This post at Get Rich Slowly blog inspired me to write about all jobs I have ever done in my life, till today.
The first paid work I did was when I was around 12 years old. I was an astrologist. I used an astrological computer software by the name of Fortune Teller at a local fare and charged people to have their future predicted. The sign on the banner can be roughly translated to, “get your future predicted by a computer”. I got bored out of it after two days.
My first real job was in UB as a tele-fundraiser. My job was to call the parents and alumni and beg ask them for donations to the university. I quit after three weeks because it was coming in the way of my studies (not that I got very good grades after that).
In the last semester of UB I flipped burgers at Burger King.
After I graduated from UB I got a job in a call center as a technical support specialist. I provided support for Laptop and Desktop Computers, Monitors, DVD players, VCRs and Personal Video Recorders. I worked there for little over three months before moving to Dallas to join the graduate school.
As soon as I moved to Dallas I got a job in a gas station as a clerk. I did graveyard shifts for two months and then got another job at a watch and jewelery kiosk in a mall. Although that job had long hours, but it was fun selling watches and jewelry during Thanksgiving and Christmas season. I learned some good selling techniques from that job.
During the entire course of my graduate studies I worked at gas stations (mostly night shifts as I had classes during the day) and occasionally earned some extra money by repairing computers and designing websites. This was enough to pay the bills and significant portion of tuition fees.
I moved back to Pakistan after graduating from UTD and joined a local IT company in Karachi as Systems Engineer (later promoted to Senior Technical Consultant). I worked there for 1 year and 7 months and switched to another IT firm as Pre-Sales Consultant. 1 year and 3 months later I moved to Dubai and joined a Dubai based IT company as Pre-Sales Consultant (now promoted to Product Manager). I have been working there for 9 months now.
So that’s it. I think I have had pretty diverse work experience and trust me every job I had was a great learning experience for me.
How many jobs have you done in your life?
how much did you earned during this period?
it would be better if you had showed an analysis in hard work vs earning terms.
zaheer » i don’t even remember how much I earned from these jobs. It’s kind of irrelevant to me.
interesting
LOL – it’s funny how it’s “patrol stations” in this post and “gas stations” in the last one. A case of “When in Rome…” I guess
Do you miss America (and our unique lingo)?
Sara » I think you are right…. i don’t even try it just happens naturally with me. Yes, I do miss America, sometimes a little and sometimes a lot.
I have worked at two jobs so far in life; McDonalds and a summer research job. Quite boring compared to you.
Correct me if im wrong…but isnt it illegal to work of campus in the states?I lived there as a student for my undergrad and masters, a grand total of 7 years and worked on campus..because the whole petrol station, malls and stuff was pretty much illegal and grounds for getting yous visa revoked?
I do remember seeing an unhealthy number of desis working at petrol pumps and odd jobs when i headed to texas for my Masters. That was close to after 9/11 and i do recall a few FBI raids in and around the areas where a lot of illegal workers would get caught out
Pogo Sasco » Really? I have no idea about this. This is a huge shocking news to me!
well atleast you remember the places and count!
From Global Securities to P&G – amazing life it is, eh?
I had the same fundraising job (calling alumni and asking for money
) followed by an internship at a consulting firm. After graduating from college (in the US) I’ve recently moved to Abu Dhabi.
So what made you return to Pakistan?
Cool! Thanks for sharing your experience to us. At least you remember all of your working experience.. That had been a long years..