Comments

If you mean "first professional job", then I had the fortune to work at IBM. It's a big company with plenty of room to make mistakes (that is, learn) and plenty of people to learn from. It also provides ample opportunity to learn specifically how to deal with other people, since you just can't get away from them. It's as safe an environment as I could have wanted for my first job as a software development professional.

Posted by J. B. Rainsberger at January 8, 2006 9:45 PM

My first, best job was working on a railroad tie gang at the age of 18, two days after graduating from high school. We put in 700+ railroad ties per day, often in temperatures of 110+ on the rail bed ballast. It took my approximately 3 minutes to figure out that I would get a college degree and not work on the railroad the rest of my life. I have the utmost respect for those that choose that kind of life, but it wasn't and isn't the life for me.

Posted by Max Lambright at January 8, 2006 10:11 PM

Hey Steve!

My first job (best is yet to come!) was with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), India, where, I worked as an Associate Consultant in their Global Risk Management Solutions (GRMS) Division. I had a very enriching experience (both personally & professionally) and I learnt that to be in professional services business one would have to incessantly add value as many times & in as many occasions as possible.

I strongly believe that as a manager (in any industry!), you would need to always think like a consultant of a PSF in approaching a problem (of course ultimately finding a solution!) and then breaking down a problem into its various constituents and then finding a ‘best-fit’ solution that is of use & value to the client / organization. In the process, one undergoes / is subject to a lot of learning, knowledge acquisition (sharing too!), leadership, mentoring, coaching, analysis, planning, implementation (execution) et al which would be of invaluable assistance & a life-long guide professionally.

I also believe that your first job needn’t be your best job! In fact, “it shouldn’t be your best job” because if it were your best job….you wouldn’t move your butt to seek greener pastures and know newer things, newer practices (incl best practice!), better ideas, better ways of execution, better ways of managing people etc…I always say this to all my friends – “Always get out of your comfort zone!” I have always done it and WILL continue to do it and trust me, IT PAYS!

Posted by K.Sriram at January 8, 2006 10:11 PM

My best first job was right out of Business School. I joined one of big family conglomerates in India as a Management Trainee. They had a string of Textiles and Heavy Engineering companies. They had textile spinning, weaving, automobile parts manufacturing and one of India's first Personal Computer Companies to make full systems out of Intel 8080 and 8086 chips back in 1980.

The best part of this job was that as part of training, they sent me to each of their companies for a quarter or so. In each company I spent a week each in each and every department - R&D, Sales, Marketing, Finance, Logistics, Manufacturing, etc. My job was just to observe what everybody did and come up with candidates for computer usage! By the time I was done with each company I had a bird's eyeview of how the company's cogs worked!

What a first job! Right out of business school! Since then I have worked for many companies here in the U.S, large ones like DEC and small startups in Silicon Valley, but nothing gave me a grounding of REAL business, warts and all, like that first year!

Nari

Posted by Nari Kannan at January 8, 2006 10:14 PM

You're kidding - there is no such thing as a best 1st job. You have got to be kidding - right?

Posted by carbonboy at January 8, 2006 10:31 PM

My best first job was at a restaurant. The job itself wasn't so great. The relationship I built with the owners was. I learned a lot from them, how to be on time, every time I had a shift scheduled, how to work hard, how to multi-task, and they really cared for me as a person. Was it glamorous? Heck no, but I learned a lot, and if I ran into those fine folks today, I would give them a hug and thank them for instilling a work ethic in me I would be lost without, and no, I don't work in a restaurant presently.

Posted by Phil Gerbyshak at January 8, 2006 10:43 PM

My best first job was with the US Army. I was 18 years old and my first assignment took me to West Berlin in 1985. There I was a kid fresh from Bootcamp and I landed at the most prestigious assignment the US Army had (at that time). I was an Infantryman standing toe-to-toe with the Soviets, and parading with British and French forces in that divided city. What made it so great is the people that I was fortunate enough to work with and live with during my time there. The citizens of West Berlin were the best in the world. My fellow soldiers were among the best this nation ever produced.

Lifelong bonds were formed here, to this day I still consider them the best friends I will ever have. What made the bond strong was realizing the fact, should the situation go to bullets, these were the people that I was going to have to fight with and die with. I have been lucky enough to have never had that kind of realization face me everyday since leaving Berlin. How many first jobs create such bonds and offer such as experiences?

Posted by Dave Guerra at January 8, 2006 11:02 PM

My very first job was more like an internship; I got paid in nothing beyond knowledge. I was 15. I put on a suit and walked into the offices of a pro soccer team in its first year and volunteered to help. The man in charge of marketing, Mario Machado, graciously accepted my offer and I imagine they got some use out of my gofer-ing, but I learned a ton.
It was great in a way that makes great first jobs great first jobs: Mr. M and the others in the office treated me with dignity, never acted as though my time was worthless, made an effort to understand my currency, were open and shared the inner workings of the operation, and made a point to offer me a chance to learn. The very best thing was my boss, who was not only kind, but smart and even on his toughest days knew that if he acted enthusiastic, it would make it easier for the rest of us. I still channel a lot of his technique when needed.

My first paid job was picking grapefruit and occasionally oranges in California's Colorado River valley. I was 16. Brutal, thankless work supervised by brutal thankless employers. It taught me that those of us working for money had to all hang together even if we didn't like each other. It taught me to gut out lousy times at work (since we didn't get paid for a whole day if we didn't work through the 9-1/2 hour shift). It taught me to quickly convert pesos to dollars (even though in California, paid in pesos) and I still wield the knack of identifying the best pieces in any pile of citrus -- using patterns I cannot explain in words.
It was a good first job only in the sense that it made every job I've had since seem more bearable in comparison.

Posted by jeff angus at January 8, 2006 11:50 PM

I rather think that best 1st job = best 1st boss. It doesn't really matter too much whether the job is in the private, public or military sectors, whether it's in production, sales, marketing, logistics, HR or even (gulp) accounts. What does matter is that you're put to work for a boss who teaches, trains, motivates, stretches, challenges, enthuses and inspires you. It's all about people...

Posted by Mark J Foscoe at January 9, 2006 3:43 AM

Fabulous question Steve. A great title for a workshop by the way – hope it goes well.

My Best First Job? – Without a doubt 18 October 2004 the day I became self employed after 35 years in the National Health Service. This is what I posted on my Simplicity Blog last week;

Then ....... And Now

Just over a year ago I decided to leave a massive organisation – the National Health Service which is the third largest employer in the world after the Chinese Army and Indian Railways.

Here are just a few unstructured random thoughts about the differences I have noticed between working for the NHS – and working for myself.
• I used to have a boss – now I am the boss
• I used to believe I was accountable – now I am accountable – If I don’t work, I don’t eat
• I used to have appraisal meetings with my boss – now I just look in the mirror and ask the person I see – ‘did you try hard enough Trevor?’
• I used to work in an office – now our front room is the office – budgies, music and all
• I used to work the hours the organisation expected of me – now I work when I want
• I used to frown a lot – now I smile a lot
• I used to dress within organisational requirements – now I may not shave for three days
• I used to work through lunchtimes – now I might take a three hour break with Annie to go to the gym in the middle of the day and we both might then work till midnight
• I used to have a Finance department – now I am the Finance department. I used to have a Human Resources Department – now I am the HR department. I used to have a Complaints Department – now I am the Complaints Department. You get the picture, etc., etc.
• I used to sit on groups and committees – now I wonder why we needed them
• I used to regularly feel negative stress – now I am always excited about possibilities
• I used to believe I took risks – now I try something new almost every day
• I used to feel controlled – now I feel free
• I used to feel there were things I could not say – now I say what I like
• I used to think there was a place for planning – now I realise John Lennon was right “Life is what happens while we are busy making other plans" – well said Mr Lennon
• I used to get angry and frustrated – now I know I control my own destiny
• I used to think I might be in the wrong place – now I know I was in the wrong place
• I used to be sad quite often at work – now I am happy
And finally, but most importantly - I used to be not in love – now I am in love.

Posted by Trevor Gay at January 9, 2006 4:12 AM

You have touched upon one of my favorite areas to explore when I have been in a hiring position. One question I like to ask is, "Think way back to your very fist job where you received a paycheck. What did you learn from that job that is still impressed upon you today?"

I get some very revealing answers...both good and bad...but more often good. A recent candidate did a very good job of representing her recent job history, but it was answering this question where she opened up and provided a wealth of information about values she had established in her early days of "meaningless" jobs. In my mind, this is what seperated her from other candidates. She was offered the position for a variety of reasons...her answer to my question was one of them.

Like development in childhood, our values, habits and behaviors are established early in our careers. Sure, they develop and are refined over time, but through the many responses I have received from asking this question, it is clear to me that one's experiences in a "first job" can have a profound influence on the values that are established throughout one's career.

So when asked what makes a Best First Job...I believe it is one that provides a positive influence on these values...and that can happen in as many ways as there are jobs and people to fill them. However, I find that answers to my question that often impress me revolve around learning the value of establishing good work habits, development of working relationships, customer orientation, discipline and values in the basic economics of business.

Posted by John Lariviere at January 9, 2006 5:19 AM

My best first job was working at Andi's Ice Cream in Northridge, CA. I was a senior at Chatsworth High School and 1984/85 was the year of 501 jeans, Sperry Topsiders, and Izod Lacoste shirts. My parents didn't see fashion the same way I did, so I spent the better part of a year slinging McConnell's ice cream, making malts, shakes and baking fresh cookies.

What made it my "best" first job is that in the spring of 1985 the owners started a newsstand in the same center as the ice cream store. I got transferred across the parking lot. The newsstand took off, they closed the ice cream store and within a few years they had 4 or 5 stands in and around southern California. What was the lesson? Cash flow. Enough said.

The bonus was that I was able to meet all kinds of interesting people and read the tabloids without feeling guilty. Ahhh. The good old days.

Posted by Brian Kolstad at January 9, 2006 6:29 AM

Ever since the age of 9, I had a strong appetite to be engaged in some sort of commerce. At that age, one of the few things you could be hired for is delivering newspapers.
What a great first job! You get up early even when you would like to be doing other things, face the elements (in Cleveland this is a serious challenge) You have to deal directly with your customers. You are the complaints department. You must collect the money, pay the bills and learn about the importance of cash flow. You also need to canvess the neighborhood and try to win new subscriptions. You also have to handle being thought of as uncool to kids who get big allowances and don't have to work.
40 some years later, I realise this has prepared me for everything that followed.

Posted by Dan Kerkel at January 9, 2006 7:15 AM

My first job was as assistant of the accountant at an antivirus software company. I earned less than my daily public transport cost. The worst thing was not the pay, but the boss. She was an hysteric who taught me nothing about the job and had a perfectionist "complex".

My second job instead was quite good. The pay was higher though still quite low and I learnt a lot.

Posted by Felix Gerena at January 9, 2006 7:48 AM

The boss makes the job. As a young upstart looking for a few bucks, when your Jaguar driving multiple Burger King owning boss comes in with the same clothes on and skitters around on the greasy floor whistling and hustling it makes an impression. I was treated with dignity and respect and as something of an equal even at 15. Maybe it was just because I could make a Whopper w/cheese in under six seconds and he wanted to keep me around, but I truly felt valued.

Best post college job -- Infantry Platoon Leader, Republic of Panama. RLTW

Posted by guy dumas at January 9, 2006 7:52 AM

I had a great first "real" job. I always wanted to be a music journalist. My first real job - interviewed Tommy Lee from Motley Crue... what a ride/rush.

It really opened up a Pandora's Box of opportunity for me. It made me realize that you have to dream big to get big stuff to happen. It also kept me creative and self-reliant. It was always up to me to get more interviews, write more and sell it all to Editors.

Thanks for this post, it reminded me why I get up in the morning.

I may not be doing too much rock journalism anymore, but everything I do, I try to add a little rock 'n roll into the mix ;)

Posted by Mitch Joel at January 9, 2006 9:29 AM

My first job, working part-time in my local pub, I learnt a few important lessons: people who wait for the pub to open, arn't doing so well in life; stacking more than 10 pint glasses may look clever and efficient but is embarrasing when you drop them; having a basic skill means you will never be out of work (throughout uni paid by way with a few bar jobs); the banter counts for more with the regulars than price, good beer and prompt service; clean toilets make a huge difference to customer numbers and not to be afraid of volunteering as organising the pub quiz for a few years enables me to be a font of trivia knowledge that has come in useful throughout the rest of my career in the strangest circumstances.

Posted by Mark at January 9, 2006 11:42 AM

While I was delivering an inhouse development session on induction and how to get new colleagues past "induction crisis" one delegate, an old hand of twenty plus years service told of his first day on the job as a pool lifeguard.

It was his first job...straight from school. Day one he was handed a whistle and told "stand there" by a "more experienced colleague" who pointed vaguely in the direction of the swimming pool. No other guidance was offered.

Not a great start to his first job but as he said "I learned that day how NOT to treat people who are just starting out... and every day since I learned a little bit more about my passion for keeping people safe while they spend their leisure time with us"

For the record the "old hand" has been our Lifeguard Training Manager for the last ten years or so.... and in that time has seen numerous commendations issued to many of our people for bravery and lifesaving.

From humble beginnings...

Posted by Scott Mackenzie at January 9, 2006 11:47 AM

My best first job (actually my third job, but let's not talk about the other 2) was seeling women's shoes in a department store.

My lesson: attitude is everything. The two women I worked with had been in the department for 25 years or something crazy like that and they despised almost every person they met. I was new, fresh-eyed, and bushy-tailed, and it beat flipping burgers. I learned that if you are positive and pleasant, you can get through to even the most vicious, nasty, ready-to-kill-someone customer and have them leave with a smile. It wasn't long before I had regulars.

The key is to treat everyone well. Even the lady that tries on 20 pairs of shoes.

Posted by Paul Davidson at January 9, 2006 3:42 PM

All the ice cream you can eat!

Posted by Ed Di Gangi at January 9, 2006 3:48 PM

My first job with any real responsibility was as a lifeguard. It's all been downhill since then.

Posted by Mason Cole at January 9, 2006 7:10 PM

A first job is a lot like your first love. It truly has a place in everyone's heart. Well just take a look at the number of comments you have on this post. Haha!

Goodluck with your workshop!

Posted by Dennis Balajadia at January 11, 2006 11:35 AM

What Mark F wrote.

Posted by Olivier Blanchard at January 12, 2006 1:15 AM

My first job was at mortgage bank. I then had to make a detailed “data base” of all loans granted for this end since the bank got incorporated. My boss back them was respectful and supportive. It was a good opportunity to get started in the practical matters in times when your actual experience (to be applied) is minimal. With this job as with any other job, I have encountered a great opportunity to learn as I get paid. Regardless if you work for an employer or on your own, any professional responsibility is a major opportunity to enhance your professional abilities. Any ways, in life you develop new dexterities and skills as your professional life gets more complex. And due to the nature of technological change as it increases at a quantum rate today, one is exposed to many industries and hence to many different ways to re-imagine not quick fixes but fundamental solutions to ever-increasing, intertwined, intricate problems posed by this business world of “ours.” The first job is the step you make when you go from theory to the real world for the first time. It offers you the possibility to have a solid job-based reference on your resume so you’re not perceived as a “rookie” forever. Some would say that it does not matter how expert one is, because one is always learning (and de-learning and re-learning) so he is a rookie even when he gets closer to retirement. This first job is a milestone that allows you to walk a long ascending pathway full of obstacles. Obstacles is another word for enhancement opportunities of dexterities and skills. When your skills and dexterities get enhanced --thanks to that first job--your portfolio of advancement options gets broader. I have the strong opinion that being exposed to many professional responsibilities gets you the largest vista. It somehow gets you into the infancy of “systems thinking.” Without the “first job” and the updating of oneself is not possible to get so globally sophisticated. Without global sophistication one gets precluded from the (global) economy. One has now to think “beyond beyond.” A great deal of “future practicing” and foresight enactment to improve your scenario planning will not suffice. One needs to be working every second on his “personal capital” for good.

Posted by Andres Agostini at January 13, 2006 6:03 AM

My best first job was being a big sister to 7 siblings. It taught me patience, responsibility, and sacrifice as well as a few sweet boxing moves! It also helped me to appreciate my independence. Children of my own? Not any time soon! Thanks Mom and Dad!

Posted by Rachel at January 13, 2006 10:08 AM

My first job was opening my own business. Wow what an eyeopener. I learned what I like, what I dislike and how I work to the best of my ability. After struggling for 3.5 years, I did what I promised I would not, close my business.
Unfortunatley what they say in business it true, location, location, location.

I moved on...I thought maybe going corporate was the answer, so I went to one of the largest companies in the world and went into sales.
Great job for people who like every second of their day to be micromanaged. Well after 3 years there decided I need a little more for myself personally and professionally. I searched and searched for the perfect job. And after a long time of searching, I found it...

I work for Leadership Safaris, which is a company teaching leadership principles and team building to business executives in Kenya, Africa. Amazing opportunity for anyone who enjoys pushing themselves to new heights to learn how they can better themselves and ideally improve their leadership skills.

I urge everyone to look at the website. Being involved with this opportunity will change your life.

www.leadershipsafaris.com

"There is no passion to be found in playing small- in settling for a life that is less than what you are capable of living"
Nelson Mandela

Posted by Kim Thompson at January 13, 2006 11:12 AM

each of post have so cool examples of first work - nice to hear.
my fist job was loader one plus of it was that I worked at center of kiev (ukraine) and have all day free.

and it was best work for me at that time, definitely.

Posted by vyacheslav kaushan at January 14, 2006 5:33 AM

My first job was as a busboy at a restaurant called "The Big Yellow House". This was an all you could eat, family style home cooking and fried chicken chain that had restaurants all over Southern California in the 1970's and 1980's.

It was a great first job. I learned to show up on time, do good work, treat customers with respect (and get bigger tips), and to interact with co-workers. Some of the waiters/waitresses were cool the busboys, others looked down on us. Some were generous with tips at the end of the nights, others were cheapskates. Lots of life lessons were learned in this job.

One day I went to check the schedule and the place was locked up, with a notice taped to the door. The company had gone bankrupt. Bang. Gone. Last paychecks never arrived. And that turned out to be the biggest lesson of them all.

I never did see my last pay check of around $250 (big money at 17 years old). But I moved on to a new part time job. I learned that jobs will come and go no matter how hard an individual works. I learned not to whine and dwell on things out of my control, and to know that something better awaits in the future.

This served me well over the last 10 years.

Posted by Thom Singer at January 14, 2006 5:43 PM

Do we get to post worst jobs?

Posted by Thom Singer at January 14, 2006 5:44 PM

Paper route. Up early ... at least 4:00am for about $15 a week. Taught me some real responsibility at an early age.

Posted by M. Alverson at January 17, 2006 2:09 PM

Hi Tom,

Currently I am on my first job, so i can tell you a couple of things that I like and the couple that I don't like.

I Like: The people I work with, they are constantly motivating eachother, sharing info (job and not job specific), and are truly passionate about what they are doing.

I Dislike: I work for a Very Large Japanese Consumer Electronics company that has not got enough of the crazy, weird, extreme minded people driving excellent failures. We are rather the kind that make small successes. Makes me think about my future

Posted by Mauricio Comi at January 18, 2006 2:31 PM

My first job - the boss is creative, competitive, has big goals...and keeps meeting them so the goals keep getting bigger. My boss wants others around him treated with dignity, he encourages them to grow - even if that means leaving the fold and going on to a bigger opportunity.

It was such a great environment that 12 years later, I went back to work for him.

Okay, so I started my first company 18 years ago and my second one in 1999 and have been doing it ever since. I'm going to be a bit biased that I'm the best boss I've ever worked for.

I think it's safer to say that I had wonderful mentors along the way. Smart, successful, well-networked people who taught me great things about this business. A couple of them even taught me things without realizing it. A couple of those key lessons - impart wisdom to those younger than you that are eager to learn, they will value the information...even if it takes some time for them to be able to use it; invest time in those just getting started - you might work for them someday. I've already seen that one come true.

Posted by Tony May / Mayday Media at January 18, 2006 9:49 PM

My boss was the key reason my first job was my best job. He is the best coach and motivator I have ever met. He always asked me how I wanted to make a difference in my job and he challenged me whenever my answer did not match with what I was doing at that exact time. Mustafa Hocaoglu, district manager at Migros Turkey during 1990-93, I will always remember you.

Posted by Ahmet Abaci at January 19, 2006 3:22 PM

First job ... painting planters on Bell Boulevard for the Bayside Historical Society. A roller, a can of paint and sidelong glances. I did this for a number of years and realized I was working and getting paid, despite the sidelong glances. What's an 8 year old to do?

Posted by Bor Inamor at January 21, 2006 2:50 AM