QUESTION: What Was Your First Summer Job?

Forum|Forum|8 years ago
May 23, 2018
6 replies
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My first summer job at age 16 was at the mall, at a fudge kiosk where I was required to ask passersby if they would like a free sample. Truth time: It sucked. BUT, in retrospect all that stepping up to senior citizens looping the floor for exercise helped prepare me for a whole lotta cold-calling when I first started working for myself.

As any teen will tell you, summer is the time for self-employment. What was your first summer job, and how did it inform your perception of working for yourself? Did you learn any skills that helped prepare you for your current gig?

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Anonymous

I was 15 1/2 and was a lifeguard and taught swimming lessons to toddlers. I loved it so much! And of course, because I literally came out of the womb as an entrepreneur, the next summer I taught private swimming lessons in my own pool! Shocker, I know!! ;)

EmilyCowanAuthor

That's awesome, @201192 - and I expected no less from you!

How did you find your clients? Did you advertise? Or did you take your client list with you when you left your old summer job? (Be honest!).

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Anonymous

Word of mouth @EmilyCowan - they were my neighbors! :)

SarahGonzales

My first summer job was cleaning commercial halibut boats when they returned to harbor. Mostly it involved hosing fish guts and blood off the decks while wearing full rain gear. It was pretty disgusting, but there's nothing like dirty, hard work to teach you the value of a dollar!

lynda11_2

I worked in a law firm at age 15 as a girl Friday. It was part of a work program at my high school. It was my first experience (other than helping my grandfather at his business) and I loved it!

Now, has anyone heard of that term “Girl Friday”? Imagine using that in 2018? :cathappy:

EmilyCowanAuthor

That's awesome, @lynda11_2!

And yes, I do believe that the term @201097 is still in use :smileywink: Kristen, how did you come to choose that name for your business?

"Girl Friday" always makes me think of Lauren Bacall for some reason. Stand by for Googling....

LOL, oh! Here's why!!

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032599/

EmilyCowanAuthor

Hey, @NiltonServa - welcome to QB Community and thanks for the kudo! Do you have a story to share?

NiltonServa

No problem @EmilyCowan!

I do have a story and it's pretty crazy but I'll sum it up. About three years ago I was incarcerated as a juvenile in and out. Throughout my teen years, I was involved with drug dealing and gang violence and a whole bunch of other stuff. During my second incarceration, I started to learn about business. I learned so much and when I was released I went to college to major in business. Since then I've presented research at Stanford, gave a TEDx Talk last November, and start my own business. The first business I started was last year and the second business this year. My older brothers and younger sister are all involved as well. I'm 20 years old and motivated to be a better person for myself and for my daughter that is on the way. This is me keeping it short but I wrote most of what has happened to me on my site website [LINK REMOVED BY MODERATOR]. I need to add to it since more things are happening in my life but the story starts there and I'm continuing to add to it every day.

EmilyCowanAuthor

Wow, that is an incredible story, @NiltonServa, and thank you for sharing. It sounds like you've done more living in your 20 years than I've done in my 42!

I'd love to hear more about your business(es). What do they focus on, and can you draw a clear line from your experiences as a youth to the sector you're in now?

SteveChase

My first summer job was at Cinnabon at my local mall. It was $4.25/hour. The best part of that job prepared me to see how business really works. From interacting with making the baked goods to the final sale. Eventually the following summer I was promoted to Assistant Manager and had responsibility of counting the cash and preparing the bank deposit slips.

EmilyCowanAuthor

Great story, @SteveChase!! Counting the cash is a FANTASTIC introduction to real-world business operations. I once spent a year managing a youth hostel in downtown San Francisco, and part of my job was to count the cash and walk the deposit - a duffel bag stuffed with grubby small-denominations - to the Bank of America branch on Market Street. The experience developed my basic accounting skills, and also my appreciation for the police presence in the area :smileylol:

SteveChase

Thanks for sharing!

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Anonymous

My first summer job, I was 12 years old. My aunt owned a flower shop. I would sweep and clean the restroom. I was then put on notice by family and friends as being a great cleaner and organizer. Once I stopped tidying up the flower shop. I begin to work for myself by cleaning and organizing family and friends homes. My family often joke that they wish I get back into the cleaning business.

Oddly enough when I need to relax....I clean.

jessbru99568

I have never had a "summer job" as I have always worked in our family businesses. We have owned many businesses, and done many different things. At the age of 10, I used to run the cash register at our retail store, sell at the markets, etc... We currently have 3 businesses and at 16, I started doing the accounting for them. In the past 4 yrs since I started doing the bookkeeping, we have opened the other 2 businesses. :)

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