To understand my passion for job placement, let me tell you a little about some of the jobs and experiences I’ve had growing up. I mentioned in an earlier post the fact that childhood interests can help you find the right career. This is so true!
My first job at age 13 was babysitting (okay, child care provider). Besides gaining transferable skills, Click here for transferable skills of a Childcare Provider, clearly “babysitting” sets the stage for good parental skills (I have 3 children).
Before this time in my life, I “held a job” as a swimmer.
Starting at age 6 through about age 17, I was a member of the Iowa Falls Scenic City Swim Club. The coach, Bruce, was one hard arss. Swim club is where I learned the art of practice, perseverance, perfecting a stroke, team work, and how to really hold your breath!
I recall the feeling of free style swimming the full length of the olympic-sized swimming pool (164 feet) without turning my head even once to take a breath. I pretended I was a fish!
My favorite trophy! (Body shape certainly not mine at that tine!)
With babysitting, mowing neighbors’ lawns and swimming, along with cleaning my dad’s office space and the shop’s bathroom (ugg) at Culligan Soft Water, summers were busy.
When I got a little older, I started walking beans (definitely not good at this job…not enough physical strength) and detasseling corn (I was horrible at this job, clearly a height challenge (my “accommodations” included a walker who was just a lot better than my horrible hoeing and cutting with a knife; and a cute tall guy a row over who graciously pulled the stalks way down to my level.) Because these were not reasonable accommodations and I knew that back then, I voluntarily left….or I wasn’t called back to work a field, a mixture of both probably.
Randy, my beloved hubbie, on the other hand was retained by a farmer who “fired” the other boys because they ditched the hot fields in lieu of a cool dip in the nearby pond. Yes, he has a history of walking entire bean fields by himself……ahhh…..could you do that?
Iowa Corn Stalks are Way Tall!
My first official job – with a real bonafide paycheck – was at Rocky’s Pizza as a food server (waitress is what we called it in the 70s, duh!) Rocco “Rocky” LaValle, (our guest speaker at our 30th class reunion dinner in July 2011) hired many young people in town to work for at the joint…much history! The skills to work as a food server are aplenty. Click here for more information.
Rocky!
Often, the incredible images I find online (my disclaimer) are perfect for expressing my memory. Not sure of which year, but Rocky’s moved to a beautiful new location on Washington where you could really see the pizza making action in the front window!
I worked at the original location in about 1978 at ~ $1.85 hour, plus tips of course! There’s a Facebook page about The History of Iowa Falls that gives great historical information about Rocky’s . What’s cool is how many past workers, including myself, post our memories!
Original Rocky’s Pizza
Along with the pizza joint, I also worked as a food server at an “upscale” fine dining restaurant – The Chateau. Actually, it was a brick mansion on Rockyslvania “converted” into a restaurant. This food server work required a tweak on approaching customers and serving food, and I enjoyed it greatly. I wore a black and white uniform and got to serve beer and wine! At this restaurant, I learned the art of salad making, and eating left-over crab legs (I know, I know, right off a used plate – ugg again!).
There’s a picture somewhere of me in my uniform, ready to go to work. Mary Dunlay, remember working together as food server extraordinaires?! The upstairs was for special dinner parties, which wasn’t too convenient…let alone accessible!
On the flip side of “fine dining” establishment and fast food (I worked at Hardees too for a time), with food serving experience working at a small truck stop in the country called The Junction north of Iowa Falls on the way to Hampton. I remember some of my favorite customers, Chris, the cute and old farmer who always wore overalls. He always tipped! Along with serving, food preparation, clean up, replenishment of food products and dining items, my favorite job responsibility was operating the industrial dishwasher!
One rockin’ dishwasher!
Alice the Cook was Queen! She taught me a lot! Her bench, dedicated to her as she was quite a fisher person, is along the Iowa River in Foster Park, Iowa Falls, Iowa).
Umm, making the incredibly yummy malts, the leftovers!
I loved working at The Junction truck stop! So cool my brother worked next door at the stop’s fuel filling facility. My brother Steven – I love you…RIP. One hard worker…!
Stop! Now Follow Me!
I also have work experience working as a heavy road construction flagger, the person who moves the stop sign to control traffic. I remember some interesting motorists who long ago passed through….! And I also drove the follow-me truck, But that got un-nerving to me as each time I made a back and forth pass through the zone, the [male] construction workers would stop and stare at me…how silly of them. ? Would’ve that been sexual harassment on the job? Nahh, these were just the big old road crew boys…! I just thought it was annoying, and just wanted to do my driving job!
Machine Operator and Forklift Operator! I loved it!
Additionally over the course of my early work history, I worked light industrial at the Alden Corn Processing plant in both the corn processing facility…standing at a de-shucking machine and shoving ears of corn through; and in the packing facility….working at the labeling conveyor as well as shrink wrapping pallets, and watching out for the fast moving forklifts. I was trained and did drive a forklift!
I held other good jobs at the Red Rooster Grill as a waitress, at Kmart as a cashier and at Hardees as a fast food service worker. All links provide further information on transferable skills!
In the summer of 1981 I took a nurse aide training course. Following the training and upon receiving the certificate to be a Certified Nurse Aide, I was hired at Ellsworth Community Hospital. I gained experience working on each shift over the course of my employment. Each shift has its unique characteristics. Talk about gaining incredibly valuable nursing skills.
On to nursing school……..stayed tuned….as I explore my past…..and realize it turned into a passion for job placement.
Stayed tuned for Part 3
Original publication date: November 28, 2011
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My professional rehabilitation counseling practice is focused on helping people participate in the world around them, particularly in their own world of work.
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