What was your first job?
Recreation Leader for the City of Modesto Parks & Rec. Dept.
How old were you?
16
How much did you earn?
$5.64 an hour, which was higher than minimum wage at the time.
How did you get your first job?
I saw an ad in the newspaper, put in my application, interviewed, and got the job.
What did you love (or hate) about your first job?
I loved everything about my first job! I loved working with the kids, and the schedule couldn't be beat for a teenager! I only worked M-F for about 3 hours after school during the school year, and I worked M-F 10-5 during the summer. My evenings and weekends were free for my busy social life.
The pay was pretty good for a high school student, and there wasn't a lot of micromanagement on the job either. Two recreation leaders were scheduled per park, and the supervisor would drop by once a week or so. When I went away to college, I always had a summer job at home waiting for me, as the rec. department always rehired college students for the summer season.
Advice
- Keep your eyes open. Most of my friends didn't read the classifieds, but that's how I found my first job.
- Don't be afraid to apply for something outside the box. Working at fast food restaurants isn't the only job out there for kids.
- Before you apply for your first job, gain experience and good references by babysitting, mowing lawns, and volunteering. Having references that will vouch for your reliability and willingness to work hard is a huge asset.
