All Those Years Ago

14.9 yrs
~ 4 days ago

All Those Years Ago

Today is somewhat an anniversary. Not for a particular job, but when I started working consistently since 1977.
It was 49 years ago I started a PT job at the Pekin Burger King. I was 17. Now, my actual 1st job was at 16 as a bagger at the new Vogels Supermarket at Court and Parkway in Pekin. But, I only lasted 7 weeks, just wasn't fast enough. So I don't count it much.

After starting at Burger King, with the exception of 2 short unemployment periods, I've worked straight through all these years. Sometimes holding 2-3 PT jobs.
I worked at BK off and on over the next 6 years, including a leave of absence while I did an internship at GE Cablevision, while in college in Spring of 1980. I guess that's when I pretty much decided on a TV production career vs. a radio DJ career. But I also did PT work at Continental Cablevision and B&M Studios and East Peoria Cable TV during that time, all video related. My first FT job didn't come until I got hired at PCCEO in August, 1986.

Interested in knowing from others what your 1st job was, and when did you decide on what career path you wanted to take?

Replies:

17.7 yrs
~ 4 days ago

First job was 16 at Montgomery Ward (mom worked there). Thru the 3 short years, I think I worked every dept except jewelry. I left that $4.95/hr job to go to a factory job in Fairbury, IL for $6/hr. 66 miles one way to work. Thankfully I carpooled with the guy that got me that job and it was 4-10s, so it wasn't too bad. Had to quit that job due him getting fired and my car breaking down. Was working Cub Foods when I went out to my car on my lunch break and talking on the CB like I always did back then and met a couple guys that got me into Ruppman Marketing . 32 years and 5 company name changes, a management buyout and company split, I'm still technically there.

DennisinPeoria reacted

19.7 yrs
~ 4 days ago

I took on a Peoria Journal Star paper route at age 10. By 8th grade, I had the morning route along the same route, plus another smaller sections. I delivered about 120 newspapers and day and pushed 200 on the weekend. First actually job was washing dishes at the Country Kitchen in Morton I had just turned 16. I eventually made it to the cook's line because I was dependable; never missed a shift. I actually cut back my summer time hours as working for Tremont area farmers putting up hay, etc. paid about triple, in cash, what I was making at Country Kitchen.
Even though I went to ICC to become a CPA, the restaurant biz was too big of a draw.

DennisinPeoria reacted

18.7 yrs
~ 4 days ago

My first job was delivering newspapers, started 45 then added 160 from another route at the end 368 total Meadow Avenue from the bridge to Meadow Tap. Followed by mowing the neighborhoods where I delivered them. Then came detasseling corn or derouging walking the rows. Dishes at OPEL`S truck stop 6 months then to Sea Merchant restaurant on 116 about 6 months. 17 sent to prison 3 years while in prison worked many Jobs. Went to school completed the important GED they say needed in life. While in work release took the job at a nursing home, caring for 16 elderly patients. With a total of 80 others in the building One year of that then 6 months in maintains at that building. Autobody work was my trade always had work. When opportunities arose in oil work, landscaping, construction, plumbing, electrical, and insulation, I took them all as part of developing my trade skills. Learned that if you want to succeed, you have to show up and put in the effort.

DennisinPeoria reacted