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Silent Type

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20. Other than cutting grass, I worked in grocery stores. Learned a lot about customers and jerks.

Reply to debm55 (Original post)

Wed Aug 14, 2024, 11:56 AM

Aug 14

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What was your first paying job as a teenager? I worked at a pizza joint, How about you?? [View all] debm55 Aug 14 OP

I was a mannequin in BittyJenkins Aug 14 #1

Oh. Thank you, BittyJenkins. debm55 Aug 14 #3

That's cool - I could never do that! :) Mad_Dem_X Aug 14 #159

Newspapers AltairIV Aug 14 #2

Thank you AltairIV..That was a very common job back in the day. and from friends having that job, the pay stunk. debm55 Aug 14 #6

I was a pin setter at a bowling alley in my small town in Nebraska where i grew up. ten cents per line played. OLDMDDEM Aug 14 #4

Thank you OLDMDDEM. Was it duck pins or regular? debm55 Aug 14 #9

Regular. Went home with bruises on my legs nearly everyday I worked. OLDMDDEM Aug 14 #12

Thank you. Sorry about the bruises. debm55 Aug 14 #16

I was sorry too. OLDMDDEM Aug 14 #17

You need a hug------------- debm55 Aug 14 #214

Catering for my best friend's Dad's company Bristlecone Aug 14 #5

Thank you Bristlecone. Catering is a good business to be in as a teen. debm55 Aug 14 #10

Accounting Clerk for an aerial survey firm. LoisB Aug 14 #7

Thank you LoisB. sounds like a neat job. debm55 Aug 14 #11

Bagging groceries at a Winn-Dixie underpants Aug 14 #8

Thank you underpants. That must have been a pain to clean up. debm55 Aug 14 #13

That's why I mentioned the clothes. underpants Aug 14 #39

LOL been there. FalloutShelter Aug 14 #14

I think bar codes were just coming in but yeah I had to make change underpants Aug 14 #32

Yeah... in glass FalloutShelter Aug 14 #35

Thank you, FalloutShelter. That must have been a mess to clean. Did they have a worker that did "Clean Up in aisle 3" or debm55 Aug 14 #38

LOL FalloutShelter Aug 14 #41

Yeah we didn't have an operative cash register so had to add up all the items and make change captain queeg Aug 14 #215

Ma and Pa small grocery down the street. AnnaLee Aug 14 #15

Nice. underpants Aug 14 #27

Thank you AnnaLee. What a great thing you did for your sister. debm55 Aug 14 #47

Working on a soybean farm House of Roberts Aug 14 #18

Thank you, House of Roberts. I bet that was hard work especially in the rain and heat. debm55 Aug 14 #50

You didn't work in the rain but it was hot. House of Roberts Aug 14 #68

Me too... cutting the milkweed plants in august before the combine harvest lapfog_1 Aug 14 #62

Thank you, lapfog_1 . You put in alot of physical work for that $200. Thank you for sharing. debm55 Aug 14 #69

Ice cream shop. I lied about my age. Native Aug 14 #19

thank you Native. that would be a great job to have. debm55 Aug 14 #51

Other than cutting grass, I worked in grocery stores. Learned a lot about customers and jerks. Silent Type Aug 14 #20

Thank you Silent Type. Same here at the pizza place---customers and jerks-you learn life lessons. debm55 Aug 14 #54

Babysitting and petsitting. woodsprite Aug 14 #21

Thank you woodsprite. Did your parents have words with the car company? Other wise it does sound like a neat job. debm55 Aug 14 #59

No they didn't. Dad did check his credit report though woodsprite Aug 14 #171

Soda jerk Bmoboy Aug 14 #22

Oh my, thank you Bmoboy. One of my summer jobs in college was as a soda jerk. Never could get the mixtures right and debm55 Aug 14 #63

Mowing lawns. Did that throughout junior high and high school unblock Aug 14 #23

Thank you, unblock. Great first job, but very physical. debm55 Aug 14 #71

I did that too till we moved into town. My dad would drop me off at my sister trailer park with the mower and pick me captain queeg Aug 14 #218

Data entry Shermann Aug 14 #24

Thank you Shermann. You are right and working in the heat too debm55 Aug 14 #74

Dime store, age 14 JohnnyLib2 Aug 14 #25

Wow you were young. thank you for sharing, JonnnyLib2. debm55 Aug 14 #76

Sales clerk at J C Penney's, I think in the beauty section.....ha ha, never used anything a kennedy Aug 14 #26

Thank you, a kennedy. And it was cheaper at the Drug store. I remember when JC Penney's had a Hair Salon. debm55 Aug 14 #92

I worked in a pet shop! AmBlue Aug 14 #28

Thank you AmBlue. I see your point. I worked in a no kill animal shelter latter in my life. I had the cat section. I did debm55 Aug 14 #97

I was 14 and a counselor at a day camp..$25 a week... agingdem Aug 14 #29

Thank you, agingdem. It sounds like a great job to have. and the pay(at the time) wasn't bad either for a young teen. debm55 Aug 14 #118

Fish farm. 14. I loved it. bullimiami Aug 14 #30

Thank you bullimiami. Your job sounds very interesting. debm55 Aug 14 #119

Caddy on a golf course... they didnt ask any age questions getagrip_already Aug 14 #31

Thank you, getagrip_already. That does sound like very hard work. Thank you for sharing. debm55 Aug 14 #121

Theater usher Cartoonist Aug 14 #33

HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA Thank you Cartoonist. That is funny. debm55 Aug 14 #122

Pulling sticks loaded with cured Tobacco... GainesT1958 Aug 14 #34

Thank you GainesT1958. I bet it was. TY for sharing. debm55 Aug 14 #123

I got a job at the local Food Spot at 14 stocking shelves. iscooterliberally Aug 14 #36

Thank you iscooterliberally. Very interesting jobs. At Penn State, I worked my way through college working in the dorm's debm55 Aug 14 #125

I used machines for the most part too. iscooterliberally Aug 14 #132

Thank you very much, iscooterliberally. debm55 Aug 14 #133

Cashier at Publix market The Blue Flower Aug 14 #37

Thank you The Blue Flower. Yes, I remember putting in the prices. Then you have the people who check their receipts and debm55 Aug 14 #126

I don't remember which came first birdographer Aug 14 #40

Thank you birdographer. I had my students do that themselves at the end of the year. That sounds like a boring job. debm55 Aug 14 #127

My first job was as the University of Alaska coprolite Aug 14 #42

WOW Thank you coprolite. What two great jobs you had. You are the first potato chip taste tester I met online, debm55 Aug 14 #136

Small amusement/ water park. ColinC Aug 14 #43

Thank you ColinC. I hear you. They can be gross. debm55 Aug 14 #137

Site gasoline station. GreenWave Aug 14 #44

Thank you GreenWave. Did you wear a uniform? I remember looking on the car seats and car floor to find change to fill debm55 Aug 14 #138

I don't think we did. They wanted me to go to oil school telling me I could make Big Bucks GreenWave Aug 14 #141

Burger Chef MichMan Aug 14 #45

MichMan , I love your Burger Chef story it is so funny. Thank you for sharing with us. debm55 Aug 14 #139

Ah yes. I remember Burger Chef. Not sure how wide spread they were but had them in Ohio. captain queeg Aug 14 #222

Burger Chef was bought out by Hardees and rebranded MichMan Aug 15 #238

Sales clerk in a cigar store. Mme. Defarge Aug 14 #46

Thank you Mme. Defarge. Did the smell bother you? debm55 Aug 14 #143

Loved the smell of good tobacco, Mme. Defarge Aug 14 #169

Bagging groceries. lpbk2713 Aug 14 #48

Thank you lpbk2713. We have to bag ourselves now. debm55 Aug 14 #144

I worked in a grocery store at 16. Was paid $.85 an hour. sinkingfeeling Aug 14 #49

Thank you sinkingfeeling. debm55 Aug 14 #145

I shined shoes at a brick and mortar shoe shine shop. LuckyCharms Aug 14 #52

"Now go home and get your fucking shinebox." Niagara Aug 14 #86

No more shines, Billy. Maybe you didn't hear about it, they didn't go up there and tell you. LuckyCharms Aug 14 #91

"What do you mean funny, funny how? How am I funny?" Niagara Aug 14 #105

It's my favorite, hands down! LuckyCharms Aug 14 #112

I love Carlito's Way too. Niagara Aug 14 #116

Thank you for sharing. LuckyCharms. That was a heck of a lot of money for a 14 year old. debm55 Aug 14 #88

Omaha Zoo cleaning the tank windows in the aquarium. Gaytano70 Aug 14 #53

Thank you Gaytano70 that sounds interesting. debm55 Aug 14 #149

Yes, I walked around inside the aquarium with a bucket of vinegar water and a squeegee cleaning Gaytano70 Aug 14 #170

HAHAHAHAHAHHAH. You are funny. debm55 Aug 14 #182

Detasselling TheFarseer Aug 14 #55

Wow, that is a lot for a 12 year old. Thank you TheFarseer. debm55 Aug 14 #151

It was only for about 10-14 days TheFarseer Aug 14 #187

New York Times PXR-5 Aug 14 #56

Thank you PXR-5, I remember my cousins doing that. They had an assembly line putting the Pittsburgh paper together. debm55 Aug 14 #153

Demonstrating magic tricks in a hobby shop. grumpyduck Aug 14 #57

Thank you grumpyduck. I really find the job demonstrating magic tricks to be interesting. Do you remember any? debm55 Aug 14 #173

Sadly, no. grumpyduck Aug 14 #193

Gift wrapping for the holidays at a high end men's store kimbutgar Aug 14 #58

Thank you kimbutgar. I am sorry that happened to you. I heard the same about him debm55 Aug 14 #155

And I met his daughter who was on Dallas and she wasn't a nice person either! kimbutgar Aug 14 #198

Local stationery store Basso8vb Aug 14 #60

That is so nice to hear. Most first jobs are crummy. Thank you Basso8vb. debm55 Aug 14 #160

Construction helper @ age15. $1.50 an hr. Thought I was GOD when I got paid oldsoftie Aug 14 #61

Wow, Thank you, oldsoftie. That is a lot for a 15 year old. debm55 Aug 14 #161

I had worked full time hours+ moniss Aug 14 #64

Thank you moniss. I am so sorry about the back and knee problems. Let me give you a ......... debm55 Aug 14 #162

You're the best kiddo.nt moniss Aug 14 #195

Paperboy....Newsday Long Beach NY 49jim Aug 14 #65

Thank you for your post, 49jim, Very interesting post. debm55 Aug 14 #163

Working in a lab analyzing water samples. drray23 Aug 14 #66

Thank you very much drray23. You must be very smart to be getting a degree in Chemisty at 16, debm55 Aug 14 #174

Priming tobacco on neighbor's farm unc70 Aug 14 #67

Thank you unc70 for sharing with us. I bet it was very hard working in the hot sun. debm55 Aug 14 #175

Mowing North Shore Chicago Aug 14 #70

Thank you North Shore Chicago. You had some very parents that matched what you made. debm55 Aug 14 #177

Babysitting as a pre-teen and waitress at Denny's as teenager MaryMagdaline Aug 14 #72

Thank you MaryMagdaline. It is a hard job being on your feet all shift. debm55 Aug 14 #178

It was! I did waitressing and fast food through age 24 MaryMagdaline Aug 14 #191

Sales clerk at a small stationery store Wicked Blue Aug 14 #73

Thank you very much. Wicked Blue. Sad that the art of writing letters is gone. debm55 Aug 14 #90

Not only letters Wicked Blue Aug 14 #95

Babysitting and file clerk Karia Aug 14 #75

HAHHAHAHAH. That is funny about taking an alphabet test. Thank you. Kara. debm55 Aug 14 #79

1966...Howard Johnsons on the PA Turnpike. PittBlue Aug 14 #77

Thank you PittBlue. Yes, they didn't have to pay minimum wage for those under 18years , I remember them all over the PA debm55 Aug 14 #89

Selling bikes at Toys Are Us CanonRay Aug 14 #78

Thank you CanonRay. Did you have to assemble them too? debm55 Aug 14 #83

Just the pedals and handlebars on the floor models. CanonRay Aug 14 #184

I self-published a music fanzine synni Aug 14 #80

Good work, synni. Thank you for sharing. debm55 Aug 14 #81

Nursing Assistant in a Psychiatric Hospital... HipChick Aug 14 #82

HipChick. Thank you for your work that you did there. It must have been very draining on you. Love, Debbie. debm55 Aug 14 #84

Very eye opening HipChick Aug 14 #124

As an Explorer Scout, Nature Director at Summer Boy Scout Camp surfered Aug 14 #85

Thank you very much, surfered. It sounds like a very fun first job. debm55 Aug 14 #87

Life was simpler then and I was young surfered Aug 14 #189

Babysitter for two kids from a rich family vacationing in my area for a summer. Just turned 14. catbyte Aug 14 #93

Thank you catbyte. You sound like you really enjoyed the kids. Wonderful. I think they enjoyed you too. debm55 Aug 14 #180

Babysitting starting age 11. GPV Aug 14 #94

Thank you very much for sharing, GPV. debm55 Aug 14 #183

My 1st paying non taxable job as a teenager was a babysitter Niagara Aug 14 #96

Thank you, Niagara. I remember Ponderosa's around here. We also had a Bonanza Steakhouse here. Thanks for sharing. debm55 Aug 14 #100

My pleasure, Debbie! Niagara Aug 14 #114

Camp Counselor Deep State Witch Aug 14 #98

Thank you Deep State Witch. I lived near the location of their home office in McKessport, PA, Did you store have the sit debm55 Aug 14 #186

other than getting paid to sing at church (I was a soloist at 11), the first real job I had gopiscrap Aug 14 #99

Thank you gopiscrap. You hit the jackpot with that job. debm55 Aug 14 #190

I worked an agricultural job in the city when I was 14. An evergreen nursery where I dug, planted, cut...etc Rustynaerduwell Aug 14 #101

Thank you very much, Rustynaerduwell. It sounds like it was a interesting job. debm55 Aug 14 #103

Babysitting my sibs no_hypocrisy Aug 14 #102

Thank you no-hypocrisy. You were lucky. I never got paid. debm55 Aug 14 #106

If it's any solace, pretty sure the no_hypocrisy Aug 14 #113

Newspapers and greeting cards. gibraltar72 Aug 14 #104

Thank you gibraltar72. It sounds relaxing. debm55 Aug 14 #188

Janitor. And I loved it! Had my sister work for me too, she cleaned the front half of the office complex, and I SWBTATTReg Aug 14 #107

Thank you SWBTATTReg, I like how you included your sister. thank you sharing. debm55 Aug 14 #109

A city park near the lake BlueKota Aug 14 #108

Thank you BlueKota. Sounds like a interesting job. debm55 Aug 14 #110

Department store credit office fernlady Aug 14 #111

Thank you so much, fernlady. I remember those days of applying for a cc or making a payment on a cc. At our store it was debm55 Aug 14 #117

Busboy at the Waterfall Lounge. malthaussen Aug 14 #115

HAHAHAHAHHA, Thank you Mal. Was it located around Pittsburgh or down in Florida. debm55 Aug 14 #210

Willow Grove, PA malthaussen Aug 15 #255

Started out as clean up boy in the meat department of a small grocery store. rsdsharp Aug 14 #120

Thank you, rsdsharp. I remember to work the meat cutter in the deli you had to be a certain age. but I knew kids younger debm55 Aug 14 #129

I was 16 (started at 15). Used the slicer, band saw, rsdsharp Aug 14 #134

Janaf Cinema movie theater selling concessions. Started at age 14. rainy Aug 14 #128

Thank you rainy. That would be neat working in the concession stands. debm55 Aug 14 #131

Counter person at a Red Barn (fast food burger & chicken joint) ihaveaquestion Aug 14 #130

Thank you ihaveaquestion. I always liked the shape of the place and the name. debm55 Aug 14 #142

Other than babysitting, opening tax season mail at the IRS dlk Aug 14 #135

Thank you dlk. debm55 Aug 14 #140

McDonalds. I was a closer and cleaner. beaglelover Aug 14 #146

Thank you, beaglelover. Closer is a hard job. debm55 Aug 14 #223

JoAnn Fabrics deepthought42 Aug 14 #147

Thank you deepthought42. I like JoAnn Fabrics. debm55 Aug 14 #225

I was a part-time sportswriter for my local newspaper, covering... Different Drummer Aug 14 #148

Thank you Different Drummer Neat job debm55 Aug 14 #235

Diving for pearls at The Alibi in Portland Oregon. k55f5r Aug 14 #150

What a great job. We had a pearl diver at the Sea World in Ohio. Loved watching them dive. My husband bought me a debm55 Aug 14 #229

Another pizza worker here Rastapopoulos Aug 14 #152

I worked the front counter and stepped in the back to sometimes make the pizza. Hot as hell in the back. debm55 Aug 14 #219

I said shining shoes and cleaning spittoons at a local massage parlor and got some laughs on FB a while back. n/t brewens Aug 14 #154

Oh brewens, that is gross. Is it true, If so I feel sorry for you debm55 Aug 14 #157

Farm/ranch hand. WheelWalker Aug 14 #156

Wow, Thank you WheelWalker. Where did you get the energy to do both? debm55 Aug 14 #231

It's my Dharma. WheelWalker Aug 14 #237

I worked with little kids in a daytime program Mad_Dem_X Aug 14 #158

Other than babysitting wryter2000 Aug 14 #164

Paper route, 1957.. Permanut Aug 14 #165

Thank you, Permanut. You must have made good money as Schwinn bikes were the top of the line. debm55 Aug 15 #260

My best friends's mom worked for a catera, serving tables at events. Fla Dem Aug 14 #166

Sonic Drive-In. Elessar Zappa Aug 14 #167

Thank you Elessar Zappa. I love their ice. Working in the kitchen is a hot, dirty job. I did it too debm55 Aug 15 #259

13 years old duncang Aug 14 #168

Thank you duncang. that was quite a job for a 13 year old. debm55 Aug 15 #258

My first non-babysitting job was in the women's clothing section... 3catwoman3 Aug 14 #172

Wonderful post 3catwoman3. I remember the workers at Penneys would have this hand steamer and would steam the clothing debm55 Aug 14 #221

Waitress, local diner Joinfortmill Aug 14 #176

Thank you Joinfortmill. You learn a lot of people skills. And it is hard work being on your feet all day. debm55 Aug 14 #209

Tutor in hs, then Arbys Demovictory9 Aug 14 #179

Thank you very much Demovictory9 , Two great jobs. I taught for over 40 years. debm55 Aug 14 #208

I was about 10 years old Beachnutt Aug 14 #181

Thank you, Beachnutt, that sounds wounderful. The smells of farm fresh fruits and veggies. debm55 Aug 14 #206

I worked in a movie theater in Wailuku Maui that was recently bought by Seiks Nictuku Aug 14 #185

Thank you Nictuku. That first job sounds sort of creepy. Your second job sounds great. Making tacos. YUMMY debm55 Aug 14 #205

Fenway Park selling scorecards, peanuts in the stands Submariner Aug 14 #192

Thank you Submariner. My husband is from Boston and we always said "who sells the best hot dogs, Fenway Pawk" True. debm55 Aug 14 #203

organist oberle Aug 14 #194

Thank you very oberle. How great to have your first paying job turn into a career. debm55 Aug 14 #201

Martial arts instructor sakabatou Aug 14 #196

Thank you very much sakabatou. That is very interesting. debm55 Aug 14 #200

Age 14 through 17 picked cherries for $.50 a pail wishstar Aug 14 #197

Thank you wishstar for a great post. Love cheery cobbler. Now everytime I make it , I will think of your post. debm55 Aug 14 #199

I worked as a starter deRien Aug 14 #202

Thank you, deRien. That is quit a job. debm55 Aug 14 #204

Garbage man @ 14. Lochloosa Aug 14 #207

Thank you Lochloosa. What a variety of jobs you had during your teens. debm55 Aug 14 #212

I had a couple paper routes but then I got a job cleaning up a meat market at night. captain queeg Aug 14 #211

Oh wow, thank you captain queeg. You had a variety of careers you had. debm55 Aug 14 #213

When I was young I'd do most anything to make some money. captain queeg Aug 14 #220

Car wash Tribetime Aug 14 #216

Thank you Tribertime. Did you ever go through it when no one was looking? debm55 Aug 14 #224

Dairy Queen in 1973! TexasBushwhacker Aug 14 #217

Thank you, TexasBushwhacker. What a deal!! We must be around the same age. I am 69 years old. I love the swirls. YUMMY debm55 Aug 14 #227

Yup. 67 n/t TexasBushwhacker Aug 14 #236

I rolled joints True Dough Aug 14 #226

HAHAHAHAHHAHA. Thank you True Dough. Your second job sounds cool. debm55 Aug 15 #256

What? True Dough Aug 15 #265

Hahahahah. I have an inhaler and MM for my husband that has Malignant prostrate cancer. He won't take it as he is debm55 Aug 15 #267

You do True Dough Aug 15 #269

Summer I was 12 worked in my uncles auto body shop 5 days a week for a buck an hour - 1961. NoMoreRepugs Aug 14 #228

Thank you NoMoreRepugs. You were young. debm55 Aug 15 #253

I worked the drive thru at a fast food Luciferous Aug 14 #230

Thank you Luciferous. Hard job with sometimes rude people debm55 Aug 15 #252

cutting asparagus...early in the morning before school samnsara Aug 14 #232

Thank you samnsara. That is different job. debm55 Aug 15 #251

Paper Boy Delarage Aug 14 #233

Thank you , Delarage. We don't get get newspapers here in Pittsburgh anymore. All online. You were a very good paper boy debm55 Aug 15 #250

I was a carhop. murielm99 Aug 14 #234

Thank you murielm99. What a neat job. debm55 Aug 15 #249

stocking shelves and emptying meat scraps The Wandering Harper Aug 15 #239

Thank you The Wandering Harper. debm55 Aug 15 #248

Popcorn and candy stand Figarosmom Aug 15 #240

Thank you Figarosmom. Very interesting jobs. Thank you for sharing. PS I took drafting in HS and I loved it. debm55 Aug 15 #243

I think an Art Assistant to an Art Teacher at a summertime art school for kids, maybe tweens... electric_blue68 Aug 15 #241

Thank you electric_blue68 Working with is a rewarding job. debm55 Aug 15 #242

I actually started at age twelve. OldBaldy1701E Aug 15 #244

OldBalsdy1701E, Thank you very much. I did the same with the money from my first job. debm55 Aug 15 #246

Passed out newspapers Blue Full Moon Aug 15 #245

Thank you Blue Full Moon. I always wanted to do that. debm55 Aug 15 #247

Donut shop at 12, my parents bought one.... LizBeth Aug 15 #254

Thanks LizBeth That sounds like a very sweet job. Yummy. debm55 Aug 15 #257

As an employee, Denver Post paper route 1968, had to be thirteen. I made some good money for a kid in school. Hotler Aug 15 #261

Thank you Hotler. I don't think there any paper boys any more. Most is online. I enjoyed the smell, look and feel of debm55 Aug 15 #262

Helped a friend's father pack silverware while my father was laid up witn a broken foot. Rocknation Aug 15 #263

Thank you Rocknation. That was so nice of you to help out. And I bet those shoes were spiffy. debm55 Aug 15 #264

Janitor's Assistant ProfessorGAC Aug 15 #266

Thank you very much. ProfessorGAC. That is very interesting. debm55 Aug 15 #268

Babysitting (does that count?) ailsagirl Aug 17 #270