How old were you when you had your first real job?
 

Hi all, this thread is inspired by my situation. I'm 24 and still an undergraduate. I will probably have my first real job at 25 after i graduate next year.

Here in Singapore, the average age for male graduate adults to have his first job is 24-26.

The education system is such that, after secondary school (the equailavent of high school, I think), there is 2 years of pre-university called Junior Colleage. Most people would be 18 years of age after finishing this.

This is where it gets interesting, the guys get to serve national service, or compulsory conscription to the army, for 2.5 years. It is after the 2.5 years that you get to go to university, finish your 3-4 years degree course and finally join the working force at the grand age of 24-25.

That means you can only start to be financially sound around 28 - 30 years old. This seems a bit too late in my opinion. Also, my female friends of the same age group all have 2-3 years of working experience, and their maturity really show through.

I'm interested to know the situation over at your side of the world, I'm guessing that the average age might be younger.

I had my first job, where I paid taxes at 15 - held several jobs thru college, but after college, at age 21, was when I got my first full time job (and worked ever since -- damn no wonder I'm so tired) Financially sound? I am unfamiliar with the concept... :D

I started working at 15. .. I have a high school diploma.. so I guess I'm one of those "special kids" that won't be special or financially stable

What do you mean by “real job?” Do you mean full time or the first job that you had to support your self?

I have been working since 16 years old. I had a part time job in a supermarket 15 to 20 hours a week during the school year and full time during the summers.

The same in college although at a different store.

I was 21 when I graduated college and had the first job that paid for all my expenses.

Be for I was 16 and could get working papers I had under the table jobs in the summers starting at 14 years old.

Hmm.. I think I sort of equated full time job and first job to support yourself together.

Well, I meant more of a full time job. The one after your education. Or at least, formal education in school/insitutes

First "real" job at 16. Started my career at 23.

Then I was 21.

I was 15. It was at a movie theater. The Labyrinth was playing there at the time. My favorite bands were Tones on Tail and Bauhaus. I also loved Bowie...

At 17, with a series of part time jobs, I was in school (paid for by me) and supported myself thru four years of college, but I wouldn't consider many of those jobs "real" jobs...

My first job was at 14.... my own company.

my first company corporate job? 16.

I second bookerV. First started earning enough to file my own tax return at 16; then began the "career" at 23 ............. now just trying to get to end the career ASAP!

17. I joined the Navy.

I started working at McDonalds when I was 16. After high school, I went into the Air Force.

First job was at age 15. I started really supporting myself at 18. And imo guccilvr with or without diploma or college education, you can be whatever you want and be financially stable. I have a high school diploma that's it. What I've learned over the years has been through experience..the best teacher. :)

My first full-time job to support myself is something I got a few days after graduating from college at 22yo. I'd had part-time jobs for various purposes for several years before that, though.

I started at 14. 4 am to 8 am on a daily basis cleaning and stocking one of the local taverns. Then joined the Marine Corps at age 17.

I started working as a full time developer when I was 17. I'm still with the company (actually, the owners went seperate ways and I stayed with one of them).

Haven't had a real vacation to speak of since I started working and Im 24 years old :(.

I got my first part-time job at 16 bussing tables. I'm technically still with the restaurant, but I'm at college right now, so I still pick up some hours when I'm home for a weekend.

Started working 14/15 range have had 3 jobs total. Each lasting a minimum of 2 years. CUrrent is reaching 2.5 year mark.

All 3 I am praised for good work and responsibility of duty and get paid well for it.

I am only 21.

May as well add I have a highschool diploma and am a Senior in college.

23. i took the 5 year route to get through college.

I started my first job as a paper boy at age 13. Had part-time jobs all through grade 12. First fulltime job at age 23 as a mechanical engineer.

I started working when I was fifteen as a receptionist in a doctor's office. Through high school I worked at a bakery and a theatre (performing, not movie.) Now in college, I work at Bennigans. Once I graduate I'll let you know about my 'real' job. :lol:

First jobs were in the summers of my 14th and 15th year work all summer get check week before school starts for 12 weeks of work it was some program for poor kids or something. First real job where I could support myself was when I was about 19.

15 and I have been working full time since then:)

I started working when I was 14, at McDonalds for almost 2 years. I had a few more jobs, but first started 'supporting' myself when I was 17 working full time at a restaraunt because I needed to pay for school.

15. I got a job while in tenth grade of high school. I wanted money (and more importantly, my car payment wanted money). My parents don't give me anything but (occasionally) a roof to live under, so if I wanted or needed money, I had (and still have) to earn it. Don't feel bad if you've never had a job though. It's no big deal. Just don't do anything stupid and try your best to not piss anyone off.

18, job in the summer of freshman year at college. I worked at Activision playing games all day, i was on Lemony Snicket:A series of Unfortunate Event (comming soon) and Shark Tale PS2 (already out i think) Played Soul Caliber during beaks, Halo during lunch. 60hrs a week at the end but free dinner or lunch.

First job and only job I've ever had is at Starbucks. 18 years old.

First part-time job at a pub: 16

First "real" job when I was 21. I left college and joined the rat-race for the princely sum of around $6,000 per annum.

It's been uphill since then and I now make lots of money.

Keep working guys. It gets better, not necessarily easier.


Mr Mephisto

First job was in IT at 17, only a summer job, but paid 10 per hour. Next was at 18, workign for Radio Shed, and haven't been employed since.

First Job was at a videogame rental store thing at 16.

I've had a few "career" jobs...

I worked at FedEx for three years, thought that was going to be my career... was making good money. I got a better offer from a graphics company, thought THAT was going to be my career, I only worked there for a year. Then I worked construction for two years, missed computers and thought that I needed a degree...

Now I'm back in school, worried about what the hell my career is going to be. I shoulda just stuck with FedEx. I'd probably be living in my own house right now if I had, instead of a stupid apartment near campus.

13 or 14, I baby sat by about 15 I was mowing yards, and doing yard cleanup and other odd jobs. My first taxable income was at 16 working in a deli, and then at 17 in caterring which I did for about 7 years, the last two or three was full time while attending college full time. By the time I was about 23 or 24 I was a corporate suit and have been working so ever since. I am now almost 38, have a house, and two kids and still work in corporations, but am a LOT better paid then back then!

Started at the ol' Dairy Queen at 15, worked on my family's pear orchard before that from the time I was about 7-8, and even though it wasn't steady or 8-hour shifts or anything, it sure felt like a real job. Taught me some hard work as well.

I guess my first real job when I started supporting myself was in college at an archaeological museum/research center, I was 23ish. I'm only now, at age 31, however, feeling like I have any sort of real career, and I've been doing it for four years now.

I was seventeen. So was she. Things started to heat up in the back seat of the car and she reached down into my...

Oh I thought you meant something else.

First job was at Subway slinging sandwiches at the age of 18. As some have expressed, I wonder if this is what you mean by "real job." As an ALMOST pro musician, I'll never have a real job in the eyes of the majority. Our hours aren't 9-5 daily.

13, at parents ice cream shop. While other kids were watching TV or playong Nintendo i was serving ice cream to litte kids and fat women. Those were great times!!!

I was 18, worked at Petco, I thought I'd like it becaues of the animals, boy was I wrong. Now Im concentrating on college. About to get my AA and transfer to ASU.

I got a job at Zumiez when I was 15.

I was 14 when I got my first legal job. I was doing yard work and odd jobs for money since I was about 10.

I was sixteen, and landed a job at Little Caesars Pizza. It was horriffic, but I learned a lot about life and people.

i was 17 when i got my first bj