My First Job: Phil Chin, manages communications

The Seattle Times Company

August 6, 2006

My First Job: Phil Chin, manages communications

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Phil Chin

Current position: Manage communications for the law offices of Graham Lundberg & Peschel.

First job: Usher at Tigard Cinemas in my hometown of Portland.

Pay: The minimum wage at that time was around $2.85 per hour.

How I got the job: Some friends worked there, and I thought it would be nice to work with them so I applied, interviewed and got the job on the spot. I had a blast working with my friends and made several new ones. My duties included tearing tickets, working at the concession stands, cleaning theaters and managing the enormous lines that would form for the big blockbuster films.

What I learned: How to deal with the public. I was kind of shy back then and trying to calm irritated patrons waiting in line for a long time helped me gain the confidence to handle large crowds. Another thing I learned was that one of the most important components of job satisfaction is enjoying who you work with. Establishing a good rapport with your colleagues makes for a much more pleasant work environment. Not to mention that time goes by much faster!

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