Andrea Ballard

Now: Job recruiter

Then: Pharmacy helper

Current position: Recruiter and retention specialist with Peterson Sullivan, a certified public accounting firm in downtown Seattle.

First job: My first job was working in a pharmacy in New Orleans, my hometown. I worked after school and on weekends. I didn't have a car, and so I spent a lot of time trying to get rides to and from work.

Pay: $4.75 an hour.

How I got the job: I got it through friends at high school who already worked there.

What I learned: I learned a lot about getting along with co-workers and being considerate of others. I'll never forget the day one of the senior pharmacy technicians came into the lunch room and told me my lunch break ended at 1 p.m., not 1:05 or 1:10. I was reading a book and had lost track of time. She explained to me that her lunch break started when mine ended, and if I was late, it held everyone else up. She didn't come right out and call me rude, selfish, and spoiled ... but I got the message.

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