New Yorkers Answered The Question: What Was Your First Paying Job?

Do you remember your first paying job? I do. Well, my first non-paying job was babysitting my siblings. That was an adventure. With four of them younger than me, all with different personalities and thoughts about my authority, it was a challenge at times.

My first paying job was a summer job picking grapes at a vineyard off Seneca Lake. My second paying job was part-time working a full-service car wash. We towel-dried every drop of water off each vehicle as it rolled off the line, and cleaned the inside windows as well. We took a lot of pride in that fact!

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A survey by Voicenation.com notes how persons new to the job market are navigating their first jobs versus previous generations over the past 50 years. The survey shows that 17% of New Yorkers' first job was as a babysitter.

That includes me of course, but without the pay. I guess the treat of a bag of chips and pop (yes, we called it 'pop' not 'soda') was considered payment. Although I HAD to share those chips and pop with my siblings. 

Rounding out the top five first jobs - #5 - newspaper delivery, #4 - retail associate, #3 - dishwasher, #2 - fast food worker.

So, recently, I asked on social media, what was your first paying job? Babysitting was the most responses received, followed by newspaper carrier and working at a grocery store.

Take a look at some of the interesting and common responses below.

• Shelby W. - Automotive detailing out of my dad's garage.
• Rose E. - I love drawing, so I was a draftsman illustrator.
• Jerry S. - Handyman at the Broome County Airport.

• Matthew C.- Fish market in Brooklyn.
• James L. -Entrepreneur at age 10. I started up a country store in my dad‘s garage selling candy, comics, and ice cream to the neighbor kids.
• Joel E. -  Kennel attendant.

• Terry P. - Babysitting and dog sitting.

• Regina Michelle Bagger at the Giant on Conklin Avenue
• Sheri J. - Rotary gas station and Schuster's grocery store.
• Angelica C. - Ice Cream shop.

•  Debbi G. -  Selling lemonade and vegetables.

• Roger H. - Dennys on Front Street Binghamton.
• Antoinette G. -  WT Grants on State Street Binghamton.
• Cheryl C. - Gumble's catering.

• Brian K. -  Newspaper Delivery

•  Katelyn C. -  My first job was at Dunkin Donuts.
• Joe B. -  Cleaner.
• Jackie D. - Telemarketing. I wasn't allowed to quit, so I purposely got fired. Horrible job!

• Mike R. - Setting bowling pins in the basement of a church on Clintin Street.

• Scott W. -  Mowing.
• Ellen D. - Working in a drugstore.
• Amarachi E. -  Cashier at Price Chopper.

• Anna S. - I used to pick dandelions for a neighbor lady who made wine. 25 cents for a big paper bag.