Jobs you've worked at?

Hi MLU-ers,

Well, I'm up in the wee hours again and now that I've just charged my brain with hot strong cocoa with lots of brown sugar, I'm busy thinking about the different kinds of jobs and work people might have done, or are doing. I thought it would be totally interesting, and fun, to start a thread about this.

I know many of you have military history, either ex military service, or still at it, so I expect if people post in here, we'll hear a lot of military-type related "jobs".

Some, like myself, totally non-military ......... unless, of course, you count the job I once had at the Winnipeg Safety building as a short order cook and supervisor on my shift, in the police cafeteria? 5th Floor of the Public Safety Building (is it still there?)Does that count as "military type job"? My Mom came back to that job specifically just to train me for them. My stepfather, a cook much of his life, but mostly a camp cook, was the Jail Cook there for quite a long time too. Ah, the memories these stories bring back to me. It was a great job for me ... didn't last long as I craved Beautiful BC and off I went back to the West Coast ..... I was about 18 at the time. All those boys in blue ,,, woo hoo

Do you folks remember the days before resumes and pre-required courses? Days of walk in off the street, ask for a job, be put to work immediately, sometimes LITERALLY RIGHT NOW! train as you go, meals included in the wage ... ah, those were the days my kids never experienced.

First job was a summer and duck hunting resort in Petersfield Manitoba ... the Americans loved to come up and stay there for the duck hunting (Chesleys Netley Lodge) Loved much about the job, but was really taken advantage of wage wise (slave labour) I was 16 ... sunup to sundown, $150.oo per month plus room and board was my wages : That was bad even for 1970!!! I didn't have an SIN card yet either. I was supposed to go back to school and the bosses begged me to stay through the duck hunting season ... thus I ended up a highschool drop out having completed grade 9 only. That job didn't pay much at all plus it cost me a lot Deal, or No Deal? ...

Different jobs at different ages. No careers. Sewing factory ... zippers or buttonholes in mens pants, if I remember correctly? Awful jobs, awful wages. Winnipeg again.

Over the years I've worked in many restaurants and hotels, Waitress, hostess, shortorder cook, fastfood cook, dishwasher, food delivery driver, cleaner, chambermaid, hotel desk clerk, booking rooms, cocktail waitress, doorperson, club/pub cleaner, housecleaner, etc. Jobs in Winnipeg, Victoria, Vancouver, Nelson ...

Carwash (auto detailing) ... never again.
Telemarketting (sorry )
Flyers door to door delivery. Phonebooks - HEAVY!
Route contract delivery driver to retail stores.
More cleaning lady jobs.
Ministry approved foster parent.
Paid public speaker (Foster Parent training orientation sessions)
Group facilitator/leader (support group)
Volunteer, volunteer, volunteer ... community centres, helping seniors, mental health, crisis line volunteer, support group facilitator/leader

Goldsmith (apprenticed)
Artisan ... jewelry making, designing, and jewelry repair

Can't think anymore ...

Oops ... two more ... being someones Mom ...

My latest job ... volunteer ... MLU Admin

G'Night

Ma Yappy

[Tony Smith]

Originally posted by Vets Dottir 2nd
Hi MLU-ers,

I'm busy thinking about the different kinds of jobs and work people might have done, or are doing.

......... unless, of course, you count the job I once had at the Winnipeg Safety building as a short order cook and supervisor on my shift........

Ma Yappy

Two questions: Could a tall person apply for that job, and would a supervisor of other Short Order Cooks be called an "Overseer"?

Originally posted by Tony Smith
Two questions: Could a tall person apply for that job, and would a supervisor of other Short Order Cooks be called an "Overseer"?

I was short, and I took orders. (Those Boys in Blue very pursuasive. I guess they ALL were my overseers )

So NO ... but yes, you could be a short Order Cooks' Overseer ... Big Guy!

I think You, Hanno, and Pedr top us all, you could all be Overseers (I'm just jealous you're all 5 times taller than me)

Ma Yappy

[Bill Murray]

Carman, you do task us.

OK, age 67 as of the 18th March so I have a history.

Janitor in my middle schoole age 13
Newspaper boy in high school age 14-17
Laborer in an animal feed warehouse age 17
Greenskeeper at a Golf Course age 18
Grocery bagger at a military commissary age 18
Officer Candidate USMC at age 19, then two years Reserve Duty
Stockkeeper at a military exchange at age 20
Married Pat at age 20
Several jobs at Petrol Stations age 20
Police Officer age 20-21
Several jobs at auto dealerships age 21-25 Also finishing University and fathering 3 children.
Parts Field Rep Volvo Western US age 26
Parts Field Rep Manager age 27-28
Parts Manager Volvo Western Region age 28-34
International Parts Training Manager/International Parts Marketing Manager Volvo Sweden age 34-36
Gerente de Repuestos Volvo Del Peru/Area Andino age 35-37
Managing Director Parts Operations Volvo Canada age 37-39
National Sales Manager Spare Parts Volvo North America age 39
National Manager Spare Parts SAAB USA age 39-44
Vice President Parts and Service SAAB USA age 44-48
Vice President Sales and Marketing Southern Region SAAB USA
age 49-51
Age 52 on the beach looking for a new career.
Since age 52 owner of a HobbyTown USA franchise in Georgia USA
Age 67 about to turn over my business to my 40 year old son and his 35 year old wife and try to take some time to smell the roses.
Bill

Thank you, lots, for being part of this thread Bill

And wow, you have certainly done a lot over your lifespan, and stopping to smell the roses, play in MLU and with other hobbies and interests,. and have fun! Is there a CMP waiting for you to fullfill any restoration needs?

There are SO many things I would have loved to have pursued ( so many interesting things to learn about and do in the world) and accomplished, including more education etc. had my life been different. Its fun and very interesting to hear what other people have done though. I'm impressed with so many in here who are so accomplished in so many different areas and ways.



Carman

[Ken Hughes]

the jobs i have done

washing cars after school
apprentice panel-beater
tradesman panel-beater
RNZNVR 6 yrs
mechanic 4 yrs
coalminer 3yrs
forestry worker4yrs
freezing worker 2 seasons
parking officer1yr
library custodian 5yrs (two places)
tv aerial installer 3mth
roading gang, sealing and kerb and chanel
sand blaster 1/2 day!!
and i am back in my trade for the last 12yrs
also a single parent 8 yrs

[Ian Pullen]

Mine won't take long.
Joined the Army at 15 as an Army Apprentice
Went through the ranks to Warrant Officer
After 23 years I left the Army and started teaching part time
Rest of the time I am at the Bandiana Museum in the Workshop.
Told ya it wouldn't take long...................................

[Keith Webb]

Newspaper delivery boy - 1 year
Shoe warehouse - 8 months
Fake furrier 1 year
Mechanic, warehouse and deliveries for Hughes Auto Spares specialising in CMP stuff including stripping at least 100 sidevalve V8s 2 1/2 years - this was a really interesting job.

And the following for around 25 years.

Photographer
Audio engineer
Video editor
Producer
Voiceover
Director
Small business manager

Originally posted by Keith Webb

Mechanic, warehouse and deliveries for Hughes Auto Spares specialising in CMP stuff including stripping at least 100 sidevalve V8s 2 1/2 years - this was a really interesting job.

Hi Keith,

I notice that you forgot to mention your newest gig:

You are now MLU's new AUSTRALIAN MLU ADMIN



Karmen

Hi Folks,

I just remembered another thing I did once, ESL tutoring!

While I was taking full time courses and doing work study job (library job) at King Edward Campus in Vancouver (about 1985?) and being single Mommy on top of it all ... I also was trained through KEC to do ESL Tutoring for homebound people.

My role was to go to the personas home, evaluate and assess them for their language needs, and design/create/structure/set up/facilitate lesson plans, and take them through the lessons. I used a number of things as teaching aids, many things I wrote or drew myself.

I really enjoyed that "job" ... as it was very challenging and I had to improvise a lot, and use all sorts of skills and abilities, including writing and artistic ones. It was also a lot of fun ... and at times very frustrating. Ever try help a person learn how to make a brand new sound that they have never made in their whole lives?
Or tried to help someone with absolutely no English to understand community signs and symbols in order for them to manage getting around and taking car of survival daily business?
Some "learners" had a smidgeon of English, while some had absolutely NONE when I started with them!

It was totally challenging for me being English as my ONLY language trying to help someone who had no English at all but that made for a lot of fun and laughter in some sessions as well

Well ... teaching, no matter what, can be very challenging and rewarding on many levels.



Karmen

[Keith Webb]

Originally posted by Vets Dottir 2nd
Hi Keith,

I notice that you forgot to mention your newest gig:

You are now MLU's new AUSTRALIAN MLU ADMIN



Karmen

Thanks, Carman

No-one is safe now!

Originally posted by Keith Webb
Thanks, Carman

No-one is safe now!

Well ... maybe we can have some DUELING ADMINS fun then?

Hey Keefy, are you aware that as an Admin you can mess with Master Sunrays profile (like he frequently does with mine?)

Originally posted by Ken Hughes
also a single parent 8 yrs

THAT is the most challenging and rewarding "job" of all. Single parent at that, especially when no help from the opposite parent at all, makes it very challenging at times, indeed.

Parenting is a lifes mission and work, and a lifes joy I can't imagine anything in life being more important than that of raising another human being. Thats where all my attention and energy went. Number one priority.



Karmen

[sapper740]

I'll have a whack at this, by the decade:

'60s: Student, paper boy, fork-lift driver, asbestos-concrete pipe lathe operator, commercial painter, busboy and bottle washer; all part time and summer jobs.

'70s: gas jockey, liquor store clerk, college student, volunteer Firefighter, Timber cruiser, lumber piler, Sorter operator, dozer boat operator, sewer worker, tunnel foreman, apprentice electrician, student

'80s: Electrician, snowplough operator, businessman, husband, father, student

'90s: Electrician, snowplough operator, businessman, husband, father, Canadian Forces Reservist, teacher, Firearms instructor, Hunter safety instructor, Firearms Verifier, Electrical Foreman, student.

'00s: Electrician, snowplough operator, businessman, husband, father, Canadian Forces Reservist, teacher, Firearms Instructor, Hunter Safety instructor, Firearms Verifier, Electrical Superintendent, inventor, student.

'10s: TBA

[DaveCox]

In order from leaving school in 1972:

Trainee toolmaker/modeller
Engraver
Gunner RA
Retail hi-fi & TV salesman
Retail department manager(redundant)
Storeman(promoted)
Stock Controller/Buyer - telecoms(redundant)
Purchasing Manager - electronics (redundant)
Buyer - engineering (pump manufacture)(redundant)
Buyer - refrigeration manufacturer(redundant)
Buyer - Building management systems manufacturer

[sapper740]

How 'bout avocations, Carmen?

Here, at various times, are some the hobbies I've enjoyed:

Rugby player, hunter, Scuba diver, fisherman, Skydiver, gun collector, Trap and Skeet director, skirt chaser, Range Safety officer, I.P.S.C. competitor, cartridge and shell reloader, M.V. collector, ski bum, metallic silhouette competitor, Vice-president Port Coquitlam and District Hunting and Fishing club, dirt biker, mountain biker, off-roader, hiker, model building, Little League, Cub and Boy Scout, militaria collector, WW II reenactor.

Originally posted by sapper740
How 'bout avocations, Carmen?

Perfectly fitting!!! and I've REALLY liked that people are including some of those things in here too. Lifes interests, involvements, hobbies, accomplishments, passions ... along with all the usual job types and things.

Most of us are baby-boomers in here I think and we're coming from all walks of life and countries it seems ... so thats a lot of years behind us of doing all sorts of interesting things, right up to current day

I love this thread

Carman aka Karmen aka Ma Yappy aka whatever else you all call me in here

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Fake furrier 1 year



Whatever this occupation was it seems appropriate.

Anonymous Bob

Hi again.

Derek, you have me thinking back on some other things I've been interested in or began and they got derailed by life or unexpected events. Two that come to mind are creative things.

The first was that back in 1982 I was working on building up a portfolio to try and get into Emily Carr College (school of art). As far back as I, and family, can remember, I was always drawing and making things. I attended a couple or so life drawing courses (live models, clothed and unclothed) an artist friend was teaching and people, including him, used to stop their drawing and watch me draw, mesmerized. Thats AFTER I was finally able to get over my extreme panic reactions of shaking while standing in front of the drawing board afraid to start ... and Richard (teacher) came up behiond me and said, "Jesus Carman, I've never seen anyone so intimidated in my whole life" ... I told him to bugger off and leave me alone with my stagefright. I had a lot of talent and expression in my works but definately very undisciplined and undeveloped. People who had done the full 4 years courses and were excellent artists comments, Good lord Carman, I've been an artist forever and did 4 years of art school and I STILL can't do what you do.

My kids dad, a master in music and major talent, years later once said after seeing my drawings from those classes, "I don't know how someone with SO much talent can be such a loser" (yeah ... that still bites, but from him it truly was a real appreciation for something anyways )

Well ... okay ... here's me finally with some serious goals and about to start down that road. Before I had my portfolio together and presented to Emily Carr school ... I had to change my priorities as my youngest born joined me insides and redirected my path from artist to Mommy. I never really picked it up seriously again and am still undeveloped ... and now the arthritis is a limit. I tried a few times, but I lost the zing and oomph for it. I even sold a fw small things though

Another thing I started, not really thinking it through realistically as a Mom ... was I took and passed the first level of a makeup artists course, end goal being wanting to be a make up artist ... but more thought brought me to my senses about the hours and being Mom often would be a problem. I'm actually glad Canada Student Loans approved my loan for the 2nd level too late for me to take it, so at least I only had to repay for one level (which I did and made CSL happy) Again ... the arthritis would have ruined that career for me anyways, so ... all is well and not too disappointing.

Time for a and to ponder what career choices I might go for now, as I is ...

[Howard]

OK here's my list
While at school I had a go at
Sweeping floors
Hay stooking
Tractor driving

Then I left school in 1984, and in no particular order the next 17 years I was a... (Big breath)

Bank Clerk, Coolamon
Ag & Vet supplies store hand, Coolamon
Plumbing supplies store hand, Wagga Wagga
Green keeper, Ganmain Golf Club
Electrical Appliance Sales- Norman Ross Wagga
Electrical Appliance Sales- Chandlers Wagga
Electrical Appliance Sales- Chandlers ACT
Electrical Appliance Sales- David Jones ACT
Electrical Appliance Sales- Retravision Wagga
Grape picker, Maclaren Vale South Aus
Pear & Apple picker, Victoria
Tractor driver, Ganmain
Harvest labourer (almost every year)
Cooking demonstrator, Webber barbeques, ACT
Textile factory labourer (Three starts over 5 years) Wagga
TV aerial installation, Ganmain, Wagga
Restaurant Manager (McDonalds) Wagga
Weed Control Officer, Coolamon
Water truck driver, Ganmain
Spare parts buyer, Wagga
Workshop administrator, Wagga
Merchandising manager, Telstra Mobile, Riverina district
Civil construction site clerk, Ganmain
Disc Jockey (Mobile Discos)
Disk Jockey (Radio- voluntary unpaid, Wagga Wagga)
Disk Jockey (Radio- voluntary unpaid, Queanbeyan)
Wedding Video production, Riverina district
Television cameraman, Wagga
Television news story editor, Wagga
Television production manager, Wagga
Motel assistant, Wagga

Something like 30 paid jobs in 17 years. Then came 2001...

As of now I am a Service Advisor and have been for over six years! (More than double my previous tenure record!)

This page might be edited as memory slowly reveals itself from the alcohol induced slumber...
HH

[Keith Webb]

Hey Howard,

How about you put some of your reportage pieces on YouTube?

What was the biggest story you did?

[Howard]

Keefy, I don't have a show reel.
Storys from Wagga studios were typically
"Local resident angry about colour of new wheely bins"
"Local residents angry about long grass in park"
"Rawlingson Family welcomes latest dog litter"
You know, hard-hitting stuff like that.

My best ad did not get any air time at all.
15 second grab, single shot of a car
V/o: "XXXX XXXX Credit Union Happy Car Loans! Available now from 5.95%! Enough to give you a horn!"
SFX: "Toot Toot"
TAG: etc etc

[Keith Webb]

[i]My best ad did not get any air time at all.
15 second grab, single shot of a car
V/o: "XXXX XXXX Credit Union Happy Car Loans! Available now from 5.95%! Enough to give you a horn!"
SFX: "Toot Toot"
TAG: etc etc [/B]

Pure class in Wagga! Even the Credit Union's name is obviously a swearword.

[Ian Pullen]

Hey, I remember that credit union when I lived in Wagga. I seem to recall they sh** on me a few times..........
But then I suppose I would rather be p*ssed off than p*ssed on........

[Tony Smith]

I've been a bit of a jack of all trades. Highest paying job was as a Federal Member of Parliament, but I mucked around a little as an Writer, Actor and did a stint in Iraq helping out the locals. Word has just slipped out that I will be coaching the Great Britain Rugby League team later this year. I hope this won't interfere with my busy schedule as a cruise boat raconteur.

[Tony Smith]

Originally posted by Keith Webb
Pure class in Wagga! Even the XXXX XXXX Credit Union's name is obviously a swearword.

Or like how Wagga Wagga in Aboriginal means "place of lots of Wagga", the Credit Union's name means "Place of lots of Qld Beer".

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Well old Tim Tam certainly is versitile. However he ommited to post one of his most famous roles that being in Dad's Army. Unfortunately like the drummer Ringo Starr replaced,what was his name, Tony was never to reach the famous heights. He had too many other commitments.
Bob

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Hi all
Whilst working in the shed I suddenly remembered his name. It was a guy called Tony Smith who, being so busy with all his other portfolios, couldn't continue with the Beatles.
Bob

[sapper740]

Originally posted by Bob Moseley
Hi all
Whilst working in the shed I suddenly remembered his name. It was a guy called Tony Smith who, being so busy with all his other portfolios, couldn't continue with the Beatles.
Bob

There was no Tony Smith that I know of who ever drummed for the Beatles. The predecessor to Ringo was Pete Best and before him there several other drummers during the Beatles' various permutations. There was a Tommy Moore at one time also. However, having lived in the 60's, I can't profess to actually remembering anything first hand!

[Tony Smith]

Originally posted by sapper740
There was no Tony Smith that I know of who ever drummed for the Beatles.

Wasn't there a Tony Smith who played tambourine in The Who?