Skills to Pay the Bills

Tomorrow is Labour day.  Now as much as many of us complain about our jobs and going to work, ultimately our jobs pay our bills and afford us life styles we would like to have.  It's not very much fun to not have money to put food on the table or have shelter over our heads.  I think about all of the different jobs I have had and the experience I have gained as a result.  My first job paid me $3 an hour and today I make...well..lets just say a lot more than that.  Here is my work trajectory:

Shoe Salesperson at Agnew Shoes - I was 15 and worked part time for 3 years

Receptionist for the Federal Government - All 250 peoples phones went through my switchboard.  I couldn't run to pee without having backup as it was so busy.

Mail Room clerk for the Federal Government - Processed bags and bags of mail daily, sent Telexs and tons of faxes (new technology then).  This was more of a physical job than very mentally taxing.

Comunications Officer for the Feds - Did this for years, set up Ministerial visits for Federal Ministers.  Coordinated events and Internal/External communications.  To say this was hectic is to say the least.

Information Officer for the Feds - Travelled around Alberta, NWT Region to give seminars on how to do business with the feds (procurement process).  I presented to groups from 20 - 200, learned a lot about public speaking and thinking on your feet.


Business Officer for the Feds - Seconded to the Business Link and advised people how to start business, export, do market research, etc.  We consulted with entrepreneurs and advised of grants, regulations, business licensing, all that jazz.


At the Business Link I learned a lot about technology, taught myself how to build web sites and web design.  Used my creativity to make myself the Web Wench for the Link. 

Applied to Fujitsu and got a job as Web Designer and introduced Application Design (prototyping) to our current account. 

Took role as Business Lead on account and now do management functions.  Not as fun as web design, but the application solutions side can be really interesting : )



So that is my path to this current Labour Day.  I am lucky to have a great job, have had the opportunity to learn along the way and make new gigs for myself.  There are many people in the world that work much harder jobs than I for a lot less, so I consider myself lucky every day.