I’ve rejoined the workforce—the workforce that gets paid twice a month instead of twice a year, that is. I consider writing my full-time job because whether or not I’m sitting at the computer churning out pages (or trying to churn out pages) I’m constantly thinking about bits of dialogue, how characters would interact, and possible plot twists. Writing is my first love, but—unfortunately—it just doesn’t pay that well. At least, right now, it doesn’t pay as well as retail merchandising.
So…I’m working part-time for a leading greeting card company. And really enjoying it. I set my hours, work independently, and the best part is I’m surrounded by all sorts of paper goods like stationery and greeting cards. The down side is that I can’t read every card. Oh, and paper cuts. Those are an occupational hazard.
It’s quite a change from the jobs I had before I became a mom and took a sabbatical from the labor pool. Before my world shifted into the mommy zone, I worked in offices—a radiation oncologist’s office, a credit reporting company, and a travel company, to name just a few.
Updating the old resume has me thinking about my old jobs and I’d like to hear about yours. I’m curious…
What was your first job?
Which job has been your favorite?
And, what’s your dream job?
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Since I asked, I’ll start.
First job—nanny and it was nothing like the movie. Great birth control though!
Favorite job—researching and writing travel itineraries to foreign countries.
Dream job—do I need to spell this one out? It’s the job I’ve already got, author.
by Sara on January 30th, 2008 at 7:44 am
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First job - delivering the 5am newspaper. Summer job when I was, I think, 13. Wouldn’t want to do it again.
Favorite job - gosh, there’s been so many, and I’ve burned out on every single one in a matter of months. Running a B&B reservation service was good, for a while. Ditto being a tour guide. Airline company. (Great perks!) I’ve gone the greeting card route, too, for a while. In a bookstore, which was nice. Least favorite (not that you asked) - there were those three days I worked as a closer at McDonalds at 18. And I’ve always despised being a waitress.
Dream job - it would be nice to make a decent living as a writer. It would also be nice to put that tour management diploma to use and travel. (That’s a no-go as long as I’ve got small children, unfortunately. Can’t stay gone for two weeks at a time. Wouldn’t be fair to hubby.) Being a realtor - which is what I am right now - is pretty cool, too.
by JennieB on January 30th, 2008 at 8:28 am
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First job-grocery checker at The Winn-Dixie (The Beef People). This was before scanners when you had to punch in the numbers. The uniform was a god-awful baby blue polyester. This was back in high school and college. One perk? I can still bag groceries more efficiently than the bag boys.
Favorite Job/Dream Job–what I’m doing now. Writing.
by judy larsen on January 30th, 2008 at 8:43 am
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First job: washing dishes in the pro shop grill at a golf course.
Favorite job: Club DJ. Ten bucks an hour to spin records, drink rum, and flirt with cocktail waitresses.
Dream job: writing full time.
by JDRhoades on January 30th, 2008 at 9:22 am
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First job: Doing data entry work for the company my mother worked for when I was 11. I think I got a dollar an hour.
Favorite job: You mean other than this one? I think it’d have to be working on a horse farm. Part of my job my responsibilities was to get the foals used to human contact. Nothing like spending an hour or two every day petting foals.
Dream job: Making loads of money writing, so I can have the home of my dreams, and cabana boys to bring me fruity drinks by the pool while I wrestle with my muse. ;o)
by B.E. Sanderson on January 30th, 2008 at 10:58 am
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Don’t really have time to go into details, since its almost 2 in the morning here in Harbin China. It’s -22 degrees out (-32 windchill).
Right now, I’m thinking this is my favorite job. I just spent an hour at the Harbin Ice Festival. It’s the most amazing thing I’ve seen, without a doubt. Imagine mystical buildings and castles (full size) made out of ice with colored flourescent lighting imbedded in it.
They had a replica of Westminster Abbey and the Forbidden City with the Olympic rings out front.
If you want a sample, Google ‘Ice Festival Harbin’ and click images.
I’m hoping my pictures turn out. I’ll post them on my website when I return.
by Will Bereswill on January 30th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
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First Job - Detasseling corn. (We called it topping.)
Favorite Job: Grant writer, Conference Coordinator, Chief bottle washer for a small non-profit. Opportunities, high, pay, low, benefits - non-existant.
Dream job: Writer or Bookstore owner or running a charity after I win the big buck lottery.
by Lynn on January 30th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
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First job: Babysitting at age 12; then summer job in high school I was as a long-distance operator for the phone company. Very interesting.
Favorite jobs: Several, like Jennie. DH & I have owned a few businesses, best was probably owning the record store for 7 years. Long before that, part of my job as asst. to the VP of Recreation at a resort was Special Events Coordinator—I got to put on 2 rodeos, got tennis pros into the Guiness Book of World Records & set up Christmas carolers on a 100 ft. motor yacht to cruise around a lake singing in freezing temps! (Perhaps that’s why the protag in my WIP is a former Event Planner)
Dream job: I used to want to be a photo-journalist for National Geographic. Still would like to write occasional travel & food pieces and chalk the traveling up to research. But really, I’m with most writers, and only wonder if B.E. would share a cabana boy?! 
by Texas Lynn on January 31st, 2008 at 7:00 pm
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