First jobs: lessons in disguise: that first job can be something to pass the time, or a ticket to the future. Make the most of it! - special feature

A Perfect Match

Etosha Cave is a 19-year-old college sophomore who knows just where she wants to go with her life. When she entered Olin College of Engineering in Needham, Massachusetts, she was the first African American woman to do so. "I will graduate in 2006 with a major in either mechanical or aerospace engineering," she says, "and ultimately, I want to start my own business that will make some kind of presence in the space program." So far, she hasn't ruled out becoming an astronaut either. Etosha's first job corresponded perfectly with that goal. It was at--where else?--NASA.

Through a program called SHARP, Etosha worked at NASA during the summer between her junior and senior years in high school. "I worked in the biomedical department with a mentor," she explains. "I helped to fabricate things for the space station, including a storage drawer. I also designed smaller things and did presentations." During this eight-week program, she worked 40 hours a week and set her life goals. "Being in NASA's environment and atmosphere, you just get this 'YES!' feeling," she adds.

Your first job may range from something that gives you a little spending money to something that sets you on the path toward your eventual career. Whether it is a temporary gig or a life choice, take the lessons it has to teach and carry them with you into the future.

BEFORE THEY WERE FAMOUS

Before their names were in magazines and on the big screen, they
were just young people working that first job. Here is what some
celebrities did before they were famous:

Anthony Hopkins       Clerk in a steel foundry

Stephen King          Janitor

Coolio                Firefighter

Jim Carrey            Factory worker

Robin Williams        Ice-cream scooper

Elvis Presley         Truck driver

Mariah Carey          Hat checker

Brad Pitt             Refrigerator delivery person

Lucy Lawless          Grape picker

Bill Gates            Congressional page

WHAT LOOKS GOOD?

Below are two lists. One contains eight typical jobs for teens. The
other contains eight jobs you might not have considered. Which job
suits you best? Rank the items on each list from 1 (best) to 8 (worst).

TYPICAL                           UNUSUAL

--baby-sitter                     --camp counselor
--waitperson                      --dog walker

--yard worker                     --assistant gardener

--car washer                      --golf caddie

--newspaper delivery person       --birthday clown

--fast-food worker                --computer consultant

--lawn maintenance worker         --bicycle mechanic

--pet sitter                      --office assistant

First Jobs: Lessons in Disguise

Students will recognize the value of the learning that occurs at a first job.

REVIEW/DISCUSS

* How can first jobs function as career exploration? (They can help refine career preferences, lead in a different direction than anticipated, or show what a person wouldn't want to do the rest of his or her life.)

* What work skills can a first job teach? (the importance of punctuality, dependability, responsibility, and congeniality--getting along with a boss and co-workers)