Being pseudo-unemployed now, I thought it would be interesting to figure out how many different jobs I’ve had in my life thusfar. My friend Jer is the inspiration for this post because he’s had 17 different jobs (and he’s not even 30 yet!) I’m not using his criteria though (i.e. you must have a W-2 and/or extended regular hours for it to be considered a real job.)

Instead, I’m going to count my various temp jobs (even though they might have only had one W-2 for the year) if I held the position for a month or more, but I won’t duplicate similar positions in the same city or time of life.

1. Video store clerk – Probably my favorite job of all time because of the movies!
2. Childcare worker – This was an after school program for K-5th graders.
3. Retail – Once upon a time I wore a tie to work.
4. Busboy / Dishwasher – The Melting Pot serves delicious food! Still one of my absolute favorite restaurants.
5. UPS unloader and package sorter – The only job I was fired from and the only job where I was forced to join a Union.
6. Barista – Really just glorified fast food since the coffee shop I worked at was in the Food Court of a mall in Kentucky!
7. File clerk – I filed FEMA case files for adjusters who were assessing flood damage claims. The excitement never stopped–believe me.
8. Customer Service Rep for Gas Company – This was the worst job I ever had. Try explaining to someone why their gas was cut off for nonpayment–in a nice way.
9. Page at the Public Library – Shelving children’s books for peanuts. But I did have exempt status on library late fees which has its perks.
10. Freelance writer – A short-lived career, but I actually got paid to write–once.
11. Assembly line worker – Even monkeys like me can build a Lexmark inkjet printer.
12. USPS temporary – Sorting bulk (we never call it junk!) mail during the graveyard shift. Nearly went postal…
13. Trophy assembler – Need I say more?
14. Data entry / claims processor @ health insurance company – Really two jobs at two different times, but I’ll count it as the same thing.
15. Supervisor for Missionary Letter Service – Great ministry job but supervising is not my cup of tea.
16. Warehouse Inventory – Yes, I can count!
17. Treehouse builder – I kid you not, for a short time I worked at Laughing Logs which builds treehouses and other wooden recreational products for those who can afford them.
18. File clerk for the City of Edmonds – I’m glad I’m not in the construction business after filing all those permits and complaints.
19. Procedure analyst @ health insurance company – What I wanted to be when I grew up. They actually paid me a salary and a bonus every year!
20. Yak herder – If you don’t already know, don’t ask.