I was fired from my first job. I had been told exactly what to do and specifically what NOT to do. I did the reverse. They were completely justified in firing me. I would like to think that today, I would fire me too.
My first job was working at the gym at church. I worked the front desk. Basically, I was paid to do my homework. It was really the best first job, and I feel like I’ve been confused ever since as to why I can’t get done my personal work while at work. Ha!
After years doing that then working in student ministry, I spent a summer doing an internship in Australia and came back home to no job. I applied everywhere and finally got one at Kirkland’s. I hated that job. I had to wear awful khakis, and the smell was awful. My first weekend working there, I had to climb up on a ladder to get something that was on display. I was near the front of the store, and there was a long line to check out. Everyone was watching me. And they watched me as I broke some sconce or something of the like. It was miserable.
I worked at an ice cream shop (Bruster’s!) and waitressing at a local Italian restaurant which I was only okay at but I actually really enjoyed.
My most favorite job was assisting the archivists in UNC’s Southern Historical Collection as a undergrad. But the job itself took too much time away from general campus activities sooooo I ended up leaving after a semester. The loveliest bosses though - and workplace.
I've been offering up my firstborn to the mechanic at my garage and the drywaller I know from church. My own jobs as a youth were less practical in substance: drive through window worker and church bulletin folder.
Babysitting...so much babysitting in high school. Most of it was fine, and it meant I could plan the times which was helpful.
In college, I tried to get a summer job at a restaurant or store and kept striking out. The Wendy’s manager actually said, “We can’t hire you, because you’ll leave at the end of the summer!” I said, “But at least I’d BE here all summer!” I finally ended up with a temp company and spent excruciating weeks stuffing pamphlets on a warehouse assembly line.
My first work experience came from a florist shop owned by friends of ours. I’d sweep or fill water piks every time we’d visit, or babysit at the shop during Valentine’s week. My first steady job, though, was the summer I spent in medical records at the local hospital--back before everything was digital. We had to carry paper charts to the doctors’ offices for appointments and pick them up afterward and file loose papers and put everything back in alphabetical order. A bit like working in a basement library, but we got to make the rounds and visit all the nurses on a regular basis. It was a great job. 😄
In contrast, my brother used to muck horse stalls (for the same friends who owned the florist shop), and my dad found my brother his first real job working out in the door factory where my dad was an engineer. It was hot and repetitive, and he’d come home filthy, covered in sticky foam. He hated it, exactly as my dad hoped he would. “Stay in school,” he’d tell him. I guess it worked. 😬
My first non-babysitting job was working at an RV rental company cleaning RVs... in the summer. It was about as bad as it sounds. I was never much of a nascar fan before that, and working there made me loathe race week. It was our busiest week of the year and all the RVs came back the dirtiest that they ever were. I always thought I was a detail person, but it turns out I only love the details when working on things I actually care about...
I was fired from my first job. I had been told exactly what to do and specifically what NOT to do. I did the reverse. They were completely justified in firing me. I would like to think that today, I would fire me too.
My first job was working at the gym at church. I worked the front desk. Basically, I was paid to do my homework. It was really the best first job, and I feel like I’ve been confused ever since as to why I can’t get done my personal work while at work. Ha!
After years doing that then working in student ministry, I spent a summer doing an internship in Australia and came back home to no job. I applied everywhere and finally got one at Kirkland’s. I hated that job. I had to wear awful khakis, and the smell was awful. My first weekend working there, I had to climb up on a ladder to get something that was on display. I was near the front of the store, and there was a long line to check out. Everyone was watching me. And they watched me as I broke some sconce or something of the like. It was miserable.
I worked at an ice cream shop (Bruster’s!) and waitressing at a local Italian restaurant which I was only okay at but I actually really enjoyed.
My most favorite job was assisting the archivists in UNC’s Southern Historical Collection as a undergrad. But the job itself took too much time away from general campus activities sooooo I ended up leaving after a semester. The loveliest bosses though - and workplace.
I've been offering up my firstborn to the mechanic at my garage and the drywaller I know from church. My own jobs as a youth were less practical in substance: drive through window worker and church bulletin folder.
Babysitting...so much babysitting in high school. Most of it was fine, and it meant I could plan the times which was helpful.
In college, I tried to get a summer job at a restaurant or store and kept striking out. The Wendy’s manager actually said, “We can’t hire you, because you’ll leave at the end of the summer!” I said, “But at least I’d BE here all summer!” I finally ended up with a temp company and spent excruciating weeks stuffing pamphlets on a warehouse assembly line.
My first work experience came from a florist shop owned by friends of ours. I’d sweep or fill water piks every time we’d visit, or babysit at the shop during Valentine’s week. My first steady job, though, was the summer I spent in medical records at the local hospital--back before everything was digital. We had to carry paper charts to the doctors’ offices for appointments and pick them up afterward and file loose papers and put everything back in alphabetical order. A bit like working in a basement library, but we got to make the rounds and visit all the nurses on a regular basis. It was a great job. 😄
In contrast, my brother used to muck horse stalls (for the same friends who owned the florist shop), and my dad found my brother his first real job working out in the door factory where my dad was an engineer. It was hot and repetitive, and he’d come home filthy, covered in sticky foam. He hated it, exactly as my dad hoped he would. “Stay in school,” he’d tell him. I guess it worked. 😬
My first non-babysitting job was working at an RV rental company cleaning RVs... in the summer. It was about as bad as it sounds. I was never much of a nascar fan before that, and working there made me loathe race week. It was our busiest week of the year and all the RVs came back the dirtiest that they ever were. I always thought I was a detail person, but it turns out I only love the details when working on things I actually care about...
Babysitting
Childcare
Babysitting
Childcare
College Donor Data Entry
College Admissions Data Entry
Gift Basket Store Employee (including maker of gift baskets—I can make a mean handmade bow)
Resident Assistant
Missions Teams Assistant (planning travel logistics for MANY teams)
Dean of Women (I jumped up the ladder real-fast there)
Starbucks Barista (how the mighty have fallen)
Writing Center Consultant)
Adjunct Instructor
Communications Specialist
Freelance Editor
Communications Specialist
Communications Manager
CEO (again with the jumping up the ladder!)