*Note: Picture has nothing to do with post title
The prompt this week over at Sunday Scribblings is First Job, Worst Job, Best Job. As I’ve just recently written about what I want to be when I grow up, I thought worst job was a good follow-up.
When I was in high school one summer, I worked nights at a sub and pizza shop. It was really hot, no air conditioning. I have always disliked meat — the taste, the texture, the smell. I HATEHATEHATE onions. This was probably not a job I should have taken, but I did. When people would call and order anchovy pizza, I would tell them we were out or didn’t carry them because I didn’t want to smell them. When people would order subs with extra mayo and extra cheese, I would only put a little extra on (yes I admit I was judging them for wanting more of the really bad-for-them stuff). When kids would come in 20 minutes before closing, I would flat out refuse to make them anything on the grill I had just cleaned. It was hot, sweaty work and by the time I got home, I felt like I reeked of onions and pickles.
But it gave me a greater appreciation of people who work in food service. It is a tough job, where you are often under-appreciated, so for that reason, I’m glad I got to experience life on the other side of the counter.
A close follow-up to worst job would be the month I worked as a telemarketer for a driveway paving company. I had to call people around dinner time. I wouldn’t call people whose names I couldn’t recognize, because that just makes it so much worse, to mangle someone’s name and disturb them. I was always unfailingly polite, and if they said no, I immediately apologized for calling them. I still don’t know if I quit this job or was fired, it happened at the same time. I gave my notice, and the manager said they were letting me go anyway, because I didn’t seem excited about my job. I felt like responding, “I’m doing telemarketing about paving driveways. Of course I am not excited about my job!”
But that also gave me appreciation for a very tough, unrewarding, unappreciated job. I try really hard to be polite with telemarketers, as long as they are polite and don’t get pushy. I think seeing the other side of these jobs was an important experience.
I’m laughing. It must have been horrendous working pizzas with your dislike for the major ingredients. I would never order anchovies, however. Telemarketing is sometimes an ugly job, too. You are so right about the experiences making it easier to see both sides of the line. So true. Nice post!
Knowing how you dislike meat and detest onions, I cannot believe you chose to work there of all places…so funny.
I was a telemarketer for four hours.
i once worked at a convenience store call happy mart ~ it was soooo not happy …