first job: doing double duty

‍ ‍      This is the third in our series on first jobs. For previous installments, see here and here. Remember your first job? What was it like? How much did you make? How old were you? Let us know by writing to us at writingaboutourgeneration@gmail.com.

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      Well, we are now all at an age (or close to it) where we have finished work at our last job. Hooray! (I guess.) Time to sit back and think about the circumstances when we took our first job, and reflect on how that went.

      I consider that I had two “first job” experiences. These two “firsts” are the first time I ever earned money—and I simultaneously had first job A and first job B. I was finishing my sophomore year in high school, living in a town two blocks from the Chicago city limit, and needed to start earning some money to help save for college.

      I had just turned 16, and was legally eligible to work. (Unlike my past layers of family, like my grandfather who started working at 13 years old because he was the eldest of five children and was designated as the breadwinner to support his family.)

      Since I needed to start earning money in the summer of 1966, I applied for several jobs. Two offers came back. One was to be a playground supervisor and occasional lifeguard at a public park/swimming pool in my town. It would be a summer job aimed at school-age students. It would pay $2 per hour. I would need to show up at the park at 8:30 a.m., and leave at 3:30 p.m. I had my driver’s license and my parents offered me use of their car, so it seemed like it would work fine and be a nice highlight for my summer.

      The next day I received a second job offer. This one was for work on a loading dock at a railroad yard in Chicago, just outside my town. This was, in effect, a transfer station. Many rails coming in from many locations, with boxcars to be unloaded and the contents sorted to be resent to other destinations. Then also loading boxcars for content to be shipped out. There was a small shortage of workers at the time (no surprise) and the railroad yard needed a few more employees. The pay was good! $3 per hour.

      Unfortunately, the openings were on the night shift, 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.

      Which offer to take? I consulted with my parents, who of course suggested the park job. Then we started talking about how much money I would probably be needing over the next few years, and it dawned on me that I could take both jobs. So, I did.

      Every weekday I would get up at 8 a.m., drive to the park, get off work at 3 p.m. and come straight home and go to bed. Wake up at 10:30 p.m., get up and drive to the loading dock. Lift boxes until 7 a.m., drive home, shower and breakfast, and head to the park for my day shift. Caught up with friends and sleep over the weekends!

      I was so glad to see September come that year! Never expected to be so happy to be back in the classroom.