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Your most favorite job


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In your entire working career, what was your most favorite job? Money aside, my most favorite job was working at a movie theater in my very early 20s. I could have done that full-time for years. As it was, it was a second job for me and when I no longer needed to work two jobs I had to quit that one in favor of the one that provided benefits. I'd love to go back but I'm way too old. I'd be surrounded by teenagers and young adults and I'd probably seem like the grandma type. When I worked at the theater, it was all college students so they were mostly my age. We had so much fun!

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I work with teenagers and twenty somethings. They probably think of me as old. Some of them are classmates with dd. That's no big deal. We get along and they are friendly with me, we have conversation, make jokes and get work done. I teach swimming. This is a second job for me. since I started doing this again a few years ago, I recently got certified to train new instructors, do now I teach swimming and I teach the swimming teachers. It is fun and I'm glad my second job is one I like.

 

Anyway, if you think you'd enjoy something don't let the age of your coworkers hold you back from trying. You might be surprised that you can fit in.

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Back in the day, post graduation and pre-kids, dh and I ran a wildlife rehabilitation clinic.  We had our state and federal permits, our own DEA license, all kind of volunteers from Girl Scouts to a prison program.  I had carte blanche to get it up and running from a disaster to what I made of it.  It was 24/7 and it was the best kind of crazy.

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I think my favorite job was corporate training.  I used to have to travel a fair bit to train on order processing procedures and customer service.  Not the most exciting topic, but I got to see some different parts of the US, and had a good bit of freedom.   Sometimes I traveled with coworkers and we had a lot of fun.  When I went alone I'd check out the bookstores during my free time.  I still can identify books I bought on some trips. 

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In high school, I baby sat, and I worked summers in our school district's office, answering phones, copying, etc.

 

In college, I worked in food service as a server, cashier, and barista. I also worked in campus daycare, and I was a professional note taker for a couple of semesters.

 

I have been an administrative assistant to a real estate agent and a real estate agent myself.

 

I've liked all of those jobs for the most part.

 

But my favorite job was the twenty-one months I spent as a fulltime nanny for a pair of adorable toddlers! We were newly weds, and DH was going to a graduate school sort of program in his field. We had a tiny but pleasant basement apartment, and he went to school every day on the trains, while I drove out to the suburbs and spent the days doing play dough, reading books, and having a grand time. It's been fifteen years, and I still keep in touch with the family. I still think of them as "my kids," in a way that the daycare kids never quite were. (They never treated me like hired help; they thought of me as family.)

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In your entire working career, what was your most favorite job? Money aside, my most favorite job was working at a movie theater in my very early 20s. I could have done that full-time for years. As it was, it was a second job for me and when I no longer needed to work two jobs I had to quit that one in favor of the one that provided benefits. I'd love to go back but I'm way too old. I'd be surrounded by teenagers and young adults and I'd probably seem like the grandma type. When I worked at the theater, it was all college students so they were mostly my age. We had so much fun!

 

 

My first "real" job -- not babysitting -- was working at a drive-in theater. Most nights, I was assigned to booth number 5, which was the one that was separate from the others. The other booths were close enough that the cashiers could talk to each other between cars coming through. We had phones to communicate with the office or other booths, but we couldn't just chit-chat. This was way before cell phones or tablets or anything like that. I only saw my co-workers when I was checking in to get my cash drawer and at the end of the night when I was reconciling my tickets and cash. It was pretty lonely most of the time, except for when this one jock "friend" would come so that I could "help" him get caught up on his Government homework so that he could graduate. Looking back, I know that he totally used me, but I liked the attention at the time. 

 

I think I would have to say my favorite job was working as a drafter / designer while going to college. I loved making those drawings! And then it was really cool to see my drawings turned into actual parts that I got to put together. The computers we were making at the time -- main frames -- are now considered historical artifacts, LOL. 

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From the age of 16 to 21 I worked as a cashier at a grocery store and loved every second. Loved meeting a ton of people every day, bosses loved me, I made a lot of new, fun, friends. I love numbers and even bagging the groceries. Weird, I know. As a teen I also liked the attention I got, I think. I was promoted at some point and ended up working in the office towards the end, doing payroll and managing the cashiers on my shift. Sometimes I also worked in other departments, I liked those, too. It was pretty low responsibility and fun. It was physically demanding and hard sometimes, too but I didn't mind that. Those were pretty fun times. After I finished school, the jobs got all serious and super "meaningful" and not nearly as much fun with much fewer fun people.

 

Second place goes to the days when I owned a daycare business. Did it for 3 yes in-home alongside my babies. Those were fun little people too, but I closed because I was tired of dealing with the parents issues.

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Preschool teaching.

 

This year may have been my favorite. I have several requirements for my job that I've come to realize after 12 years of teaching this age--

I have to have total autonomy in the classroom AFA curriculum development. I have to have an assistant, not a co-teacher. I have to have a decent # of kids--not 14 or 16 or 18 (I have 10 this year). I have to have supportive, friendly, and competent colleagues. I have to respect my director, and ideally, she has to be able to teach me something. I have to have $ to buy materials. I have to have good parents who will help but not want to be in the classroom every day. I have to get lots of positive feedback. I have to have kids that are interesting (I know, weird way to put it).

 

I have all of that this year. I can do whatever I want, I have enough money to spend to buy materials to make curriculum items, I have super support from my director, I have a competent but definitely "assistant" teacher, and all the other things on the list.

 

Still, I don't know if I'm coming back next year. I don't make enough $, my director is leaving for full-time employment, a neat co-worker won't be back, and some other stuff. I was born to teach this age; it comes easily, I feel I contribute to the world, I feel competent--but...IDK if I'll be back.

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I worked in a daycare for 6 months and it had the potential to be a fantastic job, but I didn't list it as my favorite because there was more wrong than right. I worked with 1 year olds and was totally in my element. I was a good teacher and all my kids were good. It was my coworkers, manager, and director who made the job stressful and not so fun. I'd try that again in a heartbeat though. I'm thinking about trying when I'm not needed by my kids anymore. I still have youngest dd's senior year of high school to get through next year. Maybe the year after that.

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I haven't had very many real jobs, so this is going to sound weird, but it was fun to be a custodian in college in a natural history museum.  Also, it included cleaning the bell tower.

 

Oooh, now that is cool!  'Cause you got to go into the bell tower, where most people probably never got to go.  Did you clean after hours so you had the place to yourself?  That is what I'm imagining, and it sounds awesome!

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Oooh, now that is cool!  'Cause you got to go into the bell tower, where most people probably never got to go.  Did you clean after hours so you had the place to yourself?  That is what I'm imagining, and it sounds awesome!

I was vacuuming around stuffed goats at 5 AM.  I had been able to go up in the bell tower when I was little, but they stopped allowing people up not long after that so it was fun to go again. :)

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Working for a city newspaper.  I was in an entry-level position, so never got to write about much more than car accidents, obituaries, and fluctuating gas prices, but I felt like I was living in the pulse of the city and it was a lot of fun.  Fun people, frantic deadlines --  :)

 

 

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I was vacuuming around stuffed goats at 5 AM  I had been able to go up in the bell tower when I was little, but they stopped allowing people up not long after that so it was fun to go again. :)

 

Lucky, lucky you!  I would have LOVED that job!

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My first job in the military was my least and most favorite. For reasons I won't get into here the key difference was my boss--I had 2 different bosses during that time. I was doing essentially the same work all that time but the way each boss treated me made a huge difference in my experience there.

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The finance aspect of project management. I like that as a night owl, I get paid well to do a job in the midnight hours. For financial closing, we run the reports at 12 midnight so if you want the numbers you stay up late. Besides I love crunching numbers. I was paid well, should have switch to finance/actuarial science full time :)

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I have loved all of my jobs except office work. I'm not cut out for sitting at a desk. 
I have worked as a babysitter/part-time nanny, swimming instructor, lifeguard, a counselor at an elite sports camp (this is maybe my favorite), a multitude of medical positions in the military (treating patients like a doctor, assisting with OB exams, medical escort, hands-on inpatient care, arranging Medevac, Acute Nursery, ER, telelphone Triage, Healthcare benefits advisor, I'm sure I'm forgetting some), a few menial labor jobs in the military-working in a warehouse, clearing brush-I loved this, answering phones), then a few healthcare-related office jobs that sucked the life out of me. 
Military life was incredibly grueling even though the work was rewarding. I would have been a lot happier if the living and working conditions weren't so deplorable. I'm going back into a patient-care type field. I'm hoping it goes better this time around. 

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I enjoyed working fast food as a teen. I liked the people I worked with; I liked the fast pace and business.

 

 

I always thought the purpose of fast food jobs was to teach teens why they needed to go to college or train for a trade.

 

However, it's nice to hear someone had a positive experience!

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It's a tie between being in the Army and working at a makeup counter, lol. I enjoyed my time in the military...it was so different from the civilian world, and I learned all sorts of interesting stuff. I loved working at a makeup counter and selling makeup and doing makeovers - all my customers left with a smile on their face (which is very rewarding) and got to spoil my inner child and play with makeup all day.

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I was vacuuming around stuffed goats at 5 AM.  I had been able to go up in the bell tower when I was little, but they stopped allowing people up not long after that so it was fun to go again. :)

 

Cannot resist asking this:  Is your favorite movie "Night at the Museum"?    :leaving:

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I generally liked most jobs once I got into the swing of things.  The learning curve is always very stressful for me.

 

I liked my factory job - standing at a machine for 12 hours a day with hearing protection in my ears.  I liked my international tax job - using creativity and skill to solve interesting problems.  I liked teaching - helping younger people grow.  I liked being a controller - getting the books in shape and looking stronger every month.  I liked toy development - working with creative people around the globe and making something new.

I like my current job when I'm not behind on deadlines - which I usually am.  :/

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I liked different parts of different jobs.

 

I guess one of my favorite is my job I have now, pharmacy tech, but about 10 years ago.  I have worked for the same company, doing the same job for over 15 years.  10 years ago the culture and work load was better, I had a great team I worked with and it was a pleasure to spend part of my days there. 

 

 

I work with a completely different group of people now, and have about double the work load.  It is a great group of coworkers, but extremely stressful.  Our company, just like most pharmacies, have cut the labor back so far and have added so many tasks to our jobs, that it borders on an unsafe filling environment for the patients prescriptions. 

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Market Research

 

Well,  I just stopped people in a shopping mall and asked them to participate in surveys, to watch videos/commercials and answer questions, to do taste tests, or to take products home and report back by phone.

 

It was so interesting and a lot of fun. 

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I liked being an elf.

 

When I was a teen, I worked one holiday season at the photos with Santa place in our two local malls. I loved the "let's put on a show" aspect of it, the camaraderie of working such a niche job, working with the kids, being surrounded by lights and decorations.

 

I've said for many years that it's too bad I can't figure out how to make a living doing that year-round, because I have very fond memories of that job, and it's pretty much the only one of which I can say that.

 

There were certain things I liked about other jobs over the intervening 35-ish years, but that one wins over all.

 

Note: I opted not to say "homeschooling," because I didn't earn a paycheck doing that. Otherwise, that has been my favorite occupation, hands down.

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I have a tie between two. The first was the part-time teaching job I had a Lutheran School. I taught 3-5th grade choir, accompanied the 6-8th grade choir, substituted for the band director, and taught science labs weekly for 4-8th grade. My principal was wonderful, we had high standards but lots and lots of help for struggling students, my colleagues were awesome people, the stress was low, the work was fun.

 

The other was the five years I did music therapy privately in my home. I loved my special needs kiddoes!

 

 

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Probably some of the theatre stage management jobs I've had. Though some of those jobs have also been the worst I've had. The people and attitudes within a company can make it fun or make it total a nightmare and there's rarely much in between. One of my favourite was my first professional theatre stage management job, it was with great people and a really good show.  

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Market Research

 

Well,  I just stopped people in a shopping mall and asked them to participate in surveys, to watch videos/commercials and answer questions, to do taste tests, or to take products home and report back by phone.

 

It was so interesting and a lot of fun. 

 

Just personal curiosity, only if you wish to answer.  For which company were you doing mall intercepts?

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I didn't have many (married pretty young, and stayed home once I married). I very much enjoyed bartending, though, which is what I did prior to marriage. It isn't glamorous, by any stretch, but I made decent money and while I met my share of drunk idiots, there were also many, many wonderful people that I met and who I still talk to occasionally. Some of the places I bartended weren't known for their "class," but those were actually my favorite places to serve at, and those are the places I made long-term friends from customers :)

Sometimes I still miss it, lol.

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I worked as a veterinary assistant for 5 years. It was heartbreaking, humbling, hard work. I loved it while I was there. I was liaison between clients and the doctor and the other kennel staff. I could avoid people and "hide" with the animals. I would get stopped out in public by clients and asked questions. I knew every pets name that came in the building. I was given a huge amount of responsibility for my age. I could have went to school to be a tech, yet I knew I couldn't do it long term. While I was there, however, I knew I was making a difference. That mattered. 

 

It's been over 20 years since I left that job and I still dream about working there occasionally. I couldn't do that job now, it's too much day to day stress and I think I have minor PTSD from dealing with hurting animals.

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Loved working at my college newspaper which published a 12- to 24 page paper five days per week. I did every job (alternating semesters) - typesetting, developing film, proofreading, layout, ad design, even writing editorials. The work was hard but rewarding. We would work late at night and then the next morning see our papers all over campus. I've never heard of a college paper publishing 5 days per week.

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I was a dancer and traveled to Japan twice when I was 17 for a job. I was the youngest one there, and we had total freedom aside from rehearsal and performance. I got to see so much, it was really amazing. I also went to London with the same company, that was incredible. I think it was because I was so young that I was so awed by everything, but in retrospect, I wish I had gone when I was older so I could appreciate it more, and know to research the countries before I went. I started working as a dancer at a stage show at Disney that year as well, and made some really incredible friends. Those were super fun days.

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I worked as a National Park Service ranger for three summers while in college.  I loved the work and most of my coworkers, and there was a lot of variety.  Everything from giving evening campfire talks to collecting fees at the entrance gate. The downside was that it didn't pay very well apart from the weekend differential and overtime.  There was a lot of overtime because of holiday and people getting lost  :huh: .  It wasn't something I'd do long-term, but it was a great summer job.

 

Now I'd say anything involving teaching, which is what I do now.  Three employers, but it ends up being full-time.  I can't imagine doing anything else at this stage of life.

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Hmmm. My current jobpet sitting, is my favorite. I love setting my own hours, getting to play and care for tons of animals, and not having a boss! The only thing that would Mae it better is if I could make it our family's main source of income. That is entirely possible but it is a scary leap for dh to quit a very secure job to not be certain how far we could expand my business.

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I worked dispatch for the Phoenix Police Dept. Loved it. Loved answering the 911 calls, working the radio, the pace, the excitement. And the 90% of the time it wasn't exciting we had a lot of fun just hanging out. However, it was also a very stressful and intense job at times. I was glad to leave to stay home, and I wouldn't do it again, but it remains my favorite. 

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My favorite job is the one I'm doing now - substitute teaching mostly math/science courses at our local high school.  I love interacting with the teens and watching their world expand.  I love that it's part time when "I" want to work.  I love that the majority of teachers let me teach (rarely end up babysitting) and they don't mind if I modify their plans.  I love that I don't have to do all the excessive paperwork that "real" teachers have to deal with.  I love that the job varies keeping my brain busy and relatively up to date on many subjects.  I love that I very rarely have to deal with behavior issues (mostly training 9th graders that I'm not "a" sub).

 

The only thing is the pay is low.  I couldn't do it for a living and I don't bring in much to our family income.  That leads to another love.  I'm glad my hubby is a top notch engineer who doesn't mind if his wife works "for fun" rather than for "real" money.  (He also pulls his weight - or more - with the household chores and did with raising our kids too.)

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I love deciding what kind of data we are going to collect, collecting it, then analyze it and convince other people that some things are actionable. I like translating general questions--"How can we do X better?" into specific questions and then up into actionable solutions. I also like making up new graphs. I also liked surveying, going out into the countryside and counting things like trees, locusts, birds, people, whatever. Just go into nature and count.

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I've worked/working in my degreed profession, but I have to say that my favorite job was the morning shift in a coffee shop. It was friendly, the people were happy to get their coffee, it was fast paced. The tips were good. That was a million years ago. I think I miss it because it represented community. Plus, never a dull moment. I've thought about doing it again, but I don't know that I could possibly be that fast in my head again. The change, the orders, the intensity. Still, whenever I think about a fun and happy job, I think of those mornings. :)

 

Yeah, no. I didn't write books or cure cancer. lol

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