This all happened decades ago, when I was 17, and is the tale of how I accidentally got the best job I have ever had.
I had started in the workforce at a certain fast food chain where 15% of Americans have their first job. I started in September and by February I had paid my car insurance for the year (which was my only expense at the time), so I cut back my hours. And then in April I quit. They paid 10% above minimum wage.
Fast forward to late July: my girlfriend wants to apply for a job as a shipping clerk at the local college bookstore, and I ... am a licensed driver with a car who likes to spend time with her. I'm her ride.
Because I am bored, I decide to fill out an application too.
(She got the job, although it was several weeks before they decided that.)
While we are still there, someone comes out to talk to me. They have already hired many cashiers who start September 1, but students often come to campus early so they actually need more staff for August. So, ... would I be interested in a job as a cashier for the month of August?
I would.
Um, we wouldn't be able to pay you more than you were making at (fast food chain).
Fine.
Okay, we open at 11am, so can you be here tomorrow at 10:30?
I can.
So the ink on my application wasn't even dry when I was hired.
What's more, it seems like they actually needed 1 cashier for August, since the only other cashiers were hired before me.
It was actually a great job: work 10:30 to 6, 5 days a week. 30 minutes on the clock for lunch.
Video tape rentals where the employee discount was: if you pick it up after closing and return in before opening it is free.
Employee discounts on EVERYTHING, ranging up to 40% off. I bought every kind of colored pencil they sold, I bought pads of writing paper in pretty colors, I bought pads of graph paper in different scales. (I still have some of those last two 30 years later.) I bought a (landline) phone, I bought furniture.
I believe that every penny I made there I spent there.
And while I was working the register, a friend of my brother's came through my line. He asked if I was a student at the University (I was), he asked my major (I had chosen Journalism as I was parked in Liberal Arts until I could get into Engineering) and it happened he was an Editor of the college paper and he offered me a job.
But that is another story.
I had started in the workforce at a certain fast food chain where 15% of Americans have their first job. I started in September and by February I had paid my car insurance for the year (which was my only expense at the time), so I cut back my hours. And then in April I quit. They paid 10% above minimum wage.
Fast forward to late July: my girlfriend wants to apply for a job as a shipping clerk at the local college bookstore, and I ... am a licensed driver with a car who likes to spend time with her. I'm her ride.
Because I am bored, I decide to fill out an application too.
(She got the job, although it was several weeks before they decided that.)
While we are still there, someone comes out to talk to me. They have already hired many cashiers who start September 1, but students often come to campus early so they actually need more staff for August. So, ... would I be interested in a job as a cashier for the month of August?
I would.
Um, we wouldn't be able to pay you more than you were making at (fast food chain).
Fine.
Okay, we open at 11am, so can you be here tomorrow at 10:30?
I can.
So the ink on my application wasn't even dry when I was hired.
What's more, it seems like they actually needed 1 cashier for August, since the only other cashiers were hired before me.
It was actually a great job: work 10:30 to 6, 5 days a week. 30 minutes on the clock for lunch.
Video tape rentals where the employee discount was: if you pick it up after closing and return in before opening it is free.
Employee discounts on EVERYTHING, ranging up to 40% off. I bought every kind of colored pencil they sold, I bought pads of writing paper in pretty colors, I bought pads of graph paper in different scales. (I still have some of those last two 30 years later.) I bought a (landline) phone, I bought furniture.
I believe that every penny I made there I spent there.
And while I was working the register, a friend of my brother's came through my line. He asked if I was a student at the University (I was), he asked my major (I had chosen Journalism as I was parked in Liberal Arts until I could get into Engineering) and it happened he was an Editor of the college paper and he offered me a job.
But that is another story.
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