Career Advice

September 26, 2008

Peggy Smith

Peggy Smith, Director of global relocation, Microsoft

Now: Director of global relocation, Microsoft

Then: Mail bagger

Current position: I'm responsible for the design and implementation of Microsoft's global program strategy, so I work in the U.S. and other countries in which we do business to keep our relocation department up to the high standards required by our company.

First job: When I was 20, I jumped right into every girl's dream job: bagging mail off the back of a bindery line. I worked in Danville, Ky., for RR Donnelley Corporation at a 12-hour shift — 3 p.m. to 3 a.m.

Pay: $18,000 a year, plus all the dust I could breathe in.

How I got the job: It was hard not to. With only 20,000 people in Danville at the time, everyone in my hometown seemed to work there.

What I learned: While it's great to live in a small town where your neighbors can also be your co-workers, I saw early on that I wanted a bigger place to grow in, both personally and professionally. So I opted for the whole world!

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

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1 Comments

Keith Allen on January 6, 2010 7:43 AM | Reply

Peggy,
I thought I knew you fairly well....mail bagger, who would have guessed? My first real job was delivering mail at Anhesuer. Take care and look forward to seeing you soon.

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