I pose to you what was your first occupation? Tell us about it, was it great? Terrible? Why?d you have to leave?
Not counting my paper route from when I was 12. My first job was when I was 14 going on 15. My father was/is a steel salesmen. Like most steel salesmen he works out of an office attached to a mill.
They needed someone to help clean. My first job was not just a janitor but a janitor?s assistant. When I got out of school my oldest brother (who worked as a welder) would drive me there.
Basically, I cleaned the bathrooms and helped clean the duct work because the two janitors were too heavy and inflexible to do that.
Do you have any idea how dirty the air ducts at a steel mill get? I?m pretty sure I?m still picking soot and shavings out of? places? and it?s been about 15 years since I had that job. I would have to ride a cherry picker (I?ll admit it that part was fun) and use a telescopic dust mop and wire brush. Thankfully they hired a special company to clean out the inside.
The men?s room was a horror show. Most workers have very heavy insulated suits which would have to be mostly to completely removed to use the facilities. They were covered with metal shavings, soot, and grime. They would put them wherever they could while using the facilities so every day the restrooms were covered in a thick layer of grime. The toilets ?strangely- were rarely that bad. I also had to clean the ladies room; which wasn?t as bad there were only about seven women that worked in the mill. I distinctly remember that the women?s restroom had a couch in it. I found this odd.
I asked my dad ?Why is there no couch in the men?s restroom??
He replied ?I hope I?m raising you well enough that if you saw a couch in a men?s room you would have the sense to NEVER touch it.?
I said thoughtfully ?touché?
Once I turned 15 I got a job at an Old Navy clothing store because it was walking distance from my house.
EDIT: I realize there's many younger people who might not have a job yet; in which case. Tell us what you hope your first gig to be or what it will likely be.
Not counting my paper route from when I was 12. My first job was when I was 14 going on 15. My father was/is a steel salesmen. Like most steel salesmen he works out of an office attached to a mill.
They needed someone to help clean. My first job was not just a janitor but a janitor?s assistant. When I got out of school my oldest brother (who worked as a welder) would drive me there.
Basically, I cleaned the bathrooms and helped clean the duct work because the two janitors were too heavy and inflexible to do that.
Do you have any idea how dirty the air ducts at a steel mill get? I?m pretty sure I?m still picking soot and shavings out of? places? and it?s been about 15 years since I had that job. I would have to ride a cherry picker (I?ll admit it that part was fun) and use a telescopic dust mop and wire brush. Thankfully they hired a special company to clean out the inside.
The men?s room was a horror show. Most workers have very heavy insulated suits which would have to be mostly to completely removed to use the facilities. They were covered with metal shavings, soot, and grime. They would put them wherever they could while using the facilities so every day the restrooms were covered in a thick layer of grime. The toilets ?strangely- were rarely that bad. I also had to clean the ladies room; which wasn?t as bad there were only about seven women that worked in the mill. I distinctly remember that the women?s restroom had a couch in it. I found this odd.
I asked my dad ?Why is there no couch in the men?s restroom??
He replied ?I hope I?m raising you well enough that if you saw a couch in a men?s room you would have the sense to NEVER touch it.?
I said thoughtfully ?touché?
Once I turned 15 I got a job at an Old Navy clothing store because it was walking distance from my house.
EDIT: I realize there's many younger people who might not have a job yet; in which case. Tell us what you hope your first gig to be or what it will likely be.
