# What jobs have you held? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 5, 2005, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-jobs-have-you-held/320121 "2005-09-05T00:03:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-jobs-have-you-held/320121/41 "2005-09-05T17:31:35Z")
Babysitter Paper route Janitor at small airport business (sweeping hangars mostly) Office work at the airport business Bakery counter Miniature golf park–mostly snack bar Pizza driver Dorms’ food service Nanny Upscale bakery counter Fabric store TA at elementary school–plus yard duty, after-school care, etc. Various small special libraries–biotech, R&D, etc. Public libraries, subbing Now: Public library, running children’s program and subbing But I’m mostly a SAHM and homeschooler now. ---
**Author:** ![psycat90](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-jobs-have-you-held/320121/42 "2005-09-05T18:06:00Z")
Oops. And now I just realized I forgot a few: Supermarket checkout clerk Cook for a Pre-School/Daycare And a few months volunteering as the librarian at the Catholic school my boys attended. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-jobs-have-you-held/320121/43 "2005-09-05T18:31:30Z")
Paperboy Retail Clerk in my father’s store Assistant in a medical office OTB betting parlor assistant manager TV station technician Host of TV sports talk show (on cable) Assistant Manager at Spencer Gifts Radio advertising salesman Information and Referral Agency – answered phones & edited publications. Editorial assistant at an energy newsletter Assistant at a Volunteer Center Technical writer for Enable Software Freelance technical writer Technical writer at GE Administrative assistant for a power plant project run out of GE Technical writer/computer graphics specialist Freelance technical writer, editor, and teacher Desktop publisher for an investment firm (also became a supervisory stock analyst there). User services specialist/webmaster/instructional technologist at a college. Science fiction author I ran through jobs a lot until about 92-- had only two since then. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2005, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-jobs-have-you-held/320121/44 "2005-09-06T00:08:44Z")
-Telemarketer (one week) -Retail clerk, computer store (couple months) -Envelope stuffer (1 day) -Can sorter at a Coca-Cola warehouse (couple days) -Mailroom/Supply clerk (8 months) -Assitant computer tech support/File clerk (3 months) -Lead supply clerk (couple months) -Word processing clerk (6 months) -Word processing clerk/Proofreader (6 months) -Courtesey clerk at Giant Food (6 months) -Data entry clerk (9 months) -Copy room/File clerk (4 years) -Data entry clerk (4 years) -Database editor (4 years) The last four have been with my current employer. Yeah, I did a lot of temp work. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2005, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-jobs-have-you-held/320121/45 "2005-09-06T01:34:38Z")
Oh boy. _scratch brain_ Lawn mower Petroleum transfer specialist (gas pump jockey) Photo lab helper Car wash worker (1 day) Newsaper subscription solicitor Newspaper district manager Newspaper stringer photographer Auto body tech/painter Auto mechanic Wedding photographer School portrait photographer Emergency room technician Paramedic Electronics/stereo retail sales Electronics bench technician Forklift operator CDL truck driver Banking equipment field technician Installation manager-banking equipment Sales rep-automotive diagnostic and emission analyzers Sales rep-burglary, fire, CCTV, and access control/commercial Owner-general contracting/remodeling business\* Instructor-adult evening education\* \*present ---
**Author:** ![MissTake](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misstake/32/3189_2.png) [@MissTake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissTake)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2005, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-jobs-have-you-held/320121/46 "2005-09-06T01:49:21Z")
Starting at age 13: - Private flute teacher ($7/half hour - great money for a teenager!) - Tom Thumb (convenience store) cashier/stock girl - Tom Thumb deli slag - Tom Thumb deli manager - Cashier at a home improvement place that’s now out of business and I can’t remember the name - B. Dalton Bookseller cashier/stock - Fanny Farmer Candies salesperson - Professional flautist (soloist and in a quartet) - Unpaid internships in college (school practicums) - The Cutlery salesperson - loved this job - Stay at home mom for 10 months - Jewelry account manager at a large manufacturing company - PT (OT) in house at same jewelry firm manufacturing earrings/rings - Account manager at an opthalmic lab - accessories - Account manager at same opthalmic lab - frames - Child support officer (for the last 8 years) ---
**Author:** ![MissTake](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misstake/32/3189_2.png) [@MissTake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissTake)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2005, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-jobs-have-you-held/320121/47 "2005-09-06T01:51:19Z")
OH! I forgot Ticketbastard, I mean Ticketmaster phone person. Hated that job. Salesperson for Regis faux hair at a kiosk in the mall. Had to wear the wigs too, ick. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2005, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-jobs-have-you-held/320121/48 "2005-09-06T02:07:38Z")
Hmmm… Library map room filer/cataloguer Teacher’s aide Library cataloguer Tutor Newsroom assistant Audio production assistant Radio announcer/DJ GED Instructor Soldier Pharmacy Technician Service coordinator (call center) Provider relations manager Policy Advisor Legislative aide Bill drafter Campaign staffer Copywriter Translator Content Editor Policy analyst ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2005, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-jobs-have-you-held/320121/49 "2005-09-06T03:28:04Z")
My very first job was sweeping up sheetrock for my dad’s company. My first paid job was milking goats for our neighbor, a Doctor who took long vacations. Then:… Babysitter McDonalds Other various fast foods Receptionist Parts Runner (oooooh FUN that one) Jet aircraft refueler (did that for five years, fun and good pay back then, but BooooooOOORing) Bartender/fulltime student/bookkeeper/University workstudy…etc Environmental secretary Enviro-technician Enviro Project Manager Now Enviro Construction mgmt along with a few interim jobs as Substitute teacher, shift manager at a chain gym and temp agency worker. ---
**Author:** ![wevets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9a140/32.png) [@wevets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wevets)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2005, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-jobs-have-you-held/320121/50 "2005-09-06T05:27:15Z")
Hospital Peon (Filing Clerk) Bank Serf (Data Entry Clerk) Mountain Lion Bait (Park Service Intern) University’s Teaching Slave (Teaching Assistant) Professor’s Research Slave (Research Assistant) Mental Excitement Drainer (Math Teacher) Nerd (Science Teacher) Nerd - Natural History Variant (Field Science Teacher) Water Nerd (Whalewatch Naturalist) - current Jack of Nerds (Education Coordinator) - current …and looking for a new one, so if you know of an opportunity 😉 ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2005, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-jobs-have-you-held/320121/51 "2005-09-06T10:08:25Z")
A puppet a pauper a poet a pirate a pawn a king but that’s life. OK, for real: I’ve been a delivery boy a camp counselor an air conditioning installer a chauffeur an editor an air-courier dispatcher a freelance writer a TA a professor ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2005, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-jobs-have-you-held/320121/52 "2005-09-06T13:04:37Z")
Lawnmower Paperboy Busboy Grease monkey at gas station Watermeter repairman Sailboat race starter Ambulance driver Schoolbus driver Airport linecrew (gassed up planes) Cashier at JC Penneys (fired the first week) Bakery truck driver UPS box sorter/hossler UPS driver Submarine pipelayer (North Sea) Computer salesman Flight Instructor Software Engineer I"m sure I’ve forgotten some, but those are the high points. ---
**Author:** ![Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/57b2e6/32.png) [@Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2005, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-jobs-have-you-held/320121/53 "2005-09-06T16:16:22Z")
Lawn Mower/Snow Shoveler. Produce assitant/gofer. (in supermarket) Soft-serve ice cream server. (Think DQ) Assistant manager of same. College library staffer Warehouse worker. (shipping dept of auto parts manufacturer) Chemproc (ran U of I computer site. got good at early 1980’s MUD/other games) Security guard Wordstar (early word processing software) instructor Law firm research clerk Lawyer. ---
**Author:** ![lightingtool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/57b2e6/32.png) [@lightingtool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lightingtool)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2005, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-jobs-have-you-held/320121/54 "2005-09-06T16:37:50Z")
In sort of chronological order, but without repeating job titles I’ve had more than once: Yard work Paperboy Usher Bartender (at a theatre, not a real bar) Grounds maintenance (mowing, painting, basic plumbing and electrical) Guy who stands in the parking lot with the flashlight cone things and tells you where to park. Theatrical Carpenter Rigger Head Electrician (theatrical) Lighting Designer Technical Director Light Board Op Touring Electrician Touring Head Electrician Production Manager ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2005, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-jobs-have-you-held/320121/55 "2005-09-06T19:48:41Z")
Paid employment: \*“Sandwich artist” at Subway \*Marketing intern at a publishing company \*Movie theater employee Unpaid (volunteer, etc) \*Sorting donated clothes in a charity warehouse \*Seceratary of sorts in the township clerk’s office \*Trail crew volunteer \*Editorial intern at an alternative newsweekly \*Assistant TKD instructor Not much, but in my defense, A) I’m only 19, and B) I put a metric crapload of hours into the volunteer positions. ---
**Author:** ![aktep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f0a364/32.png) [@aktep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aktep)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2005, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-jobs-have-you-held/320121/56 "2005-09-06T20:32:00Z")
I have been paid for: Modelling for a brochure for a treatment center for “at-risk” youth An assistant (file/type/fax/print) at an escrow company A grocery store checkout clerk General IT/database/copy/fax/mail/print/plan assistant at a non-profit Salesperson in a teeny-tiny software store Hardware support/repair at IBM Deliver Wall St. Journal and Investor’s Business Daily Computer Programming Bigger Computer Programming Managing Computer Programmers Football Officiating ---
**Author:** ![bdgr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@bdgr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bdgr)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2005, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-jobs-have-you-held/320121/57 "2005-09-06T20:48:53Z")
Hmm… [ol] [li]Dish Washer[/li][li]landscaping[/li][li]Pizza Delivery[/li][li]Dominos dayshift manager[/li][li]Computer Tech[/li][li]Computer programmer[/li][li]Convienience store clerk[/li][li]Automotive Parts Counter Person[/li][li]Bouncer[/li][li]Security Officer[/li][li]Microfilm Technician[/li][li]Motorcycle Mechanic[/li][li]Pych Tech[/li][li]Computer Store Service Manager[/li][li]Systems Administrator[/li][li]Computer Purchasing[/li][li]Laptop Tech[/li][li]Garden Tractor Mechanic[/li][li]Coffee Shop owner/Coffee Roaster[/li][/ol] ---
**Author:** ![krisolov](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/krisolov/32/3724_2.png) [@krisolov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/krisolov)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2005, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-jobs-have-you-held/320121/58 "2005-09-07T00:10:24Z")
this is pretty interesting! I’ll play: landscaper/lawn mower babysitter holiday weekend sausage sandwich maker KFC fry cook college dining hall dishwasher hospital security guard airport x-ray screener army cadet army officer (USAR, Corps of Engineers) surveyor shipment coordinator, chemical plant office manager, a bigger chemical plant bigger office manager, a few chemical plants inventory manager, a few more chemical plants logistics manager, a whole bunch of chemical plants /insert career change here/ NOC Technician (for a whole month) Telecom project manager non profit program manager telecom project engineer (for the past 1.5 years) ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2005, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-jobs-have-you-held/320121/59 "2005-09-07T00:27:43Z")
Wendy’s Grill Guy Friendly’s Grill Guy (Big step up, extra $.60/hr) Driver/stock boy/emergency cashier at Pharmacy College Math Tutor Navy Electrician Mate of USS Ranger Guard at a warehouse Helper for HVAC at a Hospital HVAC Mechanic at same hospital Crew on the Clearwater (Environmental group on the Hudson River) Jr Programmer/Analyst at RX distributor Programmer/Analyst at Paint Company Programmer/Analyst then MIS Director (2 person shop 😉 ) Fragrance Manufacturer Sr Programmer/Analyst at Fragrance company Sr Programmer/Analyst at a Molded plastics, metal stamping hose extruding company. ---
**Author:** ![kevja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@kevja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevja)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2005, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-jobs-have-you-held/320121/60 "2005-09-07T01:40:24Z")
This covers the last forty years or so. In alphabetical order… Babysitter Data Collection Manager Demonstrator (demo products in stores) Employment Placement Counselor (“Headhunter”) Estimator/Sales Rep for a Painting Contractor In Store Security at a Department Store/chasing thieves through Mall Parking Lots Inside Sales Rep at a Health Club Inside Sales Rep/Asst. Manager at a Men’s Clothing Store Instructor/Counselor/Sales Rep at Weight Loss Center Insurance Claims Adjuster Interviewer Janitor Loading Dock Worker “Model/Actor/Performer” Outside Sales Rep/Office Supplies Outside Sales Rep/Food Service Outside Sales/Grocery Package Delivery/Messenger Paperboy Rental Car Office Manager Research Assistant Security at a Warehouse Stock Boy at a Variety Store Storeroom Clerk at a Factory Telemarketer (about a half a dozen times) Truck Driver (small trucks)/Mover Yard Maintenance [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-jobs-have-you-held/320121.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-jobs-have-you-held/320121.md?page=4)