# What jobs have you held in your life? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 22, 2002, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-jobs-have-you-held-in-your-life/115436 "2002-06-22T14:26:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![welby1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@welby1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/welby1)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-jobs-have-you-held-in-your-life/115436/1 "2002-06-22T14:26:05Z")
Inspired by [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=121688) thread by incubus I began to go over in my head all of the jobs I’ve ever held. It’s a pretty big damn list. So what jobs have other Dopers held during thier career? Which was best? Worst? Here’s a list of the places I’ve worked/jobs I’ve held: Newspaper delivery boy Burger King Wendy’s Jerry’s Pizza and Subs Flower delivery guy assistant manager at an arcade appointment setter door to door perfume salesman door to door amazing cleaner that will change your life salesman desk clerk at a hotel process server for an attormey office manager secret shopper drug counselor mule for a marijuana dealer business owerner (computers) computer technician computer network engineer The last is my current job, and by far the best. The workst was being a mule. Great pay but stressful as hell. ---
**Author:** ![Gregor\_Samsa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@Gregor\_Samsa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gregor_Samsa)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-jobs-have-you-held-in-your-life/115436/2 "2002-06-22T14:59:40Z")
I’m not sure how complete this list is, but off the top of my head: car wash attendant pipeline leak detection crew member shipper/receiver for restaurant chain youth hostel attendant/bartender/cleaner guy who hands out flyers on the street dishwasher night cleaner for a restaurant pipeline corrosion survey crew member busboy security guard telemarketer telephone survey guy library acquisitions assistant pipeline construction inspector pipeline construction project administrator stay-at-home father The best is stay-at-home father (no money, great perks.) The pipeline project administrator paid obscenely good money, but was highly stressful on several fronts. The library acquisitions assistant job was my favourite **paid** job - opening boxes of books all day long, and I was the only straight guy working in an office full of women. Worst was probably security guard or telemarketer. It’s amazing how rude people are to telemarketers - screaming, swearing, and threats of violence were almost daily occurences (and this while I was raising money for PBS.) ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Griffin-Kentzel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_griffin-kentzel/32/14787_2.png) [@Larry\_Griffin-Kentzel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Griffin-Kentzel)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-jobs-have-you-held-in-your-life/115436/3 "2002-06-22T15:05:16Z")
“What’s your favorite …?” and/or polls belong in **IMHO**. I’ll move it for you. * * * **Cajun Man** - SDMB Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-jobs-have-you-held-in-your-life/115436/4 "2002-06-22T15:29:08Z")
ummm… Ok. Line server (college dining hall) Grill cook (college dining hall) Chef’s assistant (college dining hall) Government documents clerk (college main library) Library assistant (college science library) Grocery store deli clerk Grill cook/cashier/milkshake maker (yes, this was my first job out of college) Customer service rep for a consumer finance company (in a branch, not phone work) Branch manager for the same finance company Internal auditor for the same finance company Internal auditor for another company That’s it. Sure doesn’t look like much. ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-jobs-have-you-held-in-your-life/115436/5 "2002-06-22T15:45:15Z")
Babysitter Temp (on and off, over the years) Bagel bakery worker Coffeehouse manager Tutor, later assistant teacher, at a learning center / summer camp Data entry person / proofreader Toy store clerk Freshman comp teacher Freshman comp _tutor_ (yay, someone else gets to do the grading!) Best: various teaching positions. Worst: some of the temp assignments, in particular my one and only day as a telemarketer. ---
**Author:** ![deborak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc348/32.png) [@deborak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deborak)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-jobs-have-you-held-in-your-life/115436/6 "2002-06-22T15:59:13Z")
Answering phones (first job ever, at my mom’s company!) Wendy’s Lifeguard Regis Hairstyles (receptionist) Telemarketer (4 hours only) Telephone survey taker Avis - customer service Worked for a clinic that did those mobile pet vaccination clinics Inventory taker (never made it past the orientation/training) Veterinarian clinic - receptionist, kennel worker Doctor’s office - front/back office, multiple positions Customer service for a recreation center Literature coordinator at a surge protector company Freelance bar/pub reviewer for AOL Marketing communications coordinator (2 jobs doing this thus far) Worst job: Telemarketer - all 4 hours of it. Best: Lifeguard - pure fun (I swear, if it wasn’t a summer job for minimum wage, I’d STILL be doing it!) ---
**Author:** ![welby1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@welby1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/welby1)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-jobs-have-you-held-in-your-life/115436/7 "2002-06-22T16:04:03Z")
My bad. ---
**Author:** ![Dirty\_Earthworm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Dirty\_Earthworm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dirty_Earthworm)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-jobs-have-you-held-in-your-life/115436/8 "2002-06-22T16:11:46Z")
Food service at a local retirement home (the rich old folks had their own personal restaurant in the place - it was very classy) - I went from a server/busser to a dishwasher to a prep cook. Office chair-maker for Herman Miller, Inc. Shipping and recieving for Meijer, Inc. (MI, IN, IL, OH, and KY Dopers will know what I’m talking about when I say “Meijer” [shudder]) Machine operator at a plastics factory Grunt for a ceiling-cleaning business (lasted all of three days - WHOO-HOO!) Gas station attendant Cashier/stock at an “adult boutique and novelty shop.” (plus, since the [ahem] ‘models’ there gave hand-jobs to customers willing to pay for them, I guess that would make me somewhat of a pimp\*) Bus Boy Short-order cook (boss was a prick; job lasted less than a week) Gas station attendant, part two And finally, processed beef and chicken specialist at Burger King. (OK, OK, it’s not as technical as it sounds, but it makes me feel special, OK?) Plus, from about the time that I worked at the first gas station until the present, I have helped with my friends’ fledgling record company, Dead Logic Productions, doing book-keeping and talent-scout sort of work. The best would probably have to be the first one, just for the fact that a lot of people I worked with became very good friends of mine (some of whom I still talk to today); very close runner-up would be the work with Dead Logic, although I hesitate to call that _real_ work, since we haven’t pulled in much money yet. The worst job would have to be the porno store, if only for the complete and utter wastes of life that I worked with. That is _way_ too many jobs for a 22-year-old to have had, although that is seven years’ worth right there. \*Yes, they did, and yes, it is illegal, and no, they haven’t been busted yet, although the police are watching them. And, FTR, I honestly had no idea that went on there till I saw it happening; I was told to keep my mouth shut. (but if I get called to be a witness, you bet your ass that place is going down in flames.) -Dirty ---
**Author:** ![white-tigeress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f475e1/32.png) [@white-tigeress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/white-tigeress)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-jobs-have-you-held-in-your-life/115436/9 "2002-06-22T16:13:37Z")
Office Junior Paper girl Typist Secretary PA Now recruitment consultant ---
**Author:** ![Skerri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Skerri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skerri)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-jobs-have-you-held-in-your-life/115436/10 "2002-06-22T16:22:32Z")
Telemarketer (hey, it was a money thing.) Nanny Krystal’s (The only girl working in the kitchen, thank you!) Pharmacy technician - also delivered Rxs to 30 nursing homes, filed insurance, processed MAR’s, etc. Waitress/Counter Girl/Hostess Bartender Drug manufacturing (current job) Of all of these, I think I liked working at the bar the best. Even when it was busy, I liked what I did. The job I’m in now is great for all the free time, but the work sucks. ---
**Author:** ![spheric\_thor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@spheric\_thor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spheric_thor)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-jobs-have-you-held-in-your-life/115436/11 "2002-06-22T16:27:43Z")
Coatcheck/busboy/dishwasher Parkinglot attendant for a music arena Tuckpointer/bricklayer Carpenter ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-jobs-have-you-held-in-your-life/115436/12 "2002-06-22T16:48:16Z")
Newspaper Delivery Boy Dishwasher for Mexican Food restuarant Grocery Stocker Periodical services provider at college library Gas station attendant Marketing analyst \<------- now. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-jobs-have-you-held-in-your-life/115436/13 "2002-06-22T17:37:47Z")
horesback riding instructor/camp counselor caving instructor/camp counselor real estate title searcher radio station announcer/producer math tutor computer engineer for defense contractor computer engineer for hiring outsourcing company computer engineer for retail software The worst was working for the hiring outsourcing company - it was a sweatshop, and my project was writing this stupid database tool that was designed whimsically by a jerk, with about 2000 ways to put data into the system and another 2000 ways to get data out of the system. There were great things about all the other jobs. My job now is the best, all things considered (including salary), but sometimes I miss the radio station gig - I had the graveyard shift at an easy listening station, and shamefully liked a lot of the songs we were playing. ---
**Author:** ![rackensack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@rackensack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rackensack)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-jobs-have-you-held-in-your-life/115436/14 "2002-06-22T17:42:29Z")
Newspaper delivery boy Lawn mower Rod man (surveying) College cafeteria dish room Government office clerk A-V technician College English dept. student assistant College dorm reception desk Fry cook/dishwasher in Mexican fast-food place Prep cook in Mexican fast-food place College writing center tutor Proofreader for ad agency Print produciton coordinator for ad agency Freelance proofreader/indexer for university presses Traffic coordinator for ad agency Freelance advertising copywriter Freelance calligrapher Roadie/sound man Proofreader for type shop Service bureau technician Service bureau manager Software support manager Software product manager Vice President of Product Mgmt. & Support for software company Software support representative Software QA Manager Technology program manager Unemployed (currently) ---
**Author:** ![ResIpsaLoquitor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b3f665/32.png) [@ResIpsaLoquitor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ResIpsaLoquitor)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-jobs-have-you-held-in-your-life/115436/15 "2002-06-22T18:02:40Z")
Supermarket cart-boy Supermarket cashier Writer for three different comic book review sites Web-page designer/manager for college newspaper Columnist for college newspaper A miscellaneous job where I ran a webpage, made phone calls, managed a database, got coffee, coordinated with the media and chaperoned 200 kids. Law clerk Author/seller of study aids for law students. ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_Hat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f0a364/32.png) [@Bad\_Hat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_Hat)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-jobs-have-you-held-in-your-life/115436/16 "2002-06-22T18:20:40Z")
baby sitter child actor (local and industrial stuff, nuthin exciting) burger king (one day) pizza prep/cook (4 years) deliverly driver DJ file clerk Courier theatre carpenter movie theatre concessionairre college dining hall shift supervisor retail video store clerk actor/musician (yes this was actually a job for a while) theatre audio engineer Theatre Sound Designer Freelance Audio Consultant (current, and also, by far, the best of the bunch) ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-jobs-have-you-held-in-your-life/115436/17 "2002-06-22T18:24:31Z")
Can I remember… Yardman Street corner newspaper vendor Floral delivery driver (sevral places) Busboy/dishwasher (a couple of places) Manual labor for construction Burger cook/Burger joint manager Shipping clerk Reactor operator at a chemical plant Drummer with a few dancebands Door-to-door salesman (Club America - yuck) Shade tree auto mechanic Taxicab owner/operator Night desk clerk at a hotel School bus monitor Chemistry lab assistant Geophysical technician President of a music production company Seismic data broker President and V.P. of two exploration services companies Exploration geophysicist ---
**Author:** ![lolagranola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ea5d25/32.png) [@lolagranola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lolagranola)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-jobs-have-you-held-in-your-life/115436/18 "2002-06-22T18:40:16Z")
The “Stores” section of a **circuit board assembly** factory. We handled all of the incoming orders, counted the parts (“hmmm… we need 500 so and so resistors”), put them in labelled bins, and sent them out to the other departments for further prep and assembly. We also handled all of the inventory. The factory eventually went out of business, as we could only handle smaller orders, and the market for that dried up. Followed by **dishwasher**. A lesson in being fast when it counts. Also a lesson in double checking your paystub, and learning the labour laws. And I learned how to dodge a drunken Greek trying desperately to feel me up. I guess that could also count as being fast when it counts. **Sewing furniture** in a furniture factory. I was having fun partying everyday, and told everyone that I wasn’t applying for jobs. If anyone wanted me, they could just call me up. And guess how I got this job? My dad ran a re-upholstery business, they figured that I must know how to sew furniture, and called me out of the blue. I remember thinking “Don’t look at the clock… Don’t look at the clock…”. When I finally figured it must be nearly break time, I’d look up, and realize that only 10 minutes had passed since I started work, and break time was hours away. When I quit, they offered me a raise and a ride to work. I said “No thanks”. **Waitress** in a variety of places. I stuck with that for a long time for the tips. Which led to **bartending**. I also managed the bar. Extremely interesting, and helped to mold me into the person I am today. Death threats, gang fights, calls to testify in court. I learned a lot there. And all of that led me to **student** , so with any amount of luck, I won’t ever have to hold any of the above jobs again. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-jobs-have-you-held-in-your-life/115436/19 "2002-06-22T19:02:02Z")
Fast food cook/cashier Gas station attendant Music store sales clerk Bank teller Legal teaching assistant Legal research assistant Law clerk Associate attorney ---
**Author:** ![kiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@kiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiz)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2002, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-jobs-have-you-held-in-your-life/115436/20 "2002-06-22T19:03:49Z")
**paging through the Kiz File List Of Jobs…** ~camp counselor ~typist for an orthodontist/dental professor ~English department head tutor (in college) ~R.A. (college) ~secretary for a textbook publisher (right out of college) ~waitress, hostess, cashier, and prep cook for a family friend’s restaurant (off and on from high school thru grad school) ~English teacher (grades 6-8) ~data file clerk at an insurance company (I lasted 2 weeks and then never returned after lunch) ~customer service rep, salesclerk, cashier trainer, and floor supervisor for a department store now gone kaput ~baking teacher intern ~baker ~pastry chef There are other cashiering jobs here and there I didn’t mentioned because I usuall quit them within a month or so. The absolute worst were the office jobs…anything corporate makes me itch, never mind give me headaches! The best jobs? Teaching and baking. I can no longer due the latter because of my back, so I’m planning to return to the former as soon as I get my credentials updated, [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-jobs-have-you-held-in-your-life/115436.md?page=2)