Some ShittyJobs I've Had Prior to Writing

This week, we're talking about the shit jobs we've had prior to becoming writers. I've had some pretty shitacular jobs. Not as many or as bad as a lot of people have had, but they've all been things I chose not to make a career of.

I was a:

Waitress at a restaurant where the vast majority of the employees were illegal immigrants from Poland and spoke little to no English. This wasn't a problem except for the times they used to grope me when I had to go in the back room. Now, if I hadn't been a scared teenager, I would have reported them instead of listening to the owner who said I just needed to "ignore them because they didn't understand" and laughed when I asked him tell them not to touch me in Polish - which he spoke since he was also from Poland. I lasted two weeks there.

Sweatshop Sewing Machine Operator at a children's clothing factory where there was no air conditioning in the dead of summer and they refused to run the fans because it was too expensive. I was asked to turn in my equipment after the third time I passed out due to the extreme heat.

Grocery Store Bagger - the job wasn't hard, but holy hell the people were rude - not the other employees, but the shoppers.

Gas Station Attendant - This was a job I had while in college. Let me just start off by saying I *loathe* the smell of gasoline. And every time I closed, I had to put on hideously dirty gloves and measure the amount of fuel left in the big underground tanks. I couldn't get the smell off my skin no matter what I did. Then, since I sleep with my hands by my face, I'd have nightmares about the gas station all night. And that place was already enough to give me bad dreams. There was a creeper, Bobby, who if I was working, would hang out with me literally all. night. long. He'd stay for entire eight hour shifts. Bobby was special.

But Bobby was nothing compared to the asshat who used to make derogatory remarks to me and any other woman working the counter, whenever he was in. When I finally had enough (yes, I was an easily intimidated doormat at the time) he reached across the counter, grabbed at my throat and broke my necklace. I fell and twisted my ankle and hit my head on the back counter. Oh, and before he left, he spit at me. Best part? My manager wouldn't let me call the cops because this guy was a regular. So I walked out that night.

I've also been a Wedding Server, Costumer and Makeup Artist at a university theater, a Secretary, a Call Center Operator, a Preschool Para-Pro, a Latchkey Program Care Provider, a Wedding/Special Occasion Seamstress, Daycare Provider and an Editor. Daycare was by far my favorite. And as much as I love being a writer, doing daycare is the only job I sometimes miss. What can I say - I loved sword fights, dress-up and arts and crafts.

What are some shitty jobs you've had?

And check out the other bloggers' craptacular jobs by clicking their names.

Jess
Gwen
Tess
Kris