My First Job
I left School on 11th April 1979, aged sixteen. I was so happy to leave and get out into the big wide world of employment.
A few weeks later, I started a full time job at WH Smith, at the Elephant and Castle Shopping Centre in London (sadly recently demolished).
My position was on the stationery counter – there’s a surprise – and I absolutely loved it. I worked full time, including every other Saturday. My uniform was a blue and green overall with cream buttons, and every Sunday I would put it in the wash so it was all clean and ready for the following week.
In those days, everybody had an ‘Access’ card – your flexible friend – or a Visa card. We wrote the transaction details onto a carbonated slip and then used a machine that imprinted the card details onto the slip; the customer had a copy and the other one went in the till.
My first weeks’ pay was £30.00 net. I thought I was rich! My dad took me to Midland Bank to open an account and when I received the cheque book I was over the moon. It came in a black plastic cover with the bank logo on it. But out of that first pay, I paid housekeeping to my mum and continued to do so until I left home many years later.
I think I worked there for about a year, but I did learn important life skills – hard work, punctuality and paying your way.
What was your first job?
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