First Job?

Discussion in 'Career, Work, Finances and Education' started by cypher21, Feb 25, 2016.

  1. cypher21

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    For all those currently employed or even unemployed (like myself) what was your first job?

    How'd you get it and who helped you?
    [​IMG]
     
    #1 cypher21, Feb 25, 2016
    Last edited: Feb 25, 2016
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  2. grownman

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    Damn, somebody loves Mariah-lol.

    Steak n Shake-dishwasher. I just applied myself and worked part time while in school.
     
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  3. Nigerian Prince

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    I applied myself at a grocery store exclusive to Texas. I was a hard working bagger for 3 weeks then for a year and some change I was a cashier.
     
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  4. ColumbusGuy

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    Do you mean first 'real job' as in related to what you studied/trained for or just first job ever?

    First job ever was a junior in HS-worked as a server. Worked full time my senior year in HS. Bought a car before my senior year. I just found out who was hiring and applied.

    Real 'decent' jobs it has taken knowing someone or just good luck and diligence.
     
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  5. Tyroc

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    My first real job was at a corporate law firm as an overnight telecopy operator (which probably not even a thing anymore). My partner at the time's Aunt ran the department, so it was pure nepotism.
    My actual first job was as a paperboy and also my first and definitely not last encounter with being sexually harassed.
     
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  6. cypher21

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    You know I'm dedicated.
    [​IMG]
    Both. Any really you're willing to share.
    Wow really? I'm sorry to hear that.
     
  7. Dante

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    Secretary for a research center. Volunteered part time at a local hospital before that.

    I think it was opportunity and the need for the position, with the interview.
     
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  8. mojoreece

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    My 1st Job was at a restaurant inside an amusement park. It was kind fun at 1st because I could eat all the food I wanted to and ride roller-coasters when I was on break but they started getting more strict after a while.
     
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  9. Artistic Arsonist

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    Technically, my first job was working as a Tech Intern (that's what they called it) as apart of this program for high schools in my county. I worked in the school library during class with the media specialist. It was junior year, and I found out we'd get paid for it, so I applied myself.
     
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  10. acessential

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    My first real job was the summer between high school and college. We had just got a career center at my school and I decided to see if it was worthwhile. The counselor immediately hooked me up. I worked as a laborer at the military base in my hometown. It was outside mostly and it was so hot. I'm talking about 110+ degrees. I developed a newfound respect for laborers, but I pledged to never do it again. It paid well though. At least for a 17 year old. 15 dollars an hour full time. I saved all that money for my first semester of college.
     
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  11. redsai84

    redsai84 For the night is dark and full of terrors.
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    my first job was working at McDonnels. i hated that job long ass hours coming home smelling like bad food. i got the job by just walking in and talking to the manager...i miss those day now you got to fill out everything online and video chat with your interviewer and thats after you do the 15min questionnaire
     
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  12. Morsmordre

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    I didn't get my first job until college. My family was comfortable enough to allow me to focus on my academics and extracurriculars while financing my lifestyle.

    Sophomore year I interned at a public accounting firm. To be honest I pretty much walked right into that position. I've found, as a black man, if you have good grades and can carry yourself well, many companies will bend over backwards to hire you. This, of course, is taking into factor the demand of the field you're in. I've seen this happen many times as well with friends that are in STEM/IT/Finance/Accounting

    I also joined a professional association while in school that gave me direct access to recruiters and upper level management. It was easy sailing from there.

    A few points I would make:

    1) It helps to have an idea of what you want to do going into college. The earlier you can obtain an internship the better. I currently work in high finance and you couldn't even get a position after graduation unless you had 2 to 3 internships under your belt.

    2) Keep your GPA high. Start your freshmen year off strong as that can set the tone for the rest of undergrad. If you finish with a low GPA your freshmen year, it will be very hard to raise it in the subsequent years.

    3) Join a professional association or fraternity to build up your network. Also, take up leadership positions within your respective organizations.

    4) Volunteering is also good but I've found that if you're in a highly competitive field a lot of companies could care less.

    5) Most importantly, work on your soft skills. If you can communicate well, develop rapport, and carry yourself like you've been around the block, you could literally talk yourself into anything. I've done it multiple times. Joining Toastmasters would be good for this. Unfortunately, most of the people I see lacking in this area are black men/women because we don't have the luxury of having our college years paid for where we can spend that time developing the social graces that would advance us in these fields. Most have to work full time/part time jobs which unfortunately can inhibit our advancement. But on the flip side, college has to get paid somehow.

    A lot of the time, many employers are just trying to see if a person would be a good fit i.e get along with everyone else. If you're in a field where you're working long hours, managers want to make sure that you are a person they can spend a lot of time with and not get sick of.
     
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  13. Sean P

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    Until Tyroc mentioned it, I was going to inadvertently skip over my 2 years as a paper boy (ages 13 - 15). A year after surviving that bit of torture, I got a job as a courtesy clerk (bag boy) in a grocery store. The day that I turned 16, I got my license, drove to the grocery store, filled out an application, and stalked the store manager every other day for weeks until he finally hired me.
     
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  14. Sean

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    My first job was working for a lawyer during my freshman year of high school. I would work 3 hours a day every day filing papers, making copies, cleaning up the office and running back and forth the courts. Then I would work full-time in the summers. (I also worked at a museum.)

    After I graduated from college, the lawyer introduced me to someone who introduced me to someone else who helped me land my first professional job out of college...which was my dream job. To this day, I have not held a professional job that I've applied for and give my first job and boss the credit for paving the way for me as a professional. I learned a lot at a young age and that has benefited me throughout my career.
     
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  15. bpaisle

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    My first real job was as a host in a host in a restaurant. I had a friend who worked there as a cook and he got me in. I worked that job pretty much my whole senior year.
     
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  16. cypher21

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    Thank you for providing such great tips along with your story, welcome to the site!
     
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  17. Dr. Strange

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    My first real job was working for Wells Fargo. I went through a job training program that teaches you how to work for banks; its called BankWorks JVS.

    After you take their training they do a job fair where all their banking partners come through and basically do interviews. They also set up personal interviews if the job fair doesn't work out as well. It's pretty thorough.
     
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  18. NikR

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    I nearly died of boredom the summer between grade 9 and 10. So the next summer I was filing at a doctor's office. So. Many. Papercuts. It got me out of the house and I felt useful. A lot better than sitting at home and beating off 12 times a day.

    First "real" job...welfare fraud hotline when i was 17. And before you ask, yes, I have an unusually deep voice.
     
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  19. SB3

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    My first job was a summer job in an office at 13. I answered phones that rang twice a day. It was a city teen summer job program. I basically got paid to read all day. I read more books that summer than ever before. (This was pre- everyone having internet)...
     
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  20. scooter

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    When I was 7 yrs. old I had a paper route that I made $60 every 2 weeks. In high school I worked as a cashier at K-mart. When I was in college I worked as a server for Red Lobster. Then upon graduation from college I was a substitute teacher. Subsequent years was working as an administrative assistant.
     
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  21. SB3

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    I tried sooo hard to get a damn paper route! Never worked out
     
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  22. scooter

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    I got mines via my babysitter she was working for the Daily Herald at the time and she asked my older bro. and I if we wanted one of our own and the rest is history as they say.
     
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  23. bisonboy

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    My first job was as a Page for the Senate of VA. That was a great experience. Being able to have a front row seat to law making. It was my sophomore year of High School and I was the only black page that year, so it was of course an interesting experience.
    My career first job, that I applied and got hired for is what I am doing now, teaching Special Education. I was a tutor while in college over the summers and it made me realize I didn't want to do anything much with my Business Management degree I was working toward. I then went to grad school for Special Education and applied two years during that time trying to become a teacher and it wasn't until I graduated with my degree did I get hired.
     
  24. SB3

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    Wait! We're talking about first gigs still, right?
     
  25. Discordant

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    My first job was as a Sandwich Artist at Subway Subs. My dad ate there everyday so was cool with the owner. It was a good paying summer gig. My first full-time job was as the Assistant Registrar of my college. Took me longer to graduate but they paid for the majority of my degree.
     
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  26. SB3

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    Ima need u to NEVER call urself a 'sandwich artist' tho. I am neither nick or ocky, thus, 0 power, but i cant imagine that much pretense on CA!
     
  27. tigerbreaux

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    First job was in 7th grade, I worked at the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans, as a volunteer, then got a paid stipend.
    Worked as a tour guide in College, got paid & got really good perks, and I also called alumni and asked for money (got paid really well and barely worked).
    First "real" job out of school was a veterinary technician
     
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  28. Discordant

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    You've never had one of my sandwiches. :shaq:
     
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  29. Sean

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    What an honor!
     
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  30. DC.

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    My first job was as an aftercare and VPK (Preschool) teacher at a daycare. I was in my senior year of high school and I was making bank at that job! (well.... as a highschooler, I was making bank lol), it was rewarding working with the kids and helping them with their homework, and helping with the infants, man I loved that job, I'll always remember it. Best part is, it was only two houses away! and I helped myself get the job, I volunteered there for three months and after that the boss hired me. I loved it. Although when your the only male working in a place full of women, there was so much drama between the women at that job that at one point the police got called..... at a daycare? like as the kids would say "where they do that at"? That place could've been a reality show, Lmaooo! After working there though, I can't look at daycares the same. smh lol.

    But what I did love is that many of the parents liked me so much (you know as the only guy I got alot of shine. lol) so they would let me babysit their kids on the weekend. And most times during babysitting I never had to do anything since the kids were asleep by the time I got there, the mom would order pizza and dvr my soaps for me. lol
     
  31. Pathology18

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    My first job was McDonald's and I was there for just under 2 years. My cousin's mom was one of the managers and she hooked me up with a job the summer before my junior year in high school. I actually loved it there because it was the place where I kissed my first girl, smoked my first blunt, and the parking lot is where I had my first car accident. My first real job out of college was working as a lab analyst for a private chemical and environmental waste testing company. Even though I hated every minute of working there I got a one years worth of great experience that help me get every job after that. That job also thought me that I eventually want go into business for myself! I'll never forget while I was struggling making only $11 an hour barely able to pay rent and student loans my boss was taking vacations to Argentina and buys planes! Yes planes plural!
     
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  32. BlackExcellence

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    My first job was working as a camp counselor for summer camp at the park in my neighborhood at 13. I felt soooooo proud to make $100 for six weeks of work lol
     

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