Versatility a plus in many jobs

I’ve worked part-time since I was in high school and full-time all my life after a couple semesters of junior college.

Back when I was in high school, most kids didn’t work after school at night, mostly on weekends and during the summer months.

Today’s youths are getting more of a jump-start in the great American work force by taking after-school jobs with school work permits once they reach a certain age.

My first job was babysitting and tending rabbits during two summer months. My goal was to buy a horse. It wasn’t the smartest goal, I will admit. After going through two or three horses, my dad insisted I buy a car with the last of my horse sale money. So I bought his 1952 Chevy hardtop and went job hunting.

I worked during the first summer after high school at Summer Stock Theater, doing payroll for the actors and stage hands. Summer Stock Theater was held in the old Cinema Inn in Central Valley. I learned a lot about payroll, most of which I have since forgotten as I never had to do that job again.

I worked in a movie theater for a while selling popcorn and candy. That was great experience as I was engaged with the public making the sales.

But my heart was bent on being a photo journalist since my high school days of carrying a camera to school just about every week.

When a job opened up at the local newspaper delivering tear sheets to advertisers, I jumped in to get my foot in the door. About six months later, I was taking photos on my own time and many were published.

Wow, my name was now in print. A few months after switching to become a photo engraver in the photo department, I got my golden opportunity to replace a staff photographer and the job lasted several years.

I worked in the field of photo journalism for several years in Southern Oregon before returning to my hometown here.

In between jobs, I took short-term employment in a hardware store, a laundry and a couple of camera stores as well as a fast-food stint while waiting for another opportunity to come my way.

It was all great experience and helped round me off for the future — public relations, marketing, fund-raising and photography.

Being a versatile employee is an advantage, being someone who can wear more than one hat.

The connections I’ve made with so many different people from so many walks of life has come in handy more than once, especially when addressing a situation that required me to understand or comprehend something vital to my job.

Through all these experiences, though some were short-lived, I gained knowledge and confidence in myself. I’ve learned that dressing properly for a job is imperative. Always put your best foot forward when conducting an interview.

Appearance is extremely important when addressing the public. However, there is a time and place for certain attire depending on the job, duty of the day and so forth.

There are occasions to dress down a bit and others to dress fit to kill, although we are a more laid-back society these days.

Manners and etiquette come into the picture if you are front and center on the job. Behind the scenes, employees get a reprieve from being on their toes all the time and I have to admit I work in both worlds. That allows me a chance to hide now and then.

Young people today have it more difficult with so many jobs at a premium. Education is foremost if you want the big bucks. I was fortunate to come in the back door and was probably one of a handful to break into the world of journalism dominated mostly by men in the 1960s.

Until I became a working photographer living in the trenches day to day, I wore skirts. But it obviously became necessary to put on a pair of slacks or jeans to adequately do the job. That was rare in my early days in the work force. Today, it is pretty much customary for women to wear slacks on the job, whether in a bank or public service agency, although dresses are worn in various situations.

It is refreshing to see women in dresses, although I have to admit it is a rare occasion for me to dig out one of the few that reside in my closet.

The bottom line is this: Look your best, act your best and be your best if you are seeking a job or representing a business. People sometimes forget that they represent the company that employs them.