What Did You Learn From Your First Job?
Democratic Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee took to the House floor today to blast Newt Gingrich's comments about kids working as janitors, sparking an argument with Rep. Dan Lungren. An excerpt:
"The idea of substituting a New York janitor who makes $37,000, and put a bunch of kids to work — the New York school district is predominantly minority, Latino and African American — is by its very words, divisive and destructive," she said.
“The point he made is that it is far better that we create an economic environment in which men and women, young and old, have an opportunity to experience the satisfaction of a job well done,” Lungren said... He added that “too often, we have knocked out the lower rungs of the ladder of economic success” in a way that has led to a lack of confidence.
Set aside Jackson Lee, one of Congress's more ridiculous personalities, for a moment, and consider: what was your first job? And: what did you learn from it?
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Comments:
Sep '11
Re: What Did You Learn From Your First Job?
Lessons:
No matter what, on a dairy, you have to work. Cows don't take a day off so neither do you.
Girls with callouses and a firm handshake garner nearly instant respect.
That also goes for girls that can change tires on nearly every make of vehicle, drive tractors, back a trailer and competently use power tools.
I appreciate the ease of an office job, but I could go and milk cows or hang sheet rock any day if the necessity arises.
Edited on January 18, 2012 at 11:34pmSep '10
Re: What Did You Learn From Your First Job?
Neighborhood lawns, at about 11. Learned the satisfaction of walking down the street and seeing results of my labor, and the downside of sleeping too late on a Saturday and having to work through the heat of late afternoon. These days, own a janitorial firm; Newt's original comments at Harvard, and his response to Juan Williams, have given me several good posts for my firm's blog, on kids and janitorial, and kids vs. union janitors. Like Newt better all the time.
Nov '10
Re: What Did You Learn From Your First Job?
Excellent question. I was a star student in my Jr. High School drafting class, and got a job at $2.12/hr working for the small town I lived in, under the town draftsman. He set me up at the drafting table and I did every drafting job that came in.
First up: The one-page graphical map handed out by the town and COC to visitors was 10 years old, and many streets needed updating. My hand-lettered map was still being handed out 20 years later.
The city had an aerial survey done, with a large-scale photoreproduction of the entire city, a 3x4 sheet for each grid unit. Unfortunately the contractor had given us one sheet in half-scale. My job was to scale it up by hand. As far as I know the completed city map still makes a large mural in the council chambers, with my hand-fixed grid cell.
I drafted detailed calls-for-tender drawings for some major sidewalk work and for the town arena's exterior work.
I was paid peanuts, but I didn't care. The self-worth and pride in work well done that summer instilled in me is priceless.
Apr '11
Re: What Did You Learn From Your First Job?
I learned that the primary reason my parents had children was for the free labor.
Apr '11
Re: What Did You Learn From Your First Job?
DutchTex: Girls with callouses and a firm handshake garner nearly instant respected.
That also goes for girls that can change tires on nearly every make of vehicle, drive tractors, back a trailer and competently use power tools.
I appreciate the ease of an office job, but I could go and milk cows or hang sheet rock any day if the necessity arises. · Jan 18 at 2:14pm
Okay, well, DutchTex, you are now officially my hero.
Nov '10
Re: What Did You Learn From Your First Job?
DutchTex: Lessons:
Girls with callouses and a firm handshake garner nearly instant respected.
That also goes for girls that can change tires on nearly every make of vehicle, drive tractors, back a trailer and competently use power tools.
I remember back in high school visiting in a Northern B.C. rural community. In the home I stayed there were cousins, two girls and two guys, who got into a rasslin' match. Both girls pinned both guys with deft moves and sheer brute force. Attractive young ladies smelling of chocolate but made of steel and sinew. Shy at the time, I didn't push my luck by offering to go a round. Losing rural values our society loses great treasures like these young ladies. Lucky is the man who can rassle one of them to the altar. The resulting homes ... that's the heartland of our culture.
Dec '11
Re: What Did You Learn From Your First Job?
I love these questions!
Answer: bussing tables and retail salesclerk from age 14- college graduation. My father footed all my bills, but required me to put all paychecks into a money market fund.
Lesson learned: All my 'minimum wage' paychecks were ready, willing and able to fund nearly 50% of the down payment on my first home 15 yrs later. ;)
Edited on January 19, 2012 at 12:24amMar '11
Re: What Did You Learn From Your First Job?
Age 8- 2 streets of my brother's paper route- 25 cents a week. Learned not to tell female customer she could move faster if she weren't so overweight.
Ages 10-16- mow yards
Ages 12-15- paper route, 7early mornings a week on bicycle- learned adults WILL screw over a young kid over fifty cents if you let them
Age 15- grocery store ($1.05/hr.) and counselor at Boy Scout Camp
Ages 16-20- clerk at men's clothing and sporting goods store ($1.15/hr.) - got a great education here about the public. Learned that preachers expect free clothes and had a wonderful boss.
Ages 20-21- Jr cost accountant for plow manufacturer
Ages 20-21- Chimney sweep- first in the Southeast it is believed
Age 20- manufactured chimney caps and received patent
Age 21 night clerk in Holiday Inn by interstate
Ages 21-24 (Law school, paid for by selling chimney sweep business and patent)- fast food, clean-up in chicken processing plant, hotel night clerk
Since 25- small town solo lawyer
I know there are more jobs I have had but I can't remember them right now. I loved working as a child.
Sep '11
Re: What Did You Learn From Your First Job?
Charlotte
DutchTex: Girls with callouses and a firm handshake garner nearly instant respected.
That also goes for girls that can change tires on nearly every make of vehicle, drive tractors, back a trailer and competently use power tools.
I appreciate the ease of an office job, but I could go and milk cows or hang sheet rock any day if the necessity arises. · Jan 18 at 2:14pm
Okay, well, DutchTex, you are now officially my hero. · Jan 18 at 2:31pm
First I blushed when I read your comment. Thanks!
Then I blushed even more when I read my terrible grammar from an incomplete edit.
I learned most of these skills because my dad expected me to. I was not allowed to drive the "nice" car until I mastered the farm truck (with a three-on-the-tree) and change a tire on it.
Sep '11
Re: What Did You Learn From Your First Job?
R. Craigen
I remember back in high school visiting in a Northern B.C. rural community. In the home I stayed there were cousins, two girls and two guys, who got into a rasslin' match. Both girls pinned both guys with deft moves and sheer brute force. Attractive young ladies smelling of chocolate but made of steel and sinew. Shy at the time, I didn't push my luck by offering to go a round. Losing rural values our society loses great treasures like these young ladies. Lucky is the man who can rassle one of them to the altar. The resulting homes ... that's the heartland of our culture. · Jan 18 at 2:34pm
I had to carry around five gallon buckets full of milk and carry baby calves out of the pasture. I was generally stronger (and taller until junior year) than the guys in my class.
I never dated much in high school...that could be because I decked the star defensive lineman in my school for "taking liberties."
Mar '11
Re: What Did You Learn From Your First Job?
Delivering the San Jose Mercury News around 12 I learned the exact same lesson and a valuable one it was too.
Feb '11
Re: What Did You Learn From Your First Job?
Roberto
Delivering the San Jose Mercury News around 12 I learned the exact same lesson and a valuable one it was too. · Jan 18 at 2:55pm
I can recall standing at a customer's door, ringing the bell over and over because I had seen them inside and they were hiding behind the wall near the door. I was so angry I just stood there ringing the bell. They never ever tipped, and always complained that I had "just been there" to collect. I told them if they wanted to stop getting the paper any time they could just cancel.
"I want my two dollars!"
Aug '10
Re: What Did You Learn From Your First Job?
I learned that I liked third shift. I also learned that I better finish college, because with my lack of mechanical ability, I could not survive in a factory that paid via piece rate.
I also learned to dislike unions.
Dec '11
Re: What Did You Learn From Your First Job?
Roberto
Delivering the San Jose Mercury News around 12 I learned the exact same lesson and a valuable one it was too.
Lesson to be learned: work for small business owners; it is in their best interests to pay you fairly and on time!
Feb '11
Re: What Did You Learn From Your First Job?
In elementary and junior high school, cleaning the school, i.e., doing janitorial work, was something I did several times. We called it detention. Some teachers I didn't particularly like and would often talk back. No money involved though. All this sitting around and not being able to talk I've seen in some movies is science fiction to me.
As for what I learned? Nothing.
Nov '11
Re: What Did You Learn From Your First Job?
This isn't mine but we hired an 18 year old a few months ago, who is just finishing high school (part time now).He applied the year before but we told him we require people to be 18- he came back a week before his birthday, then called periodically.When really young he raised bum lambs, then started a lawn service with a friend, then started his own long board building business (while doing the lawn service) and also built 3 of his own instruments plus many repairs. One of his references turned out to be a now-retired English teacher who was pretty hard on him and was surprised, but gratified that he had had an impact.This young man has had a life threatening medical problem- one that causes him pain now, plus dyslexia.He worships my husband (which is nice for once), but who has the responsibility of filing down the rough edges- which there are some (mostly having to do with talking/the cost of being impulsive). Hard workers are rare, but it's exceptional to be one combined with a driving passion. We are told now it's best to be 'balanced'.
Jan '11
Re: What Did You Learn From Your First Job?
First job was morning paper route in 6th grade through Junior High School. I learned the concept of a "paper route job". i.e. one where it didn't matter how well you did in the last 3 months, if you were late today, you were in trouble. Sen. Frank Church was on my route and would be waiting by the front door if I was later than 6:00 AM
Like others, the part I hated the most was collecting the money every month. I had to pay my distributer out of my money even if I hadn't been paid by all customers.
Also learned that being able to sleep in on a rainy/cold/miserable day is one of life's greatest blessings.
First job with a W2 was working in a Peach packing house in South Carolina. Hardest physical work I ever did and lowest paid. I got a lesson out of that.
Nov '10
Re: What Did You Learn From Your First Job?
At the beginning of the summer vacation the year that I turned twelve, early on a summer morning, my father woke me from a sound sleep and told me to get ready to go to work.
I spent that summer and the following eight working in his soft drink bottling plant (Dr, Pepper and NuGrape "flavors"), beginning at the lowest level available: sorting the dirty bottles retrieved by the route trucks. It was hot and dirty and I thought that I had been sent to Purgatory for $.25/hour.
From that, I graduated to the bottling line, somewhat less dirty but equally hot and heavier work. Then I was "promoted" to being a "helper" on the route trucks. Those were the days when a helper's duties were to collect our bottles (all, then, were "returnable"), carry them out and load them on the truck, and carry in the full cases. It made for a set of pretty good shoulders.
(Cont.)
Nov '10
Re: What Did You Learn From Your First Job?
(Cont.)
What did I learn? First, that some of the finest, most honest and trustworthy men I ever have known were those with whom I worked in those positions. Secondly, that the people with whom I came into contact on the routes, both customers and proprietors in mainly in country and small town stores and filling stations, were also among the most courteous and kindly I ever have known. Thirdly, that because it was my father's business, if I encountered a situation that I wouldn't face or a job that I would not do, I could not expect anyone else to handle the problem or do the work. Finally, I learnt to respect people who work with their hands and backs and to appreciate that their capital in this world is their strength of body and integrity of character, of which no man has a right to deprive them.
Mar '11
Re: What Did You Learn From Your First Job?
Despite the fact that I did plenty of chores as a kid on a rural property, am a completely obsessed workaholic, and believe I can teach myself to do just about anything, I have never actually been paid an allowance, by the hour, or by the job. I work, and sometimes I make a living.
Actually, that is not quite right. At the young age of 37, I took a very part-time job teaching debate/gametheory/whateverIwanted to a small elective class at a girls' high school, because a friend begged me. As he put it, everyone else had turned him down, and I was the last person he could think of. How could I turn down a job offer like that?
I learned all the wrong lessons, I think. I learned that I could walk into a room with a hostile audience, entirely unprepared, and wing it with great success. I learned that it is enormous fun to manipulate young minds. I learned that some people are extraordinarily gifted liars (officially it was Model UN, which I interpreted as Lie Training). I learned that teenagers can do something that adults never do: totally surprise me.