What was your first job?
patio11: My first real job was cleaning electronic and pipe components, typically of the sort which were used underwater for delivering oil.  This was a somewhat under-the-table employment, probably because the owner of the company didn't want to deal with OSHA.  As I recall I was 16 and the pay was an impressive $6.75 an hour.After a summer of drama he became incensed that one of my pipes, which I had been cleaning of oil residue by means of scrubbing with a solvent and a toothbrush (it is exactly as fun as it sounds), was insufficiently clean.  He attempted to demonstrate his displeasure by throwing the ~20 pound pipe at me.  It passed close enough to my ear that I felt the breeze.Thus ended my involvement in the informal labor market.