General How did you get your job?

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Passive Jay

Not Worthy
Oct 21, 2015
2,223
4,095
How did you get your job? Was it something you planned for or did you just kind of fall into it?

I will start.



In high school my plan was to be a radio DJ. The school had a FM radio station and I had a show on it for several years. I had good grades so the plan was to get a collage scholarship and then intern at a radio station while I was in collage.

Things did not work out that way. When I was 16 my stepdad, who at the time was both an alcholic and addicted to crack, went on a bender and kicked me out of the house. Looking back on it I am sure I could have figured something out but at the time I did not see any other options, so I dropped out of school, got a job, and lived in my car for about 6 months. My plans to be a radio DJ were derailed because radio stations will not give you an internship if you are not in collage (i tried but they told me it was against the rules since interns earn collage credits, since i was not in collage it would just be free labor and that is call slavery, thats an actual qoute).

Flash forward 15 years and I have gone from job to job, always crappy barely over minimum wage jobs. Places like gas stations and plastic mold injection factories mostly. At the time I was working at a CVS pharmacy as the head of the one hour photo department. I think I was making around 8 or 9 bucks an hour.

I was working one night when a guy in a suit came up to me. He said "hello, I have been watching you work for a bit and I like how you deal with the customers. I am the manger of a country club and I would like to offer you a job." I asked him what the job was. He replied "I dont know, we will find something for you"

I took his card but thought the whole thing was kind of weird so I had no intention of calling him. A couple months later the store I worked at got a new manager who immediately decided she didnt like me and cut me from 40 hours to 16. so I quit.



After a couple of weeks looking for work I remember that I still had that guys card in my wallet so I gave him a call. I went in for an interview and they hired me as the Head of member communications... which is a fancy way of saying receptionist/concierge/customer service guy.

I have been here 13 years now. While I do not make great money I make far more than any other job I have had, with great health insurance, vacation pay, personal days, even a holiday bonus at the end of the year.

and it all happened because someone noticed me trying to do my shitty job well.



How about you guys?
 

Filthy

Iowa Wrestling Champion
Jun 28, 2016
27,507
29,641
my tax history goes back to when I was 12, mostly farm labor until I got a car, then grocery stores and gas stations in HS.
flunked out of a full-ride when I was 18, had a .92 GPA my first semester.
about 6 months later my dad told me "I ain't runnin a flop-house. School, Factory, or Military. Pick one."
USAF for 4 years in satellite communications, left and worked as an RF Tech and then a Spacecraft Controller. But they paid nuttin' fer skool, so I went to work in a factory 1500 miles from anyone I knew. Worked full time 12 hour night shifts and double-majored in Physics and Electrical Engineering.

Took a fairly menial validation job, but showed that I could do the stuff that no one like to do, and knock it out. So I started to get some opportunities to work on stuff I liked. Worked my way up to Sr RF Engineer on an R&D team, make my own hours, define my own role - manage the lab mostly, and play with any new 'thing' that catches my eye. They're also paying for my MSEE, should be done in about a year. I'll probably take a 2-month Sabbatical and chill when I'm done.

Then I see if I can swing a year of Leave Of Absence while I start a PhD and live the stay-at-home dad life.
 
Last edited:

Tiiimmmaaayyy

First 100 ish
Jan 19, 2015
7,992
9,900
How did you get your job? Was it something you planned for or did you just kind of fall into it?

I will start.



In high school my plan was to be a radio DJ. The school had a FM radio station and I had a show on it for several years. I had good grades so the plan was to get a collage scholarship and then intern at a radio station while I was in collage.

Things did not work out that way. When I was 16 my stepdad, who at the time was both an alcholic and addicted to crack, went on a bender and kicked me out of the house. Looking back on it I am sure I could have figured something out but at the time I did not see any other options, so I dropped out of school, got a job, and lived in my car for about 6 months. My plans to be a radio DJ were derailed because radio stations will not give you an internship if you are not in collage (i tried but they told me it was against the rules since interns earn collage credits, since i was not in collage it would just be free labor and that is call slavery, thats an actual qoute).

Flash forward 15 years and I have gone from job to job, always crappy barely over minimum wage jobs. Places like gas stations and plastic mold injection factories mostly. At the time I was working at a CVS pharmacy as the head of the one hour photo department. I think I was making around 8 or 9 bucks an hour.

I was working one night when a guy in a suit came up to me. He said "hello, I have been watching you work for a bit and I like how you deal with the customers. I am the manger of a country club and I would like to offer you a job." I asked him what the job was. He replied "I dont know, we will find something for you"

I took his card but thought the whole thing was kind of weird so I had no intention of calling him. A couple months later the store I worked at got a new manager who immediately decided she didnt like me and cut me from 40 hours to 16. so I quit.



After a couple of weeks looking for work I remember that I still had that guys card in my wallet so I gave him a call. I went in for an interview and they hired me as the Head of member communications... which is a fancy way of saying receptionist/concierge/customer service guy.

I have been here 13 years now. While I do not make great money I make far more than any other job I have had, with great health insurance, vacation pay, personal days, even a holiday bonus at the end of the year.

and it all happened because someone noticed me trying to do my shitty job well.



How about you guys?

I like the story, but do they really spell it "Collage" where you're from?
 

SongExotic2

ATM 3 CHAMPION OF THE WORLD. #ASSBLOODS
First 100
Jan 16, 2015
41,997
54,200
my tax history goes back to when I was 12, mostly farm labor until I got a car, then grocery stores and gas stations in HS.
flunked out of a full-ride when I was 18, had a .92 GPA my first semester.
about 6 months later my dad told me "I ain't runnin a flop-house. School, Factory, or Military. Pick one."
USAF for 4 years in satellite communications, left and worked as an RF Tech and then a Spacecraft Controller. But they paid nuttin' fer skool, so I went to work in a factory 1500 miles from anyone I knew. Worked full time 12 hour night shifts and double-majored in Physics and Electrical Engineering.

Took a fairly menial validation job, but showed that I could do the stuff that no one like to do, and knock it out. So I started to get some opportunities to work on stuff I liked. Worked my way up to Sr RF Engineer on an R&D team, make my own hours, define my own role - manage the lab mostly, and play with any new 'thing' that catches my eye. They're also paying for my MSEE, should be done in about a year. I'll probably take a 2-month Sabbatical and chill when I'm done.

Then I see if I can swing a year of Leave Of Absence while I start a PhD and live the stay-at-home dad life.
You a smart guy?

I bet you invented iridium.


*Spits*
 

SongExotic2

ATM 3 CHAMPION OF THE WORLD. #ASSBLOODS
First 100
Jan 16, 2015
41,997
54,200
I walked into the military recruiter center. I wanted to do this thing that a co worker had done where you spend your first year doing a bunch of different shit then you pick what you want to stay in. But they stopped doing it. So I was like fuck it what you need? I did my aptitude test and I could do anything (minus submarines as I would have to give up my dual nationality) and they pointed me towards fixing aircraft.

Did that

Left after 5.5 years and moved to America

Cast out the net fully prepared to get nothing back and change career but to my surprise places got back to me. Spent last 5 years doing it in America. About to head back to the UK, but this time I expect to stay in my field. I been doing this shit 12 years now....
 

kaladin stormblessed

Nala fanboy
Apr 24, 2017
17,652
20,029
I would watch game of thrones on Sunday nights. After season 3 or 4 I found out there were books so I read them non stop until the next season.

Fast forward a couple years, I got tired of the concrete jungle and the immorality at the finance firm I was working at. Left. Spent a year reading books trying to refind my soul

One day I finally started looking up jobs. I was checking out audible.com and water.org

That night was westworld episode 1. After the episode, I couldn't get people to discuss it in depth on any forum. (They were probably working). So I made a youtube video and made it a habit for the next 9 weeKS

After the season ended, I didn't feel like interviewing in NYC winter so I sat back and read some more books for a couple months. Oh and I broke my shoulder on my second run snowboarding

In January or February I decided it'd been over a year, I should probably work. But I cashed out my youtube earnings for the firSt time. It wss only 200 bucks bc i didn't turn on monetization until the last couple episodes. But when it hit my banK account, it felt special. The best 200 I ever made bc I did it myself

Been grinding on youtube ever since. Up to 41,000 subscribers now. :)
 

kaladin stormblessed

Nala fanboy
Apr 24, 2017
17,652
20,029
my tax history goes back to when I was 12, mostly farm labor until I got a car, then grocery stores and gas stations in HS.
flunked out of a full-ride when I was 18, had a .92 GPA my first semester.
about 6 months later my dad told me "I ain't runnin a flop-house. School, Factory, or Military. Pick one."
USAF for 4 years in satellite communications, left and worked as an RF Tech and then a Spacecraft Controller. But they paid nuttin' fer skool, so I went to work in a factory 1500 miles from anyone I knew. Worked full time 12 hour night shifts and double-majored in Physics and Electrical Engineering.

Took a fairly menial validation job, but showed that I could do the stuff that no one like to do, and knock it out. So I started to get some opportunities to work on stuff I liked. Worked my way up to Sr RF Engineer on an R&D team, make my own hours, define my own role - manage the lab mostly, and play with any new 'thing' that catches my eye. They're also paying for my MSEE, should be done in about a year. I'll probably take a 2-month Sabbatical and chill when I'm done.

Then I see if I can swing a year of Leave Of Absence while I start a PhD and live the stay-at-home dad life.
physics and EE. very nice. i wish i had majored in math and physics (ideally astrophysics lol)
 

Ted Williams' head

It's freezing in here!
Sep 23, 2015
11,283
19,071
went to film school wanting to be the next great director, like 10000000 other dopes. half way through realized that I hated film sets (hurry up and wait) and it just wasn't my thing. preferred to be in the edit suite, which I became pretty good at. when I was about to graduate and probably go work at Best Buy or something head prof asked if I ever considered working in TV news (which he had done for 30 years). Said no, but it would beat flipping burgers so he put in a good word for me with the manager of a local tv station, and I sent them my resume and a short doc I shot and edited. They were impressed and hired me, and over 5 years later I'm still here. Fun job, easy money, lots of free time to post on MMA forums. No stress, no bullshit. Very lucky
 

SongExotic2

ATM 3 CHAMPION OF THE WORLD. #ASSBLOODS
First 100
Jan 16, 2015
41,997
54,200
went to film school wanting to be the next great director, like 10000000 other dopes. half way through realized that I hated film sets (hurry up and wait) and it just wasn't my thing. preferred to be in the edit suite, which I became pretty good at. when I was about to graduate and probably go work at Best Buy or something head prof asked if I ever considered working in TV news (which he had done for 30 years). Said no, but it would beat flipping burgers so he put in a good word for me with the manager of a local tv station, and I sent them my resume and a short doc I shot and edited. They were impressed and hired me, and over 5 years later I'm still here. Fun job, easy money, lots of free time to post on MMA forums. No stress, no bullshit. Very lucky
I may hire you. We need a motion picture to capture the trials and hardship of vutu
 

Mix6APlix

The more you cry, the less I care.
Oct 20, 2015
12,918
13,405
I walked in and asked to speak to the shop manager. I expressed interest in the job, gave him a synopsis as to why, gave him 2 resumes, one on paper, one in steel. Hired on the spot.
 

BJTT_Kiwi

My member is more well known than yours
Jun 25, 2015
3,278
5,871
Own two companies.
Started this adventure in nov '14.
No intention of working for anyone ever again.
 

BrunoMcGyver

Bruno no dey carry last
Dec 30, 2015
6,499
10,287
Left my job in Melbourne last year after major personal issues...Thought I'd find jobs easier when I got back but I didn't. Even labouring agencies weren't calling me so I signed up with Uber and started delivering food. Sure, I'm capable of 'more' but it's easy, flexible and no one breathing down my neck so it will do for now.

Also finishing up a job doing people's tax returns. They're always looking for experienced tax ppl between July to September so i emailed em my cv and got an offer.

Judging by the stories in this thread, I need to network a lot more
 

kaladin stormblessed

Nala fanboy
Apr 24, 2017
17,652
20,029
Left my job in Melbourne last year after major personal issues...Thought I'd find jobs easier when I got back but I didn't. Even labouring agencies weren't calling me so I signed up with Uber and started delivering food. Sure, I'm capable of 'more' but it's easy, flexible and no one breathing down my neck so it will do for now.

Also finishing up a job doing people's tax returns. They're always looking for experienced tax ppl between July to September so i emailed em my cv and got an offer.

Judging by the stories in this thread, I need to network a lot more
i was thinking about ubering. but i asked my buddy who ubers and i forget the stats, but my car didnt even come close to passing lol
 

BrunoMcGyver

Bruno no dey carry last
Dec 30, 2015
6,499
10,287
i was thinking about ubering. but i asked my buddy who ubers and i forget the stats, but my car didnt even come close to passing lol
If they have Ubereats in your town you should look at that if you're keen..The requirements for eats are far less strict. I drive an 11 year old Kia Rio with stretches and dents haha
 

BJTT_Kiwi

My member is more well known than yours
Jun 25, 2015
3,278
5,871
Judging by the stories in this thread, I need to network a lot more
Absolutely. Your reputation and network is so important to success.
That is what has allowed me to do my own thing.
Clients and contacts > shiny CV.
 

BrunoMcGyver

Bruno no dey carry last
Dec 30, 2015
6,499
10,287
Absolutely. Your reputation and network is so important to success.
That is what has allowed me to do my own thing.
Clients and contacts > shiny CV.
Yeh I have to start joining more clubs and stuff. Get my face out there and meet a heap more people.
 

Jesus X

4 drink minimum.
Sep 7, 2015
29,613
31,962
In high school my plan was to be a radio DJ. The school had a FM radio station and I had a show on it for several years. I had good grades so the plan was to get a collage scholarship and then intern at a radio station while I was in collage..... My plans to be a radio DJ were derailed because radio stations will not give you an internship if you are not in collage (i tried but they told me it was against the rules since interns earn collage credits, since i was not in collage

is your auto correct on or is that how they spell college in Michigan ;-) (wink emoji)

I got into the world of logistics because there is a ton of work relating to that here(trains,trailers,railroad,the port,boats,planes etc) and it paid more than the military who offered an insulting wage considering the risk to my life when I went to the recruiter after NJROTC.
 
1

1372

Guest
I was a rascal.

Met the missus and she said get on board or we can't be together. Moved to the other side of the world and started again. Went to the MBA (Master builders association) for 11 months nearly every night after work to get my developer/Builders licence. Still slaving...But being my own boss makes things way easier.