At what age did you really started working?

[esun]

Didn't work in high school (well nothing 9-5 anyway, did small things for people and got paid a little, e.g. tutoring, computer work).

In college every summer I was either doing research on a stipend (about 3000 each time, first time included housing) or had an internship (40 hr/week). Last 1.5 years in college I worked as a TA during the year (20 hr/week).

Just landed a summer internship in grad school (40 hr/week).

I'd say the first job that allowed me to support myself when I had it was the summer internship I had at 19 (20/hr, 40 hr/week). I was almost self-sufficient with the TA position I had (originally I didn't get a fee remission with the position but policies changed my last semester---if this had been the policy all along it would've been more than enough for me to live off of). This upcoming internship will also be more than enough for me to support myself.

 

[queenrobot]

Taking care of myself working: at age 20. First job was at age 14.

 

[RichieZ]

18 - summer intern at IBM

 

[lxskllr]

Delivered papers at 15, worked in a bakery at 16, started surveying at 18, currently unemployed.

 

[nageov3t]

got my first job when I was 16, fast food at BK.

I didn't have a job that I could really live off of until I was 22, though.

 

[frostedflakes]

My first real job was probably around 16 (working as a cook in a sports bar, did that for like 3 years). For a long time before that, though, I would help my grandpa with odds and ends on his farm, but it wasn't regular work, just something we'd do on the weekends. I also did some computer work for people and random stuff like that for money.

 

[BabaBooey]

I started OJT in the 8th grade and worked at mcdonalds.

 

[James Bond]

Cool thread

 

[amdhunter]

Originally posted by: Crono

Originally posted by: amdhunter
14! Right on my birthday I walked 1/2 mile into unknown territory and got my Work Permit. Got a job at the Bronx Zoo that weekend. It was my first job ever.

Today, I work right across the street from the Bronx Zoo.

Sweet. I wouldn't mind working at a zoo, unless it's like cleaning the cages while monkeys fling poo at you or something. IF a monkey flung poo at me, he would find a knife in his back that night. Monkey bastards. Who's curious now, George? Who's curious now!?!?!
*cries*

:Q

 

[InflatableBuddha]

Refereed soccer games at 13, and umpired some baseball games. Did summer jobs from 15-22, basically from Grade 10 through university, and then worked part-time while attending technical college.

Jobs included:
Busser at a seafood restaurant
Stocking shelves at a drugstore
Data entry at a credit union
Bellhop at a Hilton hotel
Clerical/admin assistant at a law firm

Got my first technical writing contract at 24 (first real job); currently employed as a tech writer (now 26).

 

[Red Squirrel]

I started working when I started high school. I actually worked for the school so it was nice as I already knew the staff. Basically I had the job (with other people) of cleaning the school during the summer to prep it for the next year. There's one summer I did not work as I had to go to summer school to retake math. When I started college I then got a job as a network analyst and really enjoyed that. Graduated from college, got in to the same company as help desk, and a few months ago got promoted to network analyst and moved on site at a major client.

I really don't know how people are so lazy nowdays and don't bother to find a summer job. Yes it's fun to have the summer off and all, but once high school hits it's time to start thinking about the real world and what direction you want to go.

 

[TridenT]

Interesting. My high school did not hire students to do anything. It simply did not have the money.

No job so far in my life. I am 18. I don't know when I will get one.

 

[Red Squirrel]

lol at 18 I was running a business.

As you can see, that did not really work out, so I'm working for "the man" now. PC repair is in demand here, but not enough to live off of unless I had time to do it all day.

 

[skyking]

I grew up on a farm and had a social security number at 13.
I worked every summer there.
I worked about 24 hours a week through my Junior and Senior years at a service station. I'm sure it was detrimental to my grades, but I don't regret the mechanical background it gave me.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Originally posted by: skyking
I grew up on a farm and had a social security number at 13.
I worked every summer there.
I worked about 24 hours a week through my Junior and Senior years at a service station. I'm sure it was detrimental to my grades, but I don't regret the mechanical background it gave me.

Working gives more experience then schcool anyway. I've always thought school to be a waste of time. Now that I've been working for 2 years I can easily say I did not get anything out of school. I learned everything by working, either at home, or on the job.

 

[Cattlegod]

First job at 13 - Spreading tar on parking lots and cleaning die presses with mineral spirits.

needless to say, i didn't need much convincing to go to college.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I was about 18 and I moved out of my Mom's house shortly thereafter.

 

[Swagman]

From the "uphill . . . both ways . . . barefoot . . . through the snow or on 140 degree F asphalt . . . while chewing 6 rectangles of bubble gum . . . reading the Bazooka Joe mini cartoon strip on the inside of the wrappers . . .", file.

Newspaper delivery starting at the local legal age of 12. It became so lucrative that I was still delivering them even after possessing a learner's permit and owning a project-car parked under an oak tree in the back yard. The engine was pulled using an old wooden block and tackle slung from an overhead limb, but I done be digressing.

Small 7 day local paper where the initial route size fit in one over-the-shoulder saddlebag, with maybe 80 or so subscibers. I absolutely remember having 370 subscribers, and may have maxed out around the mid 400's.

One bag over the shoulders, one across the handlebars, another across the book rack above the rear wheels, and . . . at the peak, 3 little red wagons in tow with 2 bags each. Sunday required a trip home for more 'ammunition'.

For usuns ambedexterous types, maybe 50 at a time of those thin red rubberbands on both forearms. Newspapers in about 2 foot stacks across the front porch, sitting in front of each pile doing the tri-fold shuffle at a damn fast rate, move ahead, repeat.

I can remember folding and loading and readying for at least an hour and a half, but that may have been just for the about double thick Sunday edition.

The route covered a fairly high density area of about 50/50 homes and two-story apartments. Maybe the furthest delivery was around 3 miles from home, mostly due to the moderately irregular shape of the partially rectangular coverage zone.

Once you got the silent loft over the second story handrail down, apartments were nothing but gravy.

Sundays were definitely over 3 hours, but can't remember how much shorter the other 6 days were.

This was at a time when possibly 90% of the customers were collected from at their door, once a month. The game became all about the tips, baby. We kept 15 cents per paper from the 6 day 50 cent component, and 25 cents from the 75 cent Sunday rate. The old man suggested working up a good sweat while pedaling, before hitting the first door, and maintaining it for the duration. A smear of dirt across the cheek was sometimes added for dramatic appeal. I have a strong recollection that 2 dollars was about the average tip, during my tenure.

The Pops had a mimeograph machine at the office. At least once a month, and more often around any holidays, a sheet of paper was made up that extolled good cheer and blatantly gratuitous well wishes, to be folded into each paper. Folding time went up substantially on those days. The dear sweet little old ladys just ate that tripe up. Holiday tips were comparatively huge.

The legs remained spring steel-like for quite a few years.

"Get offin my lawn!"

 

[pontifex]

I started mowing lawns at 12. I got a part time job at 14 and my parents pretty much made me buy everything except food and shelter. I had to buy my own clothes, pay for school lunch, and any other "toys" that i wanted. Paid for my car with my own money at 16. Started working full time out of HS. Got real full time job at 20.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Graduated high-school early:

Full time as a dishwasher/bus boy at a restaraunt at age 17 with a part time job on the weekends.

Full time at a ge 17 1/2 after enlisting in the US Army.

Worked part time during college with full time internships in ths summer along with a part time job on the weekends and night school to gain extra credits.

Full time 2400+ hrs per year after graduating college.

 

[boomerang]

Originally posted by: Swagman
Once you got the silent loft over the second story handrail down, apartments were nothing but gravy.

I had apartments too. They were the best of all. 4 units down, 4 units up. Just about everybody subscribed to the paper I delivered. The route went fast as all get out. I must say that I was no where near as ambitious as you were.

Christmas tips were the absolute best of all. Back in those days people paid up. Sometimes they'd let it ride for a few weeks, but I never lost a customer due to non-payment.

It's a damned shame that these types of opportunities are not available to young people today.

 

[alkemyst]

I started working in a bank around 12 (my dad of course got me it)...prior to that I had a paper route for the neighborhood paper.

I stayed in banking throughout my 20's until I picked up a Comp Sci degree in 2000 (then I ended up back in banking on the IS/IT side).

When I got a car and started college I worked part time at a vet's office and did chinese delivery about 3-4 nights a week.

I was able to do 7 years at community college and University of Florida for only $7k in loans and didn't work at all the last 4 years except some summers.

 

[Corporate Thug]

20...big box retail store.

 

[Nik]

15

 

[Kreon]

At 13 I started mowing lawns for money
I had 5 lawns at one point

At 15 I got a "real" job at a summer camp doing food service
Since then I've been either working at and Ace Hardware or the same camp as a ranger