Over the years I have worked in many jobs: as a sales assistant in a jewellery store, primary school teacher, Tupperware consultant, check out chick, accounts clerk, library assistant, freelance journalist, pamphlet delivery, debt collector, customer service officer, administration officer, newsletter editor, data entry …
I was just 12 and in Grade 8 when I landed my first paid job – as a photographic model. And I must confess that the reason I got the job had more to do with the fact that my stepsister was a graphic designer for David Jones’ advertising department, than because of my looks!
I did enjoy all the attention it generated at school, when my friends saw my picture in the Courier Mail! It was months before I was paid, but I was thrilled to eventually receive about $160 – a heck of a lot of money back in 1979.
Sadly, that was pretty much the beginning and the end of my modelling career. Although I must confess that I have been a covergirl on a magazine not once, but twice since then! Of course it helps if you are the actual editor of the magazine 😉 . (I was editor of Footprints magazine, a small not for profit publication for Christian women across Australia, for 15 years; in fact it has only recently closed down, to allow me to focus more on my business).
How about you? What was your very first job?!
That was definitely a much more interesting first job than mine. Maccas (which I was fired from, oops) I love the photos!
Hey Ness, it was definitely fun!
Woohoo, David Jones is big time Janet. How cute are you in your flares! It’s so interesting reading what everyone has been up to!
Yeah watch out Miranda Kerr 😉
Still looking fantastic and a bit more fashionable these days 🙂 I worked in a seaside deli the summer I left school. It was great, I lived in a caravan at my grans house, it was the first time living away from home too.
My boobs are a bit bigger too LOL …
Wow that is just awesome – love the cover girl shot! You look lovely. My first job was thinning apples on an orchard, then working at the Cinema, which I LOVED – Emily x
Yes, I think working at a cinema might be alright!
Those photos are just terrific Janet. Certainly the fashions of the day. My first job was at Woolworths in the valley on a Friday night and Saturday morning. I got about $21 for the two shifts. Old fashioned registers and good were displayed on open shelves in glass compartments back in those days. I thought I did alright. That was when I was in Grade 11. Straight from school was an office junior for Sidney Cooke Graphic Arts at Hamilton.
Anne xx
Such riches! It doesn’t sound like much now but I’m sure it seemed a lot at the time! I think my first part time job was as a sales assistant in a jewellery store and I got about $3 an hour LOL
How awesome! And to be paid for your first appearance too – $160 would have been quite a sum for a 12 year old in 1979. Thanks for sharing Janet and for being part of I Must Confess for another week!
Yes it was a huge amount of money! Funnily enough I don’t remember what I did with it though … I know all winter I wanted to buy a pair of knee high boots and I didn’t get it in time for that … 🙁
So interesting to read about the jobs people have held. Great modelling – how cool that must have been!
That is awesome! DJ’s too! It’s interesting to hear about what people have done. (Sorry to hear about Footprints closing down too….I will miss receiving it.)
Check out those long legs! My first job was pretty boring…
Great story, Janet. I have done many jobs over the years too. The first one after school (I left at Third year high) was as a doctor’s receptionist. I remember sitting on the big heater to keep warm in the summer. Had my photo taken for the Adelaide paper “The News” feeding a tin cow once! My claim to fame only! Blessings.
Those pictures are gold and WOW that was a huge earner in those days! What a great tale with photographic evidence to boot!! xx