How many jobs have you had?

[Jorge]

1) waitress at 16
2) operator
3) framer
4) banker
5) secretary
6) librarian

Wow. That's a lot.

[lexi_kaye]

Well, I worked as a cashier at a grocery store part time (32-35 hours a week) during college (an hour away fulltime). The semester I was to graduate, they offered me a position at the main office as computer specialist (I had moved up to taking care of things at the store already). I took it. Commuted back to finish classes (four hours away) and did graduate, with a B.S. on psychology. LOL! So, I never did do anything with that. I worked for them for more than 10 years. After endless nights and days on the road taking care of all the stores and their computer needs/training. Literally, I was away from home for weeks at a time. I worked routinesly more than 100 hours a week. I was on call 24/7 and my 1/2 year old car had 106,000 miles on it. I had no life. Made some decent money, but had no life and was not happy. I was two hours away from my family and my real "home". I quit and moved home (without a job). I actually did put forth an effort before I quit to find a job. But, two hours away (and frequently quite a bit more when traveling), it was difficult to look for a job. I had a hard time paying my bills on time just because I had to chose 4 hours sleep that night or paying bills. Very irresponsible of me, I should have put my foot down. I can laugh about it now. And I have come a long way to get my credit record back to great but I tried everything I could think of at the time. I called the federal government and inquired about labor laws and did it matter that when I worked that many hours I was making less that minimum wage? And the answer I got was if I did not have three people directly reporting to me, and I worked that many hours, that was between me and my employer. HUH? Okay, my employer says I have to work that many hours, now what? Get fired? Well, I felt a little bit of a smirk inside when they hired two people to replace me because I told it like it was when I left. Not a big stink or anything like that, just told it like it was. They tried to hire me back for over a month but I just wasn't convinced they understood and would change. Anyways, back on track. So, I cashed in stocks to live for about 6 months and find a computer job. Couldn't in my area. And I did want to be in my area, so I took a temp job to pay the bills. Ended up liking it and they liked me and I got hired. Been there almost ten years now, I work in accounting. I love numbers. So it works for me. So I guess the short answer to this rambling mess is two.

[tinapbeana]

oh, boy... let's go backwards on this, shall we?

currently a tech support administrator/developer for a software company
customer service trainer for national phone company (location closed)
customer service rep for same phone company
shift supervisor for local crisis line (resigned)
public relations liason for old country buffet (location closed)
contract foxpro (HA) dba for champion aviation
barista/waitress at family's coffee shop (location closed)
college: director of marketing and public relations for internet startup (bubble burst)
college: customer service manager for same internet startup
college: customer service rep same internet startup
college: resnet computer tech (left school)
college: computer lab assistant
college: media services and AV tech

and that gets us through the past 10 years. bah! granted, i worked in media services, resnet, and for the internet startup at the same time while i was in college fulltime, but still... had my own version of a burnout/breakdown as a result, but i'm much better now *crazy grin*

[pearlieq]

I had a million, billion jobs in high school and college--everything from McD's, to secretarial work, to working as a travel agent.

I got my first "real" job after I graduated and I'm still with the company, though now as a consultant instead of an employee. I'm a little surprised I'm still there 6 years later, but it's working out.

[Ima saver]

I started work at 12. I was supposed to just unpack clothes boxes at this dress store, but I ended up running the register and doing the books. I was there many years.
I worked part time at a jewelry store, a wal mart type store, and as cashier at a restaurant while going to college. (the restaurant was 40 hrs. a week)
I then did book work in a laboratory for a large company that made disposable needles.
My next job was bookkeeping at an orange packing plant. (built in 1898)(Only heat was an old fireplace)
Next I sold tupperwear for several years. (I was a manager and got a free car)
I worked, doing bookkeeping in a large carpet place.
I was then hostess at a fancy eating club, called the Halifax.
I got my favorite job when I got remarried, bookeeping at a small savings and loan that was started in 1912.
I left there to help my husband run a testing lab. (soil and concrete)
I worked for a short time at a loan company, making collections. (hated it)
I then did bookkeeping at a restaurant, but did not like the way they ran things.
All this bookkeeping was done at places with no computers, so I never learned to use one.
When we moved to the mountains, I first went to work at McDonald's
Then I became a waitress and worked there many years.
I have worked part time for the small water dept in a tiny town(less than 500) helping to get the water bills out every month. I also worked on the census.
Now I just work on the $20 challenge!!

[threebeansalad]

Hmmm, I'll work forward in time, starting in Junior High

Babysitter
Tutor
Ice Crem Scooper
Golf Course Attendant
Hotel Housekeeper
Chemistry Lab Assistant
Biochemistry Lab assistant
Day Care worker
Camp Counselor
Commercial Bakery (I sliced fancy cakes for hours on end)
Office Assistant for local governement organizing tax bills and dog records (!)
Office Assistant at Medical Employment Placement Office
Dietetic Intern (quasi-school/ job position required to become an RD)
Nutritionist / RD
Nutrition Software Consultant
Gradaute Research Assistant
Personal Chef
Babysitter

Some of the jobs have been simulataneous and / or short-term. It's interesting how I'm back to babysitting. Things go full circle, I guess.

[vsjhoc]

A few years ago, I had to fill out some paperwork and list EVERY job I 've ever had. It took a lot of time finding all those W-2s stored in the attic. I had at least 35 entries. Some of them I didn't even remember.

[MonkeyMama]

I vote 5, and I count aLL my jobs - they were all very unique rather they funded university or not. I don't count them as any less jobs.

I forgot babysitting and house sitting though - I did a lot of that as a teen. I lived rent-free for 6 months housesitting which was really key in getting through college in a high COL area.

16/17 - Amusement Park - foods and retail
18 - Amusement Park - Cash Control (I loved this job - night shift)
16-21-Piano Teacher
19-21-BookKeeper
(Those were my 3 worthless PT university jobs - LOL).
21-23-Auditor for large international firm
23-24-Tax Accountant for large international firm
25-Present-CPA for a small firm (auditing, taxes, consulting, bookeeping, and more)

I enjoy having a completely different skill (piano) and knowing how to make money from it if I ever needed to again. THough I prefer to work in accounting/bookkeeping overall.

Unpaid, I was actually getting into wildlife rehabilitation, though I loved the idea of the job, not my cup of tea. Glad I ventured into that through volunteering. But just throwing that out as another angle I did aim for career-wise once...

[tabbycat31]

Originally Posted by PennyPincher

What happened to the days of 30+ years at ONE company?!?!? Wow.

I was at one company (a big box store) 6 years, and they kicked me out because they were paying me too much. They cut my hours down to 2 a week so that they could find someone cheaper.

[jodi]

Wow, it told me I already responded to this post - must have been several years ago!
High school: McDonalds, Ben & Jerry's, H & R Block (filing, data entry), babysitting for my math teacher's kids before school Senior year I worked all four of these.
College: Hostess/waitress, research assistant, Discovery Zone (kid's play place) doing everything: check-in, birthday parties, kitchen work, cleaning
Post-college: Children's advocate (aka babysitter) in a shelter for victims of domestic violence, case manager in a shelter for runaway/homeless teens, real estate agent, service coordinator for developmentally disabled, and the only one I truly enjoyed going to every day - working in my cousin's greenhouse for $5/hour!

[Bookie]

Well, I had a career of 30+ years with the same educational institution, retiring with years, honors, and a pension.

Spent another four years resuscitating a non-profit social services corporation that had fallen on hard times.

Two jobs in 36 years. I'm such a tumbleweed.

[fairy74]

Dental Receptionist, Medical Receptionist, Insurance Referral Coordinator, Paralegal, Chiropractic Assistant, Research Assistant, Law Clerk, Attorney

[project15]

I'm at my first one out of college right now going on 7 months. Woohoo! I feel so grown up.

[Thrif-t]

I graduated college in '88 and have only had 3 jobs, first job out of college lasted 18 mos, then I was with a company for 11 years and would still be there had my boss not left went to a new company, asked me to come gave me the sun, moon & the stars and all the freedom I needed to also be a mom to 3 kids and I've been there 5 years. Before that waitressed thru college and babysat in jr high & high school so really only 4 places of employment in my 40 years. I'd of definetely been one of those 30 year gals.

[BCHGRL]

1. Babysitter for my aunt - age 12 &13
2. Food Fair cashier - age 17-18
3. McRae's Department store clerk - 18-20
4. Long string of jobs upon college graduation from used car sales to stocking shelves at Wal*Mart at night to legal secretary - age 21-22
5. Air Force civilian (contract specialist) - Age 22-present (28 yrs old)

[demiGod031]

I have one full-time and one part-time job...

[disneysteve]

If you are only counting actual full-time adult jobs after college, my answer is two. If you want to count before that, there are more: summer camp counselor, building manager in college, snack bar attendant in high school, etc., but I don't count those. I finished med school/residency in 1993 and worked in one practice for almost 7 years, left there are took my present job about 7 years ago.

[nanamom]

Wow How have I worked, let me count the ways:
Photography Instructor
Babysitter
Nanny
Bus Person
Clinical Secretary
Sales Clerk
Assembly Line Wroker
Paramedic Service 1
Paramedic Service 2
Paramedic Service 3
Waitress
Teacher
School Administrator
Medical Technician
Substitute Teacher
Deli Worker
Cashier
Sales Clerk
Whew, How many was that? Those are the things I have been paid for only of course

[Snoopy2645]

Before I was old enough to get a job to pay taxes on I babysat made good money doing it too & had a paper route very young. Then when I turned 16 I waitressed & worked as a cashier the easiest job was everythings a dollar everything was a dollar that was super easy, they hired me for xmas help & then I had my baby in January which they knew so thats why it was just for xmas.

Then got into a big computer company this was in 1995 they were booming I got into tech support worked thier 6yrs.


Then stayed home with my kids 3 1/2 yrs before going back to pt working as a demo person now I am trying an at home job its ok I use my own puter which is new & the hd just went out of so I had to wait for the replacement I think it will be great once I really get rolling as I am loving this job its super easy & good money. I am hoping its my calling in this life I have now being a mom of 3 kids it would be almost impossible for awhile for me to work ft outside the house.

[click4credit]

I think I'm up to 6 now discounting any part time or uni jobs.

1 at Fidelity Investments in London
2 Market Research roles in London
1 Market research role in Sydney, Australia
Another research role in Brisbane and now running my own credit card comparison and financial website.