men that came in to buy nice clothes for their wives!
Interesting subject Julie. Good luck on the revisions.
Comment by Donna M — August 15, 2007 @ 2:08 pm
lol Thanks Katie (happy birthday) and Janelle
Most of my jobs were spent doing office work, which is what I do now…When I was 16 I started my first real job working in Genovese Drug Store which I really liked and stayed there for 6 years until my daughter was born….My favorite job was working as a part time receptionist in a religious retreat house, which doesn’t sound fun but I basically got paid to sit and read a book…lol the phones barely rang, the priests who lived there occasionally asked me to type something but for the most part I sat and read…alot!! Those were the good old days…lol
Comment by Tina Martinesi — August 15, 2007 @ 2:24 pm
First, I wanted to let you know I’m giving away a copy of Julie’s book, Stripped, over at my blog this week.
My first real paying job was in the 9th grade. I had to get a workers permit because of my age. Which, looking back is kinda crazy considering they let me work by myself, closing the shop, and taking in money. I worked for a dry cleaner in Town n Country. This was a satellite office from their very large store.
From there I went to work at Maas Bros. I loved working there and stayed for a couple of years.
During the college years (which I did not finish)
, I worked odd jobs including waitressing. I loved doing that. But then I’m a people person.
I worked at my daughter’s private school as a sub, which gives more hours than you think. When she went to public high school I went the next year to the same school. I stayed there and loved being a Wildcat until I separated from my now ex-husband. I needed more money…I worked for a motivational company, traveled, booked the speakers, and was in charge of one of the venue spot in each place we went. We ran two at the same time in order to hold everyone. My venue usually held around 15,000. I did private dinner parties for actors, athletes, and many others including the now running for president, Rudy Giuliani. After 9/11 they downsized and my job was gone. Who knew I didn’t have a life until that was over.
From there I went to work for the American Cancer Society. I stayed for 2 years. It’s a wonderful company and does wonderful things. I just wasn’t busy enough. So I began looking for a new job. Now currently working at one of the 24/7 live TV and web shopping channels. I’ve been here 3 years and love it.
Comment by Vicki — August 15, 2007 @ 4:09 pm
Hi Julie! Love this topic, but before I forget *loved* Stripped as well — kept me up late reading…
I had so many crap jobs I can’t hardly remember them all — mostly retail — grocery stores, shoe stores, drug stores. These were the trifecta of my retail career as a teen and early twenty-something. I moved on to also work at a radio station, I was a receptionist and all around helper, and ran the automation on their piped in country station. Worked as a Kelly Temp where i did a ton of things, office and factory work. Strangest place I worked was a mannequin factory — spooky. Coolest temp job was running the blueprint room at a medical manufacturing plant. Crappiest one was an office job where the told me I’d have to come in “dressed more suitably” the next day — I was a temp worker and a single mom, I had on dress pants and a nice shirt, but I guess I wasn’t fancy enough for them, so I walked out before I even sat down.
I went back to school late, when I was 27, but I made up for lost time and got 3 MAs by the time I was done. Academian was wonderful, my first really professional job, and I did it for 12 years. Now, I write full time, of course, and unless I get some work being paid to travel the world and visit the fanciest places, I can’t imagine too much better.
Sam
Comment by Sam Hunter — August 15, 2007 @ 4:35 pm
Until I decided to write, all my jobs were bad jobs. I’ve been a telemarketer, sold Avon and Tupperware, and did accounting for a trucking company (boring). So thrilled to spend the days in front of my computer adventuring in an imaginary but fun place.
Comment by Jill James — August 15, 2007 @ 5:04 pm
Worked in a library as an early teen. Great job! Got see all the new books as they came in and get first dibs, if they weren’t reserved. After everything was shelved and all the patrons happy, got to read.
Another good job as a teen was working at Woolworth’s department store for the discount, and at a market research company doing phone surveys for large corporate clients like AT&T. Had a knack for getting surveys completed in record time. They tried to sway me to stay after high school graduation with offer of a full-time job making like $3.90/hr. Not me. I was off to college!
Hated working fast food because I went home tired and smelling like onions and old grease. Hated calling people during their dinner to try to sell them magazines on commission. Didn’t make much and folks were just nasty!
Comment by Patricia W — August 15, 2007 @ 5:17 pm
Thanks Janelle for the hunk and for all of the wishes…
Comment by katie — August 15, 2007 @ 5:31 pm
Besides the usual babysitting jobs, I grew up on a farm. So I started young. As for “real” jobs have tended bar and worked the 19th hole at our local country club (when I was 16, during the summer- bartender, short order cook and waitress- I was the only one there during the week.)
I have done retail in many different areas, the best being Walden’s/Borders. And I am there again.
I have done catering, worked at a gas station (during the first oil crisis), worked at a radio station (FREE Concert Tix!!), driven an oil truck and made deliveries, worked at a family owned ice cream parlor in MA.
Helped build a Nuclear Power Plant.
Spent 10 years working at the Dept of Social Services, where I carried a caseload of over 200 clients. As much as we all complained, I liked the job- for the most part my clients were needy people. Every now and then I had one that needed an attitude judgement. They got it.
Now I am signed up to take a Civil Service exam for Legal Assistant. The reason I got a degree in the first place. finally.
i still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up.
Comment by ev — August 15, 2007 @ 5:46 pm
My first job(s) was a combo. I got up at 4 am to deliver donuts to a variety of rural locations. What a
lol In the afternoon, I worked in the hardware department at Sears. What a fun job. Lots of cute guys!!!
When I started college, I said “good bye” to hardware and “hello” to banking. It was suppose to be a temporary job, that turned into 16 years. After many mergers, my job ended up moving out of state and decided that the Medical profession might be fun. I started out as a provider relations specialist that contracted and credentialed physicians into different provider networks.
Now, I have found the most rewarding job every.
I work as a nursing assistant for a group of Radiation Oncologists who treat cancer patients and I couldn’t be happier.
Comment by Ardie — August 15, 2007 @ 6:29 pm
Happy belayed b-day Katie
Comment by Cherylann — August 15, 2007 @ 7:31 pm
I worked at Burger King & K-mart then a plastic surgeons office, then apt. rental office then I worked at Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield for 17 years until this past June I was kicked to the curb due to outsourcing
I collected un-employment for a month and now I am working at another insurance company
Comment by Cherylann — August 15, 2007 @ 7:33 pm
Happy birthday, Katie! My, oh, my…what a nice hunk you have there.
It’s so wild how many different jobs we have listed! I got through another 75 pages today on my edit…let me just say, right here now for the record…that any reader who doesn’t think writers work hard to make sure everything in a book is consistent and makes sense is so, so wrong. I caught one place today where my hero’s name was wrong. Another where a character changed names midway through. Another where a whole decade was lost and yet another where the day lasted, oh, about forty-eight hours. Yes, I know…I wrote it all originally…
I can only hope the copy editor will catch anything I miss!!
Comment by Julie Leto — August 15, 2007 @ 7:54 pm
Wow…I feel like I missed out…I never really worked as a teen…not even babysitting (at least none that I got paid for)…it wasn’t until college that I started working…I played basketball and softball all through high school, so I didn’t really have time to work…but once I hit college, I realized that there was no way to survive without earning some money…I worked three jobs…I managed the women’s bball team, supervised at a snack bar and worked in the library…it was tough, but obviously doable…since I survived…I kind of wished that I had the chance to work while I was growing up…it is like a rite of passage or something…I never did th fast food thing either…what I realize though is that my ideal job is the only one I can’t afford to have and that is to be a professional student…if I could get paid to go to school, I would be a billionaire by now…it was great reading about all the odd jobs here…I couldn’t imagine working in a print shop Chicki or a manufacturing shop, Julie.
Did I ever tell you guys how much I appreciate the time you all take to share with all of us? Well, I do…sometimes just coming to this site relaxes me…thanks…
Comment by Paula R. — August 15, 2007 @ 8:32 pm
Hey, I started at K-Mart too! Since my father was a K-Mart store manager, I had that pencil sharpening job at his store. I liked it when I turned 16 and went to work at the OTHER K-Mart in Juniors :-)
Comment by Kimberly — August 15, 2007 @ 8:33 pm
Julie - I still work for Kmart. I’ve been with the company for 24 yrs now. It started out as a part time job but I kept getting promoted so I decided to stay.
Comment by Carol R — August 15, 2007 @ 8:42 pm
My very first job I worked at an amusement park in my town. I was working the duck pond. That is the one where little rubber duckies float around a pond and people pluck them from the water. Depending on which number you pick you win a prize. I had so much fun! Well, when they found out that I was giving away to many prizes I got moved to the restaurant. My job ended at the end of the summer when I went back to school.
My worst job was when I worked at an architectural firm for 18 years. The guys were so arrogant and know-it-alls! A lot of them were moody so you never knew if they were joking with you or serious. I just did my work and basically kept to myself. I worked in the architectural dept. The girls in the secretarial area on the first floor were a bunch of crows! All they did was gossip all day! I never made friends with them. So the few women in my dept. I hung around with on lunch hours. I was so glad when I was laid off from there!
Also, the management expected the employees to work hard with zero defects on the drawings, 40 hours a week plus at least 10 hours overtime everyweek if not more. I pulled so many overnighters there that a part of my life is absolutely missing. Not only did we have to work so many hours but we were paid measly wages. They had great insurance and if it wasn’t for that I would have left a long time ago. My life was never so happy and carefree since the day I was laid off from there.
Comment by Michele L. — August 16, 2007 @ 12:13 am