April Bettinger

July 29, 2008

April Bettinger

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April Bettinger, Construction exec

Now: Construction exec

Then: Bakery worker

Current position: General manager of Shirey Handyman, an Issaquah-based company that provides maintenance, repair and small-remodel services to homeowners in the Seattle area.

First job: Working at a bakery inside a grocery store in Smokey Point [in Snohomish County]. I wore a pink, knee-length pleated dress with an apron. I don't think I can eat a doughnut to this day, but my family loved that I had this job — they enjoyed the maple bars I would bring home.

Pay: In 1983, when minimum wage was right around $3 an hour, I was earning $6 an hour for about 30 hours per week.

How I got the job: As soon as I turned 16, I hit the pavement and submitted applications until I was hired by the grocery store.

What I learned: A lot about customer service. Being face to face with people all day long taught me important skills for communicating and interacting with people in a business setting. I use those same skills in my job today, as I am constantly speaking to customers, as well as maintaining open communication with my team. And I would have to say, since I eventually got fired for upsetting a customer by taking a 10-minute break, I also learned that people don’t like to wait for their doughnuts!

Want to tell us about your first job? E-mail jobmarket@seattletimes.com

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Pam Worner on September 17, 2008 4:07 PM | Reply

Now: owner, green building consulting firm

Then: editorial assistant on a magazine in Boston for parents of kids with disabilities

Pay: $16,000 a year (1982)

What I learned: to jump at every chance to add skills to my resume - after a year, I'd done interviewing, writing, editing, proofing, photo cropping, ad design, & page layout (with rubber cement, not software) & scored a much better job elsewhere.

April Bettinger

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