Have you ever had a "REAL JOB"

[My Gluttony]

Not counting paper routes and part time grocery store gigs in high school, have you or have you not ever had a "real job"

Please do not include law enforcement, jail guard, security or military

My answer is NO. I have never had a real job and the thought of getting one when I retire scares the hell out of me. Ever since I failed miserably as a part time grocery store bagger and mop slinger, I have worn some silly uniform and was asked to solve somebody else's problems

[satpak77]

Not counting paper routes and part time grocery store gigs in high school, have you or have you not ever had a "real job"

Please do not include law enforcement, jail guard, security or military

My answer is NO. I have never had a real job and the thought of getting one when I retire scares the hell out of me. Ever since I failed miserably as a part time grocery store bagger and mop slinger, I have worn some silly uniform and was asked to solve somebody else's problems

I can't wait to retire and not work for moron supervisors, political managers, and worry about maybe getting killed today by someone I interact with.

Having fun in the meantime, we have to make it fun, nobody else will....but should I work when I retire, it will be a pleasant change....

[zap]

According to my phsyco ex...no. Doesn't matter where the checks came from or how big they were....none of them counted because I a) didn't punch a time clock and b) have never worked anywhere that I didn't get a call or have responsibility when I wasn't physically present :D

[beachcop05]

i was a property manager of an office building right before going into Law Enforcement.

[deputy x 2]

I have NOT had a real job AND I have NEVER had to decide what I was going to wear to work. My ONLY decision has been long sleeve or short sleeve!

And lastly, they pay me really good to drive around and put a band aid on someone elses problem!

[SRG]

I worked in a body shop for 6 years

[slamdunc]

I worked as a carpenter for a few years, it wasn't much of a challenge, but it did seem fulfilling. I cannot think of a job that I am better suited for, than being a cop. If I had to work an assembly line or some other boring same-ole, same-ole job, I'd probably drown myself.

Many people have asked me "do you like being a cop"? I usually reply "it sure beats working for a living". I'm selective about who I say that in front of, though.

[Joey105]

US Navy, maintance man at a hotel chain.

[Seventy2002]

Newspaper photographer.

[Garbage Man]

I was a lighting and sound technician for a few years in a road house. Worked 17 hour days two days a week. Trucks came in at 0500 hours, we set up the show for four hours, took lunch, worked the matinae show on the spotlight, or light board, or sound board, then took dinner worked the nightime show then struck the show (put it all back in the truck), done by midnight back the next day to do it again. crashed the rest of the week. Perfect job for tweekers, but meth wasn't big then, ill bet they're all tweekers now.

[VSPClem]

Commerical fishing boat during highschool. Thats it.

[Rommel]

A bill collector for a major hospital.

[t150vsuptpr]

Coca Cola Bottling Co.

Craddock Terry Shoe Corp.

Gulf gas station.

Kayo Gas station.

U.S.Mail contract carrier.

School Bus driver.

Newspapers.

Worked a gate and start line at local dragstrip on Sundays.

[dbsmart]

Worked in a fast food restaurant in high school and college and then did landscaping for awhile.

[kenneyjd]

No real civlian job here. Air force then police.

Its funny how many LEO's never hold civilian positions

[waltitia]

.... have you or have you not ever had a "real job"

Yes. :cool:

[FNA209]

I worked as an electronics technician for 3 years, a cable TV systems tech for 3 yrs, and built helicopters for about 6 years.

I'd rather be wearing the silly uniform solving other people's problems.

LE is like Gump's box of chocolates- "You never know what you're gonna get". It beats the heck out of going to the same building everyday and doing the same tasks everyday.

[Redders]

Farm Work

Auto Body Shop

Carpet Layer

Group Leader/Unit Coordinator @ a treatment facility

Bartender

Community Therapy Aid

Cop

[J_Mann]

Currently work at state farm insurance. Only part time at the PD. And before you ask...no I can't get your a discount on your car insurance ;)

[Dinosaur32]

Teacher

Asst. Plant Manager, textile factory

[Tasdave]

:D Im a chef by trade, I wanted to join the job at 18 but family already in wouldn't let me, said I had to get a trade to fall back on (only good advice I ever took).

I figured i like food so I'll be a chef. Gravitated back to LEO though. Still my wife is glad i can cook.

Just a pity I don't wash up. :D

[K9 Police]

Nope.

K9

[Mike G from NC]

U.S. Marine, Garbage Truck Driver, Wine Salesman, Merchandiser, Dump Truck Driver, Repo Man, Maintainence at a bus garage then LE

[tin_man]

I worked in a factory when my high school grocery store bit played out. The only reason I did that was that I was 18 at the time and no departments in this area would hire anyone unless they were 21. One month after I turned 21 I got in LE, been there ever since

[TX Heat]

I was a machinist for a few years before getting this very REAL job! :D

[e-man]

Newspaper delivery boy...

Delivery driver for brother in laws furniture bedding store...

***. Manager for Bally's...

Worked at numerous deli's as a kid...

Cop.....

[keith758]

I worked a couple of years in a foundry. My job was right below the iron pourers. I saw more injuries there in 2 years than I have in 29 years in L.E.!

[My Gluttony]

I worked a couple of years in a foundry. My job was right below the iron pourers. I saw more injuries there in 2 years than I have in 29 years in L.E.!


I see your point there.

Whenever we start feeling sorry for ourselves, we need think about all the construction workers, farmers, 7-11 clerks, cabs drivers, etc who are killed in the line of duty

For my first 10 years or so on the job , my city had just as many garbage men as cops killed on the job. But since they went to the automatic trucks we have doubled their numbers.

[Tim Dees]

Busboy
Dishwasher (twice)
Laborer
Fourth man on a three-man survey crew (really)
Janitor
Veterinary lab technician
Process server
Convenience store clerk (much more dangerous than police work)
Ambulance EMT (five times)
University police dispatcher
Life insurance salesman
Research lab technician (three times)
City Cop
Bailiff/Court Officer
Tribal police officer
DUI school instructor
College professor (five times)
Private investigator (background investigations)
Regional training coordinator (state LE training)
Freelance writer (twice)
Editor-in-chief

Incidentally, tenure at these various positions ranged from three weeks to 12 years.

Unless they fire me, I figure this is the last one. I could suffer a fairly catastrophic injury or disease, and as long as there was someone to wheel me up to the desk, stick a pencil in my mouth, empty the drool out of my keyboard, and pour a can or two of Ensure in the tube a few times a day, I'd still be good to go.

[SHERIFF]

Convenience store clerk

(much more dangerous than police work)


I agree with you 100%.

And yet they work for peanuts and free slurpies.

[Tim Dees]

I agree with you 100%.

And yet they work for peanuts and free slurpies.I got shot at three times in less than a year in that job. No one ever shot at me while I was a cop. Only one that I know of tried, and he won't be doing that again.

[DOAcop38]

I have NOT had a real job AND I have NEVER had to decide what I was going to wear to work. My ONLY decision has been long sleeve or short sleeve!

And lastly, they pay me really good to drive around and put a band aid on someone elses problem!


LOLOLOL!!! Wash dishes?Do that already at home! Bandage up other peoples boo-boos? Do that now! Boss people around? Do that now!fix doors and locks? can't think of the #s of times I've had to do that for old folks and crime victs! drive people and parcels around? do that now!Deliver food? I work in a large Dept- Damn supvs are always demanding! Take out the "garbage"? Everyday,but it usually can run away from you if you move too slow! plus I get to:
1)Shoot the "garbage" under the right circumstances
2)get a commendation if I shoot the "garbage" under the right circumstances
3)laugh at the "garbage" after I take away their dope,guns, or pimped out rides
4)get to brag to my boring"9-5" friends about #1,2,3
5)garner the sympathy of the public as well as the praise of the public when things are going tuff or when things are going good on the job!

so lets see, in the course of (1) nearly 17 yr career ,I've-driven cars and trucks, transported people and items,washed dishes and cleaned locations, provided aid to sick and injured people,towed cars,been a carpenter and electrician,been a "priest and counselor"to families,couples,kids,been a telephone and radio operator,hospital/morgue and mortuary attendant,computer operator,mechanic, diver and lifeguard(work near a state beach)and trash collector- "civilian" ,"real" job? PLEASE- i think I've done it all, and then some As a Police officer- and yes,as DepX2 pointed out, the pay checks have been good...........

[SammyCal1]

I have had this job since a week before my 19th birthday.

Sammy

[My Gluttony]

Busboy
Dishwasher
Laborer
Fourth man on a three-man survey crew (really)
Janitor
Dishwasher
Veterinary lab technician
Process server
Convenience store clerk (much more dangerous than police work)
Ambulance EMT (five times)
University police dispatcher
Life insurance salesman
Research lab technician (three times)
City Cop
Bailiff/Court Officer
Tribal police officer
DUI school instructor
College professor (five times)
Private investigator (background investigations)
Regional training coordinator (state LE training)
Freelance writer (twice)
Editor-in-chief

Incidentally, tenure at these various positions ranged from three weeks to 12 years.

Unless they fire me, I figure this is the last one. I could suffer a fairly catastrophic injury or disease, and as long as there was someone to wheel me up to the desk, stick a pencil in my mouth, empty the drool out of my keyboard, and pour a can or two of Ensure in the tube a few times a day, I'd still be good to go.

You forgot butcher, baker and candlestick maker

[10-31Mike]

Busboy
Dishwasher
Laborer
Fourth man on a three-man survey crew (really)
Janitor
Dishwasher
Veterinary lab technician
Process server
Convenience store clerk (much more dangerous than police work)
Ambulance EMT (five times)
University police dispatcher
Life insurance salesman
Research lab technician (three times)
City Cop
Bailiff/Court Officer
Tribal police officer
DUI school instructor
College professor (five times)
Private investigator (background investigations)
Regional training coordinator (state LE training)
Freelance writer (twice)
Editor-in-chief

Incidentally, tenure at these various positions ranged from three weeks to 12 years.

Unless they fire me, I figure this is the last one. I could suffer a fairly catastrophic injury or disease, and as long as there was someone to wheel me up to the desk, stick a pencil in my mouth, empty the drool out of my keyboard, and pour a can or two of Ensure in the tube a few times a day, I'd still be good to go.


Hmmm.... Sounds like somebody can't hold a job.

[Tim Dees]

You forgot butcher, baker and candlestick makerOne of the convenience store jobs did include working at a meat counter/deli, where I made sandwiches and occasionally cut up a chicken for someone, so I actually did some "butcher" work. Can't say I ever came close to the baker or candlestick maker deal.

Hmmm.... Sounds like somebody can't hold a job.You're not the first person to make that observation. Sometimes I quit, and sometimes I was "asked to seek other opportunities." Finding the right job isn't only a matter of the job itself, but also where you choose to do it. There were personality types at my old department that thrived there, but would have been canned almost immediately had they worked someplace else. Some of my teaching jobs required a level of political correctness that I couldn't meet. When I thought I had found a home for teaching, the school ran out of money and killed my program. One way or another, though, I always found a way to pay the bills and keep myself in groceries. Having had good and bad experiences in jobs, I now advise folks starting out to look elsewhere if they're not happy where they are. If you hate what you do, it doesn't matter much how much they pay you and what kind of retirement you'll have. Being successful isn't about making money or having power - unless that is what makes you happy. Being happy is the best form of success.

[old corp]

farm worker (Eastern NC tobacco fields- this puts everything in perspective..)

Gun Shop clerk/ad-hoc gunsmith

Marine Fisheries Technician

Sears Warehouse worker (almost as bad as tobacco fields...)

..then PD for 26+ yrs.

[irishnut]

Bag boy
Dishwasher
Installer
Produce clerk
Bartender
Night club Manager
Resturant Manager
Now im HAPPY working for peanuts!

[ftlaudcop]

WWW.IHBRR.COM

ABOVE IN OPERATIONS



C.W.I. R.R.

OPERATIONS AND TRANSPORTATION

[justice12]

I kind of have a real job now. Being a prosecutor is kind of a real job. It's still fun like being a police officer, but it does involve actual work, especially when I have a trial going. There are many days when I really wish I was back on patrol.

[justice12]

It is going to be 98deg with 90% humidity tomorrow, wanna switch?

A/C in your patrol car? I'll take it!!

[mavriktu]

I have had more "jobs" than you can shake 2 sticks at ,from short order cook --convienience store manager ,vice president of a collection agency -ASE certified auto mechanic,and thru it all my heart and soul was LE...

[zap]

A/C in your patrol car? I'll take it!!


AC in mine...but it doesn't matter....you do NOT wanna let the chief see you driving around with your windows up! :cool:

(and yeah...I have to work day shift tomorrow.... :( )

[Bigg Dogg]

My very first job other than working for family was as a Nurses aide in a nursing home when I was 16.that definantly got my attention!!!