Now, we are serious professionals and know what we are doing. Yet there was a time when some of us sold watermelons, cleaned cinema floors, or shouted at the register, “Next!” And it was fun! The memories from those times remain warm and bright, even though it was difficult sometimes.
- At 16, I got a job at a fast-food café. One day, someone asked me for ice cream. I grabbed a bag from the fridge, poured it into the machine, and added some nuts, done.
A few minutes later, the same girl came back and said, “Could I get one more for my friend?” A little surprised, I silently did the same thing.
Half an hour later, I opened the fridge and realized that the containers with the milk mix and the Caesar salad dressing were exactly the same! So, half the day, I had been selling ice cream made with salad dressing.
- I worked at a boutique. A woman bought an expensive evening dress. The next day, she tried to return it. “You can’t,” I said. “It’s been worn.”
She didn’t blink. “Prove it. The tag’s still there.” I stood frozen. She smiled and said, “Let’s make a deal: you take back the dress, and I won’t write a bad review about you, no one will know about your mistake.”
I was absolutely floored by her audacity. Fortunately, our manager walked into the boutique. She quickly dealt with that woman. - Being a driver of a children’s train is probably one of the toughest jobs in the world. You want to play something energetic and lively, but no, you have to listen to the same monotonous and sickly-sweet songs about daisies, sunshine, clouds, and hippos every day. This was my most challenging part-time job during my university days.
- At 16, I sold flags at soccer matches. I spent half of my earnings on a pie. But I met a guy during that time who has been my close friend for 20 years, and we stayed connected even after I moved.
- My first job out of college was at a big medical center, where I had worked part-time during school in a related department. I was being hired to work for Gary, and was being interviewed by Gary and his boss Neils as well as several other people.
I was invited to a staff meeting just before the interview started. No one introduced me to anyone, and they must have figured I knew everyone, and so I went through a day talking to all these people not sure who was who.
Significantly, I mixed up Gary and Neils since Gary acted like the top man and was very dominating, whereas Neils (his boss) said hardly anything. Gary was giving out assignments right and left during the staff meeting, for example, while Neils just sat there.
Somehow I got hired and worked there for many years. - The very first mony. my cousin and I earned was at the age 8-9. The harvest on our melon patches was very good back then. We would bring entire trailer loads of watermelons, melons, and pumpkins. And we did this 2–3 times a season.
Basically, we set up boxes by the roadside and sold quite a bit in a day. I don’t remember the total amount, but it was significant money for us.
And before that we tried selling our grandma’s old clothes, sewn by me with stitches as thick as a finger, and wondered why no one wanted to buy them.
- I used to work part-time at a fast-food restaurant. On my first day shift, things were going smoothly until the soda machine exploded.
I was refilling the syrup when suddenly, it started spraying everywhere like a fire hydrant gone rogue. The entire floor got soaked in sticky soda, and I was standing there drenched from head to toe. Customers were watching, fries half-eaten, as I tried to stop it, but it just wouldn’t quit.
Then, as if things couldn’t get worse, my manager walked in, slipped on the soda, and went down like a cartoon character. Everyone froze, and I was convinced I was going to get fired on the spot. Instead, the manager just started laughing, and soon, the whole restaurant joined in. - I earned my first money, when I was in 6th grade. The school offered payment for cleaning the grounds in the fall. Only about 10 people from the entire school agreed to do it. I don’t remember the amount, but I was happy with the money until my mom and older sister insisted that I should spend all my earnings on a birthday present for Dad.
I had to buy a razor with extra blades and accessories like shaving cream and aftershave. It was supposed to be a gift from the whole family. I couldn’t even buy myself a piece of gum…
- My father was a high-ranking official. My mom also had a good job. And from the age of 14, I washed buses at night in the bus depot during the summer and school breaks.
I gave the money to the family and was proud of it. I did it simply for self-affirmation, thinking, I can do something too. - In 4th or 5th grade, Mom got me a job binding documents for the local archive. She brought the documents home, and I made holes in stacks of papers according to a template and tied them with a bundle. Dad provided the electric drill for this.
I don’t remember how much I earned. But with my first real paycheck, I bought Mom a beautiful stuffed animal. - In 7th grade, I tutored French with a neighbor’s girl — she was in fifth grade and just started to learn it. I was a straight-A student, and her well-off mom decided not to spend on a tutor. They paid me in groceries that were unavailable to my family — chocolates and candies, exotic fruit, and juice.
We ate well those years, but without any delicacies or treats, so I was thrilled to be paid in yummy goodies, and now I realize I should have taken it in money. The funniest part is that at home, I was scolded even for this “salary” because my mom and grandma believed neighbors should be helped for free.